The chain of responsibility holds that all the people who influence drivers' behaviour and compliance should, and must, be held accountable if that influence results in non-compliance with traffic rules and laws.
The other people in the chain include from those consigning the the goods, those receiving the goods, and company directors. Everyone involved can be held accountable and there are penalties that can apply.
The chain of responsibility is responsibility shared, not transferred.
A person is part of the chain of responsibility if their actions, inactions or decisions affect road transport operations. This could include a person who:
The chain can also include 'third parties', such as transport users or customers.
Behaviours that could lead drivers or operators to breach the rules or laws include:
A person convicted of a chain of responsibility offence can be fined up to $25,000.