Janette O’Brie

 Head of HSEQ

Are your compliance and safety systems in place for the changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) due mid this year?

The key changes to the HVNL include:

1. primary duty obligations for all parties in the supply chain including Executive Officers;
2. reverse onus of proof will be removed;
3. assuring vehicle safety;
4. introduction of enforceable undertakings;
5. increased penalties;
6. new powers for authorised officers; and
7. HVNL aligned with WHS legislative obligations.

(link to Zenergy’s Information Sheet on HVNL Changes)

What you need to consider to assure your business complies with the changes



1. Do you have a Chain of Responsibility (CoR) Management Plan in place which:

• articulates your commitment to meet your compliance and safety obligations under the HVNL; and
• outlines a framework of how you intend to meet these obligations; assuring safe and compliant operations throughout your business?

1. Have you mapped the end to end process of your business; ensuring you have identified all your obligations?
2. How do you identify, manage and control compliance and safety risks?
3. What positions within your business have CoR obligations and are the responsibilities for each of these positions clearly documented?
4. What systems and tools do you have in place to:

• assure your obligations are met?
• capture compliance data and maintain records?

1. How are CoR compliance issues reported to and monitored by senior managers and the executive?
2. What CoR training has been conducted and training records kept?
3. What systems do you have in place to monitor and manage compliance with the specific legal obligations for:

• Dimension;
• Mass;
• Loading;
• Fatigue;
• Speed; and
• Vehicle safety.

1. If asked, what evidence could you provide to show that you have done everything reasonably practicable to ensure your transport related activities are compliant and safe?

While the HVNL is modelled on WHS legislation and you can leverage from your WHS capabilities and systems to incorporate CoR obligations into your business, there is a specific expertise that is needed or needs to be developed to give assurance that your business is meeting its obligations.

Zenergy: A partner on your CoR compliance and safety journey

Zenergy began taking steps in 2016 to develop and deliver information to the transport sector on CoR obligations by engaging keynote speakers for industry forums. Since then, Zenergy has actively:

• recruited CoR experts and auditors;
• developed knowledge networks within the transport sector;
• developed and conducted workshops for our transport sector clients and we continue to address CoR at leadership forums;
• developed tools and services to assist industry understand and meet its obligations under the HVNL; and
• undertaken gap analyses for specific clients, identifying improvement opportunities for them.

As a partner, Zenergy can:

• undertake an initial audit to identify gaps in your current CoR compliance and safety system;
• facilitate CoR Management Plan development workshops;
• provide independent on-going audits of your system; and
• facilitate Risk Assessment Workshops.

While Zenergy can provide the expertise you need to meet the change, our aim is to provide our clients with the tools and develop the expertise within your business, enabling you to manage your on-going compliance and safety obligations.

Contact Zenergy for further information on how we can support your organisation. 

Level 11, 50 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
1300 333 400
info@172.16.0.160