What are the Load Restraint Requirements under the Chain of Responsibility?

National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018

There is one common law Australia wide and the Legal requirements are outlined in the National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018. In the National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018, only one page is the law and the rest of the book is just a guide.


The legislation does not mandate how to restrain loads, only the forces that must be resisted. This are called the Load Restraint Performance Standards. You can use any method to restrain a load, however, it is recommended that an engineer certifies an alternative method.


Under this Law:

  • Loads must be restrained to meet the Performance Standards.
  • Loads must not become dislodged from the vehicle.
  • Loads must not adversely affect the vehicle’s stability or weight distribution.


Fundamentals

Load restraint is the most technical element of the Chain of Responsibility and there are 5 fundamentals which include:


Packaging - Packaging involves combining light weight or small items together into single units that will strengthen the load and improve the stability. Packaging includes strapping items together to from a bundle, or placing on a pallet, using crates, stillages or similar. The role of lashings to prevent the load from coming off the truck, it is the role of packaging to stop individual items from coming loose and flying off the vehicle.


Under CoR it is the packers/loaders responsibility to ensure the product is safely packed for transport. Drivers should notify the loading site of any packaging inadequacies so these can be rectified or replaced prior to leaving site.


Friction - Friction is the most important load restraint fundamental – more important than the number of restraints. Friction is the resistance to movement caused by the roughness of two surfaces in contact and depends on surface roughness and downward force. What we don’t want is situations with a low or very low friction and we need to break up low friction situations with timber or rubber.


Dunnage - Dunnage is used to:

  • Elevate the load to increase the lashing angle;
  • Increase the stability of the load;
  • Separate parts of the load;
  • Increase the friction between the load and the trailer deck or between parts of the load; and
  • Allow for easier loading and unloading.


Load Configuration - Load Configuration which is the way the load is loaded on the truck. One of the major issues with loading is the gaps in the load. Gaps in the load allow movement in transit which loosen the restraints. You can eliminate gaps in the load using items such as dunnage or pallets.


Lashings - The number of lashings required are determined using the tables in the NTC Load Restraint Guide as shown on these pages. There are number of items which need to be considered to determine the number of lashings which include:

  • Type of lashing and tensioner used – chains, webbing or rope.
  • Blocked (headboard) or Unblocked (no headboard or more than 200mm away).
  • Friction - High, Medium, Low or Very Low.
  • Lashing Angle.
  • Weight of the load.


Managing Load Restraint

The key elements of Managing Load Restraint includes:

  • Conduct a risk assessment of your loading obligations.
  • Document loading policies and procedures that outline the control measures.
  • Consult with other parties on how they manage loading – for example, request a copy of their loading risk assessment, policies and procedures.
  • Conduct regular contract reviews of the effectiveness of controls implemented by others in the supply chain.
  • Ensure contracts and agreements do not contain incentives that may cause or encourage the parties to breach loading requirements. 
  • Commercial arrangements should include prescriptive requirements to comply with legal obligations.


Zenergy eLearning Program – Chain of Responsibility (CoR): Mass, Dimension and Load Restraint

Zenergy has a range of Chain of Responsibility (CoR) eLearning training topics including Chain of Responsibility (CoR): Mass, Dimension and Load Restraint. This course is designed for This course is designed for Schedulers, Consignors, Consignees, Packers, Loading Managers, Loaders/ Unloaders and includes the requirements and obligations of Mass, Dimension and Load Restraint under the Chain of Responsibility and the Heavy Vehicle National Law.


This course includes Module 1. Load Restraint which provides an overview of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Regulations requirements and obligations for Load Restraint and the National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018 and the law, the requirements of the 5 Load restraint fundamentals which include: Packaging, Friction, Dunnage, Load Configuration and Lashings, and practical solutions to manage the risks of load restraint in your business including packaging, load restraint methods, and load inspections..


Zenergy – Heavy Vehicle National Law and Chain of Responsibility (CoR)

Zenergy experienced consultants can assist in the development of CoR Transport Safety Management System (TSMS) documentation and conducting independent audits of your Management System documentation for management of transport safety including Chain of Responsibility (CoR) provision to ensure meets their responsibilities under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).



For more information on our services feel free to email us at info@zenergygroup.com.au or call 1300 333 400.

Chain of Responsibility (CoR) Training

Contact Us

Zenergy News

Photo from the previous 2024 Australian Workplace Health & Safety Awards night.
March 3, 2025
Zenergy invites you to be part of the prestigious 2025 Australian Workplace Health & Safety Awards (AWHSA). Nominate today!
February 28, 2025
Australia's 2025 sustainability reporting rules are here. Learn how they impact businesses and prepare for compliance. Read now!
February 11, 2025
A workplace health and safety regulator has explained what the "safest workplaces" look like, in revealing it finalised more than 100 successful safety prosecutions in 2024.
February 11, 2025
Two years after the release of the groundbreaking 2022 Everyday Respect Report, Rio Tinto has undertaken a thorough Progress Review to assess its ongoing cultural transformation. As one of the world’s largest mining companies, Rio Tinto has been working to create a safer, more inclusive workplace culture that fosters respect, productivity, and innovation. The 2024 Progress Review highlights significant strides made, ongoing challenges, and areas requiring further attention. The Journey Towards Cultural Transformation Cultural change is a multi-year effort that requires consistent leadership, structural support, and engagement across all levels of an organization. Since launching its Everyday Respect initiative, Rio Tinto has embedded this agenda into its core business strategy, focusing on reducing bullying, sexual harassment, and racism in the workplace. Key Progress Areas: Increased Awareness and Open Conversations: The public release of the original report acted as a catalyst for change, encouraging more employees to speak up and engage in discussions about respect. Stronger Leadership Commitment: Leaders are playing a more proactive role in championing Everyday Respect, with a focus on psychological safety and inclusive leadership. Enhanced Training and Education: Programs such as Everyday Respect Training and Purple Banners have been widely implemented to build awareness and response capabilities. Facility Upgrades and Safety Improvements: Investments in workplace infrastructure have improved the physical environment, making it more inclusive and conducive to employee well-being. Greater Workforce Diversity: There has been a notable increase in gender and cultural diversity across teams, fostering innovation and improved workplace dynamics. Ongoing Challenges and Areas for Improvement Despite progress, resistance to change remains an obstacle, particularly among certain groups. Survey data indicates that while improvements have been perceived in many areas, instances of bullying, sexual harassment, and racism persist. Key focus areas include: Building Stronger Buy-in: Engaging those who are resistant to cultural change, particularly male employees, to foster a collective commitment to Everyday Respect. Enhancing Reporting Mechanisms: Increasing trust in reporting systems to ensure that employees feel safe and supported when raising concerns. Strengthening Frontline Leadership: Providing additional training and tools to equip supervisors and managers with the skills needed to drive culture change at all levels. Maintaining Momentum: Ensuring that Everyday Respect remains a priority in the face of organizational changes and external pressures. Looking Ahead: Staying the Course The findings from the 2024 Progress Review reaffirm Rio Tinto’s commitment to long-term cultural transformation. While meaningful progress has been made, continued efforts are needed to sustain positive momentum and address persistent challenges. As one employee noted: “ Change is definitely happening, and it will get hard at times. We can’t back away ... I’m here at Rio Tinto because I want to see through this change. We need to stay the course. ” With ongoing leadership, engagement, and strategic initiatives, Rio Tinto is on the path to embedding Everyday Respect across all facets of its global operations, ensuring a safer, more inclusive, and more productive workplace for all employees. See full report “ here ”.
By Shazamme System User October 8, 2024
Australia's dating apps are getting a safety makeover.
By Shazamme System User October 8, 2024
National Safe Work Month
More Posts
Share by: