If you work as a truck driver in Australia, you may have heard of Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and wondered whether you are required to complete CoR training. You may also have questions about your responsibilities, potential penalties, fatigue management, and whether CoR training has anything to do with getting a heavy vehicle licence.
These are important questions because heavy vehicle safety is a shared responsibility across the transport supply chain.
The short answer is that truck drivers have important safety obligations, but an employed heavy vehicle driver is not automatically a Chain of Responsibility party simply because they drive. The exact responsibilities depend on the driver’s role and the functions they perform.
In this guide, we answer five of the most common questions about Chain of Responsibility training for truck drivers in Australia, including whether drivers need CoR training, what their responsibilities are, potential penalties, the difference between CoR and fatigue management training, and whether CoR training can replace a truck licence.
Do Truck Drivers Need Chain of Responsibility Training?
There is an important distinction between being a truck driver and being a Chain of Responsibility (CoR) party.
According to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), driving a heavy vehicle is not itself one of the defined CoR functions. Therefore, an employed heavy vehicle driver is generally not a CoR party simply because they drive. Drivers still have other obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), road laws and workplace safety requirements.
However, this does not mean that CoR training is irrelevant to truck drivers.
Transport businesses may provide CoR training to help drivers understand how decisions made throughout the supply chain can affect heavy vehicle safety. This can include decisions about scheduling, loading, fatigue, vehicle condition and delivery requirements.
CoR training can be particularly relevant when a driver performs additional functions that make them a CoR party. For example, a driver who also loads a heavy vehicle may be performing the CoR function of a loader. Similarly, an owner-driver who owns and drives a heavy vehicle is considered an operator and is a CoR party.
For this reason, whether a particular driver needs CoR training can depend on their employment arrangement, responsibilities and the activities they perform.
What Are a Truck Driver’s Responsibilities Under CoR?
Although an employed truck driver is generally not a CoR party merely because they drive, truck drivers still have important responsibilities under heavy vehicle law and workplace procedures.
Drivers should understand and comply with requirements that apply to their work, including relevant requirements concerning:
- Heavy vehicle operation
- Vehicle safety and roadworthiness
- Speed limits
- Driver fatigue and work and rest requirements
- Mass and dimension limits
- Loading and load restraint
- Safe operation of the vehicle
- Workplace health and safety procedures
Loading and load restraint are particularly important because several people and businesses can influence the safety of a heavy vehicle before it starts its journey.
For example, a consignor may provide goods, a packer may prepare them, a loader may place them on the vehicle, a scheduler may determine the timing of the journey, and a transport operator may control the use of the vehicle. The driver then operates the vehicle on the road.
This is why Chain of Responsibility focuses on shared responsibility for heavy vehicle transport safety, rather than placing all responsibility on the person behind the wheel.
What About Owner-Drivers?
The situation can be different for owner-drivers.
The NHVR states that a person who owns and drives a heavy vehicle is an operator and is therefore a party in the Chain of Responsibility. A driver can also become a CoR party when they perform another CoR function, such as loading or unloading a heavy vehicle.
This distinction is important because CoR responsibilities are determined by the function a person performs, rather than simply their job title.
Can a Truck Driver Be Fined Under Chain of Responsibility?
Yes, a truck driver can face penalties for certain heavy vehicle law breaches, but it is important to understand the difference between a driver’s general obligations under heavy vehicle law and the CoR Primary Duty.
An employed driver is generally not a CoR party simply because they drive a heavy vehicle. However, the driver remains subject to other requirements under the HVNL and applicable road laws. If the driver also performs a function that makes them a CoR party, additional CoR responsibilities may apply.
For example, loading a heavy vehicle can create CoR responsibilities. The NHVR explains that a driver who performs loading activities can be a CoR party in their capacity as a loader.
CoR also recognizes that safety decisions made by businesses and other parties can influence what happens on the road. A business must not directly or indirectly cause or encourage a driver to speed or breach heavy vehicle laws.
This is particularly important when considering issues such as unrealistic delivery schedules, excessive work demands, unsafe loading or fatigue.
However, it would be incorrect to assume that every truck driver who makes a mistake will automatically receive a CoR penalty. Whether a person can be prosecuted or penalised depends on the specific circumstances, the applicable legal requirement and the role that person was performing.
What Is the Difference Between CoR Training and Fatigue Management Training?
Chain of Responsibility training and fatigue management training are related, but they are not the same type of training.
CoR training focuses on the wider responsibilities involved in heavy vehicle transport. It helps participants understand how their decisions, actions and business activities can influence the safety of heavy vehicle operations.
Fatigue management training focuses specifically on the risks associated with fatigue and the management of driver work and rest.
| CoR Training | Fatigue Management Training |
|---|---|
| Focuses on Chain of Responsibility and transport safety | Focuses specifically on fatigue-related risks |
| Explains responsibilities across the transport supply chain | Explains fatigue, work and rest requirements and fatigue controls |
| Can cover risks involving speed, mass, loading, scheduling and vehicle safety | Focuses on preventing fatigue-related driving risks |
| Relevant to different parties involved in heavy vehicle transport | Particularly relevant to people managing or performing heavy vehicle driving work |
For example, a transport scheduler may have responsibilities that relate to both areas. Scheduling decisions can influence fatigue risk, but understanding fatigue requirements is only one part of the wider Chain of Responsibility framework.
Therefore, CoR training should not automatically be considered a replacement for fatigue management training when specific fatigue training is required.
Does CoR Training Replace a Truck Licence?
No. Chain of Responsibility training does not replace a heavy vehicle licence.
A heavy vehicle licence and CoR training have completely different purposes.
A heavy vehicle licence relates to a person’s authority and competency to drive a particular class of heavy vehicle. CoR training, on the other hand, focuses on safety responsibilities associated with heavy vehicle transport activities.
Completing a Chain of Responsibility course does not give someone permission to drive a truck and does not replace the licensing requirements applicable to heavy vehicle drivers.
A truck driver may therefore need to hold the appropriate heavy vehicle licence while also completing workplace or industry-specific training depending on their role and employer requirements.
| Heavy Vehicle Licence | Chain of Responsibility Training |
|---|---|
| Relates to driving a particular class of heavy vehicle | Relates to heavy vehicle transport safety and responsibilities |
| Required for applicable heavy vehicle driving | Training requirements depend on the person’s role and workplace |
| Demonstrates relevant driving competency | Builds knowledge of transport safety responsibilities |
| Does not replace workplace safety training | Does not replace a heavy vehicle licence |
Why Should Truck Drivers Understand Chain of Responsibility?
Even when an employed truck driver is not technically a CoR party simply because they drive, understanding Chain of Responsibility can help drivers recognize how different parts of the transport chain affect their work.
A truck driver may interact with:
- Transport operators
- Employers
- Schedulers
- Consignors
- Consignees
- Loaders
- Unloaders
- Packers
- Loading managers
The NHVR identifies 10 CoR functions, and many of these functions are performed by people and businesses that do not actually drive or own heavy vehicles.
Understanding these relationships can help drivers recognize situations that could create safety risks, such as unrealistic delivery schedules, unsafe loading practices, excessive pressure to meet deadlines or inadequate fatigue management.
It can also help drivers understand what safety support and procedures they should expect from the businesses they work with.
What Should Truck Drivers Look for in Chain of Responsibility Training?
If you are a truck driver considering a Chain of Responsibility course, look for training that explains practical transport safety responsibilities rather than simply presenting legislation.
Useful topics can include:
- Chain of Responsibility principles
- The Primary Duty
- Shared responsibility
- Heavy vehicle safety obligations
- Fatigue and work and rest considerations
- Speed management
- Mass and dimension requirements
- Loading and load restraint
- Vehicle safety
- Responsibilities of employers and schedulers
- Identifying and reporting transport safety risks
- Practical examples of CoR risks and responsibilities
The NHVR emphasizes that training and safety systems should be relevant to the risks associated with heavy vehicle transport activities. Drivers can also benefit from understanding industry codes of practice so they know what training, resources and support they should expect from businesses they work with.
How Does Chain of Responsibility Apply to the Wider Transport Industry?
Chain of Responsibility does not apply only to truck drivers and transport companies.
Businesses that employ heavy vehicle drivers, engage drivers under certain arrangements, operate heavy vehicles, schedule transport, consign or receive goods, pack goods, manage certain loading premises, or load and unload heavy vehicles can perform CoR functions.
This means that responsibility for heavy vehicle safety can extend across the entire supply chain.
Understanding which industries and businesses can have CoR responsibilities is important for employers, managers, logistics professionals and transport workers.
Read our detailed guide to industries that must comply with Chain of Responsibility laws to learn more about who may have responsibilities under CoR.
Chain of Responsibility Compliance in 2026
Chain of Responsibility compliance continues to focus on identifying and managing risks associated with heavy vehicle transport activities.
The NHVR’s 2026 Master Code provides guidance for CoR parties on managing hazards, assessing risks and implementing appropriate controls. The 2026 Code has moved from a role-based structure toward an activity-based approach, with 45 activities illustrating the broad scope of the Primary Duty.
This makes it increasingly important for transport businesses and workers to understand how their actual activities can influence heavy vehicle safety rather than relying solely on job titles.
If you are responsible for transport activities or work in the heavy vehicle industry, read our guide on how to stay compliant with Chain of Responsibility laws in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About CoR Training for Truck Drivers
Do all truck drivers need Chain of Responsibility training?
Not necessarily. An employed heavy vehicle driver is generally not a CoR party simply because they drive. However, CoR training may be appropriate depending on the driver’s role, employer requirements and the functions they perform.
Can a truck driver be responsible for an overloaded truck?
Drivers have responsibilities under heavy vehicle law, and loading can involve several people within the Chain of Responsibility. The exact responsibility depends on the circumstances and the functions performed by each person.
Is CoR training the same as fatigue management training?
No. CoR training covers broader heavy vehicle transport safety responsibilities, while fatigue management training focuses specifically on fatigue risks and work and rest requirements.
Does CoR training allow me to drive a truck?
No. CoR training does not provide a heavy vehicle licence and cannot replace the licensing requirements for driving a heavy vehicle.
Do owner-drivers have Chain of Responsibility responsibilities?
Yes. An owner-driver who owns and drives a heavy vehicle is considered an operator and is therefore a CoR party.
Get Chain of Responsibility Training
Understanding Chain of Responsibility is important for people working throughout Australia’s heavy vehicle transport industry. While an employed truck driver is not automatically a CoR party simply because they drive, drivers still have important obligations under heavy vehicle law and may perform additional functions that create CoR responsibilities.
The right training can help transport workers understand their responsibilities, recognize potential safety risks and contribute to safer heavy vehicle operations.
If you are looking for structured training, learn more about the TLIF0009 – Ensure the Safety of Transport Activities (Chain of Responsibility) course and how it can help develop knowledge of Chain of Responsibility and heavy vehicle transport safety.
