New On Road Truck Pickup & Delivery Checklists

GAVIN MOREIRA , Administration Officer of the CMPA provides an overview of the updated On Road Truck Pickup & Delivery checklist.

THE CMPA has recently reviewed and updated the On Road Truck Pickup & Delivery Checklist and accompanying Procedure Document which is now available to purchase at a cost of $25 for Members and $45 for Non-members.

The main reason behind the current review is to ensure that our Members are meeting their obligations regarding Fatigue Management. There are a range of obligations as a Employer, Consignor, Scheduler or Loading Manager, however simply put it means that parties in the Chain of Responsibility are accountable for both their action (that is something they do) or inaction’s (something they could or should have done and didn’t).

For a direct employee of the quarry your obligations are clear:

1. Ensuring that a driver is fit for duty
2. Has not exceeded any of the legislated work hours
3. Has complied with appropriate rest breaks
4. If the driver operates under a 100 kilometre radius, the employer records the driver’s name, work and rest time, along with the start and finishes locations and the registration number of the vehicle.
5. If the driver exceeds 100 kilometres, that Work Diaries are completed by the driver, obtained by the employer, checked for compliance and filed for a minimum of two years.

If the driver is an Ex Bin driver (including captured contractors):

1. An assessment must be undertaken of the driver before commencing duty (i.e. filling in a checklist, visual inspection by the Scheduler. The basic obligation is to ensure that any driver that arrives at a quarry to load is not affected by fatigue. You don’t have to look at Work Diaries or anything, it’s simply an observation based on the driver behaviour and reactions.
2. If the driver appears to be fatigued and you do nothing you could be held liable.
3. If the driver appears to be affected then there needs to be a process of contacting the driver’s employer, or perhaps preventing the driver from loading.

For further information on your requirements and responsibilities under the chain of responsibility visit the VicRoads website: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

The update of the book has taken close to six months to complete, starting with a small group of members. This was followed by detailed communications with Briony Rowley from Northern Quarrries and John Welsh from John Welsh & Associates and culminated with a recent presentation by John to the Members at last month’s CMPA General Meeting.

The On Road Truck Pickup & Delivery Checklist was designed to ensure that all deliveries are made in compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004, Victorian Road Safety Act 1986 and subordinate legislation. Particular attention must be paid to Chain of Responsibility requirements, fatigue management provisions and the requirements of all other relevant Acts and Regulations.

All drivers must take appropriate rest breaks and complete a Work Diary where necessary as per the Victorian Road Safety Act 1986.

The major change to the checklist that Members need to aware of is an additional column called ‘Monitoring Fatigue and Hours of Work’ which needs to be signed by the driver.

By signing this column you are stating that you have met all obligations under the applicable legislation with regards to hours of work, rest breaks, work diaries, etc.

The table above outlines the legislated rest breaks you MUST adhere to and MUST record daily on your “On Road Truck Pickup & Delivery Checklist”.

* Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a regulated heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary regulated heavy vehicle.

** Night rest breaks are seven continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day (using the time zone of the base driver). These breaks can be part of a 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

Weighbridge operators reserve the right to refuse to load or dispatch any vehicle where the driver is or could be contravening any of the above mentioned legislation.

If any driver is observed as being unfit for work, either through their behaviour and/or appearance they must park their vehicle in the nominated parking area and proceed to the Dispatch Office to complete an ‘Observable Impairment Assessment’ and if deemed necessary, the driver’s employer may be contacted.

The CMPA strives to educate industry participants with the development of resources in an attempt to increase the overall safety of the industry. The next step for the CMPA is to look at training for Weighbridge Operators in regards to conducting the Observable Impairment Assessment.

The obligation lies with the owners and directors of companies to ensure that employees have a safe working environment which is not a risk to their health.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login