Chain of Responsibility and New Zealand road transport

What is the chain of responsibility?

Traditionally drivers and operators have been the focus of compliance enforcement authorities, but breaches are often caused or influenced by the actions of others.

Chain of responsibility recognises that all the people who influence drivers’ behaviour and compliance should, and must, be held accountable. This includes directors of companies.

Under the chain of responsibility, responsibility is shared, and not transferred.

Existing responsibilities of drivers and operators will remain in place.

The Chain

The links in chain of responsibility for each trip can potentially include the:

consignor
packer
scheduler
driver

operator
loader
dispatcher
receiver

Who is affected by the new requirements?

You are part of the chain of responibility if your action, inaction or decisions affect road transport operations.

'Third parties' - users or customers of a transport service - are included in the chain. If an offence is committed by your employee, agent or contractor, the offence may be treated as having been committed by you both, whether or not it was done with your knowledge or approval.

What do the new requirements affect?

Anyone who causes or influences a driver to exceed speed limits.
Work time, rest time and logbook requirements.
Maximum gross weights limits.
The use of unlicensed transport service operators.

What are the Penalties?

Offence	Penalty
Speed	Up to $25,000 upon conviction
Work time, rest time, logbooks	Up to $25,000 upon conviction
Weight limits	Up to $25,000 upon conviction
Use of unlicensed transport service	Up to $25,000
Director of a convicted company	The same penalty as the company