Chain of Responsibility (CoR) legislation is a reality for anyone involved in transporting grain, but the lack of measuring equipment on trucks and silos is exposing transporters to fines and OH&S problems.
If you’re part of an organisation or an individual with any control over the grain transportation chain then you are responsible and that translates into being legally liable where Chain of Responsibility legislation is concerned.
Bulk commodities measuring equipment company Bulknet’s national business development manager, Nik Maljkovic, says that all too often he sees operators confused, frustrated and unsure of what they can do to protect themselves. Many have concerns about the costs involved in achieving legal load compliance but rarely see the long-term financial benefits that can result from implementing responsible mass management practices.
“In my opinion, far too many operators remain ignorant about CoR. They decide to take the risk and simply rely on the hope that they don’t get caught. This attitude is dangerous considering the safety risks to all road users and the penalties for breaches that can cripple an entire organisation,” he said.
“A ‘substantial’ breach is viewed by road authorities as exceeding the permissible gross vehicle mass (GVM) by only 5%, while a ‘severe’ breach is classed when the permissible GVM and/or axle group mass is exceeded by 20% or more. You would be shocked to learn how many companies we work with are regularly overloading by 25% and just don’t realise it,” he adds.
“Grain haulage overloads are particularly rife and it is often not until you get into the grain receiving station that you are aware of your breach. Road authorities are getting tougher on offenders and as the likelihood of being pulled over and having your weight checked increases, ignorance is not going to save you from receiving an infringement notice if you are in fact overloaded.”
When it comes to grain haulers, most of the loading is done beside a chaser bin on a farm with no weighbridge in sight. Nik says it is not uncommon to hear stories of haulers who have to resort to jumping in and out of the cab to check air pressure gauges to calculate the... Next Page
The Motorola MC95 raises the bar for premier rugged mobile computing. Building on Motorola's signature MC9000 Series, the MC95 features rugged design, more data capture options, true WAN technology independence and application flexibility through custo
more»
RFBS have partnered with Vocollect, the world-leaders in voice technology, to transform medium enterprise warehouse and distribution centres across Australia and to fill the need for more effective solutions for companies dealing with bulk/ heavy items, c
more»
A first for the logistics industry in Australia - ONLY LOGISTICS - a centralised, interactive, web-based service where potential sellers and buyers can register their interests via an industry-specific and secure listing method.
more»
MHD
Supply Chain Solutions
Has been the industry leader for more
than 30 years. It is the reference guide for professionals
striving for effective end-to-end supply chain management...
Diesel
A bi-monthly magazine that has shaken up
the Australian road transport magazine sector with sharp news
stories and bold feature articles on the diverse character
of the Australian trucking market...
