Truckies all over Oz should by now be aware of the new driver fatigue management laws that have come into effect a few months ago.
As of 10 February this year, the Heavy Vehicle National Law 2012 has come into effect and has replaced the previous laws that governed the operation of all heavy vehicles in most states including Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. The new law applies to all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass.
New national laws are now in place to overcome heavy vehicle driver fatigue , the laws are for drivers of fatigue regulated heavy vehicles which are vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of over 12 tones, combination when the total of the gross vehicle mass is over 12 tons and combinations when the total of the gross vehicle mass is over 12 tons.
It also applies to buses over 4.5 tons which can accommodate 12 adults and a truck or a combination including a truck with a gross vehicle mass of over 12 tons with a machine attached.
If you are a driver of a fatigue related heavy vehicle, you are compelled to complete and carry a national driver work diary if you are working more than 100 km from your base of operations, driving under a work and rest hours exemption or working under any fatigue management accreditation.
The new National Work diaries can be obtained from the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Although many companies have been affected by the New National Regulator, all organisations using heavy vehicles as a part of their operations will be forced to comply.
Although fatigue management has always been an important issue, now more than ever organisations have an obligation to comply with the national laws.
Fatigue Management has become not only vital to road safety but vital to the future of the business. Organisations that fail to comply risk the safety of the employees on the road as well as risking their business being the centre of investigations, being issued notices and perhaps even losing their business altogether.
Many organisations, particularly the ones that are newer to the industry and possibly starting off small, find the idea of adhering to fatigue management laws daunting especially when you consider that there are so many rules and regulations that organisations in this industry need to abide by. The first step to tackling the issue within any organisation should involve getting the necessary knowledge to ensure that your company is compliant – this begins with training.
The simplest and most effective way of getting this training and ensuring that your company is compliant is by completing the online course, from your home or office, anytime night or day. Also it ensures that you and those within your organisation who are responsible for fatigue management are aware of what’s expected according to the law. The cost and convenience of the course ensures that you know your responsibilities with minimal fuss and effort and depending on your needs, you can choose the type of training that suits you so it’s fully customisable.
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