Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) names 10 party functions — consignor, consignee, packer, loader, unloader, loading manager, operator, prime contractor, scheduler and employer. If your business performs any of these functions for a heavy vehicle, you are a CoR party and you owe a safety duty — regardless of your job title.
- 10 CoR party functions are defined in the HVNL — each carries a primary duty to ensure safety so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Function, not title: you are a party because of what you do, not because of a job title or the words of a contract.
- The driver is usually not a party simply by driving — unless they are an owner/operator or perform another CoR function.
- You can be more than one party at once (e.g. a business that schedules and loads).
- The duty is non-transferable — you can’t contract or delegate it away.
- From 1 August 2026, HVNL reforms move the framework further toward documented, risk-based safety management across the chain.
What is a “party” in the Chain of Responsibility?
The Chain of Responsibility is the principle that everyone who influences how a heavy vehicle is loaded, scheduled, packed, dispatched and driven shares responsibility for safety on the road — not just the driver behind the wheel. The HVNL does this by defining a set of functions in the transport task and attaching a primary safety duty to each one. Perform a function, and you are a “party in the chain” with a duty to manage the risks you can influence.
The single most important idea is this: you are a party because of a function you perform, not because of your job title or a contract. Calling someone a “contractor” or labelling a role differently in paperwork does not remove a CoR duty if the function is being performed in practice.
The 10 CoR party functions explained
The table below maps each of the 10 functions to who typically performs it and the kinds of risks that party is best placed to manage.
| CoR party | What the function involves | Typical risks they influence |
|---|---|---|
| Consignor | Coordinates and sends goods for transport by a heavy vehicle | Realistic timeframes, accurate goods information, mass/dimension expectations |
| Consignee | Receives the goods delivered by a heavy vehicle | Delivery windows that don’t pressure speed or fatigue, safe unloading conditions |
| Packer | Packs or assembles goods for transport | Correct packaging, accurate weight/description, load that can be safely restrained |
| Loader | Loads the vehicle | Load placement, mass limits, securing and restraint |
| Unloader | Unloads the vehicle | Safe unloading practices and site conditions |
| Loading manager | Supervises or manages loading/unloading activities or premises | Loading-area systems, queueing, supervision of loaders/unloaders |
| Operator | Operates (controls or directs the use of) the heavy vehicle | Vehicle roadworthiness, maintenance, driver management |
| Prime contractor | Engaged to transport the goods under contract | Whole-of-journey safety, sub-contractor arrangements |
| Scheduler | Schedules the transport, or a driver’s work and rest hours | Fatigue, speed pressure, realistic trip plans |
| Employer | Employs a driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle | Driver hours, fatigue management, training and supervision |
Is the driver a party in the chain?
This surprises a lot of people: a heavy vehicle driver is generally not a CoR party simply because they drive. Driving is not one of the 10 CoR functions. An employed driver is captured by the road rules and their employer’s safety systems, but they don’t become a “party in the chain” merely by being at the wheel.
A driver does become a party if they also perform a CoR function — for example, an owner/operator who is also the operator and scheduler, or a driver who loads or packs the vehicle. In those cases the duty attaches to the function, not the driving.
Can you be more than one party at once?
Yes. A single business — or a single person — can perform several functions and therefore hold several CoR duties at the same time. A distribution centre might be the consignee, the loading manager and the unloader; a small transport operator might be the operator, scheduler and employer all at once. Each function carries its own duty, and they apply together.
What does each party have to do?
Every CoR party shares the same primary duty: so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the safety of the party’s transport activities. In practice that means identifying the risks you can influence (fatigue, speed, mass, dimension, load restraint, roadworthiness), putting controls in place, and being able to show you took reasonable steps. The duty is non-delegable — you cannot sign it away to a contractor or another party in the chain.
From 1 August 2026, HVNL reforms push this further toward documented, risk-based safety management across the supply chain, making it even more important that each party understands its function and keeps evidence of the controls it has in place. The core CoR duties themselves don’t change — but the expectation to demonstrate them does.
How do parties prove they’re meeting their duty?
Regulators look for reasonable, documented steps proportionate to the risk a party controls: realistic scheduling and delivery windows, load-restraint and mass checks, vehicle maintenance records, fatigue management, induction and training, and a system for raising and fixing problems. Training the people who perform CoR functions — so they understand the duty attached to their role — is a foundational, low-cost control that supports every other measure.
Frequently asked questions
How many parties are there in the Chain of Responsibility?
The HVNL defines 10 CoR party functions: consignor, consignee, packer, loader, unloader, loading manager, operator, prime contractor, scheduler and employer. A duty attaches to each function performed.
Is the driver a party in the Chain of Responsibility?
Not by driving alone — driving is not a CoR function. A driver becomes a party only if they also perform another function, such as being an owner/operator, scheduler, loader or packer.
Can a business be more than one CoR party?
Yes. If a business performs several functions — for example scheduling, loading and operating — it holds the CoR duty for each of those functions at the same time.
Are you a CoR party because of your job title?
No. You are a party because of the function you actually perform in the transport task, not because of a job title or the wording of a contract.
Can a CoR duty be delegated or contracted away?
No. The primary duty is non-transferable. You can engage contractors to do work, but you cannot sign away your own CoR duty to ensure safety so far as is reasonably practicable.
What is the primary duty each party owes?
To ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of the party’s transport activities — by identifying and controlling the risks (fatigue, speed, mass, dimension, load restraint, roadworthiness) it is in a position to influence.
Does the 1 August 2026 HVNL reform change who the parties are?
The parties and their core duties stay the same. The reforms strengthen the move toward documented, risk-based safety management across the chain, so parties should expect to demonstrate their controls more clearly.
Do all CoR parties need accredited training?
Training isn’t mandatory for every role, but it’s a strong, low-cost control. CoR awareness training suits anyone who performs a function; the accredited unit TLIF0009 produces a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment for those who need formal evidence.
Work out your duties and train your people. Start with the Chain of Responsibility Awareness course (online) or the nationally recognised TLIF0009 accredited CoR course. Background reading: what is Chain of Responsibility?, who is liable under CoR laws? and HVNL reform 2026: what changes on 1 August.
Sources: NHVR — Parties in the CoR; NHVR — The Primary Duty.