Executive Chain of Responsibility 2026

Understand how your business influences heavy vehicle safety, then turn executive responsibility into practical oversight. Build on the three Chain of Responsibility foundations with safety management systems, safety culture, employer systems, executive accountability and evidence-based action.

Who this course is for

Directors, partners, management members and people involved in managing businesses with heavy vehicle transport activities, including businesses using contracted carriers. Managers who build and report on the operating controls will also benefit.

What you will be able to do

• Identify chain functions and explain the primary duty and shared responsibility.
• Map risks, establish workable controls and check that they are used.
• Explain how safety management systems and safety culture support effective transport controls.
• Recognise the employer’s contribution to driver capability, fitness and safe work.
• Distinguish executive due diligence from the entity’s duties and other liability routes.
• Question safety reports, resource corrective action and verify the outcome.

How to complete the course

Complete the seven topics in order. Each includes a video, a full reading version, practical resources and a true-or-false quiz. You can read the content if you prefer. The supplied videos total about 55 minutes; allow additional time for the reading, activities and seven quizzes.

Each quiz draws 10 questions at random from its topic’s bank. The pass mark is 75%, which means at least 8 correct answers out of 10. There is no time limit. Review the feedback and topic content if you need to retake a quiz; the course allows three retakes.

Start with Understanding CoR 1

Course topics

Understanding Chain of Responsibility

1. Understanding Chain of Responsibility 1
   Open topic quiz
2. Understanding Chain of Responsibility 2
   Open topic quiz
3. Understanding Chain of Responsibility 3
   Open topic quiz

Safety management in practice

4. Safety Management Systems and Safety Culture
   Open topic quiz

Employer and executive responsibilities

5. Employer — Safe transport systems
   Open topic quiz
6. Executive — Accountability and liability
   Open topic quiz
7. Executive Due Diligence — Evidence and action
   Open topic quiz

Course resources

• CoR practical guide — Make a safety action work
• CoR practical guide — Safe handover and release
• CoR reference — Functions, duties and executive accountability
• CoR practical guide — Map a risk and follow it through
• CoR practical guide — Contracts and shared transport risks
• Executive practical guide — Due diligence evidence and action
• Download the learner supplement (PDF)