CoR reference — Functions, duties and executive accountability
Use this guide to identify the duties relevant to the work. Start with the function and the entity, then examine the individual’s actual role.
The ten chain functions
| Function | Starting point for your review |
|---|---|
| Employer | Employs a heavy vehicle driver. |
| Prime contractor | Engages a self-employed driver under a contract for services. |
| Operator | Directs the control and use of a heavy vehicle. |
| Scheduler | Schedules transport or a driver’s work and rest. |
| Consignor | Arranges for goods to be sent; check the full statutory definition and arrangements. |
| Consignee | Intended recipient of the goods under the statutory definition; check applicable exceptions. |
| Packer | Packs or assembles goods for transport under the statutory definition. |
| Loading manager | Manages, or supervises activities at, premises averaging five or more heavy vehicles loaded or unloaded daily; check the full definition. |
| Loader | Loads a heavy vehicle, including the activities covered by the statutory definition. |
| Unloader | Unloads a heavy vehicle, including the activities covered by the statutory definition. |
These are practical prompts, not replacements for the full definitions in section 5. A person or business can perform several functions. Driving or owning a vehicle alone is not the test for party status.
Keep the duties distinct
| Duty or liability route | What to examine |
|---|---|
| Party’s primary duty — section 26C | Safety of transport activities so far as is reasonably practicable. Shared duties remain with each party. |
| Executive due diligence — section 26D | Reasonable steps to ensure the legal entity complies with its safety duties. The primary duty and other defined safety duties have separate offence provisions. |
| Specified corporate offences — section 636 | For a corporate executive officer, whether the specified offence and knowing authorisation or permission requirements are established. |
| Own transport function | Whether the individual also performs a defined chain function and has a primary duty in that capacity. |
Who is an executive?
For a corporation, the definition includes directors and people concerned in or taking part in management, whatever their title. For an unincorporated partnership it includes a partner; for an unincorporated body, a management member. Budget authority may be relevant evidence, but it is not the statutory definition. Do not assume every supervisor is covered. Section 26D contains an exception for a person acting on a voluntary basis; other duties may still apply.
Primary duty offence categories
- Category 3: failure to comply with the primary duty.
- Category 2: the relevant failure exposes a person or class of people to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.
- Category 1: the specified conduct, without reasonable excuse, exposes a person to that risk, with recklessness as to the risk. It can include imprisonment for an individual.
An injury or crash is not required before serious risk matters. Equally, a bad outcome does not automatically establish every offence element. Technical breach labels such as minor or severe are a different classification. Use current penalty references for monetary amounts.
Apply the reasonably practicable test
- How likely is the risk or damage, and how serious could the harm be?
- What is known or ought reasonably to be known about the risk and ways to control it?
- Which controls are available and suitable?
- What is the cost, including whether it is grossly disproportionate to the likelihood of the risk or damage?
The Queensland text is the national-law reference used for this course. Participating jurisdictions apply the law through their own legislation; local modifications and other road and workplace safety laws also matter. Western Australia and the Northern Territory have their own arrangements.
Reference: Heavy Vehicle National Law — current Queensland text. Check the local application law for the relevant jurisdiction. Reading reviewed 6 October 2026.