Australian Hours of Service

[heyns57]

There is now also a new chain of responsibility, where driver work/rest hours are the joint responsibility of the driver, scheduler, co-signer/co-signee and load manager.
The driver must ensure he or she follows the new work/rest guidelines and has enough rest in accordance.
The scheduler must ensure their schedule allows for drivers to take appropriate rest breaks in accordance with the new guidelines.
Co-signers and co-signees must ensure they do not put pressure on drivers to speed or ignore new fatigue laws for the sake of delivery that better suits them.
Load managers must take steps to ensure the driver doesn’t exceed their work/rest ratio, including making sure the driver gets suitable rest time even if they’re delayed by more than 30 minutes.
Load managers are now legally any people with a depot where five or more trucks stop per day.
All must also deem the driver fit to drive, lest they also be faced with the implications of a fatigue related accident.




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[Brickman]

Geez that is seriously screwed up.

[lostNfound]

Originally Posted by Brickman

Geez that is seriously screwed up.

Oh, I don't know about that. I think it is important that the responsibility (and subsequent liability) be extended beyond the driver. Shippers and receivers have to accept that they cannot keep drivers waiting inordinate amounts of time "just because". Carriers, while always being closer to the liability issue than other elements (other than the driver) will have to be even more vigilant with regard to ensuring they promote safe practises.

The only way for HOS to truly work; allowing safe operations and the ability for all involved the reasonable expectation of profit, is for all elements to work together. Currently that isn't the case. Personally, I will be interested in seeing how this works.

[Agent86]

dont believe the hype.. they still pass it all on to us.
to date, they havent persued any major co's due to this.. just drivers.

[SNI_Gary_OC]

Originally Posted by Agent86

dont believe the hype.. they still pass it all on to us.
to date, they havent persued any major co's due to this.. just drivers.

Yeah,
It might be a bunch of hype for now but give it time and the Government will find that the fines will bring in a nice income in a years time. Thats when they will get serious about enforcing rules regarding the managers pushing to hard. For example, the state of California and Ohio (USA) have been enforcing truck regulations heavily for the soul purpose of income. The bad part of it of course is that the driver is held resposible so you got to watch your speed and axle wight. I'm sure you have seen the same in OZ in certain area right?

[Agent86]

we have had to be aware of speed and axle weights for ages...

they wont persue the majors, due to the fact that they will exped more money than they will get in fines.

I will believe the rhetoric when i see some action that stops targeting the drivers only..

[kiwibloke]

I run for twenty years in Aussie and if I can't get to Canada I will be going back to Aus but I know for a fact you can't get anywhere or make any money in eleven hours of drive time over there look at the New Zealand laws untill not to long ago like this year if you where caught with out your log book being 100% you would loose your licence for one month as well as grtting a fine upto 1000 dollars. Now they get you on demerrit points on your licence even if you don't put the date in then they give you a fine and take your licence when you get 100 points.