Adhering to Speed Compliance Parameters

Since being implemented in 2010, the Queensland Government’s Heavy Vehicle Speed Compliance legislation has aimed to create a chain of responsibility among those involved in industries that deal with heavy vehicles, such as the logistics industry.

It aimed to place as much responsibility on the shoulders of operators, owners, directors and other authoritative figures within the heavy vehicle industries so that they could be held accountable if they were creating situations or encouraging heavy vehicle operators to speed.

With the unpredictability that the logistics and road freight industry can throw at you, it’s important to ensure you’re adhering to these rules while also accounting for contingencies that could cause setbacks that threaten meeting delivery deadlines.

How to adhere to the Heavy Vehicle Speed Compliance legislation

One of the most important first steps is to address the issue of speeding with your drivers, operators, directors and anyone else who can be held accountable for a speed violation. You need to make it clear to everyone involved that under no circumstances is speeding acceptable.

For drivers, this means they simply need to observe road rules, speed limits and adhere to schedules that allow for rests, breaks and contingency planning (e.g. a road normally taken is flooded and impassable). For others, this means they must keep their cogs running smoothly as well.

Orders need to be ready for packing, sending and storage at the allotted times so that freight drivers can leave at the right time and have plenty of time to get from point A to point B.

Another important step is to run a risk assessment factors that could lead to speeding. For example, you’ll need to sure that all speed limiters are functioning, that your drivers don’t have to adhere to unrealistic deadlines, and that your clients aren’t demanding the impossible. If something does impact on efficiency, drivers still need to adhere to speed limits.

However, with proper planning and the foresight to account for contingencies you shouldn’t face any problems unless the situation itself is relatively unprecedented and simply couldn’t be avoided.

Who does the Compliance apply to and what are the penalties?

The Heavy Vehicle Speed Compliance legislation is applicable to all heavy vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or over – this includes buses. Failing to comply with the legislation can lead to fines from $300 for minor infringements to court ordered payments of $8,000. These are paid by those in the chain of responsibility – such as the aforementioned operators, directors, etc. – not the driver themselves. However, they will still face demerit points and the usual speeding fines.

If you would like to find out more about the Heavy Vehicle Speed Compliance legislation, be sure to check it out on our Education page.