Understanding Chain of Responsibility: What Every Fleet Manager Should Know
The Chain of Responsibility (CoR) is often misunderstood, but it’s one of the most important frameworks in the logistics and transport world. It’s not just about drivers or vehicles: it’s about accountability across the entire chain of command. If you influence how goods are loaded, scheduled, or delivered - you’re part of the chain.
What CoR Really Means
CoR legislation ensures that every party in the supply chain, from executives to schedulers, shares responsibility for safety and compliance. It recognises that unsafe behaviour rarely happens in isolation. A driver may break fatigue rules, but an investigation will delve further into unrealistic scheduling or poor supervision.
The Hidden Risk of “Unclear Responsibility”
Many organisations assume “someone else handles that.” That’s where most CoR failures begin. Without clarity, tasks like load restraint or maintenance checks fall through the cracks. Establishing defined accountabilities and documentation is key to staying compliant.
Proving Due Diligence
Having a safety policy isn’t enough. Regulators expect evidence of how those policies are implemented and monitored. That includes training records, communications, and system logs showing continuous oversight. And in 2025 and beyond, a few scraps of paper tucked into a folder no longer cuts it.
Technology’s Role in CoR
Modern CoR management is about traceability. Digital checklists, electronic work diaries, and GPS monitoring can demonstrate compliance in real time, reducing reliance on manual records; and these systems can integrate seamlessly into ensuring an efficient, smooth business.
LATUS helps businesses establish clear CoR frameworks and implement technology that proves compliance automatically. Our consultants train staff, review documentation, and design processes that withstand real-world pressure and holds up to scrutiny. Have a chat with one of our compliance specialists today to see how simple it really is to ensure your operation runs both efficiently and legally.
