There have been a lot of regulatory changes in trucking in recent years that farmers need to comply with.

As of October 1st, 2018, for most states in Australia, the Chain of Responsibility will be enforced into a model that follows Work, Health & Safety Law (WHS), not just the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

What is a Safety Management System? (SMS)

An SMS is simply the procedures you follow and the records you keep to manage your workplace safety.

If you are already accredited in the NHVAS Mass, Maintenance or Fatigue accreditation modules, then your auditor would be managing your compliance.

If you are not in an NHVR accreditation scheme and are running general mass limits for your farm truck, then you need to organise yourself some record keeping.

The NHVR has established a DIY Safety Management System for you to use here:

• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
• NHVR sms-tool-safety-management-system-checklist

If you engage contractors for grain and fertiliser cartage, you are within the 'Chain of Responsibility', so still have safety management obligations. 

I have my own system in order to comply with the Chain of Responsibility and provide further assistance on this topic to my members and clients.

Resources freely available online:

• Primary Production Work Diary Exemption
• 2025 SA Farm Grain Transport Mass Exemption Gazette
• Fatigue Management for Farmers - NHVR 2015 explanations
• The Grain Carriers Code of Practice is not being revised