Product Overview

Summary: This Heavy Vehicle Movement Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for planning, controlling and monitoring the movement of trucks and other heavy vehicles on Australian worksites, depots and public road interfaces. It helps businesses manage high‑risk traffic interactions, protect pedestrians and drivers, and demonstrate compliance with WHS and Chain of Responsibility requirements.

Heavy vehicle movements are one of the highest‑risk activities on Australian worksites, particularly where trucks, forklifts, light vehicles and pedestrians share the same space. This Heavy Vehicle Movement Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach for planning, coordinating and controlling vehicle movements in yards, warehouses, construction sites, quarries, depots and at interfaces with public roads. It addresses the full lifecycle of vehicle activity, from pre‑arrival communication and site induction through to loading, unloading, reversing, parking and departure.

Developed with Australian WHS obligations and Chain of Responsibility duties in mind, this SOP helps businesses translate legal requirements into day‑to‑day practice. It defines clear responsibilities for drivers, spotters, supervisors and contractors, sets out rules for traffic flow, speed limits and exclusion zones, and specifies how to manage high‑risk tasks such as reversing, working around mobile plant, and operating during low‑visibility or night conditions. By implementing this procedure, organisations can reduce the likelihood of collisions, struck‑by incidents and near misses, while also improving site efficiency, communication and consistency across shifts and locations.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of collisions, run‑overs and near misses involving heavy vehicles, mobile plant and pedestrians.
• Ensure alignment with Australian WHS legislation and Chain of Responsibility obligations for heavy vehicle operations.
• Standardise how heavy vehicle movements are planned, communicated and controlled across all sites and shifts.
• Improve traffic flow and loading bay efficiency through clear routes, scheduling and marshalling procedures.
• Provide defensible documentation to support incident investigations, contractor management and regulatory inspections.

Who is this for?

• Fleet Managers
• Transport and Logistics Managers
• Warehouse and Distribution Centre Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Depot and Yard Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Heavy Vehicle Operators and Truck Drivers
• Traffic Controllers
• Loading Dock Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle–pedestrian collisions in yards, warehouses and construction sites
• Vehicle–vehicle collisions between heavy vehicles, forklifts and light vehicles
• Reversing incidents due to blind spots and poor visibility
• Crush injuries during coupling, uncoupling, loading and unloading
• Falls from height when accessing or egressing heavy vehicles or trailers
• Struck‑by incidents from shifting loads during loading, unloading or movement
• Fatigue‑related driving errors on approach to or departure from site
• Poor visibility hazards in low light, adverse weather or night operations
• Traffic congestion and confusion caused by unclear site access and egress routes

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Drivers, Spotters, Supervisors, Contractors)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Pre‑Operation Requirements (Licensing, Induction and Training)
• 6.0 Site Traffic Management Plan Overview
• 7.0 Vehicle Access, Egress and Parking Controls
• 8.0 Heavy Vehicle Arrival, Check‑In and Marshalling Procedure
• 9.0 Loading and Unloading Procedures (Including Use of Docks and Mobile Plant)
• 10.0 Reversing, Spotter Use and High‑Risk Manoeuvres
• 11.0 Pedestrian and Mobile Plant Exclusion Zones
• 12.0 Speed Limits, Signage, Communication and Traffic Control Devices
• 13.0 Working in Low Visibility, Night Operations and Adverse Weather
• 14.0 Fatigue Management Considerations for Heavy Vehicle Movements
• 15.0 Pre‑Start Checks and Vehicle Condition Requirements on Site
• 16.0 Incident, Near Miss and Hazard Reporting
• 17.0 Emergency Procedures for Vehicle‑Related Incidents
• 18.0 Monitoring, Audit and Review of Heavy Vehicle Movements
• 19.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and state/territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth and state/territory equivalents)
• Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Chain of Responsibility provisions
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Manual Tasks: Code of Practice
• AS 2359: Powered industrial trucks (for interaction with forklifts and mobile plant)
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (for site set‑up and temporary works, where relevant)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems (as a best‑practice framework)