Product Overview

Summary: This Transport Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for managing the risks associated with moving people, goods, and equipment on and off site. It helps Australian businesses control vehicle-related hazards, comply with WHS and chain of responsibility laws, and protect workers, contractors, and the public during transport activities.

Vehicle and transport activities remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in Australia. From heavy vehicles entering and exiting sites, to forklifts operating in shared zones, to light vehicles travelling between jobs, uncontrolled transport risks can have catastrophic consequences. This Transport Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, end-to-end framework for planning, conducting and monitoring all work-related transport tasks in a safe, consistent and legally defensible way.

Designed for Australian conditions and regulatory requirements, this SOP covers on-road and off-road vehicle movements, loading and unloading practices, traffic management on sites and depots, driver fitness for work, and communication protocols between drivers, supervisors and ground personnel. It supports businesses to meet their obligations under WHS legislation and Heavy Vehicle National Law (Chain of Responsibility), while reducing confusion and variability in day-to-day operations. By implementing this procedure, organisations can significantly reduce the likelihood of collisions, rollovers, load shifts and pedestrian impacts, and provide workers with clear, practical instructions they can follow in real-world environments.

Whether you manage a small fleet of utes or a complex operation involving linehaul, local delivery, forklifts and mobile plant, this SOP helps bring all your transport safety controls into one coherent, easy-to-train document. It is suitable for use as a standalone transport safety procedure or integrated into a broader WHS management system, induction program or contractor management framework.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of vehicle collisions, rollovers and pedestrian impacts through clear traffic management and driving rules.
• Ensure compliance with WHS legislation and Heavy Vehicle National Law (Chain of Responsibility) across your transport operations.
• Standardise driver, loader and spotter behaviours with consistent, step-by-step procedures that are easy to train and audit.
• Improve load security and loading/unloading practices to prevent load shifts, spills, equipment damage and road incidents.
• Strengthen incident preparedness and response with defined procedures for breakdowns, crashes and near miss reporting.

Who is this for?

• Fleet Managers
• Logistics and Transport Coordinators
• Warehouse and Distribution Managers
• Site Supervisors and Leading Hands
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Operations Managers
• Heavy Vehicle Drivers
• Delivery Drivers and Couriers
• Forklift and Mobile Plant Operators
• Project Managers in Construction, Mining and Civil Works

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle-to-vehicle collisions on site and on public roads
• Vehicle-to-pedestrian impacts in loading zones, depots and work sites
• Vehicle rollovers due to speed, unstable ground or poor load distribution
• Unsecured or poorly restrained loads shifting, falling or spilling
• Reversing and blind spot incidents involving trucks, utes, forklifts and mobile plant
• Driver fatigue, distraction, impairment and fitness for work issues
• Manual handling injuries during loading and unloading activities
• Slips, trips and falls around vehicles, trailers and loading docks
• Exposure to hazardous environments during roadside breakdowns or emergency stops
• Noise, dust and exhaust exposure in busy transport yards and enclosed areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Chain of Responsibility Duties
• 4.0 Competency, Licensing and Training Requirements
• 5.0 Vehicle and Mobile Plant Pre-Start Checks
• 6.0 Journey Planning, Route Selection and Fatigue Management
• 7.0 Site Traffic Management and Pedestrian Control
• 8.0 Safe Driving Practices and Speed Management
• 9.0 Loading, Unloading and Load Restraint Procedures
• 10.0 Communication Protocols (Drivers, Spotters, Supervisors)
• 11.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 12.0 Fitness for Work, Drugs, Alcohol and Distraction Controls
• 13.0 Breakdown, Incident and Emergency Response Procedures
• 14.0 Environmental Considerations (Spills, Noise, Dust)
• 15.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Defect Reporting
• 16.0 Record Keeping, Monitoring and Review
• 17.0 References, Related Documents and Legislation

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant 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 – Guide for Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS 2359 (series): Powered industrial trucks
• National Transport Commission (NTC) – Load Restraint Guide for Light and Heavy Vehicles