Risky Business Episode 13

Posted by Hubfleet

I’m excited to bring you a recap of the latest episode of the Risky Business, the podcast brought to you by Craig Forsyth (from Big Rig Radio, Trucking in Life and Steering the Future) and me, Glyn Castanelli (Head of Industry Engagement and Customer Success at Hubfleet). This week, we dived deep into a crucial and growing area of the transport industry: how to become a transport compliance specialist.

In this episode, Craig and I unravel the complexities and highlight the various pathways individuals can take to enter this vital role. Whether you’re a seasoned truck driver looking for a change of pace, someone with experience in fleet management, or even an enthusiast from outside the industry, we hope this episode offers valuable insights.

We discuss how a university degree isn’t always necessary, with industry knowledge, a practical mindset, and the right training being key ingredients for success. The conversation explores the different backgrounds people come from, including driving, operations, and even workplace safety, and emphasises that a passion for safety and a desire to see businesses operate correctly are fundamental.

We also feature a special guest, Simone Reinertsen, a compliance expert who brings her unique perspective to the discussion, having transitioned into the field from a different angle. Simone shares her experiences and reinforces the idea that attitude and a willingness to learn are paramount.

Listeners will gain a clear understanding of why transport compliance specialists are so essential, from ensuring businesses remain safe and legal to navigating the ever-evolving regulatory landscape in Australia. The core responsibilities of the role are also unpacked, offering a comprehensive overview of what the job entails.

Furthermore,Craig, Simone and I touch upon the future of compliance, highlighting the increasing role of digital technologies and the importance of staying abreast of regulatory changes. We even hint at a potential community of practice for compliance professionals, recognising the need for collaboration and support within the industry.

Ready to tune in? You can access Risky Business Episode 13 on your favourite podcast platforms:

Listen to the full episode on
Spotify Soundcloud Apple Podcast

Don’t have time to listen, I’ve summarised the episode in the article below.

Becoming a Transport Compliance Champion: Your Road to Success

The world of heavy vehicle transport is the backbone of our economy, but it’s also a landscape governed by strict regulations designed to ensure safety and fair practices. This creates a growing demand for individuals who can navigate this complex environment – transport compliance specialists. If you’re looking for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference, ensuring businesses operate safely, legally, and efficiently, then this could be the perfect path for you.

The Great News: A Degree Isn’t Always Necessary

What truly matters is a solid foundation of industry knowledge, a practical way of thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning. Many successful compliance professionals have come from diverse backgrounds within the transport sector itself.

Your Journey Could Start Here:

  • Behind the wheel: Years spent as a truck driver provide invaluable firsthand experience with fatigue management, mass limits, load restraint, and the realities of daily operations. This on-the-ground understanding is a significant asset.
  • Managing fleets: Experience as a fleet manager equips you with knowledge of vehicle maintenance, scheduling, and the logistical aspects of running a transport business, all of which have crucial compliance implications.
  • Operations and dispatch: Moving up from roles in operations or dispatch gives you a deep understanding of driver hours, compliance documentation, and the pressures of scheduling, providing a practical insight into potential compliance challenges.
  • Workplace safety: Professionals with a background in workplace health and safety often find a natural transition into transport compliance, bringing their skills in risk management and safety systems to this specialised area.
  • An outside perspective: Even if you haven’t worked directly in transport, a genuine passion for the industry, a love for trucks, and a knack for understanding regulations can be a strong starting point.

What Does a Compliance Champion Do?

A transport compliance specialist is far more than just a paper pusher. They are the guardians of safety and legality within a transport business. Their responsibilities are varied and crucial:

  • Staying ahead of the curve: They constantly monitor changes in transport laws and regulations, ensuring the business adapts and remains compliant.
  • Building the rulebook: They develop clear, practical policies and procedures that work in the real world, making compliance easier for everyone to understand and follow.
  • Educating the team: They play a vital role in training and inducting drivers, schedulers, and management on their compliance responsibilities, ensuring everyone knows the rules and how to adhere to them.
  • Investigating and preventing: They review incidents and near misses to identify root causes and implement preventative measures, fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
  • Keeping tabs on hours: They verify drivers’ work and rest hours, ensuring compliance with fatigue management regulations.
  • Preparing for scrutiny: They manage audits and prepare reports, ensuring the business is always ready for inspections by regulatory authorities.
  • Ensuring vehicle and driver fitness: They oversee driver licensing, vehicle maintenance schedules, and adherence to mass and dimension limits, making sure both drivers and vehicles are fit for purpose.
  • Championing responsibility: They promote understanding and adherence to Chain of Responsibility (COR) laws across all levels of the business and throughout the supply chain.

Why is This Role So Important?

Transport compliance is not just about avoiding fines; it’s about the very sustainability and ethical operation of a business. Non-compliance can lead to:

  • Significant financial penalties, potentially running into hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
  • Increased risk of accidents, leading to injuries, fatalities, and devastating consequences for individuals and the business.
  • Loss of contracts and accreditation, severely impacting the ability to operate and grow.
  • Legal liability for everyone in the chain of responsibility, from drivers to business owners, potentially leading to prosecution.

The Future is Now

The landscape of transport compliance is constantly evolving. Technology is playing an increasingly vital role, with digital systems, automation, and data analysis becoming essential tools for effective compliance management. Staying informed about regulatory changes and embracing new technologies are key to success in this field.

Ready to Take the Wheel?

If you’re organised, detail-oriented, passionate about safety, and enjoy problem-solving, a career as a transport compliance specialist offers a fantastic opportunity. Embrace continuous learning, build your network within the industry, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your unique experiences and dedication to doing things the right way can make you a valuable asset to any transport business, helping to create a safer and more compliant industry for everyone.

Power Your Compliance Career with Hubfleet

Want to make compliance easier, faster and more effective?

Hubfleet gives transport compliance specialists the digital tools they need—from automated fatigue management to real-time data, audits, and streamlined reporting. Take the complexity out of compliance and focus on what really matters: safety, efficiency, and getting the job done right.

Start your free trial today or get in touch with our team to learn how we can support transport compliance.

Episode 13 FAQs: Becoming a Transport Compliance Specialist

A transport compliance specialist ensures that transport businesses operate safely, legally, and efficiently by adhering to relevant laws and regulations. Their role goes beyond simply knowing the rules; they implement them in practical ways that work within the business. They help prevent accidents, legal issues (like fines and shutdowns), and loss of contracts or accreditations, ultimately protecting the business’s assets and viability. They also play a crucial role in fostering a safe working environment for drivers and other staff.

The core responsibilities are varied and include:

  • Policy and procedure development: Creating and customising safety management systems, policies, and procedures that reflect the actual operations of the business.
  • Monitoring and auditing: Regularly checking compliance with regulations, preparing for official inspections, and conducting internal audits.
  • Driver and vehicle compliance: Ensuring drivers hold the correct licenses and qualifications, and that vehicles are well-maintained and legally compliant.
  • Training and education: Educating staff on compliance requirements, including chain of responsibility obligations, fatigue management, load restraint, and vehicle standards.
  • Incident investigation: Reviewing accidents, near misses, and compliance breaches to identify root causes and prevent recurrence through corrective actions.
  • Chain of responsibility (COR) oversight: Ensuring that all parties in the supply chain (managers, dispatchers, owners) understand and meet their legal responsibilities.
  • Utilising technology: Implementing and leveraging digital systems for tasks like work diary management, vehicle tracking, and automatic cross-checking of work and rest hours to improve efficiency and accuracy.
  • Permits and authorisations: Understanding and managing the application process for necessary permits, gazette notices, and authorisation notices for specific vehicle configurations or loads.

No, a university degree is generally not a prerequisite. The more important factors are industry knowledge, a practical mindset, and relevant training. Many people transition into this role after gaining experience working in the transport industry in roles such as truck driving, fleet management, operations, or dispatch.

While a formal degree isn’t always necessary, several types of training can be very beneficial:

  • Industry-specific courses: Courses related to transport compliance, health and safety (like a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety), training and assessment (like a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment), fatigue management, load restraint, and mass management.
  • Chain of responsibility training: Specific training on COR obligations, though this area is continuously developing with more formal units of competency becoming available.
  • Accreditation scheme knowledge: Understanding the requirements of national accreditation schemes (like NNVAS & WAHVA accreditation), which can be gained through self-study using freely available resources.
  • Technology training: Familiarity with and the ability to utilise digital compliance management systems.
  • Soft skills: Developing skills in communication, stakeholder engagement, and understanding workplace English language and literacy to create clear and effective documentation and training.
  • Auditing training: Courses in auditing can be valuable for conducting internal audits and preparing for external assessments.

There are various routes into this field:

  • Experienced drivers: Drivers with years of experience in areas like fatigue laws, mass limits, and safety procedures can leverage their practical knowledge.
  • Fleet managers: Individuals who have managed vehicle maintenance, logistics, and driver schedules often possess relevant skills.
  • Operations and dispatch staff: Those with experience in scheduling and understanding driver hours and compliance documentation can move into dedicated compliance roles.
  • Workplace safety officers: Professionals with a background in general workplace safety can transition into the specialised area of transport compliance.
  • Other professionals: Even individuals from backgrounds like law enforcement with an interest in transport can enter this field.

Some common challenges include:

  • Resistance to change: Overcoming resistance from some individuals or departments within a business who may see compliance as a burden.
  • Lack of support: Feeling unsupported or not being listened to within the organisational hierarchy, particularly if the compliance role doesn’t report directly to senior management.
  • Keeping up with regulations: Staying informed about constantly evolving transport laws and regulations.
  • Implementing effective systems: Ensuring that compliance systems are practical, user-friendly, and actually followed by staff, rather than just being “dusty manuals.”
  • Balancing compliance and operations: Navigating situations where commercial pressures might conflict with compliance requirements.
  • Managing large volumes of data: Dealing with significant amounts of paperwork or digital records, such as pre-start checks and incident reports.

The future of transport compliance is likely to be shaped by

  • Increased digital compliance: Greater adoption of technology for work diaries, vehicle tracking, fatigue monitoring (including biometrics), maintenance management, and data analysis.
  • Changes in regulations: Ongoing updates and amendments to transport laws, such as the implementation of HVNL2 and evolving chain of responsibility legislation.
  • Enhanced enforcement: Increased off-road enforcement activities and greater data sharing between regulatory bodies and accredited operators.
  • Focus on systemic compliance: A continued shift in enforcement towards holding businesses accountable for their systems and processes, rather than solely focusing on individual driver infringements.
  • Data-driven insights: Utilising data from digital systems to identify trends, proactively manage risks, and improve overall safety and compliance performance.

For those considering this career path:

  • Follow your passion: If you have a genuine interest in transport, safety, and helping businesses operate responsibly, this can be a very rewarding career.
  • Recognise your existing knowledge: If you’ve worked in the transport industry, you already possess valuable experience that you can build upon.
  • Seek relevant training: Formalise your knowledge and gain necessary qualifications through targeted courses and continuous professional development.
  • Build your network: Connect with other compliance professionals, attend industry events, and don’t hesitate to ask questions and share knowledge.
  • Focus on practical solutions: Aim to implement compliance measures that are simple, effective, and relevant to the specific needs of the business.
  • Embrace lifelong learning: The regulatory landscape and technology are constantly evolving, so a commitment to ongoing learning is crucial.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Utilise available resources, connect with experienced professionals, and consider seeking advice or mentorship as you develop in your role.

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