Company Policies
Law & Chain of Responsibility
All parties in the road transport supply chain are responsible for preventing an accident. This is called the Chain of Responsibility. Historically, transport laws have focused on the actions of drivers, while failing to sufficiently recognise and regulate the actions of other key parties involved. The Chain of Responsibility laws introduced in recent years recognise and ensure all parties in the chain are liable for the impact of their actions and inactions. All parties in the supply chain – the consigner or dispatcher, packer, loader, scheduler, consignee or receiver, as well as the driver and operator – must take positive steps to prevent a breach of road transport laws and regulations in regards to mass, packaging, load restraint dimension, loading, speed, fatigue and work hours.
Rcalian Freightlines takes all reasonable steps to prevent our actions or conduct (or the actions of our regional carriers or clients) from causing or contributing to a breach. We will not make demands that we know will cause a breach and we refuse to fulfill demands from our clients that will require us to breach legislative requirements. We will not coerce, induce or encourage breaches and we will not pass on false or misleading information that could cause a breach. The Chain of Responsibility is addressed by all participants within our regional operations network. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure all goods carried on our behalf comply with State, Territory and National regulations, laws and codes of practice. And while we commit to ensuring our compliance within the Chain of Responsibility, we also look to our clients and seek the same commitment from them.
We’ve worked hard to build a culture of safety and compliance. Our systems support our operations to ensure we meet and exceed all standards within the industry. Rcalian Freightlines can say with complete confidence that we meet all of the obligations required of us under Road Transport Chain of Responsibility regulations.
Safety & Compliance
In an industry thought to push the boundaries of compliance and safety, Rcalian Freightlines is proud of our industry leading regulatory compliance initiatives. We demonstrate a commitment to not only meeting the relevant standards and regulations but providing a level of safety and compliance that is over and above what we are bound to legally provide under transport law. Our initiatives in this area are many and varied and we’re continually responding to changes in both the legislative environment and the industry itself. Some of our key initiatives include:
Industry Leading Systems
Our systems allow us to monitor the actions of our fleet and our drivers in real-time. This allows us to monitor speed, acceleration and deceleration, any instances of harsh braking, freight mass and schedules, required rest breaks and total driving hours. Our system alerts supervisors of any imminent or actual breach in regulations and allows them to take action immediately.
Our fully integrated systems also track driver competencies and state licensing records, fleet maintenance records and trip history. This technology is also used within our vehicles – notifying our drivers of an impending required rest break or of a breach in maximum speed when declining down a hill, allowing them to take timely corrective action.
Training & Staff Development
We’re continually investing in our staff to ensure safe work practices and the maintenance of a safe working environment for all. Upon employment, our drivers, regardless of past experience, undergo training in road rules, fatigue management, defensive driving, compliance with regulations, cab assessment, basic maintenance, and load restraint. This training must be completed before drivers are permitted to drive our vehicles.
Our Fleet & Driver Safety
Vehicle speed in our linehaul fleet is limited to 100 kilometers per hour. Interstate drivers are provided with air-conditioned bunkrooms to rest and recuperate whilst local staff undertake most pickup and delivery operations and prepare their loads for departure to ensure our drivers are able to obtain quality rest. We also provide drivers with catered meals, avoiding the need for them to stop for a meal break soon after commencing their interstate trip.
These initiatives play an integral role in ensuring and demonstrating our compliance with laws, but most importantly, they keep our drivers and our client’s assets safe.
Occupational Health & Safety
The health and safety of our people is of the highest priority and cannot be compromised. Our objective is a workplace free of incidents and injuries. To achieve this we must all ensure our own safety and that of our fellow workers through an absolute commitment to safe work practices and a healthy work environment.
To deliver on our commitment, we will:
– communicate Rcalian Freightlines Health and Safety Policy and procedures to all employees and other stakeholders as appropriate to ensure they are aware of their obligations with respect to Rcalian Freightlines operations;
– comply with all applicable health and safety laws, regulations, statutory obligations and other applicable requirements;
– ensure that health and safety management and practices are incorporated into all aspects of our operations;
– seek to achieve the personal commitment of all employees, subcontractors, suppliers and consultants to healthy and safe workplace practices;
– provide health and safety risk management systems and procedures that are relevant to the nature and scale of work undertaken;
– maintain and monitor health and safety performance indicators;
– set measurable targets and seek to continually improve our health and safety performance; and,
– periodically review and revise our Health and Safety Policy and procedures to maintain their relevance.
The well being of our employees and those working with us is of primary importance. It is the responsibility of all individuals to achieve a healthy and safe workplace.
DRIVER MANUALS
To ensure we maintain a level of service that exceeds our client’s expectations, Rcalian Freightlines set the following standards for all our drivers.
— All are required to undergo training programs that are designed so that the drivers have the appropriate education, training and experience to perform their designated tasks.
— All are trained and regularly updated in regards to occupational health and safety issues.
Rcalian Freightlines uniforms must be worn at all times for ease of identification and professional appearance.
— All loads must be adequately secured and protected.
— All vehicles, including sub-contractors, are fitted with mobile telephones or two-way radios for instant access and the ability to notify us of any problems that they have encountered or envisage to allow us to plan and take the appropriate steps. It also allows us to ascertain the whereabouts of a load and the ability to redirect, if necessary.
— The drivers are responsible to ensure their vehicles are maintained in accordance with our scheduled maintenance program in order that they are in A1 roadworthy condition and reliable.
We have embodied the above standards in our ‘Driver Standards’ that are executed by all company-employed drivers and permanent sub-contractors.
Either direct employees or sub-contract owner-drivers drive the vehicles provided by Rcalian Freightlines.
Because of the security of on-going work and their desire to be a part of a professional firm, driver turnover at Rcalian Freightlines is very low with a 4-year average employment of drivers.