A former trucking executive has been jailed over a fatal crash by one of his drivers.

In a landmark legal decision, former transport executive Cris Large has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a catastrophic crash on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of four Victorian police officers. 

Large, who previously held the position of national operations manager at Connect Logistics, was found guilty of breaching workplace health and safety standards leading up to the incident. 

The court heard how these failings directly contributed to the accident, where a Connect Logistics truck, driven by Mohinder Singh, collided with the officers. 

Singh, who was suffering from fatigue and under the influence of drugs at the time, received a sentence of over 18 years for his role in the tragedy.

During the trial at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, the prosecution, led by Jennifer Single SC, argued that Large's conduct, including the approval of falsified timesheets and inadequate management of driver fatigue, created a hazardous work environment. 

This environment ultimately led to the April 2020 crash that claimed the lives of Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, and Constable Josh Prestney.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss, who presided over the case, ordered Large to serve a minimum of 12 months before being eligible for parole in January 2025. 

In his judgement, Reiss highlighted the severity and deceitfulness of Large's actions, rejecting any claims of remorse by the former executive.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's successful prosecution against Large has shed light on systemic issues within the transport sector, particularly regarding the management of driver fatigue and substance abuse. 

Large’s lawyers have indicated they will appeal the jail term.