TWU backs NRMA report

Date: 24 March 2010

An NRMA report stating that the 300 deaths annually in the road transport industry cost the economy $2 billion each year should serve as a warning to business and the community that industry-wide change was urgent.

Transport Workers Union national secretary, Tony Sheldon, said The Safety Needs of Heavy Vehicles in Australia supported the findings of the National Transport Commissions' (NTC) report into heavy vehicle fatalities, which recommended the acknowledgement of the link between rates of pay and safety and address this problem through regulatory intervention.

The NTC report, prepared by the Hon Lance Wright QC, and Professor Michael Quinlan, found that:

"Economic factors create an incentive for truck drivers to drive fast, work long hours and use illicit substances to stay awake. These economic factors include:

• low rates of pay;
• incentive based payment methods (such as per kilometre or per trip);
• unpaid working time;
• Other factors include the hyper-competitive nature of the industry and the low bargaining power faced by drivers."

"The NRMA report states that the freight task on our roads will double by 2020 and the time was right to invest in long-term safety for the industry," Mr Sheldon said.

"There are a lot of drivers on the road who do not realise what truck drivers have to deal with, including braking distances and blind-spots on trucks. The NRMA has called for increased training for drivers of other cars on our roads, which should be welcomed across the community.

"It also looks at mechanical and electronic safety systems on trucks, and recommends monitoring drivers' behavior in relation to fatigue and driving hours, but these actions are primarily related to the economic pressures in the industry.

"If owner drivers and company drivers cannot get full-cost recovery for the work they perform, including full-reimbursement for fuel and maintenance costs and paid waiting times, then they will continue to be pushed harder on the road.

"The Federal Government, through Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has said it will implement Safe Rates legislation for the transport industry. However, in the 16 months since the NTC made its recommendations, the statistics show that that over 400 people have been killed in our industry.

"What we now need to see in the support of the cross benches and the coalition to ensure this coming legislation is not impeded," Mr Sheldon said.

For further information

Contact:	Tony Sheldon
Union:	TWU
WWW:	http://www.twu.com.au

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