‘Dangerous and unfair’: Cairns truckie speaks out on ‘broken’ industry causing fatal crashes

With controversial new transport laws set to be introduced, a Cairns truck driver says industry practices are causing drivers to become a ‘safety risk to everyone on the road’.

Truck driver Judd Ward says truck drivers are overworked and pushed into tight deadlines by their employers, creating a safety risk for everyone on the road.

A Cairns truck driver says the trucking industry is “broken” and the nation’s deadliest profession is getting worse thanks to “dangerous” workplace practices.

His comments come as the federal government proposes controversial new workplace laws that will shake up the industry.

A raft of industrial relations changes are seeking to set minimum standards for the road transport industry, such as fair payment terms and charge-out rates of independent contractor owner-drivers and, therefore their rate of pay.

Mr Ward said Cairns truck drivers are placed under intense deadline pressure and often work 14 hours a day, six days a week without penalty rates or loadings because of expectations placed on companies by their clients.

“There is so much undercutting. It’s dangerous and unfair.”

A truck which rolled on the Kennedy Highway near the turn off to Herberton last month. Picture: Nicki Rae

“There is a race to the bottom,” he said. “Truck companies are out-bidding each other for the lowest price and tightest deadlines.

“In my experience, ALDI is one of the worst offenders. They refuse to make any concessions for transport safety – something which impacts all people on the road – whereas Coles and Woolworths are at least willing to discuss how to make things better for truck drivers.”

Driving a truck is Australia’s deadliest job, with new research revealing truck drivers are 13 times more likely to die at work than any other profession.

A sobering 156 people have been killed in truck crashes so far this year.

Mr Ward said that driver fatigue because of commercial pressures was a contributing factor, and truckies don’t speak out about safety concerns for fear of losing a contract.

Cairns man Jesse Rodman was the victim of a horror fatal crash at Gordonvale involving a truck earlier this year. Picture: Facebook

Mr Ward welcomed Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 introduced to parliament on Monday.

The changes to the transport industry are part of a 284-page bill introduced to parliament, which will also boost pay for temporary workers, increase penalties for wage underpayment, and make it easier for casual workers to become permanent across all industries, as well as create minimum standards for gig economy workers.

Judd Ward is speaking out against bad practices in the trucking industry.

Many business groups have criticised the overall bill, with the government estimating it will cost all employers up to $9bn in extra wages over the next decade across the nation.

However, chair of the Australian Trucking Association, David Smith, said the changes “will deliver fairer contracts for all trucking businesses”, saying it would stamp out “unfair contract terms”.

“We need to go home safely every night, just like everyone else, it’s not a selfish thing. We need it for the safety of everyone, it’s not just truck drivers who die in truck accidents,” Mr Ward said.

ALDI was approached for comment.

Originally published as ‘Dangerous and unfair’: Cairns truckie speaks out on ‘broken’ industry causing fatal crashes