Broken roads breaking down trucks

Truck mechanics like Sean Teasdale are seeing first-hand what Victoria’s cratered and potholed roads are costing local transport businesses.

Potholes, cracked bitumen, broken shoulders and flying debris are being blamed for a spike in damage to trucks crisscrossing Victoria’s regional road network.

Full On Truck Maintenance owner and mechanic Sean Teasdale said there had been an increase in vehicles requiring immediate repairs since recent flooding and extreme weather.

“Our customer base are trying to avoid it as much as they can but it is hard when there is so much damage. The roads are certainly knocking the trucks and trailers around,” he said.

“We are getting a lot more suspension work than normal, shock absorbers, cracked axles, mounts and there will be a lot more damaged trucks over the next few months.”

Truck mechanic Sean Teasdale is reporting an increased demand for repair work caused by Victoria’s broken regional roads. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The situation has led Mr Teasdale to advertise for diesel mechanics to join his Shepparton shop, but assistance is hard to find due to an industry-wide shortage of specialists.

There are currently 568 roads closed across Victoria and, despite more than 92,500 potholes being filled since October, “significant damage remains”, according to VicRoads.

Victorian Farmers Federation grains council president Ashley Fraser said a combination of a shortage of trucks and a lack of spare parts might impact harvest for some farmers.

“I am hearing that there is some extreme wear and tear on trucks from the road conditions. We blew three tyres on one trip,” he said.

Picture: Zoe Phillips

“The square-edged potholes are doing horrendous damage at the moment.”

Australian Local Government Association research has found more than $3.8 billion in damage was caused to roads by recent flooding in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland.

Maher’s Transport owner Brendan Maher repaired 12 bent and broken shock absorbers, outside normal wear and tear, and five windscreens last month “from the potholes and debris” on the seven road-trains he runs mainly through regional Victoria and NSW.

Mr Maher subsequently ordered 100 shock absorbers, about double what he uses a year.

“I am also worried about safety, especially young truck drivers. If you do not drive to conditions and hit something you can get thrown around a bit and if they get thrown into a truck coming the other way or a car or a tree you can imagine it is not going to be a pretty outcome,” he said.

He also said the cost of taking circuitous routes due to closed roads, driving at reduced speeds and the cost of repairs must be passed on to clients.