Transport industry groups demand reform to Australia’s deadliest industry

Industry groups say conditions for truck drivers have deteriorated so dramatically that the workforce is dying out. Here’s how they may turn things around.

Road transport advocacy groups hope the change of government will provide “a kick up the backside” to authorities responsible for a lack of industry reform in what has been dubbed Australia’s deadliest industry – truck driving.

Driver shortages are affecting logistics and supply chains across the country with thousands of job vacancies listed by transport operators each week that remain unfilled including throughout rural and regional Australia.

More than 5000 Victorian truck driver positions are currently listed on SEEK and more than 22,000 nationwide.

Gippsland trucking company, Downes Transport, operating between Melbourne, Bairnsdale and the border for more than 50 years, will shut its doors for good at the end of June due to a lack of drivers.

Owner Jim Downes said the inability to source staff had forced him to pull the pin.

“I’m shutting the doors because I’ve got too much work. That sounds totally crazy but that’s how it is,” Jim said.

“There is a shortage of staff and there is nobody walking in the door looking for a job. I’m 75 and I’ve been retired twice but I’m back driving trucks again.”

Truck driving has become increasingly unattractive to employees nationwide, with mounting instances of unfair and unsafe work practises, low pay, dangerous conditions, lack of facilities, increased driver blame and responsibilities, and insurance woes causing people to steer clear of the industry.

Victoria Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said the VTA had been pushing for industry change for decades.

Livestock transport has similarly been affected by poor driver conditions and supply chain stressors.

“For 25 years we’ve been trying to drive change in our industry to make our industry more attractive and to recognise the safety element but we are being stifled by Vic Roads agencies and bureaucratic bungling,” he said.

“We are hoping with the change of the Federal Government we can get someone to give these people a kick up the backside. They are not listening to industry.”

Mr Anderson said lives were being put at risk because drivers were given truck licenses without being adequately and thoroughly trained.

“The licensing system for drivers, it takes about five hours and $1000. Once you have that you are considered a driver but trucks are a very difficult thing to operate safely,” he said.

“It’s not just steering the truck. It’s making sure you can load it, secure it, move the freight through the system and unload it. It’s important that you understand supply chains and logistics and all that takes time to teach people,” Mr Anderson said.

“We are sick and tired of people having to learn on the job.

“Change the licensing system to a system where you have to be trained. We don’t think everybody is able to drive a truck at 18. You should have to be qualified and have to pass pre-training.”

Victoria Transport Association chief executive officer Peter Anderson.

Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association Executive Director Mathew Munro said safety was not just an on-road issue but off-road with the ALRTA pushing for improved loading and unloading measures, larger sleeper cabs, improvements in road infrastructure and rest areas.

One of the most dangerous sectors of livestock transport was loading and unloading with more than 80 per cent of ALRTA members reporting an injury in the past five years and more than 70 per cent admitting that near-misses were frequent.

“We have championed and successfully developed a National Ramp Standard for livestock ramps and forcing yards. That was published by Standards Australia in November 2020 and we are looking to raise awareness in our sectors,” Mr Munro said.

“We think that standard, if adopted by providers of the loading ramp infrastructure, would go a long way to helping with safety and efficiency and lower the risk of injury like falling from heights, crushing, lacerations and bruising.”

A Department of Transport spokesman said the Victorian Government had invested $21.75 million as part of the Victorian Budget 2022-23 to reform Heavy Vehicle license regulation and training, and were working with industry to improve road safety for those who work on or use the road for work.

Truck driving is described by the Transport Workers Union as Australia’s deadliest industry with 1061 people killed in truck crashes in the past six years including 257 truck drivers.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said a Senate report into trucking found that commercial pressures caused by a squeeze on transport contracts from the top of supply chains lead to operators and drivers having to cut corners.

“Truck maintenance is often first to go, along with pressure to work longer and faster, speeding, skipping rest breaks,” Mr Kaine said.

Mr Kaine said in nine years of government, the Coalition did nothing but worsen the crisis in transport.

“In 2016, the LNP Government abolished a road safety watchdog tasked with addressing deadly supply chain pressures,” he said.

“We need reform. An independent body to set enforceable standards throughout supply chains to make trucking safer, fairer and more desirable.”