There was a time not so long ago when the image of the Aussie long-haul truckie was iconic. A single cab, a sleeping bag behind the seat and a well-worn route stretching from Sydney to Perth. He (or she) was their own boss, moving freight and fuelling the country’s economy with nothing but a diesel engine, a strong back and sheer grit.
But let’s not romanticise it too much – it was bloody hard work. Even with the improvement in roads and equipment, it’s getting harder – not because of the work itself, but due to the economic conditions drivers are put under by those at the top.
Today, single long-distance owner-drivers in Australia are staring down the barrel of an uncertain future. Skyrocketing fuel prices, razor-thin margins and mounting regulatory pressures have turned an already tough gig into something bordering on impossible. If you add to that the squeeze from large corporations at the top of the supply chain with massive power and automated systems, you cannot help but feel that we have the makings of extinction, not just of a job, but of a whole way of life.
The owner-driver was once a symbol of independence, but independence doesn’t pay the bills when big corporations, who are the economic client at the top, can cut rates and demand 24/7 service. With increasing competition and an at times cut-throat industry, clients are constantly looking to trim costs where they can, meaning rushing from depot to depot, poorly maintained trucks and owner-drivers constantly under pressure. To add to that, when we also have logistics companies with a rotating cast of poorly trained and underpaid salaried drivers who are willing to accommodate unscrupulous clients, the future looks pretty bleak. While a single owner-driver has to rest, bringing their whole operation to a halt, a logistics company’s schedule never sleeps.
Then there’s technology. Telematics, fatigue monitoring systems and GPS tracking which are supposedly there to make us safer have added layers of surveillance and paperwork that burden the little guy far more than the big firms. The irony of this is those who feel micromanaged and burnt out the most are the drivers with the most experience and the safest records. They feel overburdened by the threat of the big stick – massive fines dealt out by overzealous law enforcement.
Yet ask any small freight customer, rural farmer, niche manufacturer or outback supplier who they trust most, and they will say the same thing: “give me the operator with their name on the truck.” There’s pride in their work, there’s accountability, and there’s a hell of a lot of skill that doesn’t show up on spreadsheets.
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So what’s the road ahead? If Australia wants to keep us independent owner-drivers on the road, something has to give. Fairer freight rates, tax breaks on fuel for truck operators and simplified compliance processes aren’t luxuries, they’re lifelines. Without these, we risk handing over the freight industry entirely to mega-fleets and AI dispatchers. Efficient? Not until something goes wrong and you’re having a conversation with a machine trying to sort it out!
We should be asking ourselves what kind of transport industry we want. One that’s driven by profit algorithms, or one where real people with skin in the game still have a shot?
The lone truck operator might not be the industry’s poster-child, but we’re still a vital part of the transport industry and are more than just a nostalgic nod to the past. We deserve a fair go.
At least the issues caused by economic clients putting pressures throughout the supply chains are being addressed at a wider political level. Owner-drivers and gig workers are at the forefront of the road transport industry reforms introduced by the newly elected Labor government. With new legislation aiming to enhance protections and standards, it’s crucial to understand what these changes mean for each sector, especially owner operators, and to clearly define who is classified as an owner-driver.
With a new Road Transport section of the Fair Work Commission dedicated to making trucking fairer for drivers and fairer payment terms for shorter-haul owner-drivers, Labor’s Closing Loopholes legislation marks a significant shift towards prioritising the rights and protections of owner-drivers in Australia. By implementing comprehensive reforms at both federal and state levels, the powers that be are aiming to create a more equitable and secure environment for truck drivers.
As with any legislative changes, as freight industry adapts to these changes, ongoing dialogue between stakeholders will be crucial to address challenges and ensure the continued success of Australia’s road transport sector. However, at least the government is doing something to address the issues caused by economic clients putting the squeeze on drivers. We do still have to contend with the steady creep of our technology into our lives, taking away the human element of our work and leaving us open to needless micromanagement, but this is another hurdle to address into the future.
With such a comprehensive election victory, Labor has a mandate to continue to follow through with their efforts to make road transport fairer and safer. I am optimistic that with the re-election of a Labor government that has been so supportive of owner-drivers and truck drivers, that the challenges we are presented with can be addressed and the sustainability of the owner-driver industry can be maintained now and into the future.
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