Archive, Industry News

VTA acts to get message out on rollover prevention

Victorian Transport Association is working with insurance companies to raise awareness of the Heavy Vehicle Rollover Prevention program

By Ruza Zivkusic | August 30, 2011

The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has turned to insurance companies to help it raise awareness of the Heavy Vehicle Rollover Prevention Program.

VTA CEO Philip Lovel says he is working with insurers because industry associations have been slow to deliver the program to their members.

Produced by VicRoads and the Victorian Road Freight Advisory Council, it includes a number of education tools such as a rollover prevention guide, video and PowerPoint presentations, an information bulletin and a code of behaviour.

“The truck rollover issues are about truck drivers and one thing we haven’t done properly is put the resources into educating all the drivers individually so they understand the dynamics of their trucks,” Lovel says.

Lovel wants insurers to gain confirmation from operators, when seeking insurance, that they have done training on truck rollovers.

“We are having a truck rollover every week and it’s not only the damage it causes but also delays in the freight system,” he says.

Lovel believes the industry has been slow to deliver the information packs because it has little confidence in being able to do it properly.

Some third parties are also delivering the program for a fee, an awareness with ‘sharing the roads with trucks’ still remains an issue, with evasive action by truck drivers resulting in rollovers, he adds.

“We don’t feel like we’re making progress; it’s slow and difficult and every time I look up there’s another truck rollover.” Lovel says.

“It really comes back to the operators understanding the situation and putting some resources and training their people to understand the dynamics of trucks.
“We will continue to have truck rollovers until we can educate every single driver.”

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend