NSW Opposition calls for state-wide investigation into trucking companies in the wake of the raid on Lennons Transport
February 22, 2012
The NSW Opposition has called for state-wide investigation into the trucking industry in the wake of a police blitz on Lennons Transport over a fatal crash last month.
Ninemsn has quoted Opposition Leader John Robertson pushing for Premier Barry O’Farrell to put all trucking operators under the microscope.
NSW Police and the Roads and Maritime Services officers are currently carrying out compliance checks on Lennons’ fleet of trucks and have charged one of its truck drivers with dangerous driving over the death of three people on January 24.
The B-double driver is accused of crossing an embankment on the Hume Highway and smashing head-on into the car, killing the three occupants.
“It would be great if the O’Farrell government made a decision to actually look at all these transport companies, not just this one, and look at if there are systematic issues associated with what is going on in our trucking industry,” Robertson says.
“This is an industry where drivers are under pressure – there is constant pressure for them to cut corners – and an investigation shouldn’t only be happening for Lennons, but it ought to be happening across the board.”
O’Farrell says the government will make a decision based on the results of the investigation into Lennons.
“Police have described this as an unprecedented action but it won’t be unprecedented in the future if we see trucking companies continuing not to comply with existing road laws,” he says.
“Three people have died. I have incredible sympathy for their family but I have no sympathy for rogue truck drivers or rogue trucking companies who think that the state’s trucking and driving safety rules don’t have to be complied with.”