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NRFA releases COVID safe trucking plan

The National Road Freighters Association is seeking consistency for interstate truck drivers, including improved facilities, national permits and the removal of non road safety-related logbook fines

 

Despite the COVID pandemic, truck drivers have kept Australia’s freight moving, continue travelling millions of kilometres a year and delivering millions of tonnes of freight, the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) states.

The association also points out that due to the nature of the job, contact with the general public has been minimal which has mainly kept the industry free of COVID.

However, complying with different interpretations of state rules, which can change regularly, even weekly, has left drivers chasing their tails, according to the NRFA.

“Our job is hard enough without this inconsistency and not only moving the goal posts, but often the entire field overnight,” says NRFA president Rod Hannifey.

Hannifey says the NRFA has put forward six areas of concern to parliamentarians as well as offering solutions for each.

“We want to do the job, we are happy to comply with reasonable requests to do our part, but we must have a fair and equitable base from which to operate,” Hannifey continues.


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“Our greatest fear is our industry will start to crack under the strain. We are very concerned for truck driver’s mental health with the constant COVID rule changes between states.”

NRFA six-point plan

  1. We’re happy to do our part and be tested every seven days. Nothing less is necessary or fair on us unless you provide numerous 24/7 testing centres with truck access. Such sites must include vaccinations. We were left out from the essential list and it will take time to catch up. Trying to keep working, get tested every three days and still have to book and queue weeks in advance and lose more time/pay to get vaccinated is not only unjust, but unworkable for some. To ensure we can comply and get priority for vaccinations, get test results back in time to cross borders, the road transport industry must be recognised as essential.
  2. We will apply for and carry a National Freight Permit if required, valid in every State and Territory, for a minimum period of 14 days. All states must agree. There should be no rule or border changes without industry consultation and without less than two weeks’ notice.
  3. Truckstops must be allowed to operate, we must have access to toilets, showers and facilities if you want us to continue carrying your needs and not get sick or tired trying to comply with multitudes of different rules. No facility should refuse us access to a toilet. We will happily wipe down a seat before and after use. If they fail to provide us with such facilities (as they must do under law for their staff) they should be fined. We too need toilets.
  4. There must be a moratorium on non-road safety related logbook fines. We are not lawless or above the law, but any fines issued by police under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) must be reviewed by the NHVR before they will be actioned. We do hope the HVNL review will affect some of these concerns, but it will not be resolved for many months. We cannot continue being fined for clerical and minor time errors. The cost to the community of us fighting such onerous fines for little more than a mistake is not only a waste of taxpayer’s money, it is also not in any way fair justice.
  5. We require a National Road Standard. The road should be accepted as our workplace, major crashes investigated and not simply the driver charged first and last. Roads and road repairs must meet that standard or be repaired to that standard within an agreed time frame.
  6. There must be a National Truck Rest Area Strategy to provide suitable and sufficient truck rest areas. This to improve our safety and that of other road users. To improve our ability to get good quality sleep as and when needed. In relation to drivers and sleep, there must be consultation on reasonable size sleeper berths. Not more freight, but better places to live and sleep in when on the road.

“We believe the top four items are achievable, reasonable and will provide some balance and consistency to make trucking safer and fairer,” Hannifey concludes.

Photography: Greg Bush

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