OPINION: The time has come for drivers and owner-drivers in the road transport industry to pull together and function as one team
As an industry we all have our own views on what the problems are and what we can do to fix it. Problems and solutions vary depending on the perception of the holder – we all see the world differently. Our motives for change are driven by different rewards or power. One thing we must admit is that everyone in the industry is responsible for where we are now, some stakeholders more than others, but the blame game needs to stop.
Our industry has endured many changes and challenges over the years and has had band aid after band aid applied. Poorly informed regulators have decided that punitive enforcement of drivers is a solution. Large companies have manipulated every area of these regulations to screw as much productivity from a driver and/or owner-driver as possible. Drivers lie about time worked to help their employers. Employers turn a blind eye to this and are happy for an employee to pay for the deception. The safety of the person doing the work has been discarded and we seem to operate on a ‘hope-it-all-works-out-OK’ model.
All this behaviour has been tolerated to drive the cost of transport down. We must now act to improve conditions and sustainability for all.
The struggle to attract new drivers – and also retain existing drivers – is no surprise to us that actually do the work. Recent pandemic events have exacerbated the poor conditions that we have to tolerate daily. Drivers have been pushed to the edge and are no longer willing to tolerate the bad behaviour of employers and clients. The exit of talented drivers will be hard to reverse.
Respect is a behaviour that is rarely practiced in our modern world. This is a standard set by a large percentage of participants in the industry (take a good look at yourself).
We cannot train new participants to tolerate the conditions we have endured in the past; the new generation of drivers simply has no ambition of working 80 to 90 hours a week with a percentage of that for free.
We have employers who believe the award is just a guide and have their own view on how entitlements are paid. The days of telling someone to “harden up or just f***ing do it or get another job” are gone. In many cases the price paid to the prime contractor is not the problem; the problem arises from the exploitation of the driver and owner-driver. Prime contractors know what it costs to run a truck but continue to offer rates that are below cost or expect the drivers to load or unload for free.
Part time facilities
We now have an opportunity to change the industry in its current form. It needs to be burnt to the ground and start again. New foundations and ideals must be created to support our industry into the future. A new, big picture approach needs to be taken with greater access to loading and unloading facilities. We have a 24/7 industry that has part time facilities at either end of the journey. Last mile access needs to improve and a new PBS system to allow greater productivity.
Costs are out of control and we need a new regime on how transport contacts are negotiated. Small operators and subcontactors will always be necessary in the industry and must be supported in their roles. The big players need to work to protect them not exploit them for cheap labour.
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We must now act as a team, put our differences aside and work together for some resolve. If you are not a part of the solution you are part of the problem. We all need to act as part of a team and help one another to improve. If you see someone struggling, don’t sit in your cab and laugh (or post on social media), get out and give them a hand. We were all new to the industry once and were lucky enough to have someone to help us, not just put behind the wheel and hope for the best.
The fight to improve the industry must not subside and needs to become stronger and more consistent. Many believe that it’s pointless doing anything but believe me a positive campaign does have results.
As an advocate for change in the industry I make calls and write letters every single week. It is an uphill battle but we do have wins. I encourage everyone to do the same and join an association to help this cause. When we have numbers behind us it makes a difference.
*CRAIG FORSYTH, a National Road Freighters Association board member, has clocked up 25 years in the road transport industry.
Photography: Greg Bush