Driver frustration has led to the founding of an alternative to association membership – the ‘Truck That Drivers Club’
Operation Rolling Thunder went a long way to solving the industry’s problems, didn’t it? It educated all the car drivers and got the rest area problem fixed too I’m sure. What’s that? You disagree? You mean you don’t think it helped. Yes, they got 2000 defects and fines, but won’t release what they were. Why do you think that is?
There is a lot of truck driver frustration with the way we are being portrayed and maligned and many are talking of blockades. Will that work or solve our problems? From what I have seen or heard, few can agree on the problems and even fewer can agree on the solutions. Blocking the roads will only aggravate the public.
From the way we are portrayed in the media, not too many of are likely to back us at the moment. If we all stayed home and had someone to put our problems to and the suitable solutions forward, we might get heard, but the way things are now that seems unlikely.
Truck drivers club
I attended the National Road Freighters Association 10th AGM in Toowoomba last month. Senator Pauline Hanson was among four members of Parliament who attended. John Gilbert and Andreas Blahous attended from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and all gave a short presentation and then took part in an open forum with good audience questions and participation.
I spoke at the end, offering my solution. I intend to start a drivers’ club, due to many drivers having been reluctant to join an association or union for whatever reason.
I have said previously that you cannot affect change on your own, unless you are prepared for years of effort. Associations can only achieve improvements with sufficient numbers behind and participation with them.
I want something simple and easy that may suit those who are passionate and keen to see things change. This would also suit those who are not sure where to go to do something that will help, but who also do not want to pay large fees for little return or who cannot always commit to meetings and events.
The ‘Truck That Drivers Club’ will have four requirements:
- Drivers will be asked to comply with the ‘Truckies on Road Code’ as included below (though if we get sufficient numbers, I will be happy to put this up for review and improvement). We will ask what route and distance you regularly travel, what sector you operate in (tankers, general or stock etc) and what weight you carry each week, so we can set up a database and when an issue arises, we will ask for your comments.
- We will ask drivers to ring road authorities when they see or encounter road hazards or irregularities so, that more than one driver is reporting such road failures and we can get them fixed faster to keep the roads safer for all.
- We will ask for members to contribute submissions to government inquiries, but will help with outlines and details so we can be heard as drivers who are on the road.
- We will ask that should you hear negative and or inaccurate comments on our industry on radio or in the press, that you respond and or notify us, so we can respond with a balanced reply. We cannot monitor all media, but with such a network, we could respond better and quicker than we do now.
Members will be asked for $50 per year to join – that’s less than one dollar per week. We will not promise discounts or deals, just offer an avenue to help those who are passionate and want to do just that little bit to see the industry improve. It will be set up on the internet with a dedicated site and have a members-only section.
One of the issues with open groups is that those who may not even be drivers can get on and destroy any good intent.
I will then put forward a list of four problems and solutions:
- We will guarantee that in six weeks we will provide broadcast quality videos of the Truckies Top Ten Tips. In eight weeks that will be available to include in any young driver learner education across Australia. That will also make a start on improving driver education about sharing the road with trucks and will be available for television adverts and campaigns.
- We will ask that the ‘Green Reflector Marking of Informal Truck Bays’ be rolled out across the national highway network as an interim measure and that in marking such suitable sites, an audit be done highlighting areas needing more rest areas and these then be funded and begun the following year.
- We will ask the NHVR to allow split rest, but only a maximum of twice a week and not on consecutive nights to assist us in managing our fatigue. If you pull up and sleep to manage your fatigue, but then are forced to stop for another 7 hour break, you will be awake and then simply tiring until you are legally allowed to go again. This is completely against us when we all want to drive when fit and sleep when tired.
- We will contribute and seek industry participation to see improved truck driver standards of licensing and training. Just having a licence does not give you the skills needed to load and travel in trucks on the road. Overseas drivers must also be tested, rather than simply be given a B-double licence when they say “yes, they drove a big truck where they came from”.
Passionate alternative
I welcome any constructive comments or suggestions. I have been trying to see things improve for a long time and do not wish to hijack the blockade page or its supporters, but we have a group there who have some passion and much frustration and I want to offer an alternative that could work.
We have been doing the Truck That videos since our Sharing Rest Areas video and that got good coverage and exposure. While they are for us, they are also aimed at the public and I am receiving good comments on my blog www.truckright.blog although I can only do so much alone.
What do you think? I already have many who will join and the first two are paid up members.
The National Road Freighters Association has said they support the intent and, if it gets more drivers a chance to participate, then it could work and help us all.