Fair Go for Owner Drivers

from WA TRANSPORT MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2021 EDITION

WA Transport History

Over to you A FAIR GO FOR OWNER DRIVERS by Ray Pratt

Every worker should come home safe – always

Every worker should come home safe - always. No one going to work should be saying goodbye to their families for the last time. Yet we face the grim reality that trucking really is Australia’s deadliest industry.

Statistics show that in Australia more than one person a week is killed just trying to do their job in the transport industry.

Tragically, truck drivers killed on the road just become another traffic accident and so while all fatalities on the road are investigated by the Police they are not usually investigated by Work Safe.

This is appalling as a full investigation by Work Safe would probably paint a picture of an industry that is riddled with unsafe work practices forcing truck drivers to work harder and faster for low pay.

A truck fatality on the highway usually attracts a small comment on the nightly news and that’s all we hear about it. Work carries on, trucks keep carting freight and a few days later it’s all forgotten about - except for the grieving of a family and friends that have lost a precious loved one.

It’s a shame the same scrutiny isn’t applied that we see when there is a fatality on a mine site. Mostly all fatalities on mine sites bring a closure of all activity for several days while a comprehensive investigation takes place. The end result is mining resumes when measures are put in place to make sure no more accidents can occur. If such procedures were applied when there is a fatality in the transport industry I’m sure we would see a picture emerge of an industry that is in trouble.

The evidence is clear to every truck driver that we operate in very difficult circumstances for very little return which in turn compromises our safety and the safety of the other road users.

There should also be an investigation into the wealthy major companies that affect the smaller transport companies and operators safety by driving down sustainable rates.

Trucks are our office and our home for too many days of the week and the highway is our workplace. We should be able to go about our trip knowing that our work environment is safe.

The transport industry really is in dire need of help. It’s been many years now since the Government removed the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT). The RSRT was to be a game changer for the transport industry but failed because big multi-national companies lobbied everyone into believing it would destroy the transport industry.

The truth is the large multi-national companies knew it was going to be the end of exploiting truck drivers and they would have to pay the real cost for transport. We were told by the Government at the time that in return they would do whatever it takes to fix our problems within the industry but as usual we haven’t had any help or issues solved. It’s hard not to be cynical. Keep it safe, Ray Pratt.

Tragically, truck drivers killed on the road just become another traffic accident and so while all fatalities on the road are investigated by the Police they are not usually investigated by Work Safe