Truck driver medical standards should be improved

Industry associations are full of dedicated people doing their bit to make the industry better, but they can’t do it alone. Associations like the LRTAWA have impact when members are engaged in the discussions

facilities, and importantly it has lifted the status of the industry to a level that we have struggled to attain for many years. To the industry’s great credit, drivers have by and large managed their Covid-19 obligations with little complaint and helped keep our economy moving. The challenge now is to capitalise on this momentum and reinforce our professionalism.

One of the other positive outcomes from Covid-19 is the eye-watering investment being made by the WA, Commonwealth and local governments in road infrastructure. Around $3.3b worth of new and existing projects are in the pipeline in the next few years. Whilst there are very serious questions about the capacity to resource those projects, it means there will be ongoing disruption and delays on our roads as much needed upgrades are made. Patience will be required by all of us as we move through roadworks.

Participating in the Regional Roadworks Signage Review has opened my eyes to the perils of being a traffic controller at roadworks and the number of near misses they experience. Like all of us, they have a job to do, so hopefully we can respect the role they play. The Regional Roadworks Signage Review is nearing completion and will soon be making recommendations to the Minister. Opportunities for input to the consultation process during this review have been extensive and the recommendations are likely to result in reforms that overcome many of the sore points the industry has been highlighting for many years.

Whilst the booming investment in infrastructure can only be good for the economy and community, there is a question mark over whether we have the capacity to service existing projects and those in pipeline. Not only do we have a skills shortage with experienced truck drivers commanding a high price, but there is also doubt about our ability to source equipment and parts with waits for new vehicles and spare parts of up to eight months now commonplace.

If the Covid-19 excuse is going to be with us for a long time we need to make sure the policy makers are lobbied to help industry smooth the equipment supply chain.

On the skills front, it is hoped there are some practical outcomes from the Premier’s skills summit in late July, which I am looking forward to attending. Consultation forums are only going to be valuable if a broad range of ideas and feedback are provided. I urge you to join your industry association to have your say about the big policy issues that confront us. Industry associations are full of dedicated people doing their bit to make the industry better, but they can’t do it alone. Associations like the LRTAWA have impact when members are engaged in the discussions. They need support to identify priorities to enable strong advocacy and ensure that decisions are taken with the interests of industry in mind as far as possible.

The LRTAWA is holding its 41st conference/industry day on the 14th August at Burswood on Swan function centre. This function assists our association in gaining the resources we need to represent the transport industry and rural transporters in particular. Registration for the industry day is open to non-members too so feel free to contact us at admin@lrtawa.org.au for more information. We’d love to see you there.

development projects over $5 million will be required to produce a waste management plan targeting a minimum 75 per cent waste avoidance and resource recovery.

The findings of the Roads to Reuse pilot are available on the Waste Authority website.

Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said, “Since 2019, 62,000 tonnes of Roads to Reuse materials have been used in Western Australian roads.”

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, "We have an unprecedented amount of major infrastructure projects underway across Western Australia, creating local jobs and supporting the economy.

“It’s important we look at ways to recycle and re-use construction material and I’m proud to say we are leading the nation in this unique approach to road building.

The truck driver medical standards should be improved to save lives on our roads. In its submission to the National Transport Commission’s review of Assessing Fitness to Drive, the ATA has recommended improving that instead of creating an extra driver health standard, the AFTD commercial standards should be improved to include objective screening tests for sleep apnoea, diabetes and cardiac risk level.

The submission begins, though, by recounting Nathan’s story. In February 2010, Nathan passed away after a B-double collided with his ute on the Pacific Highway. The B-Double driver had been examined under the medical standards just three months before the crash – but the exam had failed to reveal that he had severe sleep apnoea. The B-double driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.

“The current AFTD screenings are subjective, unsuitable and out of date. They are unable to properly recognise medical issues that would affect a driver’s fitness to drive,” ATA CEO Andrew McKellar said.

“The rail medical standards include an objective screening matrix for sleep apnoea, a diabetes screening test and an objective cardiac risk assessment using the Australian absolute cardiovascular disease calculator,” Mr McKellar said.

To support its submission, the ATA sought legal advice from national law firm Holding Redlich. The advice concluded that no jurisdiction’s legislation would prevent AFTD from mandating specific examination procedures similar to the rail worker medical standards.