Bird’s Eye View

Navigating WA Border Crossings

COVID-19 certainly changed our lives in 2020 – turning the world upside down and everything as we knew it turned on its head.

The Transport Industry fared much better than many other industries - we all knew that truckies carried the country and were among the most important workers around even though the country chooses to forget that fact most of the time.

For most of us in this industry, life has not changed too much - we still go about our business and do our jobs to the best of our ability. Where things have changed the most is the crossing of both regional and Interstate borders throughout Australia.

As border restrictions are changing regularly it is becoming an ongoing job for transport operators to keep up with the different states regional requirements, however, it seems a long way off that state borders will be open to anyone but essential services.

Regional border crossings are more simple to navigate and it seems that Police at these border crossings are a lot easier to deal with and co-operative and helpful to truck drivers.

The G2G Pass application is easy and quick to use (even if it does take a while to be approved - up to 72 hours according to the app) and those that man the regional border crossings have been understanding and helpful and if you show appropriate paperwork - eg an email from a client and a con note showing delivery details, along with your driver's licence. Then it is a quick and easy process to pass through even if your G2G pass is still "in progress".

Whilst our regional borders were closed I was pleased to see many loaded trucks just being waved through to save them being held up with the cars - so great job there WAPOL on using some common sense and working with our industry.

My recent trip to Mount Magnet with a hotshot meant that my G2G pass wasn't ready in time but I got a wave through on the way up, loaded, and on the way back just had to show my completed and signed paperwork. Certainly, it’s great to see everyone working together.

Sadly the same cannot be said of Interstate border crossings. Now I understand that this is an area of much higher risk and concern. Interstate trucks

As the majority of the interstate work is Twoup drivers then quite often the second driver may be asleep in the bunk at the time of the border crossing

are traveling from areas that have much higher infection rates so yes border crossings do need to be scrutinised more clearly but although there are specific rules and procedures to enable the border crossings it seems to depend totally on who the inspecting officer is with how the rules are followed.

Firstly there is no doubt that truck drivers are permitted to cross state borders. The exemption clearly states: Exempt traveler means a person who falls into one or more of the following categories and complies with any specified terms or conditions: Transport, freight and logistics (g) any person ( other than an airline or maritime crew member) who in the course of the person's duties is responsible for the provision of transport or freight and logistics services into or out of Western Australia, provided that the person remains in Western Australia for only so long as is reasonably required to perform those duties;

As the majority of the interstate work is Two-up drivers then quite often the second driver may be asleep in the bunk at the time of the border crossing. Legally, and

according to all the website directions, if the driver has the two phones, with the G2G application on (one for each person) and can show that, and the two drivers licences, then that should be enough and the second driver should not need to be woken.

The COVID-19 website clearly states:

I’m a truck driver. What are the rules around ‘two-up’ drivers?

Where there are two drivers and one is asleep (for fatigue management), the active driver can provide the G2G PASS for both drivers (i.e. the resting driving need not be disturbed).

Unfortunately, many have found that this is not the case and that Police will insist on the second driver being woken up and made to identify themselves. This can be for a variety of reasons including COVID-19 checks, ID (or other) checks, and for this reason, they may want to personally identify the second driver.

Just like all of us, Police sometimes have a bad day, or may have been harassed by a previous traveler and so the attitude will change, and there is nothing that we can do about that. Drivers unfortunately just have to deal with it. Note it in your Fatigue Management log if you want (that's always a good idea) and go back to sleep if you can. If you are close to change over time, then note in the Fatigue management books of both drivers and change over then.

Just remember, the Police don't want to be there any more than you do - a little bit of understanding on both sides will go a long way to getting things done quickly and peacefully..