ATA dismisses call to reinstate Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal

ATA dismisses call to reinstate Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal

Following calls from the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) for the reinstatement of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has come out against the move, citing a discrepancy in the TWU’s claims. Specifically, the ATA, which represents trucking businesses ranging from owner-drivers to large fleets in Australia, says there is no correlation between a 92% increase in truck crashes in NSW and the end of the watchdog tribunal in 2016.

Not at fault

ATA Chair Geoff Crouch says that while the number of deaths occurring in NSW in 2017 from crashes involving articulated trucks, such as semi-trailer trucks, increased dramatically, “we know most of the increase was in multi-vehicle crashes.” Crouch adds that in 80% of those crashes, the truck driver wasn’t at fault.

In addition, Crouch says, during the same timeframe, no other states or territories in the country experienced a rise in fatal crashes in which articulated trucks were involved. In fact, the majority of states and territories actually saw a significant decrease in such accidents.

“Devastating impact”

Meanwhile, Crouch says, the ATA has been working to address road safety issues through other means. The organization has lobbied for increased quantity, capacity, and quality of driver rest areas, and has sought to empower the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to “provide independent, no-blame, safety investigations for road crashes involving heavy vehicles.” The ATA has also lobbied to make the fitting of stability control to all new trucks and trailers mandatory with only limited exceptions granted.

Financial hardship, increased debt, reduced equipment values, widespread uncertainty, and significant stress on families, relationships, and mental health are all examples of the “devastating impact” Crouch says transport owners and operators have told the ATA that the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal has had.

“The ATA backs recent comments from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that say reinstating the RSRT is a backwards step,” Crouch says. “Independent inquiries have found regulating rates of pay for owner-drivers does not improve safety. It is hard to believe the TWU is serious about safety when their only solution is a failed policy and refuse to take part in any positive discussion.”