Toll’s Managing Director Michael Byrne
“The first thing governments need to stop
doing is waiting,” Michael says.
“Waiting for the outcomes of inquiries. Waiting
on Coroners reports. Waiting on the statistical
analysis of data. We already know what the
problems are and now is the time to act.”
The necessary action required has been
summarised by Michael and the Toll team
within their recent letter, which largely outlines
six key improvements that all drivers need to
take on board sooner rather than later.
“We have a national problem that needs
a national solution. We need the Federal
Government to pull in all of the states and
get them to agree to the national truck safety
actions that were outlined in the letter to the
Prime Minister,” Michael says.
“We must have all governments working
together to save lives in our industry.”
In summary, below are the six proposed
recommendations that were sent to the Prime
Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier this month.
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ISSUE 10 2018 / WWW.AFMA.NET.AU
Point 1: Implement a national standard
Firstly, we must have one rule book across
Australia. Starting with the basics - we are yet
to have a consistent definition of what a “heavy
vehicle” is. Sometimes it’s a vehicle above 12
tonnes (for work and rest hours), sometimes
above 12 tonnes and manufactured after 1997
(for speed limiters – except in NSW), and
sometimes a vehicle above 4.5 tonnes (mass,
dimension and load restraint). Compliance
starts with clarity of the rules. A truck should
be any vehicle 4.5 tonnes and above. Period.
Point 2: Introduce a national operator
licensing system
Secondly, we must introduce an operator
licensing system. Where operators in maritime,
rail and aviation must all demonstrate their
safety and competence before they can
operate, in road transport virtually anyone with
a truck, a driver and an ABN can be a road
freight operator. This makes Australia unusual: