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Truckies roll into Parliament House

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Major reforms to head off truck driver fatigue urged

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Kylie's timing just right

Truckies roll into Parliament House

Source: AAP|Published: Monday October 9, 2:10 PM

A convoy of semi-trailers has converged on Parliament House, with drivers demanding the federal government ease financial pressures on the long distance trucking industry.

Drivers say rising fuel prices and reduced freight rates are forcing them to cut corners and compromise safety standards.

Opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson and opposition industrial spokesman Arch Bevis addressed the drivers outside Parliament House.

Transport parliamentary secretary Ron Boswell will meet with the delegation later today.

Canberra truck driver Glenn Smith said drivers were facing financial ruin.

'It's like this. I had a quiet period a couple of months ago and couldn't pay myself wages for five weeks,' he said.

'That's the bottom line. We're doing it for free and we're going broke.

'(We want the government to) reduce the price of diesel and introduce a minimum cartage rate, something that's realistic.'

http://www.smh.com.au/breaking/0010/09/A40360-2000Oct9.shtml

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 09, 2000

Answers

Wow that was a lousy post. Last post of the night and bleary eyes to boot. I usually edit out all the extra stuff.

Truckies up campaign on fuel, cartage rates

Source: AAP|Published: Tuesday October 10, 6:47 AM

The nation's truck drivers are upping their campaign against high fuel prices and low cartage rates.

A convoy of semi-trailers protested outside Parliament House in Canberra yesterday, while Victorian tip-truck drivers have extended their strike action over low cartage rates until tomorrow.

The protests come on top of a new federal report which found driver fatigue is costing the trucking industry at least $300 million a year.

In Canberra, Judy Penton from Concerned Families of Australian Truckies, whose husband and sons-in-law have worked in the industry, said the problems were tearing families apart.

She said more than 100 drivers were killed in drug and fatigue- related accidents last year.

There's (also) a lot of suicide cases of drivers, she said.

There are many families breaking up, (and) there are many of them losing their homes.

The industrial action by owner-drivers began last week, meaning many building sites are running low on vital materials.

Transport Workers' Union state secretary Bill Noonan said drivers were caught between climbing operating costs and falling cartage rates.

The drivers have thrown the spear in the sand and are not prepared to take any more, he said.

They are being squashed between low cartage rates and increasing operating costs ... finance companies are knocking at many doors wanting to repossess trucks.

The House of Representatives Communications, Transport and Arts report into transport fatigue recommended truck drivers be drug tested and put off the roads with their rigs if they are found to drive while fatigued.

Committee chairman Paul Neville said fatigue was a major concern for operators and consumers.

Fatigue in transport is a problem that must be addressed by governments, by transport companies and by workers in the transport industry, he said.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/20001010/A40753-2000Oct9.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 09, 2000.