The TWU has welcomed an announcement that the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments will invest $40 million in a dedicated heavy vehicle rest area in Western Sydney.
Truck drivers and transport operators are often under immense pressure from the top of the supply chain to skip rest breaks, drive fatigued or delay vital maintenance. Combined with the Government's announcement and new rights kicking in this week to provide contract protections for drivers, the TWU is using new laws to keep the top of the supply chain accountable for safety and fairness.
The TWU has used lifesaving reforms passed by the Albanese governments to make landmark applications in the road transport industry to make transport safer, more sustainable and more viable:
- An application to ensure maximum 30-day payment terms, with significant portions of the industry struggling under elongated payment terms
- Applications for fair minimum standards in parcel delivery
- An application for world-first rights for gig workers
- An application for banks to pay up for cash transport
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"This is a welcome announcement from the Minns and Albanese government, and which will work alongside other initiatives in this area to make road transport safer for all participants.
"Dedicated rest areas for truck drivers are critical for fatigue management and decent standards on the road. At the same time, we're getting to the root of the cause that's causing immense pressure to be loaded onto drivers to drive fatigued, skip rest breaks and delay truck maintenance.
"Using new laws passed by the Albanese government, we're using every tool at our disposal to ensure the top of the supply chain pays its fair share for decent jobs for truck drivers, viability for transport businesses, and safety for other road-users."
