Safety and driver training must be the focus of the four year work plan for the Transport and Logistics training package, the Chair of the Australian Trucking Association, Noelene Watson, said today.
Mrs Watson was releasing the ATA submission to Australian Industry Standards in response to the Transport and Logistics IRC Skills Forecast Key Findings Discussion Paper 2017.
“Improving the consistency and quality of the training and assessment of truck drivers is a critical skills issue that must be addressed,” Mrs Watson said.
“Whilst there are many excellent trainers, others train to a price and can be more focused on how long a course will take, and not on the level of competency attained.
“The ATA has raised this previously as a key skills issue, but the AIS discussion paper makes no mention of safety or driver training as key issues.”
Legislative changes to chain of responsibility requirements will also require a review of the associated training units.
“In 2018 reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Law will come into effect which will extend the chain of responsibility to vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness, and massively increase maximum penalties for the most serious cases to bring them into line with other national safety laws,” Mrs Watson said.
“Existing training units based on the old law need to be reviewed and updated to reflect the new requirements.
“These changes are significant, which is why the ATA has organised a chain of responsibility due diligence certificate masterclass for delegates to the ATA’s Trucking Australia conference, on 21 to 23 June in Darwin.”
Registrations to attend Trucking Australia and complete the certificate masterclass can be made at www.truckingaustralia.com.au
Mrs Watson said that the focus on safety and driver training should also extend to light vehicle drivers.
“Road safety statistics show that a large number of accidents between trucks and light vehicles are due to mistakes by the light vehicle driver,” Mrs Watson said.
“But despite these statistics, educating light vehicle drivers about how to share the road safely with trucks has only received sporadic policy attention.
“There must be a review of light vehicle driver training standards and competencies to improve road safety for everyone, by including awareness of sharing the road safely with heavy vehicles.”
Safety must be the focus in transport and logistics training work plan