Truck drivers are the backbone of Australia’s economy, ensuring that goods are transported efficiently across the country. From construction materials to groceries, the work of our 200,000 truckies keeps everything moving.
However, they face significant risks. Fatalities in crashes involving heavy trucks, for example, increased more than 5% in the year to April-June; it was 12% up for deaths involving articulated truck crashes.
The Key Risks Facing Truck Drivers
Truckies face several risks on the road, including:
- Long hours leading to fatigue
- Heavy loads
- Challenging road conditions, including wildlife, and other drivers’ ignorance about the distance trucks need to come to a complete stop
- Pressure to drive to meet unrealistic deadlines or under unsafe conditions
- Physical health issues due to a largely sedentary occupation
- Mental health issues resulting from social isolation, stress from long periods away from home/family
- Driver distraction such as from mobile phones
- Limited access to proper rest stops and facilities when needed
- Exposure to vehicle vibration and loud noise, and
- Working in an industry with high rates of workplace injuries and accidents.
Many of these risks could be minimised with proper safety measures and support. This article will focus on some of the main risks.
Driver Fatigue: It’s a Worry!
Fatigue is a leading cause of truck accidents. A recent study showed that about half of Australian truckies reported experiencing fatigue.
Despite regulations aimed at managing driving hours, it’s not always possible for drivers to find safe and adequate rest areas. Many rest stops are either full or occupied by non-truck drivers, making it difficult for truckies to take their mandated breaks. Fatigue isn’t just a personal health risk — it’s a danger to everyone on the road.
A world-first study on truckie fatigue found these factors are among those that increase the risk of drowsiness:
- After 15 hour of day driving, if a driver starts their shift before 9am
- After six to eight hours of night driving
- Starting a shift between midnight and 6am
- During the first one or two shifts a driver does and during long-night shift sequences
- When a driver changes his type of shift, such as from an event back to an afternoon or reverts from an afternoon to a morning start
- After more than seven shifts in a row, and
- Where they can only get five hours of sleep between shifts.
Spotlight on Road Conditions and Infrastructure
The state of Australia’s roads – they span more than 817,000kms – is another major concern for truck drivers, particularly since conditions vary wildly. Where there are poorly maintained roads, insufficient rest areas, and a lack of dedicated truck routes these add strain on truckies.
As well, many rural and regional roads are not designed for heavy vehicles, making driving more dangerous, particularly in bad weather. Despite this, the volume of road freight continues to increase with the e-commerce boom fuelling that.
There’s a real need for increased investment in infrastructure, even above the hefty allocations in the current federal budget. including the development of a comprehensive all-weather road network that supports the transport industry.
Challenges in Ensuring Safety
While driver fatigue and poor road conditions are critical issues, there are also systemic problems that make it hard to ensure safety.
Enforcement of safety regulations is often inconsistent, and non-truck drivers often don’t understand how to share the road with heavy vehicles. And those who call out trucking companies for non-compliance can find themselves in the hotseat, as Michael West Independent Media reports.
Proposed Solutions for Enhancing Truck Driver Safety
To improve the safety and wellbeing of truck drivers, several solutions are being implemented or considered this year across the country, including:
- Better driver training and licensing
- A national driver education program and, for motorists, a safety awareness campaign
- Enhanced road safety initiatives
- Technological innovations
- Level crossing safety
- Fatigue management, and
- Health and wellbeing programs for truckies.
Boosting Enforcement of Safety Regulations
Another critical step is the stricter enforcement of existing safety laws. This includes monitoring driving hours more effectively and ensuring that vehicles are properly maintained. By holding companies and drivers accountable, we can reduce the risks associated with long-haul driving.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator reminds businesses, such as concreters, builders and other trades, that they too are heavy vehicle operators. Therefore they may be subject to the Chain of Responsibility regulations, under the heavy Vehicle National Law.
How Insurance Helps Protect Truck Drivers
While these strategies address many safety concerns, comprehensive insurance coverage remains a crucial element of risk management for truck drivers and transport companies. From liability and vehicle insurance to health cover, the right policies provide protection against the many risks truckies face daily.
As your broker, we help fleet managers and drivers find coverage tailored to their needs, complementing other safety measures to keep drivers secure and businesses protected.