A national tribunal is to consider minimum safety standards for Australian petrol tankers, after nationwide research revealed 1 in 4 tanker drivers were pressured to speed and 1 in 2 drivers reported inadequate brake inspections.
Transport Workers Union assistant national secretary Michael Kaine said many petrol tankers were literally 'mobile bombs'.
"Industry research shows the tanker fleet is old and unreliable, and tanker drivers are routinely pressured to drive too fast or too long," Mr Kaine said
"33% of drivers report they've been threatened with job losses if they report serious safety flaws.
"And 45% of drivers say employers routinely delay brake maintenance, with one saying his tanker was 13,000 kilometres overdue for servicing.
"We've seen the consequences in crashes like Batemans Bay in 2009, when four people died, and Mona Vale in 2013, with two people killed.
"That's why the union has lodged a national dispute on tanker safety, and why we're calling for a national safety standard before the Road Safety Tribunal."
Mr Kaine said the dispute would be heard on 29 April 29, before the Federal Government's Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal in Sydney.
The union would seek enforceable national safety standards to deliver:
'Safe Rates' – contracting changes to prevent retailers like Coles/Shell from pressuring drivers to speed or skip rest breaks. Safe maintenance – adequate funding for brake maintenance, anti-rollover equipment and a requirement that unsafe tankers are removed from the roads. A ban on 'hot seating' – where tanker drivers simply swap seats with each other to avoid technical breaches of maximum driving times. Driver training – all drivers to be properly trained in safety management and anti-rollover techniques. Mandatory reporting – clients and companies to publish compliance records on fatigue management, safe driving hours and maintenance.
"Clients like Coles and Shell will fight tooth and nail to oppose these changes," Mr Kaine said. "To Coles, road safety is just red tape. But for most Australians, it's a necessity."
The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) was set up in 2012 to address pressures on drivers to drive unsafely. The RSRT can issue binding orders on industry to lift safety standards.
Truck driving is Australia's most dangerous industry, with a fatality rate 15 times higher than the national average for other jobs. There are around 1,500 on-road oil tankers in operation in Australia. Every year around 330 people are killed in truck-related crashes.
Oil/Fuel and Gas – 2014 Survey results
The industry:
Major retailers Coles and Woolworths are dominant players in fuel deliveries, with 24% of the industry operated by Coles as a joint venture with Shell.
This survey:
More than 90 responses were received from oil tanker drivers in eastern states. 33% of respondents were from NSW, 40% from Victoria, 25% from Queensland. Respondents had worked in the industry for between 9 months and 43 years behind the wheel. Average industry experience was 16 years
Survey results:
26% of drivers were pressured to speed while driving petrol tankers. 49% were pressured to skip rest breaks and drive while fatigued. 26% were pressured to falsify their log books. 33% were threatened with job losses if they report serious safety issues on sites they deliver to. 45% said their employers delayed oil tanker brake maintenance to save money and keep vehicles on the road when they should be in repair. 84% said they have insufficient knowledge of the maintenance record of the vehicles they're given to drive. One driver said their vehicle was overdue for brake repairs by 13,000km. Another said their fleet was routinely between 2000-5000 km overdue for brake repairs.
Comments by drivers:
"I've never seen this industry (oil/gas driving) deteriorate to such a poor standard in such a short time. (NSW – oil and gas). "I skip brakes maintenance because we don't have enough hours to complete our work " (outer Brisbane – heavy vehicles). "The boss said if we miss the delivery windows we may as well kiss the contract goodbye." (Tasmania – heavy vehicles).
