By Brad Gardner A technology provider with financial interests in telematics claims the trucking industry should be forced to use electronic
By Brad Gardner
A technology provider with financial interests in telematics claims the trucking industry should be forced to use electronic work diaries.
Fleet Effect, which promotes computer-based scheduling solutions and GPS devices, has written to the National Transport Commission (NTC) urging the current reporting system be replaced.
The group claims paper diaries can be manipulated and the majority of operators, which have less than 100 vehicles, have a poor record when it comes to averting fatigue and speed related fatalities.
Fleet Effect made the comments in its submission to the NTC’s Electronic Systems for Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue and Speed Compliance position paper released in July.
Data used by Fleet Effect shows there are only 19 businesses with 100 or more trucks in an industry of 45,114 operators, meaning mandatory electronic monitoring will create a lucrative market for technology providers.
“The real focus should now be on how to improve the safety and compliance of fleets with less than 100 trucks and, in particular, the vast majority of fleets with only 1-5 trucks,” the group writes.
“The objective should be to eliminate the paper work diary altogether and to mandate an EWD as the way forward.”
There are 34,919 trucking operators with one vehicle, according to the data.
Fleet Effect also wants work diary exemptions in Queensland and New South Wales abolished. Drivers in Queensland who work within 200km of their base do not need to use a work diary, while NSW drivers have a 100km exemption.
If accepted, Fleet Effect’s proposal will give the company access to all sections of the trucking industry.
However, the group’s submission says the suggestion is motivated by road safety.
Fleet Effect says heavy rigid vehicle accidents have climbed 2.8 percent each year for three years, with most accidents occurring in the exemption zones.
For more on the electronic truck monitoring debate, visit SupplyChain Review sister publication Australasian Transport News.