The NSW branch of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) wants chain of responsibility provisions extended to the State Government due
The NSW branch of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) wants chain of responsibility provisions extended to the State Government due to its inaction on rest areas.
ATA NSW Manager Jill Lewis says the State Government is ignoring her pleas to take immediate action on rest areas by building new ones and installing basic amenities such as toilets and running water.
With less than three months until new fatigue laws take effect, Lewis wants the provisions applied to governments to force them to “get the ball rolling” on fixing the state of rest areas.
“Time is now running out and the chain of responsibility must be extended to the Government,” she says.
Lewis, who has written to Minister for Roads Eric Roozendaal outlining the trucking industry’s concerns, claims she has been ignored by the Government.
She says it must turn its attention to rest areas now, adding if road agencies do not address the issue the trucking industry will not be able to comply with fatigue regulations which take effect on September 29.
“The lack of interest from the NSW Government and the NSW RTA [Roads and Traffic Authority] in dealing with this issue will have dire consequences for NSW trucking operators,” Lewis says.
“Some of the truck rest areas do not have water or clean toilet facilities and many are not large enough to accommodate more than one or two trucks.
“This is not good enough; the NSW Government and Government agencies must at least agree to meet with us and get the ball rolling on getting this problem fixed.”
According to Lewis, operators will be forced to break driving hour provisions because there are not enough rest areas for trucks to stop at.