The variable quality of training and assessment across all states is an ongoing concern for operators, the association notes
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has asked for a review of truck licence training and assessments in its submission on the Aspects of road safety in Australia Senate inquiry to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee.
The association highlights operators’ concerns about the variable quality of training in chain of responsibility, load restraint, fatigue management and work health and safety.
“At the moment, the quality of training and assessment is highly variable,” ATA national manager Bill McKinley says.
“There are many excellent trainers, but others train to a price or guarantee how long the course will take, regardless of how competent you are at the end of it.
“What we need for heavy vehicle driver licencing is a common set of standards that the states or the NHVR apply. The standards need to be imposed by a body that is responsive to feedback.
“At the same time, at the regulation of providers side, we need a common national system where registered training organisations deliver the training packages they’re supposed to deliver.
The ATA says the government must review each state’s arrangements regarding truck driver training, assessment and licensing, and look into “including these arrangements within the scope of the Heavy Vehicle National Law for the states that are part of that system”.
The ATA also recommends reviewing the provisions that allow overseas licence holders to drive in Australia based on its comparative review of each state.
“The rules should firstly require overseas licence holders to obtain an Australian licence within a year, even if they are only in Australia temporarily.
“At present, every state except the NT allows temporary visitors to drive on their overseas licence indefinitely. This could be for years.
“Secondly, there should also be consistent provisions about what happens when an overseas licence holder fails a driving test.
“In three states at the moment, it’s possible for an overseas licence holder to apply for an Australian drivers licence, go to the driving test, fail, and then keep driving on their overseas licence, even though they just demonstrated conclusively that they are not competent to drive in Australia.
“Finally, overseas licence holders who do not hold an Australian heavy vehicle licence should be banned from driving heavy vehicles for any commercial or occupational purpose,” McKinley says.
Overseas licence holders should be allowed to drive motorhomes but the rule should not extend to allowing them to drive heavy vehicle for commercial purposes, the ATA suggests.
To read ATA’s full report on each state’s arrangements for managing overseas licence holders, click here.