The health and safety of Tasmania transport operators was in the spotlight on May 20 when the Open Road Program was presented as a pop-up clinic at Bonney Energy as part of National Road Safety Week 2026.
Delivered through the Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA), the Open Road Program is a collaboration with Rural Alive & Well (RAW), the Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Association (TTOOA), and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
The program is designed to provide health and wellbeing support to transport workers and in this case it saw 62 drivers access free and confidential health checks through the TTA Open Road bus and the RFDS clinical team, including blood pressure checks, lung health, smoking cessation support, general health discussions, and wellbeing support available through RAW.
The event also created space for informal conversations and peer connection, a key part of the Open Road approach and more than 100 drivers called in to meet up for a chat, grab a coffee, and enjoy the free Truckie’s BBQ cooked up by the team at Bonney’s Local on the north-south freight corridor of the state.
TTA Executive Director Michelle Harwood says the record attendance demonstrated the value of genuine industry collaboration.
“This is what Open Road is all about: industry organisations, support services, and businesses working together to support the people who keep Tasmania moving,” Harwood says.
“Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, often unable to get to medical centres for routine health checks. The response that we get from these pop-up health support events at Epping Forest shows there is a real need for practical, confidential support delivered in a way that works for the industry.
“One conversation over a coffee, one quick health check, or one connection with support services can make a significant difference, not just for the individual driver, but for road safety outcomes more broadly.”
Greg Niven, CEO of Bonney Energy, says the strong turnout reinforced the importance of supporting the people who keep Tasmania moving.
“Long hours, fatigue and time away from home can take a real toll on transport workers, so creating opportunities like this for drivers to stop, check in on their health and have a conversation is incredibly important.
“Road safety and driver wellbeing go hand in hand. Looking after yourself behind the wheel is just as important as looking after the truck.”
Ros Bonner of the Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Association says the day reflected the strong sense of community that exists within the transport industry.
“The trucking industry is like a family. When we create opportunities for drivers to stop, have a feed, check in on their health and have a conversation, it can make a real difference,” Bonner says.
“That’s why partnerships like Open Road are so important. It’s about supporting our drivers, recognising the work they do, and making sure they know the industry cares about them both on and off the road.”
The Open Road program is delivered with support from the Tasmanian Government, building on its original establishment by the TTA through funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, supported by the Australian Government.