National Transport Shutdown July 28

Lyndal  …..  I am aware that few outside the transport industry may know about a forthcoming National Transport Shutdown that is scheduled to begin next week, 28th July and so I write to give notice to the readers of Coast to Coast 100.

As opposed to the ‘Truck Blockades’ in 1979, where all major roads were blocked by protesting truck drivers this action by the industry is a shutdown whereby roads will not be blocked however, all truck drivers, owner drivers and salaried drivers have been called on to just refuse to carry freight.

I am not posting this information to promote this shutdown, but to at least inform those that I can of what is planned.  The information I have at this stage is that there is widespread support for this action from several sources including Large Fleet Companies, the Maritime Workers, local trucks and tippers, the Trawler Fishing Industry and even Farmers may be joining.

I believe Toll and Linfox drivers and sub contractors have been told that they can join in if they wish under certain conditions, which leads me to the point of this letter.  As these companies control the huge majority of deliveries of all supermarket products, including food, both fresh and preserved, coupled with the supermarkets system of minimum storage, groceries could become scarce in days.

While there is no need for panic buying, I do suggest that this week would be a good time to stock up on essentials.  We all know that talk is cheap but arrangements have been made

Australia wide and talk on the highway is that this may well be the last chance for the Transport Workers to get changes made and they are serious about it. Their very livelihoods as well as the lives of road users are at stake.

Tanker drivers have agreed not to cross picket lines however, petrol deliveries will not be interrupted even though there will be no diesel deliveries.  The shutdown has been timetabled for two weeks but organizers believe the government will be forced to the table before then. Even so, I believe it could be most of the week.

Anybody interested in understanding more of the issues may well be more informed by watching the 7:30 Report on the ABC, either Monday or Tuesday night, but, that aside, let me say that there are many issues needing addressing.  If anymore information becomes available I will keep Lyndal informed.

Cheers Westy

Thanks for providing us with this information Westy, for giving readers forewarning of what I understand could well evolve into a major economic shutdown across the country.  Having spoken to many drivers myself, it would appear that support is strong.  The prospect of financial ruin – as is the case for many owner drivers and company owners – is very real due to the ever increasing costs of fuel.  From a road safety point of view, there is a very real danger that heavy vehicle maintenance may be being overlooked as truck owners pour their dollars into fuel tanks to keep their trucks (and livelihoods) on the road.

Given the difficulties truck driver have in getting together as a unified group due to the fact that they are on the road most of the time, I know it is difficult for them to have their collective voice heard by governments and the population in general.

This “shutdown” will graphically illustrate the work carried out by the transport sector once consumers are unable to purchase the goods that miraculously appear in stores across the country.

I am aware also of the concerns within the industry of new fatigue legislation to be introduced in most states over the coming months.  I understand that one of the unintended consequences of this new legislation will be to force more heavy vehicles onto the roads in daylight hours – a situation that has the potential to see an increase in the freight related road toll.

Westy, I have indicated that we at COASTTOCOAST100 understand the reasons for this planned stoppage.  I just hope that those that need to heed the message do so quickly and that the collateral damage to the image of the industry is not too great. 

Excellent interview on the 7.30 Report Tuesday night Westy.  I hope all our readers got to see you in the flesh!

Kind regards Lyndal

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 am and is filed under Truckie Letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.