Truckies need time to implement new contract rules
10th March, 2016
The Federal Member for Wide Bay and former Minister for Transport, Warren Truss, has welcomed the action of the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) and the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) to delay the implementation of a Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) order which threatens the viability of many truck owner operators and contractors.Mr Truss confirmed, as a local Member of Parliament he has been contacted by many truck owners concerned about the implications of the order for their businesses.
“The order made by the RSRT has taken truck owners by surprise, as it was made just a week before Xmas and takes effect in less than 4 weeks,” Mr Truss said.
“The order fixes rates for freight contracts which are generally above current rates and will price many truck owners out of business. The major logistics companies and freight forwarders will be unable to use individual contractors because their rates will be uncompetitive.
“Many owner operators are heavily indebted and fear losing their trucks and homes.
The RSRT was set up by the former Labor federal government at the behest of the Transport Workers Union. It is more about union power than safety. Indeed if financial viability is a factor in safety outcomes, the recent RSRT rulings are likely to worsen safety outcomes as more and more truck drivers are faced with the financial pressure of lost contracts.”
“Most truck owners are simply unaware that they may be about to be impacted by an RSRT ruling that they were unaware of and that they had no part in. They are not members of the Union and don't wish to be! Most do not know what the rulings mean and whether they affect them or not.”
The AI Group's application to the RSRT seeks to delay the implementation of the order until 1st January 2017 and to phase in the new rates.
Mr Truss said delaying the operative date of the order will give the industry necessary time to understand what is proposed and allow more time for the Fair Work Ombudsman to consider the implications of the order and to help contract drivers to comply with the new requirements or consider their future.
Mr Truss urged truck operators to contact their industry association to seek advice on what they need to do to comply with the RSRT orders.
