Union demands transport industry inquiry

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- Hughie Williams, Queensland state secretary of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), has called for an urgent inquiry into the road transport industry. This follows another fatal accident involving a heavy truck and a car in inner Brisbane.

The accident, in late July, killed the car driver and caused a huge traffic jam in the Newstead area. It was the latest in a string of traffic accidents involving trucks, which has prompted a review of heavy transport operations in Queensland generally.

Williams is compiling a report on illegal activities in the industry. He says drivers are forced to speed, rely on drugs and skip rest stops to meet unacceptable delivery deadlines.

A TWU superannuation fund report has revealed that the suicide rate among truck drivers is almost 10 times the national average (and Australia has the highest rate of male suicide in the world). “It is an enormous tragedy”, Williams said.

Williams alleges that companies are supplying truckies with a cocktail of amphetamines and says he is prepared to “name names” to protect drivers and the community. He estimates that 80-85% of long-distance drivers are spending as much as $600 a week on amphetamines and other stimulants -- some of which contain strychnine -- in order to meet oppressive schedules.

Williams has written to the Lifeline counselling service seeking special assistance for his members.

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