More than 300 truckies, their families and supporters protested around the country on July 16 to demand an end to the pressure in the industry that is killing hundreds of people on the roads every year. In the past 12 months, 184 drivers have been killed in truck crashes.
The protest came after acting TWU national secretary Michael Kaine told the Senate Inquiry into Industrial Deaths that more transport workers are killed than in any other industry. He said there is a direct link between the rise in deaths and the pressure transport operators and drivers are put under by major industry clients to lower costs.