NEWS

TASMANIA LOG TRUCK LOG BOOKS

REPRODUCED BY DISCOVER TASMANIA from THE HOBART MERCURY Date published: December 24, 2003. Author: CHARLES WATERHOUSE Logbooks to tackle tired truck drivers COMPULSORY logbooks will be introduced for truck drivers in Tasmania to tackle heavy vehicle driver fatigue. Forestry transport operations will be the first sector targeted. Infrastructure Minister Jim Cox said some log-truck drivers were placing themselves and the community at risk by exceeding driver working-hours limits. Transport Workers Union Victoria-Tasmania branch secretary Bill Noonan said he had reports of drivers being asked to work days of 15 to 17 hours. "What Tasmania is doing is bringing itself into line with national road rules," he said. The new arrangements would not change existing transport industry driving hours requirements in place since 1996, but would enhance the enforcement capacity of transport inspectors and police, Mr Cox said. The 1996 requirements included drivers not working more than 12 hours a day and no more than 72 hours a week and a limit on continuous driving without a break. Mr Cox said extensive industry consultation and an education program would occur before the introduction of the new logbook system in March. There would be an amnesty period to allow adjustment. Tasmanian Transport Association executive director Warwick Counsell said his association had proposed to the State Government the introduction of modified company driving records, instead of logbooks, where cheating was notorious. He said all good transports operators required their drivers to fill in running sheets each day. Mr Counsell said the association supported moves to enforce driving time limits.

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