Truck Driving Hours will have to be recorded

The Tasmanian Government sees the heavy vehicle transport industry as critical to the Tasmania economy.

It is important that it is a safe industry. This is a high priority not only for Government and heavy vehicle drivers, but for other Tasmanian road users too.

The Government also believes that road safety, including driver fatigue, is the responsibility of all those involved in the heavy vehicle industry.

While most operators are looking after the health and well-being of their drivers properly, it must ensured that those operators who are doing the right thing are not disadvantaged because other operators are not.

There is evidence that some truck drivers are placing themselves and the community at risk because they are fatigued or exceeding legal driving hours requirements.

Families of drivers and the general community are worried about the hours that some heavy vehicle drivers are working and the safety issue that arises for these drivers.

The community quite rightly expects a safe heavy vehicle industry, which is actively monitoring driving hours and enforcing regulated hours.

It is because of these concerns that the Government has decided to take action and introduce regulations for a Driving Hours Record, as part of a Fatigue Management Strategy.

This new strategy has been developed with the cooperation of the heavy vehicle industry and will be accompanied by a major education program to ensure that drivers get the message.

Through this strategy, all Tasmanians can benefit from a safe heavy vehicle transport industry - one in which the safety of heavy vehicle drivers and other road users is paramount.