Truckies blame supermarket demands for deaths. Truck Drivers have slammed supermarkets for their role in the high number of truck accidents. Following nationwide protests by members of the trucking industry, company directors as well as senior managers in NSW  face about 1000 charges for neglecting their drivers speeding. Drivers claim the big supermarket chains, such as Woolworths and Coles are to blame for putting lives at risk for the sake of productivity, demanding drivers meet strict and unrealistic deadlines. The Transport Workers Union who are responsible for organising the protests claim that drivers are forced to speed and drive under fatigue in order to deliver on time resulting in the senseless loss of lives on our roads. The Unions Peter Ferguson had this to say in an interview with ABC’s Jeff Waters:

JEFF WATERS, REPORTER: In Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, Transport Workers Union members have the big two supermarkets in their sights. PETER FERGUSON, TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION: They put pressure on the major contractors, being the bigger transport companies, which in turn passes the pressure down to the drivers. JEFF WATERS: They spoke to customers and hid leaflets inside stores on shelves to push their claims delivery trucks are being driven dangerously because of scheduling pressure and low wages. Source : https://www.abc.net.au/lateline/truckies-blame-supermarkets-for-deaths/4004562

The supermarket giants have responded by denying all allegations. Coles insisted that they ensured safety guidelines were adhered to and that the union’s figures were unsubstantiated and false. According to another report by ABC.net.au :

Coles says the TWU’s claims are unsubstantiated and Woolworths Chairman James Strong says the allegations are not fair.  “I think it is not the best way to approach a problem,” he said. “That sort of using sensational terms seems to be a trademark of the TWU and it is a pity. “I hope people can get down to sorting out the realities rather using than those sort of epithets.” Mr Strong, who is in Darwin attending a business conference, says the TWU needs to have a rational discussion with the supermarket chains. Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-10/woolworth-chairman-defends-truck-transport–policy/4003768

Woolworths chairman, James Strong retaliated to allegations by The Transport Union, he had this to say to ABC’s Jeff Waters:

JAMES STRONG, WOOLWORTHS CHAIRMAN: I don’t think that’s a fair allegation and my only comment is that the TWU seems to have had a well-developed habit of everything that goes wrong is somebody else’s fault. MICHAEL KAINE, TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION: The drivers that we’ve spoken to and keep raising issues with us, and the whistle-blowing companies who are afraid to name themselves for fear of commercial retribution, they’re the ones giving us the information. JEFF WATERS: In NSW, trucking company managers are facing a total of 1,000 charges alleging their drivers have been speeding or tampering with speed limiters. A dozen senior executives from four contracting firms have been charged under chain of responsibility laws. Police are now investigating further. PETER WELLS, NSW ROAD & MARITIME SERVICES: Subsequent efforts will now start to focus on the other parties in the chain. Where a truck was speeding with a load, clearly that load came from somewhere and went to somewhere. JOHN HARTLEY, NSW POLICE: This is the start of an operation to make sure the industry’s clean. We’ve had great support from leaders of industry saying, “This is good, make sure we clean industry up.” JEFF WATERS: NSW police won’t say if any supermarkets are implicated in the case. Source : https://www.abc.net.au/lateline/truckies-blame-supermarkets-for-deaths/4004562

The Transport Workers Union’s Tony Sheldon addressed the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Congress in Sydney by urging union members to support the campaign for retailers to stop pressuring truckies. He urged the big retailers to ignoring the issue of safety in the transport industry. Transport Workers Union members and supporters joined in a flash mob performance outside a Coles store in central Sydney to draw attention to their cause. Performing “The Safety Dance” they urged retailers to stop dancing around safety issues and take their responsibilities seriously. According to the union, one in every trucks on our roads are delivering to Coles,Woolworths or a major supermarket. A report on Twu.com.au:

“This enormous economic power enables Coles and other major retailers them to dictate to  truckies and transport companies on price, delivery schedules and delivery windows. A recent  survey of over 700 truck drivers found that 55% of drivers in the Coles supply chain admitted to  driving at unsafe speeds. When you squeeze a guy driving a 40 tonne truck day in day out,  paying him a pittance and demanding unrealistic deadline after unrealistic deadline, you create  the conditions for chaos.”

With an average of 330 people killed our roads each year due to truck crashes, it is obvious that something needs to be done to improve truck safety.  According to figures by WorkSafe Australia, every three workplace fatalities involve trucks.  Major retailers need to stop putting pressure on truck drivers and start paying fair wages, the union urged and reassured the public that it would not stop campaigning until something is done to hold supermarket chains accountable for their contribution to trucking safety. Unfortunately until the big chains such as Woolworths and Coles start accepting their responsibilities in truck industry safety, the carnage on our roads will continue as truck drivers are forced to speed and drive under fatigue for fear of the retail giants.