Truck Safety Blitzes Reveal Non-compliance Common

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Parallel truck compliance operations held in 2 states by police and road authorities have yielded some alarming results.

It was reported that a string of defects were commonly discovered during the blitz.

According to an article on Fullyloaded.com.au, Operation StateTrans held in NSW took place simultaneously to national Operation Austrans which happens annually.

Although the 2 operations are not linked, they did yield similar results.

Operation State Trans loooked at 13,806 trucks and trailers in its first week.

Authorities reported that in NSW 1609 defects have been applied to trucks and trailers for issues ranging from braking, fuel and oil leaks, steering and other mechanical issues.

There were also 888 infringement notices issued, along with 317 breaches for a range of breaches including licence, registration, fatigue and loading offences, along with others.

So far during the operation, inspectors downloaded 321 engine control modules so far during the operation with 66 identified as non-compliant or tampered with. These tampered speed limiters allowed the vehicles to travel at speeds over 100km/h on NSW roads.

Some of the other breaches included 12 drivers who tested positive to drugs from the 756 tests issued. These drivers receive 24 hour prohibition notices from driving and face further court action.

Assistant Commission John Hartley recently explained

“While the police and the RMS have jointly inspected over 13,000 trucks in a single week, the industry, and the road users of NSW should take some comfort that the ‘bottom 10 per cent’ have been identified and taken off our roads,”

“We know that it is only a small number of drivers, operators, and companies that continually do the wrong thing in an attempt to gain some sort of commercial advantage, which is why our joint work is important in both ensuring, and enforcing, heavy vehicle compliance on our roads.”

Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1605/truck-safety-blitzes-hit-their-straps

Paul Endycott, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) general manager compliance operations also weighed in on the operations, explaining that 300 heavy vehicle inspectors and investigators are working together with NSW Police for the month long operation across the state. He explained further,

“Working in partnership with NSW Police in compliance operations like StateTrans, Roads and Maritime is able to target truck operators and companies who are sending drivers out on the road without the relevant checks and balances,”

Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1605/truck-safety-blitzes-hit-their-straps

In South Australia, Operation Austrans saw police and Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) inspectors issue 422 cautions, expiations and defects, while a 27-year-old man from Para Hills was arrested for driving unlicensed in a semi.

The post on Fullyloaded.com.au also detailed a case involving a 46 year old man driving a B-Double who tested positive for drug driving. A suspected commercial quantity of methyl amphetamine was discovered in his vehicle.

Speaking on behalf of police, Inspector Ben Spencer, investigations manager said they were concerned about the number of dangerous defects that were identified over the course of the week.

“Of the 155 defect notices issued during the week, 41 were due to tyres, followed by 33 for brakes,” Spencer says.

“These figures are concerning given the increase in wet weather we are starting to see in South Australia.”