Already in the MIA this year there have been several fatal accidents involving trucks. 

In the past month a driver died after an accident on the Sturt Highway near Darlington Point and a female passenger of a heavy vehicle passed away following a rollover near Whitton.

Last week it was revealed the paramedic profession was the “most dangerous workplace”, but the union said it would argue truck driving is also up there. 

Transport Workers Union NSW assistant secretary Nick McIntosh believes there’s a simple measure the federal government can put in place in tomorrow’s Budget which would help bring the number of fatalities down. 

“This government needs to re-introduce an independent tribunal which can tackle the issues relating to the industry and then putting proper measures in place to protect drivers,” he said. 

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“We will never knock back funding for roads infrastructure of course, but if bad roads were the problem as to why there are so many accidents and drivers dying, then it would be an easy fix. 

“However, this is the very government that got rid of the tribunal which was in its early days when they came to power.”

Mr McIntosh said there was never going to be a simple solution to stop truck drivers from dying on the roads – or there workplace as it is. 

However, the union wants to see more definitive action from all levels of government to ensure companies are doing the right thing and looking after their staff. 

“I would say this industry is definitely the most dangerous and you have to look at why that is the case,” Mr McIntosh said. 

“There is a reason drivers are tired and pushed to their limits on the road.

“It’s something everyone should be concerned about because we’re all sharing the road with our truck drivers.”