Driver Killed, Truckie Gaoled, Judge Damns Bosses

A truck driver pressured into driving 14-hour shifts has been gaoled following the death of another driver.

County Court Judge Joe Gullaci slammed bosses in the transport industry, calling for authorities to ban "ruthless" employers who imposed unreasonable deadlines on their drivers.

Truck driver Joseph Terry Caldwell, 24, of Warrnambool, was jailed for at least three years and 10 months over the death of Francis Fava on July 6, 2001. The court heard Caldwell, who pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death, was driving 14 hours a day without breaks and feared he would be sacked if he didn't work long hours.

"It's time employers accepted responsibility for what's happening in the industry," says TWU spokesperson Scott Connolly. "The problem is out of control."

Connolly said there has been a 100% increase in trucking fatalities in January.

"The authorities need to take immediate action because of the crisis on our roads,' says Connolly.

"Superhuman" Demands On Drivers

Meanwhile the NSW Industrial Relations Commission has heard that only a "superhuman" could have worked the hours a long-distance truck driver did in the days before he died when his semitrailer crashed on the Pacific Highway.

WorkCover NSW is prosecuting a transport company over the death of the driver.

The hearing is continuing.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:34 EST