Truck Companies Face Road Death Law

Large companies using trucking services will not be able to set unreasonable deadlines on drivers in a bid to stem the seventy deaths on NSW roads each year in the industry.

Under legislation introduced by the NSW Government this week, freight companies will need to have Fatigue Management Plans in place for drivers from March 1, 2006.

Companies with more than 200 employees, such as Coles and Woolworths, using freight services will need to ensure drivers have Fatigue Management Plans.

Self-employed drivers will need a plan in place with their customers.

NSW secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Tony Sheldon, welcomed the legislation, hailing it as a world first.

"Transport workers have been lobbying for this legislation for some years, and it is pleasing to see the NSW State Government acting upon those concerns," Sheldon said.

It is estimated truck crashes cost the state economy more than $178 million a year.

WorkCover NSW chief executive officer, Jon Blackwell, said the new laws were developed after consultation with the TWU, the Road Transport Association and employer groups.

"The NSW Government will continue to work with other states and territories and the Commonwealth through the National Transport Commission on measures to improve safety in the road freight industry," Blackwell said.

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