LNP claims of truck drivers forced to drive illegally unfounded

Claims by the Liberal National Party that truck drivers are being forced to drive illegally because of a shortage of new work diaries are unfounded, Transport Minister John Mickel said today.

Mr Mickel said arrangements were in place to overcome the shortage, and there was no reason for truck drivers to drive illegally by not completing the work diary.

As an interim measure, drivers are able to obtain a photocopy of the required work diary page which they can use legally for up to seven days by which time a printed work diary would be available.

The necessary page from the work diary can be obtained from Queensland Transport customer services centres, and QGAP offices in regional locations.

The page can also be accessed online at the National Transport Commission and Queensland Transport websites, and copies printed.

Mr Mickel said the new driver work diary had been introduced nationally on 29 September last year, with three months allowed for drivers to switch from their previous log books to the new diary.

Many drivers had delayed getting their new work diary, and in recent weeks supply had outstripped demand even though production of the new diaries had been substantially increased.

Production of the diaries has been further increased to 2200 a week to meet the increased demand.

“These claims from the LNP Opposition that truck drivers are being forced to work illegally without the new work driver are incorrect,” Mr Mickel said.

“The Opposition’s Ms Fiona Simpson herself states that truck drivers are being given photocopied pages to use.

“What she fails to understand is that use of these photocopied pages is acceptable for up to seven days, by which time supplies of the new work diary will have been replenished to any outlet that has run out of stock and re-ordered.”

Mr Mickel said as of last week more than 20,000 copies of the new diaries had been produced and distributed, with another 4000 scheduled for distribution between last week and this coming Friday.

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