General News
26 November, 2024
Truck industry asking for insights
Improving safety and productivity for truck drivers will be the focus of a two-day event at the Nhill Trailer Exchange this month.
On Tuesday November 26 and Wednesday November 27 transport operators will be asked to give feedback to key agencies.
Heavy vehicle owners and drivers – both local and interstate – are invited to visit the Nhill Trailer Exchange for road safety displays and presentations.
A group of organisations including local government is partnering to deliver the event, which had been scheduled to take place in February this year but was postponed due to bushfires across the region requiring the resources of Victoria Police and other agencies.
The Western Highway was also temporarily closed due to fires at that time.
The road safety event will address critical themes such as vehicle safety, roadworthiness, overloading, towing, fatigue and speed.
Representatives from Victoria Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will attend to deliver information and education rather than enforcement.
“The aim is to give the heavy-vehicle industry a chance to find out the latest tips to improve road safety," Horsham Rural City Council infrastructure director John Martin said.
"The agencies there will also be keen to hear concerns from transport operators themselves.
“The Western Highway is one of the nation’s key interstate freight routes, and unfortunately it's over-represented in fatalities and serious injuries.
"We're keen to do everything we can to help reduce the occurrence of these incidents.”
Mr Martin emphasised that the event would be relevant to local transport operators, including farmers and livestock transporters.
“We thank the Department of Transport and Planning, which has funded this event through its Community Road Safety Grants,” he said.
Other key participants will include the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria, WorkSafe and several Wimmera Mallee municipalities.
The event will run from 4pm to 11pm on both days, allowing drivers and operators to attend when available.