White freight liner blues
During the 1950s, the delivery of bread, cream and milk was categorised as an essential community service and legislation was enacted to secure supply. It has since ossified and effectively deregulated the supply chain. A recent report prepared by Pricewaterhouse Coopers identified a causal nexus between road safety and driver remuneration. However, the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which established minimum pay rates for drivers, was abolished by the federal government. Meanwhile, media investigations have revealed widespread and systemic exploitation of many owner drivers. 1–5
Tip Top is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods group. It operates the Aldi supermarket supply chain in Australia and the challenging market conditions required a reconfiguration of its operations. Its owner drivers are now categorised as independent contractors and the introduction of low cost contracts with escalating overheads has significantly increased work health and safety risks. Following the dissolution of the road safety tribunal contract rates and payments have been ruthlessly slashed. It has an incalculable impact on fatigue management and vehicle roadworthiness, which generates penury with escalating psychosocial risks. In abolishing the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal the neoliberal government is merely protecting the interests of major corporations at the expense of beleaguered owner drivers and their impoverished families. 6–7
A survey from Macquarie University into the logistics and supply chain sector indicates 80% of truck drivers work more than 50 hours per week and 10% work over 80 hours. The pressure on owner drivers to falsify vehicle log books is well established but rarely disclosed because of fear and intimidation. In five years to 2016, over 1000 people were killed in truck related crashes. Safe Work Australia confirms many employers acknowledge that unsafe acts and risk taking results in high levels of injuries and fatalities throughout the supply chain sector. It also suggests the design of work requires extensive analysis to understand why such practices persist and establish how they can be eliminated or reduced. Escalating overheads will inevitably curtail essential maintenance on delivery vehicles and compromise their roadworthiness. This was corroborated following a recent raid at a Tip Top logistics depot in western Sydney. Regulatory authority inspectors from the Roads and Maritime Services examined 46 trucks and issued 25 defect notices. 8–10
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, indicates supply chain operators have an inordinate insolvency rate and the smaller businesses with five full time employees or less are most likely to go bankrupt. The psychosocial impact is rather predictable and is substantiated following a Deakin University study, which revealed 323 truck drivers committed suicide between 2001 and 2010. The Tip Top delivery drivers are working extreme hours with insufficient rest and their rates have been slashed. Meanwhile the parent company, Associated British Foods, is expected to announce a profit of over $2 billion, which is an increase of 25% from the previous year. Even the Subiaco besom could do the math on her infamous whiteboard and establish who the real breadwinners are in this casino capitalism arrangement. 11–14
Following further extensive research at Monash University, truck drivers have begged and pleaded with the federal government, the National Transport Commission and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for immediate preventive action. The recent study is summarised in Figure 4 and indicates trucking or supply chain logistics across Australia is a particularly precarious vocation, especially on long haul routes. Many drivers are exposed to multiple risk factors, which include sedentary roles with extended working hours, junk food, social isolation, extreme deadlines, fatigue, road rage and noise induced hearing loss. Over twelve years it has generated almost 121,000 authorised compensation claims, which include numerous work related fatalities. It equates to more than one million weeks or 22 years of lost productivity and the risk of truck drivers dying at work is quite significant. Almost 75% of deaths involved crashes and over four hundred people have died following incidents with heavy vehicles since the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal was abolished in April 2016. 15–24
Trucking is the most common occupation amongst working men in Australia with almost 200,000 drivers and demand is expected to double as the population escalates. The statistics are foreboding and indicate truck drivers are regularly abused, sadly neglected and even killed at work. It is incongruous with the object of safety legislation and requires immediate attention without the tyranny of bureaucracy or unnecessary platitudes. A persistent demand for low cost contracts from wealthy retailers exerts relentless financial pressure on transport companies, especially amongst smaller owner operators. Supplementary adversarial legislation and voluntary codes of practice cannot resolve many of the sociopolitical and economic issues within the supply chain sector. 25–30
It has become another race to the bottom with many truck drivers working excessive hours in defective vehicles to fulfil extreme demands. The consequences are often devastating with increasing chronic health problems, substance abuse and escalating psychosocial issues. However, correlation does not imply causation and descriptive statistics are often used to promote hidden agendas. The scientific information is surreptitiously misrepresented to furtively corrupt public policy, which disregards deeper systemic issues and blames the victim. It produces unreliable facts from reliable figures and you cannot feed the hungry on statistics. The purity of positivism often masquerades inherent dangers and several high profile examples include cigarette smoking, asbestosis and black lung……Well it’s bad news from Houston, half my friends are dying. White freight liner won’t you steal away my mind. 31–42
FIGURE 4
1. Bread delivery drivers accuse Tip Top of pushing them to breaking point [Internet]. 7.30. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/bread-delivery-drivers-accuse-tip-top-of-pushing/9124112
- TWU Demands answers from the Federal Government after truck driver exploitation revealed – Transport Workers’ Union NSW [Internet]. Transport Workers’ Union NSW. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.twunsw.org.au/twu-demands-answers-federal-government-truck-driver-exploitation-revealed/
- Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Review of the Road Safety Remuneration System Final Report January 2016 [Internet]. Docs.employment.gov.au. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://docs.employment.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/2016_review_of_the_rsrs.pdf
- Welcome to the Fair Work Ombudsman website [Internet]. Fair Work Ombudsman. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/legislation/road-safety-remuneration-system
5. Controversial history of Road Safety Tribunal shows minimum pay was doomed from the start [Internet]. The Conversation. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://theconversation.com/controversial-history-of-road-safety-tribunal-shows-minimum-pay-was-doomed-from-the-start-57815
6. Associated British Foods plc [Internet]. Abf.co.uk. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.abf.co.uk/
7. Report reveals overworked truck drivers fear raising safety concerns [Internet]. Mq.edu.au. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.mq.edu.au/newsroom/2017/02/03/report-reveals-overworked-truck-drivers-fear-raising-safety-concerns/
8. Safe Work Australia. Transport industry: Synthesis of research findings – July 2015. [Internet]. Safeworkaustralia.gov.au. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/transport.pdf
- Six areas the federal government needs to address in road safety | Safety Institute of Australia [Internet]. Sia.org.au. 2018 [cited 11 February 2018]. Available from: https://www.sia.org.au/news-and-publications/news/6-areas-federal-government-needs-address-in-road-safety
10. Tip Top drivers travel to Canberra to demand action on safety & exploitation – Transport Workers’ Union NSW [Internet]. Transport Workers’ Union NSW. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.twunsw.org.au/tip-top-drivers-travel-canberra-demand-action-safety-exploitation/
11. Why truck driving is one of Australia’s deadliest jobs [Internet]. Safetysolutions.net.au. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: http://www.safetysolutions.net.au/content/materials-handling/article/why-truck-driving-is-one-of-australia-s-deadliest-jobs-1386147929
12. Milner A, Page K, LaMontagne A. Suicide among male road and rail drivers in Australia: A retrospective mortality study. Road and Transport Research [Internet]. 2015 [cited 12 December 2017]; 24:26-31. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284919518_Suicide_among_male_road_and_rail_drivers_in_Australia_A_retrospective_mortality_study
13. Annual Results Announcement [Internet]. Abf.co.uk. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: https://www.abf.co.uk/media/news/2017/2017_annual_results_announcement
14. Families accuse Tip Top of working delivery drivers to death [Internet]. ABC News. 2017 [cited 12 December 2017]. Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-05/families-accuse-tip-top-of-working-delivery/9229526
15. Monash University Public Health and Preventive Medicine [Internet]. Monash University. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/news?f.News+categories%7C2=public+health+and+preventive+medicine
- Deadly and unhealthy: Truck drivers demand action as study shows risks behind Australia’s deadliest job [Internet]. Safe Rates. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: http://saferates.org.au/deadly-unhealthy-truck-drivers-demand-action-study-shows-risks-behind-australias-dealiest-job/
NHVR Home [Internet]. National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/
Xia T, IIes R, Newnam S, Lubman D, Collie A. Driving Health Report No 2: Work-related injury and disease in Australian truck drivers. Insurance Work and Health Group, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University [Internet]. Safe Rates. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.twu.com.au/Home/Campaigns/Safe-Rates/Driving-Health—Monash-Report/
Monash study finds truck driving among Australia’s most dangerous jobs [Internet]. Monash University. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/news/latest/2018-articles/monash-study-most-dangerous-job
Driving Health Report #2 – Work-Related Injury and Disease in Australian Truck Drivers [Internet]. Safe Rates. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.twu.com.au/Home/Campaigns/Safe-Rates/Driving-Health-Report–2—Highlights/
Graham B. Queensland fuel tanker crash kills three adding to a horrendous two-day death toll [Internet]. News.com.au. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/queensland-fuel-tanker-crash-kills-three-adding-to-a-horrendous-twoday-death-toll/news-story/fc5379fd9657856683106ca778ffded7
Road Safety Remuneration Repeal Act 2016 No. 35, 2016 [Internet]. Australian Government – Federal Register of Legislation. 2016 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016A00035
24. Massola J. Turnbull government to abolish Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal if re-elected [Internet]. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2016 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-government-to-abolish-road-safety-remuneration-tribunal-if-reelected-20160410-go2pl6.html
25. Wade M. Australia’s population clock hits 25 million [Internet]. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/australia-s-population-clock-hits-25-million-20180806-p4zvv7.html
- Model Work Health and Safety Act [Internet]. Safe Work Australia. 2015 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-work-health-and-safety-act
Letts S. Wesfarmers to demerge its Coles supermarket chain in search of better returns [Internet]. ABC News. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/wesfarmers-to-demerge-its-coles-supermarket-chain/9554658
Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations [Internet]. NHVR. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/law-policies/heavy-vehicle-national-law-and-regulations
30. Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia Home [Internet]. SCLAA. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://sclaa.com.au/
31. Race to the bottom [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_the_bottom
- TWU Media Release – No response from federal government as six die over three days in horror truck crashes [Internet]. Safe Rates. 2018 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: http://saferates.org.au/no-response-federal-government-six-die-three-days-horror-truck-crashes/
Egilman D, Bohme R. Over a Barrel: Corporate Corruption of Science and Its Effects on Workers and the Environment. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health [Internet]. 2005;11(4):331-337. Available from: https://caps6218.org.au/app/uploads/2017/07/Corporate-Corruption-of-Science-and-Its-Effects-on-Workers-and-the-Environment-1-10-05.pdf
Esar E. Definition of Statistics: The science of producing unreliable facts from reliable figures. Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/evan_esar_129901 [Internet]. Brainyquote. [cited 29 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/evan_esar_129901
Heine H. You cannot feed the hungry on statistics Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/heinrich_heine_118882 [Internet]. Brainyquote. [cited 29 August 2018]. Available from: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/heinrich_heine_118882
Purity and Danger [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purity_and_Danger
Positivism [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positivism
Taylor P. The smoke ring. 1st ed. New York: Pantheon Books; 1984. Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Ring-Peter-Taylor/dp/0394532139
LaLonde M. Kathleen Ruff: How one single-minded activist helped turn the tide on asbestos [Internet]. IPEN. 2016 [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://ipen.org/news/kathleen-ruff-how-one-single-minded-activist-helped-turn-tide-asbestos
Derickson A. Black lung. 1st ed. Ithaca, United States: Cornell University Press; 1998. Available from: http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100374590
42. Van Zandt T. White Freight Liner Blues [Internet]. Genius. [cited 28 August 2018]. Available from: https://genius.com/Townes-van-zandt-white-freight-liner-blues-lyrics
Do you have any thoughts? Please share them below