New System Aims to Make Roads Safer for Everyone

Imagine driving on the highway, knowing the big trucks sharing the road are operating under the highest safety standards. That's the goal of a new system launched by TruckSafe, the Australian Trucking Association's safety program.

Deniliquin-based Paul Fellows, of Fellows Transport is the chair of TruckSafe, and recently visited New Zealand to promote the life-saving program.

“I signed by business up to TruckSafe back in 2001, and have not looked back,” Mr Fellows said.

“In fact, I joined the board many years ago and was privileged to be voted in as chair in 2021.”

Mr Fellows says the system is a “game changer” and makes roads safer for everyone.

“It recognises the human factors of trucking businesses,” he said. 

“It’s grossly unfair if staff or owner operators are unaware of compliance or are not trained so this program marries safety and transport together.”

According to Mr Fellows companies using TruckSafe have 50 per cent less catastrophic incidents. 

Currently the freight and trucking sector in New Zealand lacks an industry-wide compliance and safety system, which prompted Mr Fellows visit. The program will begin rolling out across Kiwi-based companies in coming months.

TruckSafe was created back in 1996, when the government was worried about truck safety. 

Instead of just checking boxes to meet basic rules, TruckSafe claims to be a more flexible, risk-based system. This means companies can tailor their safety plans to fit their specific needs and the size of their operations, and the statistics quoted by Mr Fellows back up these claims.