April 4, 2016
It was business as usual for owner drivers in the nation’s trucking fleet on Monday despite the deadline passing for the implementation of a new road safety order.
The “Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order”, handed down by the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) in December, sets legally binding minimum hourly and kilometre payments for owner-drivers.
It would bring owner-drivers in line with award requirements, and is supported by the Transport Workers Union.
However, Liberal and National MPs and some truckies, say the cost of delivery for independent operators could rise by as much as 30 per cent above the market rate charged by bigger transport companies, effectively putting smaller operators out of business.
Late on Friday, the National Road Transportation Association – an industry association representing owner-drivers and fleet operators – filed an application for a stay to the order in the Federal Court in Brisbane.
This blocked the RSRT changes until a judgment is handed down.
The Federal Government is expected to review the Road Safety Remuneration system when it resumes sittings, and Queensland Senator Barry O’Sullivan has already indicated he will table a Private Members Bill to “stop the RSRT in its tracks”.
