Drug claim sparks outcry

Truck industry advocates have hit back at claims made in a recent story aired on Channel Nine's A Current Affair, which suggests use of the drug ice is widespread and that drivers are exploiting a loophole to work illegally long hours.

The program revealed a self-made video of one driver, Gene Bryan, smoking ice in his truck before starting work, and spoke to a former colleague of Bryan's, Simon Green, who estimated that around 10 per cent of drivers use the drug.

The program suggests drivers are regularly turning to amphetamines to 'manage' fatigue.

Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin from Victoria Police then goes on to say that one in 12 heavy vehicle drivers pulled over in targeted testing tests positive for drugs, and that some drivers are exploiting a loophole to work for up to 16 hours a day.

The story has angered truck industry advocates, who have condemned the report as sensationalist and factually inaccurate.

Jodie Broadbent of ATANSW says the report attempts to discredit the entire industry with the poor choices of a tiny minority.

"These individuals and this behaviour reflect poorly on the honest, hard-working and professional men and women in this industry," she said.

Mrs Broadbent also urged authorities to use existing Chain of Responsibility legislation to bring to account companies that set impractical deadlines for their drivers.

"Trucking operators have introduced drug and alcohol policies that cover random testing of their workforce but more needs to be done," she said.

"The Chain of Responsibility legislation in road law must be used by road authorities to prosecute those in the supply chain who don't manage their businesses properly, or who push drivers to achieve impossible targets.

"This television report is not representative of the hard-working men and women who work in our industry. This person clearly has a drug addiction problem and while he needs help, we don’t want him on our roads, either in a car or a truck.

"Our members are sick of being lumped in with these individuals. These people go to work just like anyone else; they have the right to feel proud of the work they do."

Meanwhile Victorian Transport Association CEO, Peter Anderson (pictured), says Detective Inspector Rankin's claim that drivers are exploiting a loophole to work longer hours is misguided.

"The claim by Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin, that truck drivers are manipulating small amounts of time in work diaries to work longer hours, is completely incorrect," he says.

"Despite Victoria Police’s belief that a 24-hour period should be counted from the end of any rest break regardless of duration, transport operators and their drivers are abiding by the law, which states that rest must only be counted from the end of a major rest break, not a short break of as little as 15 minutes.

"The VTA is committed to enhancing the safety and reputation of our industry and are not appreciative of the misguided and unbalanced beliefs recently published in the media."