Govt announces new Freight Movement Code

The trucking industry has welcomed the National Cabinet agreement on a more consistent and enforceable code for screening interstate truck drivers and other freight workers for COVID-19.

The Code, which was released yesterday (August 7) specifies the measures that will be enforced by relevant states and territories through their Public Health Orders and Emergency Management Directions.

The Code states that: “Enforceable measures have been specified to deliver greater consistency between states and territories in their implementation of border controls, especially for COVID-19 testing, self-isolation requirements while working, and reporting requirements to facilitate contact tracing.”

Commenting on the Code, Australian Trucking Association Chair David Smith said: “Today, governments have agreed on a more consistent testing system and easier access to testing sites. I thank governments for listening and for working together so co-operatively to develop this code.

“Governments have agreed that interstate freight workers will be screened at pop-up testing sites on major interstate freight routes. The facilities will operate for extended hours that meet industry needs, with the capacity for 24 hour operation where practicable,” Mr Smith said.

Testing of drivers is not mandatory although the Code states that: “An authorised officer can direct a worker to be tested as soon as practicable if they are unable to provide evidence of a recent COVID-19 test.

The Code does not apply to intrastate freight movements but to movements of freight across borders.

“Under the agreed code, testing will be free of charge. People with symptoms will be separated from people who do not have symptoms and just need a test to meet the border crossing requirements,” said Mr Smith.

“Freight workers will not have to go into quarantine or self-isolation while they are waiting for the results of a screening test, unless they have symptoms or are a close contact of a known case. Testing sites will provide workers with evidence they were tested; the evidence will be recognised nationally.

“The ATA argued that governments should agree on random testing and a single, nationally agreed COVID Safe plan for the trucking industry, to be developed in consultation with industry.

“We were able to secure our next best option, an agreement that the states and territories will mutually recognise each other’s COVID Safe plans. Operators will just need to develop one plan on their home state’s template, not a separate one with the same information for each state.”

The code will come into force in no sooner than five days, after National Cabinet agreed to provide industry with advance notice of the code.

You can read the Code in full here.