NTC to review driver medical standards

The National Transport Commission has announced it is about to embark on a review of the current medical standards for heavy vehicle drivers

Medical guidelines for heavy vehicle drivers and rail safety workers will soon be reviewed, with the National Transport Commission announcing today (October 24) that it is set to review the Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines and the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers.

Last reviewed in 2012, the CEO of the NTC, Paul Retter (pictured), said it was time the guidelines were updated to reflect the latest medical expertise, the changing road or rail operating environments, and findings from recent relevant inquiries.

"We regularly review the medical standards to make sure they are up to date with the latest medical evidence and reflect the needs of drivers and safety workers," he said.

"This review will measure and analyse any risks that people with certain medical conditions might pose to the safety of our transport networks, but it will be a balanced approach that takes people's transport needs into consideration.

"We think the current guidelines are working well but it pays to check that view against the latest evidence, particularly when community safety could be affected."

The Australian Trucking Association has welcomed the review.

ATA Chair Noelene Watson said the review would only benefit the industry and the community.

"Ensuring our drivers are healthy and well is a top priority for industry," she said.

"Heavy vehicle drivers have a demanding job, and ensuring their medical needs are met is essential for both safety and staff wellbeing. But the current commercial driver health standards lack effective screening tests for major health issues such as sleep apnoea and diabetes. Recent studies have estimated that more than 25 per cent of long-distance truck drivers may have undiagnosed sleep apnoea.

"We’ve also had feedback from operators through our Trucking Australia open forum, where attendees called for the ATA to promote healthier driver lifestyles and seek better medical standards. We responded by developing a new series of driver health fact sheets, with the first released on October 3, 2014.

"We were also charged with working to have the standards changed so drivers sent for medical tests can keep driving until the results are assessed.

"Earlier this year, the ATA wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister highlighting our concerns with the current Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines and requesting that a review be added to the NTC’s forward work program.

"The ATA will work closely with the NTC as the review progresses, and press for medical standards that are both effective and fair."

For more information on the looming NTC review of driver medical standards click here.

NTC to review driver medical standards

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