Trucking industry united on testing sites

The Australian trucking industry is taking national leadership on truck driver COVID testing, calling for the establishment of at least two national road transport industry testing and vaccination points. 

The Australian Trucking Association and its state and territory members are calling on the Australian Government to establish the testing points, with an aim to reduce test result waiting times and support vaccination requirements.

“Recently we saw the example of two truck drivers testing positive in WA. They had completed a COVID test in NSW, but the results had taken three days to process,” CEO of Western Roads Federation Cam Dumesny said. 

“Similar delays are occurring with tests carried out in Katherine, Northern Territory where road freight drivers are forced to attend the local hospital to get tested for compliance purposes. Results can take three days to be processed," he added.

The proposal has recommended 24-hour COVID testing sites be set up at Port Augusta in South Australia and the NT Border control point at the Barkly Highway Roadhouse in the Northern Territory.

“These are just two points at which nearly all national east-west road freight movements must pass through,” ATA CEO Michael Deegan said. 

“These sites would also protect the north-south route from Port Augusta to Darwin,” he said. 

The proposal calls for the sites to be accessible at all times, with on-site staff capable of administering vaccines and returning test results quickly. 

“To meet their mandatory testing obligations and reduce the risk of unwittingly transmitting COVID across borders, road freight drivers must have access to 24-hour testing facilities,” Executive Officer of the NT Road Transport Association, Louise Bilato said.

“There has been too much reliance on truck drivers getting COVID tests and vaccinations done in hospital and medical clinics that only take bookings 8am – 4pm on weekdays. It is increasingly hazardous,” she said.

SARTA CEO Steve Shearer said operating interstate road freight in the COVID era is a national challenge. 

“It is essential that the Australian Government assists the states and territories by funding key vaccination and testing facilities that service interstate road freight drivers so we can continue to sustain the community and the economy,” Mr Shearer said.

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Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon agreed. 

“The QTA continues to strongly advocate for more consistent cross-border testing requirements and would support the establishment of testing centres situated on the key freight route locations to allow truck drivers to perform the essential service of delivering freight in a more timely and seamless way,” Mr Mahon said.  

“We also advocate for a reduction in the frequency of testing required for fully vaccinated truck drivers, with rapid antigen testing the preferred option. PCR tests should only be needed in the event of a positive rapid antigen test,” he concluded.