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Labour seeks trucking industry inquiry

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Labour seeks trucking industry inquiry

3News NZ

Labour says the trucking industry is not safe enough (file)

Labour says the trucking industry is not safe enough (file)

Labour wants a Parliamentary inquiry into trucking industry safety.

Transport safety spokesman Iain Lees-Galloway has asked for an inquiry before and says he has new information which makes it even more urgent.

"We have been told overloaded livestock trucks are rolling over with shocking regularity, maiming animals and endangering people's lives," he said.

"At the centre of unsafe trucking is the pressure placed on drivers to meet incredibly tight deadlines and to load their vehicles beyond their maximum capacity."

Mr Lees-Galloways's previous appeal for an inquiry was based on a report which said some drivers were using drugs to stay awake so they could meet deadlines.

He's going to ask the transport select committee to carry out a wide-ranging inquiry and recommend ways to improve safety.

NZN

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Comments

25/06/2012 8:53:04 a.m.

Gary wrote:

I wish politicians would stop all these B/S enquiries and focus on doing something positive for NZ. Labour should tell Mr Lees-Galloways to report any dangerous trukies to the police, but then he would have to have some actual evidence. I think he just wants his 10mins of fame, Labour just need to give him a pat on the back and say thanks for raising this now go do your job and stop wasting everyones time and money.

22/06/2012 6:21:43 p.m.

Matty wrote:

I reckon on balance truckies are the best behaved drivers on the road. And for those that aren't, we have the highway patrol utes.. Mr Lees-Galloway you're just playing politics aren't you.

22/06/2012 2:24:22 p.m.

Maisie wrote:

Well, Mr Lees-Galloway, how's this for a start to your enquiry, get motorists to stop passing trucks on yellow (even double)lines. stop them passing trucks after the end of passing lanes, both these actions cause truck drivers to take evasive action. Didn't you watch the TV programme where camera footage was taken from inside the cab of trucks, of problems truckies have when they are passed in dangerous situations. How these trucks stayed on the road and up the right way leads me to think the problem is with car drivers not the truckies.The New media are always eager to report on truck accidents, so when did all these 'overloaded livestock trucks' rollovers take place on regularly!! Sensational reporting I would say

22/06/2012 11:13:44 a.m.

Mike wrote:

Dont forget that little industrial action that Labour supported ...

You know the one .. where socialble hours for a few lazy individuals was more important and everyone else in NZ. That industrial action cost NZ around $1 billion and Labour was the biggest bunch of whingers who support discrimination in the workplace.

That little industrial action cost transport companies in NZ millions, and when transport costs rise, so do transport charges, and then we see higher prices for everything we buy ... Thanks Labour!

22/06/2012 11:13:38 a.m.

Marty wrote:

What a waste of time. I see the police out there stopping and checking trucks just as much as cars and bikes. Almost all trucks are already regulated with onboard computers timing driving hours and driver speeds. What are you going to do Labour? Employ thousands of people with truck weighing scales on every farm road in the country to ensure this is not happening. Put the price of meat to Kiwis at a lower price, sell more and long term profits will increase. My brother could buy a boneless leg of lamb in the states, not government subsidized for the equivalent of $16.00 US. Here a leg of lamb with the bone in is $38 to $45 if you are lucky. The NZ economy can not a higher wage level but there is too much greed here and you wonder why the limits are being pushed.

22/06/2012 6:57:13 a.m.

Brent wrote:

We don't need a Inquiry into this, We no why NZ Own road companies are Pushing the safety boundary's, COST. And labour only needs to look at them self for that! The deal they Gave Australia's Toll for free yardage Killed NZ truckers that already had mortgage on the trucks, And people wonder why Business don't use Rail, Its because if you don't have to pay to park a truck anywhere in new Zealand you can cream the freight and the contracts.