THE AUSTRALIAN Trucking Association (ATA) warned today that governments should not base specifications for future electronic speed and fatigue management systems on the Intelligent Access Program (IAP).
The ATA said governments should instead piggyback off the existing systems used by trucking companies.
The ATA made the announcement in response to the NTC’s draft position paper on using electronic systems to monitor heavy vehicle driver fatigue and speed compliance.
The submission argued the rules for electronic systems should recognise that many trucking companies already use sophisticated fleet management systems rather than requiring them to replace those systems with ones based on IAP.
Trucking operators enrolled in IAP are required to pay for an extra GPS tracking device in their trucks, which sends information back to a monitoring company.
The monitoring company notifies the relevant transport regulator whenever a breach is detected. The ATA added it is an enforcement-focused tool, and does not improve safety or compliance.
In contrast, the systems used by operators have been developed to meet their duties of care and compliance and are safety management focused.
The submission also said IAP-based speed and fatigue monitoring should only be used as part of a court imposed penalty.
It said the program should be limited to operators with a proven history of the most serious and persistent offences and with a very high likelihood of re-offending through severe risk fatigue or speed offences.
The submission added that as a matter of policy, if all governments want to foster optimal use of electronic systems for recording and monitoring fatigue management, then all governments must agree to ensure that inconsequential technical breaches are ignored.
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