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A leading trucking industry figure says new requirements imposed on truck drivers by the South Australian government are not workable and will lead to more drivers quitting the industry.
Key points:
- New requirements in South Australia mean some truck drivers will have to get a COVID test every two days
- The industry says that's impractical and unworkable
- Truck drivers are expected to quit the industry over the new testing rules
Under new directions issued by the government last night, truck drivers crossing the Victoria–South Australia border will have to undergo a COVID test within 24 hours of entry into South Australia, unless they can show they have had a test in the prior 48 hours.
That compares to an earlier requirement to get a test once a week.
It means truck drivers on daily routes across the border will have to get a test up to every two days.
Unworkable and damaging
Steve Shearer, executive officer of the South Australian Road Transport Association, said the new requirement would not work.
"For occasional drivers coming across, that might not be a big issue, but for all drivers who routinely — two, three or four times a week — cross the border, that means they're going to have to get tested every second day," he said.
"We don't think the testing infrastructure can meet that demand because not all truck drivers are able to access a testing facility between 9:00am and 4:00pm and truck drivers don't have a lot of spare time."
Mr Shearer said truck drivers had already left the industry because of border restrictions and he expected more to follow after the latest announcement.
"We know we're going to lose significant numbers of drivers, and if we lose too many drivers we won't be able to continue sustaining the community in any state.
"To give you an example, just one truck company here in Adelaide sends 35 B-doubles of fresh produce to the Sydney markets every night."
ABC News
)A disproportionate response
The latest tightening of the border was triggered when two removalists who travelled from New South Wales to South Australia via Melbourne later tested positive for coronavirus.
But Mr Shearer said it was not a proportionate response from the South Australian government.
"My job is to push as hard as we can to make sure we get the best balance … because we've proven how responsible we are.
"There's a hell of a lot of drivers who drive the same route, day in day out, and those drivers are the ones who get hit by this."
SA Health and South Australia Police have been contacted for comment.