Trucking industry faces financial fall out from safety clamp down

Friday, 19 October 2018

The trucking industry has welcomed stricter safety enforcement but it is leading to casualties as more vehicles are forced off the road.

With the busy Christmas season fast approaching transport companies are nervous about having their trucks taken off the road as a safety clamp down spreads.

Road Transport NZ chief executive Dennis Robertson said truckies were worried about the cost of being caught up in a review of the New Zealand Transport agency that has resulted in the suspension of a fourth heavy vehicle certifier and four more vehicles being ordered off the road.

Issues first arose last year when Nelson-based certifier Peter Wastney was suspended, followed by Wellington-based Dick Joyce in June.

This week NZTA announced the suspension of certifiers Patrick Chu of Auckland and Timaru-based Adam McFarlane as a law firm brought in to review 850 compliance files worked its way through those deemed a safety risk.

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According to NZTA figures, about 9 to 10 per cent of fatal crashes in the past two years were related to light vehicle faults such as deficiencies in tyres, lights, brakes, suspension and steering.

Robertson said NZTA compensated transport companies for the $300 to $400 it cost to recertify each vehicle, but the process could take weeks because of difficulties finding suitably qualified staff in some areas.

The resulting loss of business was a big financial hit and the possibility of further suspensions as business ramped up around Christmas was making operators nervous.

'On the West Coast a couple of our members were pretty vocal about the impact it was having on their business because they had a number of trailer units off the road, and they lost quite a lot of money.'

NZTA confirmed that until recently it had just one full time reviewer responsible for auditing more than 170 heavy vehicle certifiers because three staff were assigned to new roles in a 2011 restructuring, and another died in 2014.

The agency said would increase its staffing by 22 auditors, heavy vehicle engineers, and warrant of fitness (WOF) and certificate of fitness(COF) inspectors.

Motor Trade Association (MTA) chief executive Craig Pomare said maintaining vehicle safety standards was vital and NZTA's lack of resources meant some WOF and COF sites could go for four years without being audited.

According to NZTA figures, about 9 to 10 per cent of fatal crashes in the past two years were related to light vehicle faults - such as deficiencies in tyres, lights, brakes, suspension and steering - compared to between 5 and 6 per cent over the previous three years.

Pomare said whatever the reason for that, it needed to be addressed.

'We're saying 'hey guys, there's a red flag there, can you help us sort this,' so we don't go from 9 per cent to 11 or 13 per cent.'

He said MTA had long been concerned at the agency's response when it reported problems with certification standards.

'We were deeply frustrated at the lack of urgency around enforcement because fundamentally it's a safety issue. When we point out the suspected ratbags they [NZTA] don't act or they're slow to act.'

NZTA acknowledged that some inspection organisations had not been audited frequently enough, but that would change as it increased staff.

NZTA chief executive Fergus Gammie said the agency had put too much emphasis on self-regulation and knew it had to do better.

'The approach which we have traditionally taken has relied too heavily on education and encouragement, and not enough on enforcement. Too often, enforcement has been seen as a last resort.'

As part of its new approach NZTA has launched a free phone hotline (0800 468 244) so members of the public and transport industry workers can report concerns about vehicle certification work or other compliance issues.