LRTA WA Industry Day: WA truck driver shortage putting supply chain in danger of ‘major failure’

A leading figure in the State’s transport industry has called for urgent action on driver shortages and “unsafe roads” as it stares down the barrel of a potential “major supply chain failure”. Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA president David Fyfe has called for “immediate action” to address crippling labour shortages as hundreds of jobs go begging. The Lake Grace-based operator made the damning comments at the annual LRTAWA Industry Day in Perth at the weekend to 120 delegates and guests. “I made similar comments about the driver shortage last year and the only thing that has changed is that it has got worse,” he said. “Suggestions made by the LRTAWA for reforms to licensing that would help ease the driver shortage have fallen on deaf ears or are dismissed because they are not consistent with nationally uniform laws. “WA should not be held back because of national uniformity.” He also slammed the State of the road network across the State. “We have many examples of reputable companies and drivers leaving the industry because they no longer feel safe on the road, either because of the condition of the roads or the behaviour of some of the drivers,” Mr Fyfe said. “There are major routes in Western Australia that are in very poor condition — they are damaging vehicles and having an impact on the wellbeing of drivers.” Mr Fyfe said supplies to inland communities would “soon be affected” if the situation continued. During the Industry Day, Mr Fyfe was re-elected as president and Matt Henderson from MDH Transport and Peter Warburton from Warbys Transport were elected vice president (rural) and (livestock) respectively. Rob Anspach from Anspach Agricultural Contracting was elected as secretary and Darran Bairstow from Flexitrans was elected as treasurer.