Truck fatality sparks call for industry wide probe

A transport union is calling for a thorough investigation of the causes of truck accidents after a fatal crash near Kerikeri.

The accident occurred when a truck turning out of a packhouse driveway collided with a truck and trailer on Kerikeri Rd at 6.20am on Tuesday. The truck and trailer cab bore the brunt of the collision, leaving the driver trapped. He died despite determined efforts to free him.

The truck and trailer the dead man was in was not owned by PBT Transport, as stated in a report in Wednesday's paper. It had been owned by PBT previously but had since been sold to another operator.

FIRST Union transport and logistics secretary Karl Andersen said road transport, alongside mining and forestry, was a major contributor to workplace deaths.

"Truck drivers work long hours and suffer significant disruption to their family life. We owe it to drivers and their families to get to the bottom of why our road toll remains high for truck drivers and other road users affected by truck accidents."

In 2011, the most recent figures available, road crashes involving trucks caused 50 deaths. While truck accidents resulting in fatalities had fallen since a peak in the 1990s, 50 was still too high, Mr Andersen said.

The Labour Party has also called for an inquiry into wider issues in the trucking industry, including contracting and remuneration issues.