The TWU wants the Federal Government to bring back the road safety watchdog.

The Transport Workers Union says fatal crashed involving trucks are “out of control”, with a total of 88 people killed in crashes involving trucks during the 12 months to September 2017.

Nearly half of Australia’s truck deaths occurred in NSW.

That figure is up from 61 deaths the previous year, according to Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics stats.

The TWU says 65 transport workers were killed while on the job in 2017. 

Overall, there has been a drop in workplace deaths in Australia, and TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says transport workers now account for 40 per cent of all work fatalities.

The Federal Government scrapped the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) in April 2016, which had been set up to make trucking safer by establishing pay conditions for drivers.

In scrapping the tribunal, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull argued there was no link between pay and road safety, after two reviews found it provided little benefit.

At the time, Mr Turnbull said the TWU was benefitting from the tribunal.

Mr Sheldon said without an industry watchdog, big companies could force transporters to act illegally.

“The financial pressure they put on transport operators and drivers through low-cost contracts means trucks are not maintained and there is constant pressure on drivers to speed, drive long hours and skip mandatory rest breaks,” he said.

Mr Sheldon called on the government to once again “establish an independent industry body which has the power to formulate, implement and enforce supply chain standards and accountability as well as sustainable, safe rates for the transport industry”.