A delegation of trucking industry leaders are meeting Australia’s political leaders today and tomorrow as part of TruckWeek 2012.

TruckWeek is an event held every two years by the ATA, where trucking businesses and organisations come together to raise the profile of the industry by holding events in their local area.

The delegation consists of ATA Chairman David Simon, Managing Director of Don Watson Transport Noelene Watson, NTRTA President John Roil, past ATA Chairperson Kathy Williams and NatRoad President Geoff Crouch.

The key issues to be discussed in the meetings will include the national heavy vehicle laws, road pricing, the carbon tax, and the Business Tax Working Group’s proposal to change the depreciation arrangements for trucks and trailers.

ATA Chairman David Simon said it was essential that industry and policy makers work together to achieve a safe and professional trucking industry.

“TruckWeek is an opportunity for us to meet with our federal politicians and discuss some of the issues the trucking industry faces as our freight task continues to increase,” David said.

“We’ve made great strides in safety, but there’s always more to be done. This is our opportunity to show Australia’s federal politicians how trucking delivers.”

The delegation will meet with political leaders including the leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbot, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, and the Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson.

On the Thursday morning, the ATA will host a breakfast for politicians at Parliament House, with Australian researcher Lisa Sharwood presenting her research on the prevalence of sleep apnoea in Australia’s commercial truck drivers.

Sleep apnoea is a condition where a person has difficulty breathing whilst asleep, causing their sleep to be disturbed. This can then lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue and poor reaction times, and can more than double their accident risk.

Lisa’s research, published in international science journal Sleep, showed that while some 40 per cent of drivers may suffer from sleep apnoea, only 12 per cent are picked up under the tests currently used in truck driver medicals.

For more information on TruckWeek 2012, go to www.truckweek.com.au.