Coles truckies 'under pressure to speed'.    

    From: AAP
    May 30, 2012 8:16AM
    Perth Now.


MORE than half of Coles truck drivers believe they are under pressure to drive too fast.   

National secretary of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), Tony Sheldon, released the findings of a national survey of 715 drivers today.

It found 55 per cent of drivers surveyed in the retailer's supply chain admitted to feeling pressure to drive too fast.   

The trucking industry average is 26 per cent.

"Coles is amongst the worst offenders when it comes to pressuring truckies in their supply chain," Mr Sheldon said.

"(It's) a damning indictment of the squeeze Coles places on truck drivers and their entire supply chain, leading to tragic consequences."   

The report also found that 82 per cent of drivers surveyed in the Coles supply chain had considered leaving as a result of client pressures.


TWU NSW secretary Wayne Forno said an average Coles driver spent almost 400 hours each year in unpaid waiting times.

"Even at minimum transport award wages, this means these drivers are robbed of $7393 each year," he said. 

Mr Sheldon says the union will continue its campaign until Coles "stops pushing safety down the supply chain and takes some real responsibility for the safe transportation of their goods".       

A protest of truck drivers will coincide with the TWU National Council in Sydney today.


Comments on this story

    Proud W.A.S.P. of Bertram Posted at 4:47 PM May 30, 2012

        When has Coles been open 24/7 ?? Everywhere except in WA { Wait awhile } In 1999 in Euchuca Victoria, a town smaller than Bunbury, Coles and Woolies were open 24/7 in the middle of Winter !! Tiz only here in the backwater of Australia that shopping laws are draconian. Aldi will not even think about comung to WA until we have 21st century opening times.