WA Push for Tougher Truck Licensing Rules

0:00This is Corey, here with your quick two-minute update from Adelaide News today. Western Australia's top transport groups are pushing the state government to toughen up its heavy vehicle licensing rules. They want to copy South Australia's model, which demands at least 12 months with a heavy combination or heavy rigid license before getting a multi-combination one. This push comes amidst safety worries over more road trains hauling freight across the new labore. South Australia rode out these changes after a deadly triple crash in 2024 on the higher highway, the main-sealed route linking the two. States. Now, overseas driving experience does not count toward the top license except for New Zealanders and drivers must log up to 60 hours of. Supervised to practice. Industry leaders and truckers highlight risks from inexperienced drivers, both local and foreign, flooding the roads. Union reps point to pass incidents like highway blockages, fuel shortages, and fatigue crashes during rail outages.

1:01One truck owner shared how a newbie rear-ended him after missing rest stops on his first long haul. Flooding has knocked out the trans-Australian rail line, spiking road traffic to keep supermarkets supplies flowing. Groups say every two years these surges bring drivers with limited real-world skills, turning short urban trips into dangerous outback runs. The Western Australia government acknowledges the concerns and is joining national efforts to revamp licensing. Officials plan stage changes starting in 2026, 2027, focusing on better training and handling overseas credentials too. Ensured drivers are ready for the job. This episode is supported by our sponsor. Your favorite podcasts, music, or sleep sounds coming from your pillow, no earbuds, no distractions, just listen and relax. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com