Keeping our roads TruckSafe

The New Zealand Trucking Association is calling for action after a roadworker was fatally struck by a 20-tonne unroadworthy truck. With the company boss of the Auckland business admitting to manslaughter, the association says the tragedy exposes wider systemic failures beyond the news media’s focus on the individual now facing justice.

The Trucking Association holds responsible the combination of an unsafe truck, an unfit contractor, and a she’ll-be-right culture. They point to facts in the court report and identify multiple opportunities that were missed to prevent this death.

· The truck was known to be defective.

· The operator had a track record of safety issues.

· The contractor was allowed on-site despite clear red flags.

· NZTA and other regulators had no effective mechanism to stop them.

· The current system has no teeth. No one is truly held to account until it’s too late.

“If you are contracting trucks into your business, it’s no longer enough to take someone’s word that they’re compliant. A clipboard induction and a promise won’t hold up when lives are on the line,” says David Boyce, chief executive of the NZ Trucking Association.

The association calls for the use of TruckSafe, an independently audited safety management system that ensures transport operators have the necessary systems, training, and records in place to meet stringent safety and compliance standards.

Certification under TruckSafe means that fatigue and scheduling are actively managed, vehicles are properly maintained and roadworthy, drivers are thoroughly assessed, inducted, and trained, and health and safety are deeply embedded in the company culture.

Ensuring ongoing safety

Ensuring a truck is safe involves far more than a sticker on the windscreen. While a current Certificate of Fitness (CoF) confirms the truck met minimum safety standards at the time of inspection, it doesn’t guarantee ongoing safety.

Businesses should look deeper by reviewing maintenance logs, confirming regular servicing, and checking that daily pre-start inspections are actually being carried out. Trucks must be routinely checked for wear and tear, with repairs documented and verified. But even the best-maintained vehicle can become dangerous in the wrong hands, which is why driver competency is just as vital. Drivers should be fully licensed, regularly trained, and empowered to speak up about safety issues.

Beyond the truck and driver, companies need systems and a culture that prioritise safety over convenience. Independent accreditation schemes like TruckSafe add a further layer of accountability, ensuring that a transport operator’s safety practices, from fatigue management to vehicle condition, are regularly audited.

For those contracting transport services, it’s not enough to assume compliance. Due diligence is essential: ask for audit reports, confirm safety protocols, and choose operators who can back up their promises with proof. A safe truck isn’t just one that looks roadworthy; it’s one that’s backed by robust systems, trusted drivers, and a company culture where cutting corners isn’t tolerated.