Paul Fellows said in his own business, Fellows Bulk, he had seen drivers’ health concerns diagnosed after compulsory medical assessments as part of their of TruckSafe certification. Image: TruckSafe
Regular medicals required by safety assurance program TruckSafe have saved drivers’ lives, according to transport industry leaders.
To comply with their TruckSafe certification, drivers are required to attend regular examinations conducted by a medical practitioner to certify fitness to drive in line with national standards.
TruckSafe Chair Paul Fellows said in his own
TruckSafe Chair Paul Fellows said in his own business, Fellows Bulk, he had seen drivers’ health concerns diagnosed after compulsory medical assessments as part of their of TruckSafe certification.
“I had this great bloke about to start work for me up in Mackay,” Fellows said.
“I said, ‘You’ve just got to go have a medical before you start’.
“He came back after the assessment and said, ‘I can’t work for you now’.”
When undergoing the checkup, the man found out
“When undergoing the checkup, the man found out he was on the verge of renal failure.
“Another bloke refused to get a medical, he didn’t like going to the doctor, didn’t think he needed to,” Fellows said.
“I said, ‘You’ve got to have a medical sorry, if you want to work for me.’
“He had a stage four melanoma on his ear.”
Drivers need good vision, physical ability and cognitive
Drivers need good vision, physical ability and cognitive capacity to undertake the complex task of driving a motor vehicle the organisation responsible for the national driver medical standards Assessing Fitness to Drive
With the trucking industry dominated by a largely older, male workforce and well documented health consequences of truck driving, compulsory medicals were an essential part of TruckSafe’s Safety Management System, Fellows said.
“The health of staff and particularly drivers is critical to safe operation every day on the road,” he said.
Us blokes aren’t always the best at making
“Us blokes aren’t always the best at making time to get to the doctor.
“The compulsory medicals as part of TruckSafe membership takes the argument out of getting a checkup and has saved lives.”
Executive Director of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association and Compliance and Central Queensland Manager for Frasers Livestock Transport, Athol Carter, said he had seen how regular medicals required by TruckSafe had resulted in previously undiagnosed health conditions being found.
“The medical part of TruckSafe is awesome,” Carter said.
“I know for a fact it has saved drivers’ lives.
“I’ve seen diagnoses people had no idea about after going for their medical.”
TruckSafe was established in 1996 and is celebrating
TruckSafe was established in 1996 and is celebrating 30 years in 2026 as the leading assurance program for the Australian trucking industry.
The 2026 TruckSafe Management System will be launched at a free event from 5.30pm-7.30pm in Canberra on November 10.
