10/06/2026
Please share help the industry make roads safer
Dear Minister,
Yes, we need to put bums in seats and attract more people into the transport industry, but the real problem is that heavy vehicle licensing standards have been lowered over time, and this is contributing to skills shortages and safety concerns on our roads.
A simple example would be to reintroduce substantial reversing and manoeuvring components into HC and MC licence assessments, such as parallel parking, offset reversing, or reversing into loading bays. In the real world, if a driver came to our yard claiming they could operate a heavy vehicle, one of the first things we would ask them to do is reverse into a designated parking area. It is a practical skill used every day throughout the transport industry.
Currently, a straight-line reverse is often sufficient to meet the assessment standard. A driver can pass the test while demonstrating only a limited range of vehicle control skills. Many drivers understand they are meeting the minimum standard required to obtain a licence rather than demonstrating the full range of competencies needed to safely operate heavy vehicles in real-world conditions.
The answer is not necessarily more regulation or bureaucracy. The answer is better testing, better training, and stronger practical standards. Simple changes could significantly improve driver competency and road safety.
We also need to get young people interested in the transport industry earlier and provide a clearer pathway through the licence classes. In my view, drivers should be able to progress from a car licence to HR, then complete a minimum period of proven heavy vehicle driving experience before progressing to HC and ultimately MC. The pathway could be streamlined, but it should include meaningful training, practical assessments, and demonstrated experience at each stage.
One of the biggest concerns I see is that many decisions affecting the industry are being made by people with little or no practical heavy vehicle experience. There is often an overreliance on paperwork, qualifications, and administrative processes, while practical driving ability and real-world experience receive less attention.
Driving a heavy vehicle safely is a skill developed through training, mentoring, experience, and exposure to real operating conditions. Paperwork alone does not make someone a competent driver.
Many people working in compliance, management, policy, and assessment roles have never spent significant time operating heavy vehicles in the transport industry. As a result, testing standards and policies can be developed without a full understanding of the challenges drivers face every day.
If we genuinely want safer roads, we need stronger practical testing, better training pathways, greater involvement from experienced industry operators, and a renewed focus on proven driving skills and competency.
Road safety will improve when competence behind the wheel is valued as highly as compliance behind a desk.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues further and provide practical industry feedback based on my experience as a heavy vehicle operator and trainer.
Yours sincerely,
John Skinner
Gold Coast Truck Driving School
