TRANSPORT for New South Wales has announced it will be creating an additional permit for the freight sector, following claims the current critical services permits were unclear regarding self-isolation conditions.
DCN has reported how truck drivers entering NSW were being issued with 14-day self-isolation notices, a situation variously described as impractical and ambiguous.
In a statement sent to industry groups, Transport for NSW said it had reviewed the criteria for critical services permits.
“NSW will be creating an additional permit, to better support critical workers in the Freight and Transport sector and to clarify terms and conditions,” said TfNSW executive director freight Susie Mackay.
“This permit will allow people within the freight and transport industry to be able to travel between NSW and Victoria for the purpose of their duties, providing their employer has a COVID-19 Safety Plan and will not require them to self-isolate.”
Ms Mackay said the NSW government has begun the development of the new permit, which will be live through Service NSW by close of business on 9 July.
In the meantime, freight and transport workers still will require the current critical services permit to enter NSW, but will not be held to account for any form of self-isolation.
“We are working to ensure the smooth facilitation of this change over the next 24 hours,” Ms Mackay said.
Earlier, Road Freight NSW reported receiving a call around 9pm Wednesday from a trucking company representative whose heavy vehicle driver had been pulled over by the NSW Police.
The driver had crossed the border an hour prior, had not come from a Melbourne hotspot, had a permit, manifest and was hauling his freight to a destination in country NSW.
The driver was told to head to his home in Sydney and self-isolate for fourteen days.
“If he was caught not going home but continuing to his destination, there would be serious consequences he was told,” RFNSW stated.
“After speaking with the operator we agreed the driver should unhitch and head home. “This was alarming for the operator because if every one of his drivers had to self-isolate for fourteen days after returning from Victoria then his business would be in serious strife.”
