23 May 2013

New trucking industry laws 'not needed'

9:54 am on 23 May 2013

The Road Transport Forum says a law change aimed at reducing the number of truck crashes is not needed.

A union has called for new legislation to protect drivers after one person was killed and another seriously injured in a logging truck crash near Tolaga Bay on Monday.

First Union spokesperson Karl Andersen says New Zealand should follow Australia's example and create new laws to stamp out employer practices that encourage dangerous driving.

But the forum's chief executive, Ken Shirley, says it is already illegal to speed and to exceed work time rules, and more laws would be redundant.

Mr Shirley says the union wants a law change so it can get more power and entrench collective bargaining in the industry.