Australian Long Haul(Interstate) Trucking Industry: Human Rights, Human Wrongs

1. Australian Long Haul(Interstate) Trucking Industry: Human Rights, Human Wrongs Dr Jann Karp PhD(Sydney Uni) University of Leicester British Society of Criminology 12th-14th July 2010.

2. Aims • To explore the lived experience of interstate long haul truck drivers. • In particular, to examine fatigue, drug taking, use of sex workers and ask how these issues affect their lives, including family life. Context The assumed knowledge about truck drivers comes mostly from the media and tends to be superficial and to deal in stereotypes.

3. Underlying Assumptions • The assumptions underpinning this research are: • that illicit networks are a significant feature of the interstate tracking industry in Australia; • that understanding the nature of these illicit activities and networks and how they operate is important. • that there are those in the industry (and outside it) who have detailed knowledge of illicit activities and others who have little comprehension of the extent of this secret world. • Undertaking such research means that the researcher must comply with mandatory reporting of serious indictable offences

4. Human Rights, Human Wrong Dictionary Definitions Trust: • Reliance: confidence in, reliance on good qualities • Position of obligation Illicit: a. Not legally permitted or authorised; unlicensed; unlawful. b. Disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons. Networks: An association of individuals having a common interest. Networks represent connections - between people who know one another, share similar interests with one another, including similar employment interests.

5. Methods(a) • Field of study: Eastern seaboard. • Population: male, interstate drivers and owner drivers. • Sample: 21 • Sampling: snowball sampling • Strategy for recruiting participants: use of existing networks • Personal safety issues: strategy of approaching people through known connections • Type of study: small in scale, “toe in the water” approach.  • Some details about the population: • 209,028 Heavy Rigid Licenses issued, i.e., prime mover towing a trailer up to nine tonne. • 117,519 Heavy Combination License issued. • 180,21  Multi –Combination licences issued - B doubles. • Total interstate long haul drivers in New South Wales is estimated at approximately 344, 568 licences issued. (www.rta.nsw.gov.au) 25th September, 2009.

6. Methods(b) InterviewsSample size: 21Included 18 taped interviews plus 3 with notes only taken.:Three subjects have remained in phone contact over an eighteen month period to enable clarification of anything that remains unclear, e.g., meanings of particular words and phrases. Documentary Analysis:Government, company and union trucking legislation, and policy documents. Owner Driver and Big Rig industry monthly journals and other trucking community newsletters.

7. Explaining- Illicit knowledge • Truck driver behaviour: Examples of the site of illicit decision making: • 1.Sexual activity including paedophile networking, • 2.Use and Supply illegal drugs. Beating the drug tests, • 3.Straight drivers watching drug affected drivers, • 4.Union and industry networking particularly in, • 5. Wages, subcontracting, and tenders drivers. • Average weekly earnings for truck drivers (with no shift allowances). Federal Government called the new wage scale, the Modern award. • $723 AUD, • 490 EUR, • $612 USD. • (Date: 2 7.2010) • Research conducted in the context of a global downturn in the economic markets.

8. Dilemmas: how do researchers gain knowledge; • who owns that knowledge and who has a say in how it is used?How is trust developed in a research context such as this? • Research practice: ensuring that participants are given a voice and that their • knowledge of their own world is respected as authoritative. • Ethical practice: respecting the workers’ location in the work environment, • confidentiality essential. • Legal practice: mandatory reporting of felony offences is an ongoing legal • responsibility. • Moral practice: insider role of researcher (at least that of an ‘almost insider’), • who adopts a position of interest in the subject and in reporting on it carefully, • accurately and respectfully; the recognition that this research is developing • explanatory knowledge for outsiders- not a moral crusade by the insider.

9. Results-Summary • Self Preservation versus increasing regulations. • Outcomes:- pressure for results deliver the product or no work in spite of regulations. • Drivers reputation: being seen to be powerful, efficient reliable in comparison to personal levels of work stress. • Powerless:- Drivers will blockade roads but work demands and product demands high. • Economic:- company financial gains and debate about workers wages continual. •  Global down turn has influenced economic outcomes and work conditions.

10. Dilemmas and Diversity: Conclusion.Researchers can construct a significant body of knowledge which includes information concerning ‘illicit networks’ this is relevant to the development of policy, regulations and legislation. Father, son, and men, their networks providing a voice, providing information, exposing the complexities of the work site to future policy makers and legislators.

11. Conversations with Truckies Looking at Life Through Glass.Photos Kerr Photography. The End