300-plus truckies lose their licence

More than 300 truck drivers in Western Australia have had their licences suspended after the state government alleged they failed to pass their driving test.

An investigation by the Department of Transport and the Corruption and Crime Commission uncovered irregularities in the conduct of Neerabup-based driving school Mines West, which was one of several organisations contracted by the department to undertake heavy vehicle practical driving assessments.

A spokesperson for the department said it might mean some people were granted a licence despite not meeting requirements.

"A cooperative investigation conducted by the CCC and DoT has uncovered irregularities in the conduct of an HVPDA provider that may mean some persons have been granted a licence despite not having met the requirements of accepted driving assessment procedures," the department said.. 

The department claims 326 truck drivers are unlikely to have passed their driving test and has suspended their licences.

A review of records is continuing and further suspensions may be imposed.

Transport Workers Union state secretary Tim Dawson described the allegation as concerning.

“Authorities need to find out how long illegal licences have been handed out by Mines West and if other registered training organisations have been doing the same.”

"And that it does not happen again."

He said another major concern for the Transport Workers Union was companies hiring people who may have not had the proper training.

"People out there are employing and believing that they have the appropriate driver's license," he said.

"They are potentially putting dangerous people in their trucks as well."

The 326 licence suspensions relate to the Medium Rigid (MR) and Heavy Rigid (HR) licence classes only – Heavy Combination licences (HC) are not involved.