Truck stoppage runs out of fuel

Plans by the state's long distance truck drivers to begin a two-week strike were aborted this morning after only 20 of the expected 300 disgruntled owner-drivers turned up to the rally in Kewdale.

The members of the WA Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association had planned to join nationwide stop-work meetings to increase owner-driver base wages, remove the diesel fuel excise and improve driver safety.

The association is demanding federal government intervention to allow owner-drivers to recoup increasing fuel costs.

WA president of the association, Peter Swift, said drivers were unfairly absorbing the costs with no financial assistance, while companies like Coles and Woolworths were allowed to increase prices to offset the spike in fuel prices.

Chief executive of the Transport Forum WA Ian King said drivers voted unanimously for the "strategic withdrawal" from industrial action following the lack of support.

"Most drivers over here get good contracts and are not being screwed around," he told WA Business News.

"There's a lot of hot-heads within the long distance drivers [sector] and that's where all the hype came into it. I would say common sense prevailed today."

The TFWA is recognised as the peak industry for road transport in WA with 10,000 members, representing long distance, freight forwarders, furniture removers, heavy and bulk haulage operators, accredited pilots and waste managers.

About 750 of its members are also members of the WA Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association.

Meetings over pay have already been held in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, with some suppliers forced to stock up on extra perishables so produce wouldn't run out during the shutdown.

However, the small turnout in WA today forced truck drivers to return to work after a brief rally was staged at Parliament House.

There were no disruptions to food or petrol supplies.

Transport Workers Union spokesperson Paul Aslan said the union remained on the sideline during the dispute because it recently negotiated better contracts with companies for its members.