Australian freight marketplace, Loadshift, has launched a comprehensive safety initiative for National Safe Work Month, releasing a detailed e-booklet to its 40,000+ registered shippers and carriers aimed at reducing the transport industry’s disproportionately high workplace injury and fatality rates.
The initiative comes as the latest Safe Work Australia data reveals 94 workers were fatally injured at work this year alone, with 42 of those coming from the transport, postal and warehousing sectors. That’s higher than any other industry – as road freight workers face injury rates nearly three times the national average.
“Every truck driver and freight worker deserves to return home safely to their family after every job,” said Loadshift Operations Coordinator, Alex Randall.
“As Australia’s largest freight marketplace, we have a responsibility that extends beyond connecting loads with drivers – we’re committed to ensuring our entire community operates as safely as possible.”
The ‘Loadshift Safe Drive Guide’ addresses the most critical risks facing Australia’s transport workers, including fatigue management, load security, emergency response procedures, and weather-related hazards. The resource aligns with Safe Work Australia’s 2025 National Safe
Work Month theme and four-week risk management framework.
Key components of the Loadshift Safety Guide include:
● Major risk identification and management covering on-road dangers, loading site hazards, and workplace health considerations;
● Emergency response procedures with step-by-step protocols and essential contact numbers for all Australian states and territories;
● Daily safety checklist for pre-trip vehicle inspections, route planning, and load security verification;
● Fatigue management strategies addressing the industry’s leading cause of serious accidents;
● State-by-state safety regulator contacts and professional development resources
“The transport industry has made significant safety improvements over the past decade, but we cannot become complacent,” said Mr Randall.
“With 10,200 serious injury claims in 2023, every platform, every employer, and every worker needs to prioritise safety every single day.”
The guide specifically addresses modern freight industry challenges, including the safety training needs of independent contractors and owner-operators who may lack access to traditional workplace safety programs.
The transport sector employs more than 670,000 Australians – however, it continues to face significant safety challenges, with fatigue-related incidents, vehicle rollovers, and loading/unloading accidents representing the most serious ongoing risks.
Truck drivers using the Loadshift platform travelled more than 60 million kilometres in the last 12 months – a distance equivalent to 156 trips to the moon.
“We’re not just a technology company – we’re part of the transport community,” said Mr Randall.
“This National Safe Work Month, we’re proud to contribute practical resources that can genuinely save lives and prevent injuries across our industry.”
The ‘Loadshift Safe Drive Guide’ has been distributed free to all registered Loadshift users and is available for public download from the company’s social media channels. The initiative supports Safe Work Australia’s call for all workplaces to participate in National Safe Work Month activities throughout October.
