The head of the state’s truckies’ association has praised the work of drivers in keeping the community supplied and safe.

SA Road Transport Association executive officer Steve Shearer said the community needed to keep perspective when it came to six COVID positive truck drivers visiting SA in recent weeks.

The latest positive case sent a scare through the Limestone Coast when an infected truck driver visited a Mount Gambier mill, forcing two workers into quarantine as a precaution.

The workers have since returned negative tests.

“They can have a very high level of trust and confidence in truck drivers because we have proven it,” Mr Shearer said.

“We have had six positive cases in approximately 1.5 million border crosses by drivers.

“We as an industry have diligently applied COVID safe practices to keep our drivers safe, our businesses safe and our community safe.”

Mr Shearer said he knew people would be worried early on in the pandemic, however wanted to reassure the community that truck drivers were committed to ensuring Australian shelves remained

stocked.

“The community can rely on us to keep doing that, and it’s really important the community return the support to the truck drivers they give to the community,” he said.

“By and large I think at the moment if people could just keep it in perspective and not overreact to an instance of a truck driver testing positive.

“It’s a matter of recognising the solid proof that we are extremely safe, we are working very cooperatively with the health officials.”

Mr Shearer said the biggest problem facing drivers was the constant moving of the goal posts, with official directions changing often.

He also said many drivers were suffering negative side effects from 18 months of COVID tests.

“For over a year they have been required to have these PCR tests, the nasal swabs, but truck drivers have been having them basically every week,” Mr Shearer said.

“About a quarter of them have significant nasal issues because having a swab up your nostril every week, some nurses are gentle, but others are heavy handed … some drivers have been having problems.

“We are trying to get approval to have saliva testing or rapid antigen testing.

“The testing requirement has been a real pain in the nose, I have been tested several times, I do not find it a pleasurable experience.”

Mr Shearer encouraged the community to rally around truck drivers to show they were supported.

“It would be great if they waved to the truck driver when they see them – make the truckies feel they are held in good regard and appreciated,” he said.