Grassroots initiative Knights of the Road strives to improve the public perception, safety and unity of Australia’s truck drivers.
Speaking with Australian Truck Radio, trucking advocate Rod Hannifey said the concept is about recognising drivers at every level of the industry and encouraging small, positive actions that collectively make a difference on the road.
“It doesn’t matter whether you drive a bread truck in Sydney or a triple roadtrain to Darwin, you’re still a truck driver,” said Hannifey.
“We’re one of the biggest and most dangerous workforces in the country, yet a lot of drivers feel unrecognised.”
The Knights of the Road initiative centres on a voluntary code of conduct and the idea that even modest actions like courtesy on the road, safer decision-making or reporting hazards can improve outcomes for drivers and the broader community.
“If I could get even one in 10 drivers to do one positive extra thing a day, they’ll do more in a day than I can do in a lifetime,” said Hannifey.
He said the program is designed to give drivers a sense of belonging and a collective voice, particularly those not currently involved in industry associations.
“At the moment, there’s not a lot of incentive for many drivers to do more than just their job,” he said.
“If they feel part of something, they’ll do more, and that benefits everyone.”
Hannifey also highlighted the potential for regional and route-based groups under the Knights banner to raise safety concerns directly with authorities, such as damaged road surfaces or inadequate rest areas.
“If 10 blokes ring up and say the same thing is dangerous, that can save a life,” he said.
Membership of Knights of the Road is free, with the initiative focused on participation rather than funding. Hannifey said feedback from drivers will help shape its future direction.
“The worst that can happen is people join and nothing changes,” he said. “But if we want something to happen, we’ve actually got to do something.”
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