Unions want the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) to bring in new conditions for tanker operators nationwide.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says it is preparing a submission to the RSRT which will ask for a new set of standards to be drawn up.

They want clearer protections around driver pay rates and vehicle maintenance.

The TWU’s call came after a fatal crash last week involving a BP tanker.

The union says it has been pushing for safety improvements in the sector for a number of years, but the recent tragic events have renewed the need for better protection.

“We’re opening legal proceedings in the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, to force clients to lift the economic pressure on drivers, which is the major cause of truck crashes,” TWU acting national secretary Michael Kaine said.

“We’re seeking binding orders to make clients fund safe operation for Australia’s tanker fleet.

The TWU’s submission will seek minimum rates for tanker drivers and new rules that hold the supply chain accountable for missed safety checks and unsustainable delivery times.

“For years, drivers and the union have been calling government action to improve tanker safety. The response has been simple inaction from clients and government alike,” Kaine said.

The RSRT can make orders forcing companies into minimum rates of pay and conditions across the industry, or for specific sectors when there are clear safety benefits.

The tribunal’s current investigations are reviewing standards in the cash-in-transit sector.