BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — Have no fear.  Our truckers are here.

That’s the message Peter Garske is sending to Queensland’s residents in the aftermath of the devastating floods that swamped this northern region of Australia.

Garske is the CEO of the Queensland Trucking Association.  He says the rail industry cannot get supplies to most places hit by the floods, and that the trucking industry is more than ready to carry the load.

The industry will be vital in re-supplying isolated towns and re-building houses and businesses, he says.    

“It will become very apparent very quickly that the trucking industry will be vitally important,” he says. “Our contribution to the recovery of the economy will be huge. The trucking industry will, as it always has, been the service provider.”

According to media reports the Queensland government declared 75% of the state a disaster zone, and invited the Queensland Trucking Association to take part in its Flood Recovery Taskforce.

 Garske says drivers should expect limited freight routes, but also expressed concerns against some restrictions.

“I remain hopeful —  and I will be making the case to the government —  we should not, where possible, be limiting the weight of trucks,” he says.

NatRoad President McIntosh echoed such concerns adding that in light of such devastation the trucking industry should be included in emergency response teams.  He says authorities should make some exceptions to rules and regulations.    

“Drivers must be afforded some level of flexibility to ensure that scheduled rest breaks do not prevent freight movements when opportunities to move through flood affected areas are limited,” McIntosh told media sources.

(In case you haven’t seen any of the devastation, click here.)