Sydney: Indian-origin truck drivers working across Australia have spoken out about facing repeated racist abuse, discrimination and even death threats while on the job, raising concerns about workplace safety and the treatment of migrant workers in the country’s transport sector.
According to an ABC News report, several drivers described experiencing verbal abuse, racial slurs and intimidation, with many saying they no longer feel safe using citizens band (CB) radios due to hateful messages targeting Indians.
‘I’ll never forget that humiliation’
Jaswinder Boparai, an Australian citizen who operates a small trucking fleet, recalled being spat on by another truck driver while speaking to his wife in Punjabi at a truck stop in South Australia.
He described the incident as deeply humiliating and said it remains one of the most painful experiences of his life.
Other drivers interviewed by ABC News said such incidents are not isolated but have become an unfortunate reality for many Indian-origin truckers.
Drivers allege repeated racist abuse
Narinder Singh, who previously worked in New Zealand’s freight industry, said he left Australia’s trucking sector after just eight months due to constant hostility.
He alleged that he was mocked for wearing a turban, called racist slurs and told to “go back”, adding that migrant drivers often faced harsher treatment than others for similar mistakes.
Another driver, Pippal Singh, said he had heard disturbing messages over CB radios, including explicit threats against Indians. As a result, many drivers have stopped using the radios despite them being an important tool for sharing road safety information.
Industry urged to tackle racism
The Australian Human Rights Commission acknowledged that racism exists within the road freight industry but noted that identifying offenders is often difficult because CB radio users remain anonymous.
The commission has called for a broader, systemic approach to addressing racism and reminded employers of their responsibility to protect workers from psychological harm.
The issue comes as Australia continues to rely heavily on migrant workers to address a shortage of nearly 28,000 heavy vehicle drivers, with Indian migrants playing a key role in the country’s transport and logistics sector.