A NSW-Victorian border transport worker says truckies are dealing with nosebleeds and delays due to a new COVID-19 testing requirement.
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The industry member, who asked not to be named, said the Victorian government ask that freight and transport operators travelling from red zones be tested every three days was "extremely onerous".
"There is always the chance that it might go through the freight driver network ... (but) we have a large vaccinated population of our drivers," he said.
"It's causing some operational delays.
"They've taken it on the chin, but these extra COVID testing requirements are a very big measure, and I think the wider public should know what the truck drivers are having to do, just to get people's food on the table."
The worker said Victoria should facilitate 24-hour testing, with saliva PCR tests instead of nasal swabs, if the requirement is to remain.
"The NSW government has had the 24 hour testing centre at Tarcutta open for some time, and that's been a linchpin of our ability to meet our requirements for the Victorian permits," he said.
"The nurses are considerate and trying really hard.
"Not having 24-hour testing stations at Victoria means there is a large cross-section of drivers that might not pass through (testing sites) at the right time, due to their schedules."
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Benambra MP Bill Tilley has spoken to the Victorian Transport Association about the new requirement and supports the idea of a saliva test.
"The accuracy of these fasts tests is growing," he said.
"The transport industry have been doing this all the time - they've been getting a test every week.
"So I don't know how long this enhanced testing is going to last ... it's just not going to work on the ground."
Mr Tilley said it wasn't fair on drivers and questioned the capacity for proposed testing at the Broadford and Beveridge weighbridges.
"You're probably only going to fit three trucks in there at a time (at Beveridge)," he said.
Benalla Health, Northeast Health Wangaratta and the Wodonga Respiratory Clinic have also been listed as testing locations for freight workers.
South Australia has similar testing requirements.
National Road Transport Association boss Warren Clark said this week better testing sites were needed.
"NatRoad supports the introduction of testing regimes in light of the more virulent variants of COVID-19 now circulating in Australia, but it is extremely important that all state and territory governments step up and provide 'truck-friendly' COVID-19 testing sites," he said.
