Tip truck protest wreaks havoc on Melbourne’s roads

About 100 tip truck drivers are causing peak-hour pain on Melbourne’s roads as they drive their trucks in convoy to Victorian Parliament.

They caused chaos on the West Gate Bridge, where they were travelling at about 15km/h to 20km/h at about 8.30am.

“It’s having a big knock-on effect,” Chris Miller from the Department of Transport told Ross and Russel.

“We’ve got queues back up onto the ring road that go as far back as Boundary Road, and back out onto the Princes Freeway with queues back out to Laverton.”

The convoy circled the city several times, honking horns as they went.

The drivers are protesting in pursuit of their claim for a fuel levy.

Victorian Tippers United Treasurer Ricky Woolcock was driving one of the trucks.

He says the government promised three month ago that they’d help implement a fuel levy to cover the cost of living.

“Most guys at the moment are lucky to make about $60 of profit a day,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Press PLAY below to hear why the drivers are protesting

A Victorian government spokesperson says “indicative rates for owner drivers, including minimum rates for tip truck drivers on government projects, were increased in April and an agreed review involving the Transport Industry Council is currently taking place”.

Press PLAY below to hear the latest on the protest

Image: 9News