The Transport Workers' Union is fighting against the Federal Government’s moves to abandon the road safety watchdog.

Following a review of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) last year, which some transport industry insiders labelled “bogus”, the TWU wants some certainty so that the RSRT’s vital work can continue.

The TWU has brought politicians and truck drivers together in Canberra this week to gather support.

“Tony Abbott and Eric Abetz, the minister in charge, need to call off this attack on the road safety tribunal,” said Tony Sheldon, TWU National Secretary.

“Our members and their families know what pressure on truck drivers can result in and it is ugly, horrific and sad. It is families left without loved ones and it is entire communities torn apart by horror crashes.”

The Federal Government is reportedly looking to ditch the tribunal, despite it being central to maintaining safety in Australia's deadliest profession.

The tribunal is currently hearing reports from truck drivers on ways that their industries pressure them to driving faster, for longer periods and with over-laden vehicles.

It is part of a review into the economic pressure that incentivises unsafe practices.

North Queensland MP Bop Katter joined the TWU’s crusade this week.

He says the RSRT must be maintained, so that truck drivers are paid and treated fairly by employers across industries.

“These blokes are being undermined and white-anted by what I call ‘greedy outlaws’, who are quite prepared to break all the rules so they can get an edge in their contracts, of course at the expense of their workers,” Katter told a TWU press conference.

“My experience of the trucking companies is that they’re damn good guys and we can’t let them be undermined by the greed of big supermarket chains, nor by the greed of ‘greedy outlaws’ who really don’t care about the safety of their men.”

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has fired a return volley from closer to the Governmnet’s stance.

“The RSRT is not the silver bullet on road safety its advocates claim and its requirements can even conflict with nationally agreed laws, which can add unnecessary costs to the logistics industry with no safety outcome,” ALC managing director Michael Kilgariff said.

“It concerns me when I hear arguments that the most effective way to improve heavy vehicle safety can be achieved through the development and retention of overlapping legislative measures such as the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal,” he said.

“This effectively diminishes the importance of the Chain of Responsibility concept.

“ALC’s concern has always been that Chain of Responsibility legislation covers the very areas that the Road Safety Remuneration Act aims to address.”

A range of politicians including Labor leader Bill Shorten, newly independent senator Glenn Lazarus, Greens leader Christine Milne, Tanya Plibersek, Adam Bandt, Anthony Albanese, Brendan O'Connor and Glenn Sterle and Alex Gallacher have voiced their support for the RSRT to remain.