Trucking companies including giants such as Linfox and Toll, as well as single owner-operators, say the industry is safer and will play a growing role in freight shipments as the economy grows, despite recent high-profile accidents, The Australian Financial Review reports.

The Australian Trucking Association's NSW manager, Jill Lewis, said calls this week from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to ban the road shipment of dangerous goods represented a "knee-jerk reaction".

With many in the industry expecting demand for freight haulage to double by 2020, more regulation without investment in infrastructure would push up prices of key items such as fuel and food, she said.