Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 352 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) is intent on concluding existing inquiries while rolling out changes to owner-driver remuneration in 2016. It will enact its draft 2016 work program unchanged, focusing on completing inquiries into the waste management, wharf and port, cash in transit, and the oil, fuel and gas sectors. The work program also lists inquiries into the transport and distribution and linehaul parts of the trucking industry, prompting concerns within the industry. Industry bodies such as the Australian Road Transport Industry Association (ARTIA) and the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) wanted the RSRT to specify areas to be looked at, but the tribunal decided to ignore the proposal. “We have decided not to alter the draft fourth annual work program [AWP]. The AWP in the draft enables the…

Bonneted trucks should be banned from busy Brisbane streets unless they have blind spot technology, a coroner has recommended in an inquest into a cyclist fatality. Coroner Christine Clements handed down her findings into the death of Rebekka Tine Lousdal Meyer, who was run over on September 11, 2014, while turning at a busy city intersection at Woolloongabba. A fully-laden bonneted Kenworth truck and dog combination behind the 22-year-old struck her at the intersection of Stanley Street and Annerley Road, sending her under the vehicle’s wheels and killing her instantly. Clements found Meyer was 1.5 to two metres in front of the truck, waiting for the traffic signal, and that driver Jody Jeffrey did not see her. The inquest heard the truck had a blind spot of about seven metres.…

The National Highway Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) says the latest edition of the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual, which was released last week, is not just an assessment guide for inspectors but can be also used by heavy vehicle operators to conduct routine maintenance checks to improve vehicle safety. “The manual provides an inspection approach to guide industry to not just look at repairing but to see potential defects during maintenance inspections,” NHVR director of safety Daniel Elkins says. “Importantly, it’s not just about fixing what’s broken, it’s about inspecting sub-systems that may be at risk with continued wear and then undertaking proactive maintenance. “[It] sets out specific criteria where manufacturer specifications are not available and provides clarity where there is no detailed guidance from a manufacturer,” Elkins explains. NHVR realises…

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has announced its support for the NSW government’s plan to move ahead with council amalgamations. The hope is that the move will improve the efficiency of the state’s supply chain by streamlining the delivery of freight into local areas. ALC managing director Michael Kilgariff says the NSW freight task is expected to double by 2031, to about 800million tonnes, so “it is imperative NSW’s supply chains are operating at peak efficiency”. The logistics industry has raised concerns with the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) about councils either not having capacity to make timely decisions on heavy vehicle road access, or being too conservative when making such decisions, by prioritising asset protection over productivity considerations. “Many local government areas do not have the skills and…

The Chain of Responsibility (COR) laws require that any goods loaded on a heavy vehicle are properly restrained. For any goods not properly restrained, any person concerned with the packing, loading or carriage of the goods is liable under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). But the load restraint requirements don’t just apply to the goods as loaded onto a heavy vehicle; they also apply to the restraint of goods within a freight container, which is usually done at the point of origin and not visible or able to be inspected by any party further down the chain. So how do you ensure that you are discharging your obligations in relation to the restraint of goods within a container when you didn’t pack the container and can’t check the load…

“Understanding your organisation’s position in the market is crucial” Last month we had a brief introduction to Purchasing Category Management (PCM) – how it walks, talks, looks and what you might expect from it. Earlier, in May 2015, the topic was Strategic Procurement. We defined Procurement Strategy as: “a component of corporate strategy that ensures requirements are fulfilled efficiently and effectively by external parties at the lowest total cost, enhancing the competitive position of both buyer and seller”. The framework that underpins PCM is buttressed by three supporting principles: Strategic Sourcing, Market Management and Change Management. Let’s spend some time looking at these principles. STRATEGIC SOURCING How is it different to Procurement Strategy? Well, Strategic Procurement, according to our definition, is an overarching philosophy that guides all we do in…

“As noted on this page in the past, the MUA is in a battle for relevance and, indeed, existence” This column is fond of allegories, especially historical ones. They help highlight certain patterns that have always been in existence, and the current industrial action involving tugs and container shipping terminals is a relevant case in point. The one that seems most apposite is the Battle of Thermopylae. Movie buffs will recall the latest one of but few cinema dramas on the subject, the decidedly odd 300, released in 2007. As is the modern way, it spawned a 2008 parody, Meet The Spartans, along with a video game, naturally. Also of this time, the movie was based on a graphic novel of the same name which, in turn, was inspired by…

A recommendation to ban bonneted trucks without blind spot technology from city streets may be impractical, with the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) saying work on such technology has a long way to go before it is ready. Queensland coroner Christine Clements recently recommended the ban following a fatal collision between a truck and cyclist at a busy Brisbane intersection in 2014. In her published findings, Clements noted the danger bonneted trucks posed when operating within congested environments, adding that the truck involved in the fatal collision had a blind spot of seven metres. ATA CEO Chris Melham says there is a still substantial work to do on technology to address a truck’s blind spots. “New technology is slowly becoming available to monitor the blind spot. However, developing the standards for…

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has begun legal proceedings against Sumerdeep Singh, the former operator-owner of a transport company based in the northern coast of NSW. The prosecution alleges the company underpaid 12 truck drivers more than $143,000 between 2011 and 2014. Singh, who ran the now-defunct Sumer Bagri, allegedly said drivers would be paid hourly rates between $17 and $23, Monday to Sunday. However, the drivers claim that Singh used false records to shortchange them on agreed minimum hourly rates, casual loadings, and penalty rates. At the time, Sumer Bagri was transporting groceries ordered online under a contract with Linfox Australia, which was contracted by Woolworths. The FWO office says the contract price paid to Linfox and the subcontract price paid to Sumer Bagri was sufficient for Singh’s company…

Experienced road transport journalist Steve Brooks has joined the Bauer Trader Media editorial team as a contributing writer. The veteran wordsmith will focus on contributing technical features for the group’s stable of print and digital titles, including Australasian Transport News/Fullyloaded.com.au, Deals on Wheels/TradeTrucks.com.au and Owner Driver/OwnerDriver.com.au. Bauer Trader Media general manager, transport, machinery and marine, Graham Gardiner, says Brooks’ extensive knowledge and experience is an exciting addition to the group’s unrivalled editorial team. Brooks’ long and highly decorated media career commenced in 1972 when, at just 20 years of age, he was appointed a graded journalist with Cumberland Newspapers, based in Sydney. After stints as a truck driver and policeman he joined Truck & Bus magazine as a staff writer in 1978, the beginning of a 35-year career in truck…

Marika Calfas took the CEO role at NSW Ports in an acting capacity in August on the departure of then-CEO Stephen Cleary. “I look forward to continuing to engage with our many stakeholders and working with my colleagues at NSW Ports to deliver these strategic outcomes.” Calfas beat other local and international candidates and had the advantage of more than a decade’s work in the organisation and in its previous incarnations. “Marika has demonstrated that she possesses the experience, qualities and capabilities required to successfully lead the business,” NSW Ports chairman Paul McClintock says. “We look forward to working with her to deliver on the organisation’s objectives. “Marika has a comprehensive knowledge of the business having been part of the NSW Ports Executive Team since 2013 and came to NSW…

The Refrigerated Warehouse and Transport Association of Australia (RWTA) has appointed Americold’s Rachel Corcoran as the body’s new director and Queensland division representative. Effective as of late November, Corcoran has already assumed the role. The Americold human resources vice president joins Swire Cold Storage’s Greg Holt and B.E. Campbell’s Darren Mahoney in gaining new positions on the RWTA board during the past 12 months. Holt’s appointment came in July 2015 when he became the corporate member representative, while Mahoney became the NSW state representative in August. David O’Brien also assumed the national chairman role in August, taking over from Paul Fleiszig of Oxford Cold Storage. Fleiszig then took up the position of immediate past chairman. Among the resignations, Steve Parberry stepped down as NSW state representative, and Shane Moloughney finished…

The start of 2016 feels like a good time to remind everyone what the ATA really is – a peak body built on the strong foundation of our magnificent member associations. Over the course of 2015, the ATA represented the industry and made significant progress on many issues, including heavy vehicle charges, the heavy vehicle national law reform, compliance and enforcement issues, and roadworthiness. These victories aren’t thanks to us alone – they also belong to the ATA member associations and their direct members, who are ultimately responsible for developing the ATA’s policy framework. This unity gives the ATA and its members much greater strength than we would have on our own. We are very proud to have leading national and state industry bodies covering the entirety of Australia as…

It’s as much about shifting attitudes as it is about shifting containers. When it comes to moving laden or unladen containers, Australia has always had an attachment to container handlers. Most operators grow up using forklifts, so the transition to a larger masted container handler is easily made. There is also a matter of price, with heavy-duty reach stackers typically costing over $100,000 more than a container handler. Things could be on the turn, though, especially if Swedish giant Kalmar has anything to do about it. The DRF100 is an unladen reach stacker that offers a plethora of options to maximise efficiencies in the yard for those bold enough to go with it, all at a comparable price to a masted machine. To compare it with a container handler is…

All transport operators should be paid within 30 days of a job, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) says. Fresh from securing mandatory minimum rates for owner-drivers, the TWU is trying to halt the alarming increase in the time taken to settle accounts with transport providers. The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) in 2014 ordered that contractor drivers be paid within 30 days of work, and TWU national assistant secretary Michael Kaine says the RSRT should now extend the measure throughout the industry. Reports emerged last year of trucking firms having to wait as long as 120 days to receive payment. “That is just totally unsustainable. It’s adding an unsustainable cost burden on transport operators and it is simply, apart from anything else, unfair,” he says.…

Fatigue expert Professor Ann Williamson wants the trucking industry to move toward an advanced fatigue management (AFM) approach that offers accredited companies and drivers the flexibility to develop their own fatigue management systems. Companies and drivers with AFM accreditation can schedule long work days – up to 16 hours in some instances – but must offset this by following it with longer breaks or shorter work time. Williamson supports this approach because it ensures drivers don’t work long shifts repeatedly during the course of a week. “It’s all about trading off. If you want to push their hours out at work, you have to trade off a greater amount of rest,” Williamson says. “I think there are some solutions that require more flexible thinking. So long as we don’t end…

Linfox gained a piece of K&S Corporation in a move that appears to solve the mystery of the smaller firm’s share price jump. K&S’s ‘Notice of Initial Substantial Holder’ report to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) reveals two Linfox entities spent $6,778,244.13, buying 7,970,043 K&S shares between them, over two days. It is one of the more interesting developments since Linfox Australia and New Zealand CEO Annette Carey took the post in March. For Linfox, the purchase was a bargain it had to take advantage of. “The business has held shares in K&S Corporation for several years,” a Linfox spokesperson explains. “We saw value in the stock at their current levels and have taken the opportunity to expand our holding.” K&S shares rose from $1.025 to a high of $1.20…

Truck drivers in New South Wales have an extra month to adopt new work diary requirements that will bring the state into line with other jurisdictions. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) says the policy that exempts drivers with basic fatigue management (BFM) or advanced fatigue management (AFM) accreditation from filling out a diary if working within 100km of their base will now expire on March 6. The provision was due to end on February 9, to align NSW with Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, which all require drivers working under BFM or AFM to complete a work diary, even within 100km of their base. “The extension until March 6 provides some additional time for drivers and businesses using this notice to transition to keeping work diary records,” an…

Automotive Holdings Group (AHG) has announced the appointment of Jane McKellar to the company’s board of directors. AHG chairman David Griffiths says McKellar would add significant strategic and marketing capability to the business. In the past, McKellar has worked both with public and private companies, including Unilever, NineMsn, Microsoft, Elizabeth Arden and Stila Corp, across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. As a non-executive director in many of her previous roles, McKellar focused on customer-oriented business transformation, harnessing digital technology, and brand and marketing strategies to enhance business performance. Currently, McKellar is an independent non-executive director at McPhersons, and is on the boards of both Terry White Group and Sea Change Technologies.…

There is a world of difference between December 18 and April 4. The former comes in the lead-up to Christmas, a time welcomed by governments when they have something uncomfortable to reveal, while the latter sees few such distractions. Perhaps that explains the relatively muted response to the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s (RSRT) ruling, one that will prescribe mandatory minimum pay rates for many of Australia’s owner-drivers, including for time spent waiting in queues to load and unload freight. Aimed at contractor drivers, the RSRT’s Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 was overseen by tribunal president Jennifer Acton, who is due to start explaining it to the industry this month. It is legally binding on all parties involved in the supermarket and linehaul supply chains, including the…

Second-tier third-party logistics provider (3PL) Gro-Market Logistics (GML) has been busy rebranding its image in hopes of revitalising business and improving customer service. The pick and pack supplier, which prides itself on customer relations, hopes to transition from paper to mobile handheld scanners within the next 12 months. While many of its competitors have already embraced such technology, national operations manager Aaron Svensson says the company saw no need to go paperless earlier as its track record of 99.95 per cent in operations accuracy speaks volumes. “That’s why I have trouble justifying to the directors to spend lots of money on RF scanners, but I can see the need as we get bigger with our pick and pack operation which is expanding,” Svensson says. “It seems to be the way…

The changing face of the typical worker is a critical area for the modern workplace I recently had the pleasure of attending a transport industry conference in Singapore, where I was able to meet many industry members and chair a session discussing the health benefits of work and ways to improve workplace productivity. During my session we held an in-depth and active discussion regarding the changing face of the ‘typical worker’. The audience was keen to point out that not only are their workers ageing, with the impacts that may have on individual productivity, but that the complexity of life roles has also changed. Gone are the days of just ‘turning up for work’ – the modern worker has a range of commitments outside of the workplace that may include…