Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 355 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

It’s not often consecutive Forward Visions take on the same issue, but the rise and fall of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) has been the transport and logistics story of the decade. And it’s been a little unhealthy in an observational sense because these developments have all but sucked the life out of others of similar importance. Moves are afoot to give official recognition and, therefore, legal weight, to codes of practice formulated by industry representative groups, as well as to adjust the executive responsibility regime. Known commonly by the sobriquet ‘lobby groups’, industry groups are regarded by some more broadly as leaches on the body politic. In a society where blindness to the transport industry it stares at every day through the windscreen is a given, it is…

The federal government will use part of the $4 million annual funding being redirected to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in the wake of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT)’s removal to implement a range of heavy vehicle focused safety initiatives, including a high-tech network monitoring system. Infrastructure and transport minister Darren Chester says “funding allocated to the former Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal will now be better utilised to develop new targeted safety measures including monitoring of heavy vehicles with a national network of cameras”. Under the proposal, 70 camera sites will be integrated into a single national monitoring system. The sites will put “an end to the ad-hoc approach to heavy vehicle visibility that currently exists across the road freight network,” the minister says, and will “allow the…

The Victorian government will set aside an extra $1.46 billion in the 2016-17 Budget to ensure the Western Distributor Project is built, in the process acknowledging federal government funding is yet to be agreed. “We will build the long-overdue second river crossing and cut travel time from Geelong by 20 minutes,” premier Daniel Andrews says. “Although we will continue to advocate for the Turnbull government to partner with us on this project, we simply cannot wait to deliver it, and getting it done with or without their support.” For the federal government’s part, it is happy to talk, but not about grants. “The Victorian government’s announcement that it will provide the full funding required to build the Western Distributor project is confirmation of the position the Turnbull Government has taken…

WiseTech Global, the international supply chain and transport information technology (IT) firm founded in Sydney in 1994, has listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with a market capitalisation of more than $1 billion. It is a stunning launch for the company that earlier this decade supplied technical advice to ATN readers in the IT Wise column, and whose founder and CEO, Richard White, owns 50 per cent. Of the institutional investors, JP Morgan owns 6.8 per cent and HSBC 2.5 per cent. About 50 million shares, or around 16 per cent of the firm, were floated in the initial public offering (IPO). The software and services firm has ridden its CargoWise One product into a markets in seven countries, including the US and China. Now headquartered in the outer-Chicago…

Kate Carnell has been appointed as the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman. In the past, Carnell has been chief minister of the ACT, executive director of the National Association of Forest Industries, and CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council. “My previous experience, including as a small business owner, and working in industry associations representing small businesses and family enterprises, has given me a keen appreciation for the issues faced by the sector,” Carnell says. “My office will conduct a formal consultation period asking small businesses, family enterprises and representative associations to tell us what they think the key issues are, and what they want us to focus on.”…

Over recent months, arguments that driver fatalities are linked to remuneration rates has been heralded as the lead argument for underpinning the need for regulation on ‘safe rates’. Firstly, how do we unpick the argument that rates are impacting on safety? Before we examine that, let’s look at the major crashes in the ‘hire and reward’ sector of the Australian trucking industry, especially the long distance sector, with vehicles over 15-tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM). The ‘hire and reward’ sector is the part of the road transport industry that moves other peoples’ goods for money. The trip is remunerated by a trip fee – in other words a freight charge. Data is taken from Australia’s largest truck insurer, through its National Accident Research arm (NTARC), which produces a major accident…

No one wants a workplace injury, let alone the death of an employee or contractor. Employees operating forklift trucks need to be both competent and compliant, and it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure this is the case. According to Crown Equipment national manager safety, risk, environment and quality Anthony Keating, workplace accidents, injuries and, in some cases, exposure to possible legal proceedings can be mitigated. “Crown has been operating in Australia for 50 years. We know the industry backwards. We not only supply lift trucks, but everything needed to operate them safely, compliantly and efficiently,” Keating says. “We have divisions dedicated to sales, service and parts; complete racking and shelving solutions; operator training; and software that ensures operator compliance. It’s the total package.” By applying the following tips, Crown…

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is organising a national survey to better understand the state of Australia’s 520,000-strong heavy vehicle fleet. According to NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto, the National Roadworthy Baseline Survey will sample approximately 9000 heavy vehicles, including rigid, articulated, B-doubles, road trains, buses, and plant equipment, to gain a better idea of the country’s trucking standard. “For the first time in Australia, we’ll be conducting a national survey of heavy vehicle roadworthiness using trained inspectors to gather consistent safety information,” Petroccitto says. “Different data is currently compiled by each state and territory, which means that the roadworthiness of heavy vehicles nationally is unclear. “It’s a fundamental roadblock to understanding the safety of the fleet and to achieving national consistency.” Each inspection will be held at roadside check…

The future of road haulage firm McAleese Group remains unclear more than seven weeks after it entered voluntary share suspensions with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The company has engaged in discussions on how best to deal with its debt as cash flow has eased due to the mining downturn, and as its efforts to diversify have failed to fill the gap. “Negotiations between the company, its financiers, and a consortium led by SC Lowy are continuing,” the company has advised the ASX. “While a transaction has not yet been agreed, and there remains no certainty that the Strategic Process will yield an outcome, positive progress has been made since the exclusivity period commenced. The company expected the voluntary suspension to remain in place until the end of April. Privately…

It’s my pleasure to announce that national TruckWeek will run again in 2016 from Monday 29 August to Sunday 4 September. This two-yearly event is your chance to raise the profile of our industry and show Australia how trucking delivers. During TruckWeek, we encourage everyone from the largest fleet to the smallest one-person operation to get involved and hold a TruckWeek event in your local area. The vital role of the trucking industry is something that most of our community doesn’t spend much time thinking about. TruckWeek helps our industry to connect with the community around us, show how much we do for Australia, and celebrate our achievements. A local TruckWeek event can take many forms, from a BBQ at the depot, an open day, a visit to a local…

Ron Finemore Transport (RFT) has gained extra work for its liquids business from retailer Woolworths, in a fillip for new MD Mark Parry, who is just months into his tenure. Parry thanked the RFT team for continuing to safely deliver to Woolworths during the tender process, with the company saying: “[The decision] is a validation of our performance and Woolworths trust in our ability to provide safe and reliable service.” Parry succeeded the Laurie Brothers, who served in the position in the 11 years since the company was established. “Laurie has successfully guided our growth and development, which has been particularly evident through turbulent times in our early years,” chairman Ron Finemore says. “This appointment of our new managing director is a key decision in our succession planning strategy. It…

Known as the smoother movers, Taylor’s Removals has come a long way since its horse and dray days back in 1918. Established by William George Taylor in Toowoomba, Queensland, the business is run by Ray Taylor and his wife Madelaine, and operated by their daughter and managing director Melissa Taylor. Experts in household furniture removals, the company is also known for its commercial, corporate and international relocations division, storage and records management, and crate hire. Taylor, who was this year presented the Trucking Woman of the Year award by the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA), is the oldest of four sisters and the first woman in her family to lead the business after leaving the world of fashion for trucking in 2004. Instrumental in expanding the business’s focus, she is passionate…

On 26 June 1974, the sale of a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit Gum marked a key milestone in history by becoming the first product to be sold using a scanned barcode. From that day onwards, the humble barcode travelled across the globe, initially revolutionising retail sales and then advancing its benefits onto countless other industries and applications. Barcodes are still the most common way goods are identified though the supply chain, proven to be cost effective, reliable, and reduce the potential for human error. While barcodes have maintained their presence in supply chains around the world, many businesses are considering which technologies best read these barcodes, following advancements and the growing presence of consumer-grade devices in industrial environments. Consumer smartphones are equipped with low-cost, high-resolution digital cameras. These consumer…

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has brought new federal infrastructure and transport minister Darren Chester up to speed with council concerns about road freight networks. ALGA president Troy Pickard reports he raised maintenance funding shortfalls, estimated at about $1.2 billion annually from 2010 to 2025 for local roads and bridges, in his first meeting with the minister. “To this end, I reiterated to the minister ALGA’s call for the federal government to make the Bridges Renewal Program permanent and permanently double the Roads to Recovery funding to assist councils to manage their local roads effectively,” Pickard tells his members. “The minister and I also discussed the importance of additional investment in productivity priorities, particularly in addressing first and last mile access issues. “ALGA strongly supports the government’s focus on…

Western Australian freight and logistics operator Star Freightlines has called in administrators who are seeking a quick solution to its financial problems. The company’s business is centred on refrigerated transport and warehousing, servicing regional WA and interstate needs, with a focus on the mining industry catering. McGrathNicol administrators Rob Kirman and Matthew Caddy are in charge and are seeking expressions of interest for the firm that controls about 20 trucks, including Kenworth and Mack prime movers and Isuzu rigids, along with a fleet of refrigerated trailers and some forklifts. It has storage and coolroom facilities in Canning Vale, with services to Port Hedland and Karratha in the Pilbara, and employs 25-30 people. Though Kirman says it is very early in the process, he has seen “some good levels of expressions…

Share purchases by Lindsay Fox and Linfox in the transport and logistics (T&L) space have become hard to ignore, with even the mainstream press taking notice. In December, Linfox made a $6.8 million purchase of K&S Corporation shares. Last month, it raised holdings from 8.46 per cent to 9.57 per cent of K&S, paying $470,280 for 271,255 shares. Based on the top-20 shareholders stated in the K&S 2015 annual report, that could be the second-highest individual holding. It is the latest in more than 30 share nibbles that have come every few days. Likewise, as the Australian Financial Review already noted, Lindsay Fox’s Alljet Investments has been taking a series of chunks of ports-focused eastern states firm Chalmers over the past few years. As of mid-February, when it spent nearly…

Melinda Bailey is the new director of regulatory reform at Roads and Maritime Services in New South Wales. Bailey will lead a team responsible for the delivery of a suite of regulatory services, including working with Transport for NSW to establish a new regulator for the point-to-point industry, which is going through a period of growth and change as new operators enter the market and provide new services. Bailey joins RMS with a wealth of experience, most recently as chief financial officer and executive director of corporate services for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. RMS chief executive Peter Duncan thanked outgoing director, safety and compliance Peter Wells for his contribution over many years, where he worked to make improvements to the heavy vehicle compliance and enforcement program, as well as…