Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 370 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

With automotive advancement, society’s gaze has been on autonomous vehicles and that is understandable. Computers have been in people’s vehicles and part of their lives to a growing extent for decades now and the promise of driverless automation has pushed past the science fiction into facts on the ground, albeit as working proposals. Even when Tesla’s first car arrived with an outsized digital screen in the dash, it was accepted as a natural progression, given the popularity of tablet personal devices – just as the first screens were echoes of mobile phones. What more primitive life form would be without such things at its fingertips? And why wouldn’t future generations plug themselves into their vehicles if that means a more profound and, one hopes, safer experience? Speaking of plugging in,…

An Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigation into Newcastle-based Crawfords Freightlines kicked off after one of the company’s trucks rolled on the Golden Highway, west of Jerry Plains, in April last year. Nobody was hurt in the accident and there was an ammonium nitrate emulsion spill which was cleaned up with minimal environmental impact. The investigation led to the issuing of $48,000 in fines after it was revealed dangerous goods tankers used to carry ammonium nitrate were not up to standard. A review of Crawfords’ transport documents for the 12 months before the incident showed that inappropriate B-double tankers had been used to transport ammonium nitrate emulsion for approximately 210 journeys, transporting around 8000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on public roads in NSW. The trailers were regularly used to transport ammonium…

RON FINEMORE TRANSPORT’S (RTF) Orange depot was the subject of an inspection action by NSW authorities last month. RTF MD Mark Parry confirmed the compliance blitz after NSW Police announced it during Operation Ghost, involving Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) inspectors and highway patrol police. It follows an accident involving a company B-double a few weeks ago. “RMS and Police carried out inspections of the RFT fleet at our Orange Depot and on fleet passing through Mt Boyce and Marulan inspection stations. This was a follow-up to the single-vehicle incident involving one of our Liquids Drivers travelling on the M1 between Wyong and Sydney on June 28,” Parry says. “A total of 51 units were inspected at all three locations today. RFT received positive feedback, the inspections did identify a…

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has used a Senate committee inquiry into truck driver training and other industry matters to round on the federal government on the safety of drivers. With Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee’s Aspects of Road Safety probe also addressing exploitation of foreign drivers and working visas, and the union sought to link such malpractice with industry’s dismal workplace fatality rate. TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon accused the government of allowing labour agreements that let transport operators to bring in overseas transport workers to pay them less. The union argues this exploitation is causing a race to the bottom in transport leading to drivers being paid low rates and pressured to drive long hours and causing a spike to deaths from truck crashes. It…

The National Transport Commission (NTC) is seeking public feedback on the proposed amendments to the Australian Road Rules (ARR). The feedback will be presented to the transport minister for approval at the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting in November. The NTC has published a consultation paper, Australian Road Rules 12th Amendment Package Consultation Draft June 2017, explaining the proposed amendments to the ARR and the draft legislative changes. The changes take into account feedback from consultation with police, road agency representatives from all states and territories, and a federal representative. Key changes include: • New load-restraint requirements to improve clarity about legal obligations • Updating technology-based terminology for rules that govern the use of visual display units and mobile phones • New rules that impose restrictions on drivers’ use of…

After coming under fire for giving its clients less than three days to submit the new agreements, DP World Australia has extended the submission date for carrier access agreements (CAA) to July 14. The company had asked landside operators to return the new agreements before July 1, a move that did not go down well with Road Freight NSW (RFNSW), with GM Simon O’Hara demanding more time for carriers to review and understand the changes. In a statement sent to DP World Australia customers, COO Max Kruse confirmed that customers who have yet to return their paperwork will continue to have access to its terminal for two additional weeks. “We apologise for the short lead time in issuing the CAA last week. Carriers who have yet to return their paperwork…

1. TRIP PLANS: • Seek flat roads or a route that minimises heavy engine or brakes use • Get latest updates on road, traffic and weather conditions • Try to avoid rush hours. 2. VEHICLE CHECKS: • Daily routine pre-journey checks covering front to rear, interior and exterior, including mirrors and seat positions, plus check that vehicle runs normally. 3. AVOID OVERLOADING: • It is directly linked to the vehicle’s fuel consumption • Be aware of the legal load limit and the maximum safe capacity of truck. 4. HEALTH AND BODY: • Always get enough rest and try to relax before long-distance driving • Stretch before a long journey to improve blood circulation and reduce aches and pains while driving • If tired on the road, take a break! • Stay hydrated. 5. CONSTANT SPEED: • Where safe, use cruise control…

Many players in the transport industry have a practice of contracting and subcontracting, often without written contracts due to time pressures and a tradition of verbal understandings and personal relationships. While there is no question that a piece of paper does not guarantee safety, more and more transport arrangements have been and will be examined by the courts due to the increasing public focus on chain of responsibility (COR) compliance. Written contracts can be critical for both bringing COR expectations into a relationship, as well as proving to a court that all reasonable steps were taken to ensure COR compliance up and down the chain. YOUR COR OBLIGATIONS Under the current Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), the prime contractor, consignor and operator (amongst other COR parties) of a heavy vehicle…

“Initiatives like TruckSafe should be nurtured, not held back” Trucks and truckies get a bad rap, especially from other road users. This is understandable. An accident involving a massive projectile like a truck can cause unspeakable carnage. Indeed, it was one of these accidents, an horrific truck and bus crash near Grafton in 1989, that galvanised the industry into action. The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) was formed, and one of its major initiatives was TruckSafe. TruckSafe is a voluntary industry self-regulation scheme that sets safety standards for truck maintenance, driver training, health and fitness, responsible business management, and on-road compliance with mass, speed and driving hours requirements. It has operated since 1996 and its members take pride in their commitment to road safety. Members are accredited after a rigorous audit…

Not often, but every now and then a new truck comes along that takes you by surprise. Whether the surprise is good or not … well, that’s something else. Like, if for any reason you expect a new model to be a stunningly good thing only to be left with a yawning sense of ‘so what’ after the first stretch behind the wheel, then the surprise is obviously in the disappointment rather than the delight. On the other hand, if you’re not expecting anything particularly inspiring but in short time find yourself admiring unforeseen attributes, then perhaps surprise is the greatest indicator of a new model’s true potential. Definitely falling into the latter category is Hino’s FM2635, one of a batch of new models released a few months back at…

The first road manager consent to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has been granted for a prescriptive BAB-quad on the currently approved Type 2 road train route on the Mitchell Highway between North Bourke and the Queensland border at Barringun. Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) says Transport for NSW has completed a review of the NSW access policy for Type 2 road train quad trailer combinations and has now opened access on this approved route for prescriptive BAB and ABB-quad combinations under equivalent conditions to those which apply to current legacy A-triple Type 2 road trains. Operation for these two quad trailer combinations is also available up to 4.6m high on this route. Previous policy required such combinations to be first approved through the national performance-based standards scheme. “Access…

Road Freight New South Wales (RFNSW) is calling on the federal government and other authorities to set up a special national road safety working committee. The industry-led group will provide road safety education to motorists on interacting with heavy vehicles in order to reduce the number of road accidents that have been estimated to cost the economy up to $33 billion a year, RFNSW GM Simon O’Hara says. Appearing before the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiring into road safety in Australia, O’Hara called for greater engagement and education on the roads between light and heavy vehicles. “RFNSW recommends the establishment of a working committee to scope out better ways to educate light vehicle users and cyclists in their interactions with heavy vehicle users for the…

Some of Brazil’s leading lights in trucking and logistics are finalising an Australian visit in early October. The delegation has linked with Austrade to facilitate the trip, focused on Sydney. Organised by Paulista Institute for Freight Transportation (IPTC) executive director Fernando Zingler tells ATN thatatthisstage it plans to meet companies and agencies, including the likes of Roads and Maritime Services, the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, and Toll. “We know that transportation must be planned in a wider context because it is not only a local activity, especially here in Brazil where we rely on trucks for long distance travels – and I’ve seen that same happens in Australia, with the incredible road trains that cross the desert,” Zingler says. “At the same time, urban distribution of goods is…

Aurizon commenced its long-term rail haulage contract for AGL Macquarie in the Hunter Valley last month. The contract includes coal rail haulage of 8.7 million tonnes per annum in the Hunter Valley through to December 2025. It is part of the company’s expansion plans in the Hunter Valley region that has seen Aurizon invest up to $500 million in trains and facilities. The contract with AGL Macquarie takes Aurizon’s contracted tonnages in New South Wales to approximately 55 million tonnes per annum. New group executive of Aurizon Coal Division, Ed McKeiver, says the company is pleased to continue its growth in the region by becoming a supply chain partner with AGL Macquarie and helping to deliver around 30 per cent of New South Wales’ electricity needs. “To support the new…

Stevedoring company DP World has unveiled publically its new crane and straddle training simulator at Melbourne’s West Swanson Dock. Victorian ports minister Luke Donnellan was on hand to test out the training equipment at the event that port and training dignitaries also attended. With a setup reminiscent of an airline simulator and estimated to cut training time by about one-third, CM Labs’ Vortex simulator cabins are capable of reflecting atmospheric conditions such as high winds, rain and fog as well as varying time of day and night. Other situations trainees can experience include: • Faults such as locking twist locks, over weight containers, amongst others • Safety procedures such as vehicles and pedestrians beneath the crane • Shifting straddle carriers and light vehicles • Crane and straddle tandem driving •…

Dean Valle was named the new CEO of Pacific National following current CEO David Irwin’s decision to step down from the role. He commenced the new role on July 17. Valle comes to the rail freight sector after serving four decades at BHP Billiton, where, until recently, he was the chief commercial officer. Pacific National executive chairman Russell Smith says he is confident the new CEO will “strengthen” the business. Irwin will step into an advisory role “to ensure a smooth transition”.…

The annual National Trucking Industry Awards recognise and celebrate exceptional individuals and companies operating in our trucking industry. They were presented at the Foundation Sponsors gala dinner at Trucking Australia 2017, held at the Darwin Convention Centre on Friday, June 23. I would like to personally congratulate and recognise the tremendous contributions these people have made to the industry. While each winner is outstanding, the entries we received for all the award categories were testimonies of people who do love what they do, and have a deep passion for the trucking industry. Don Watson Memorial Award Ray Ablett, Abletts Transport (Queanbeyan, NSW) Ray started in the industry carrying timber and general goods in regional Victoria, driving for his father’s business. He purchased his own truck in the late 1970s. Ray…

Kings Transport and Logistics has begun receiving its first fully electric Australian-made commercial vehicles from manufacturer and conversion specialist SEA Electric. In line with its environmental and social policies and with a view to operational gains, Kings aims to progressively replace engine-driven vehicles where electric propulsion suits particular routes, Kings Group CEO Tony Mellick told an audience of industry and political identities. “This is an exciting day for Kings Transport,” Mellick says, standing before a unit sporting the company’s new livery. “These new SEA Electric trucks will contribute to the competitiveness of our transport fleets and the sustainability of our business operations. We are committed to our carbon-neutral company fleet policy and we look forward to offering sustainable transport solutions to our customers.” In a flexible agreement, Kings has agreed…

Selecting a weighbridge to meet your company’s requirements requires careful consideration of many factors, especially when there are so many different types of weighbridge on the market, and technology is changing all the time. To help you with your decision-making, you may find the following frequently asked questions useful. HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEIGHBRIDGE? It’s important to choose a weighbridge that meets your business objectives and one that is suitable for the physical location. There are many different types of weighbridge available, from above-ground, semi-pit and in-ground weighbridges, single-deck to multi-deck ones, portable weighbridges and manned weighbridges to remote installations which operate automatically 24/7, so the choices are vast. The best way to determine the ideal one for your operation is to discuss the options with knowledgeable industry…

WINNER Photograph taken of Bentley Pastrol’s Hamelex White Chassis Tipper in front of Brim Silos. Specified for grain, this tipper unit was delivered in time for Grain Season and allowed the company to maximise its productivity. Cory Bentley, Bentley Pastoral PBS approved Freighter six-axle Dog trailer belonging to Recycal. This combination enables the company to carry a total of three hook lift bins per combination, increasing productivity by 50%. Rob Massey, Recycal Freighter EziLiner belonging to Guse Transport Services. Eliminating manual buckles, the EziLiner saves time and allows for more drops per day. Michael and Jodie Guse, Guse Transport Services…

National industry affairs manager at National Transport Insurance (NTI), Owen Driscoll, provided an insight at this year’s Trucking Australia conference into the upcoming 2017 Major Accident Investigation Report by the National Truck Insurance’s National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC). The findings nationally were little changed from the last report two years ago, with inappropriate speed for the conditions still the leading cause of crashes costing more than $50,000, the traditional base line of the statistics. But Driscoll has deep concerns that fatigue-related crashes at 12.2 per cent of the total were at their worst in a decade. Another alarming statistic is that while 51 per cent of multi-vehicle crashes were down to the heavy vehicle, 93 per cent of major crash fatalities were down to errors by the lighter vehicle.…

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has introduced a new self-clearing defect notice for heavy vehicle defects that do not pose a safety risk. The new category of defect notice has been available from July 1 as part of changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). “This category will allow minor non-safety related defects to be rectified by the operator, including where a vehicle’s number plate is obscured or illegible,” NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says. “A self-clearing defect notice means the operator does not have to present the vehicle to an approved person to clear the notice. I believe this new defect notice will improve roadside compliance and reduce the compliance burden for industry.” Examples of defects which may result in the issuing of a self-clearing defect notice include…

LANDSCAPE SUPPLY company Garden Grove (GG) found itself in the midst of another dangerous driving case that ultimately led to the dismissal of one more of its truck drivers last month. It came a month after a similar case that led the company to dismiss a driver for an unsafe incident captured on video and circulated on social media. Speaking on behalf of the company, South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) executive offi cer Steve Shearer says both SA Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) have advised him that they have “no concerns” with the company following their subsequent visit and discussions. “The NHVR’s new Investigations and Prosecutions Unit based in Adelaide was coincidentally already meeting with GG as part of that Unit’s industry familiarisation at the time…

The national minimum wage has increased to $18.29 per hour or $694.90 per week from July 1. The base rate of pay in modern awards has also increased. It follows the Fair Work Commission’s announcement of a 3.3 per cent increase to the minimum wage in June. Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says employers should check the new wage rates that apply to their businesses to ensure that they are compliant with their workplace obligations. The agency’s online materials, including its Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT), have been updated and can assist employers and workers to calculate the new wage rates. James says it is important for employers to ensure that their workers are receiving their “lawful entitlements”. “My agency is here to assist employers to remain up to date…

THE NHVR and New South Wales Road and Maritime Services (RMS) have again agreed to extend the current brake testing transition arrangements in NSW, this time until September 29. The recommendation for a detailed procedure for conducting a roller brake test was made by the NHVR’s Technical Working Group. “We now have a better understanding why some heavy vehicles deliver different results and how that relates to the test procedure being used,” NHVR safety director Daniel Elkins says. “We’ve agreed to develop and publish a National Roller Brake Test Procedure in the coming months.” The issue of roller brake testing underwent an extensive examination by the NHVR’s Technical Working Group members, including the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association Australia, Truck Industry Council, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Australian Trucking Association and other…

Operators of Type 1 road trains can submit access permission applications to travel along four North Rockhampton routes following a new move. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) says transport operators can contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to receive permission to access many roads in Rockhampton that until recently did not have the necessary infrastructure to allow road train movement. “Following the completion of majority of these [upgrade] works, Type 1 Road Trains will no longer have to stop and breakdown to a semi-trailer configuration west of Rockhampton,” state main roads and road safety minister Mark Bailey says. “The move is a huge boost for safety and effi ciency for the transport industry and Rockhampton community and an example of our Government’s commitment to enhancing…

Perth-headquartered international rail support company MRX Technologies is soon to be under Siemens’ control. Purchase of the rail systems services firm with an offi ce in the UK city of Derby should be completed in early August, according to the purchaser. “By bringing MRX Technologies into the Siemens family we not only strengthen our capability and offering to the rail industry but we also have the ability to take that business to a global level,” Siemens Australia and New Zealand CEO Jeff Connolly says. “This acquisition makes a lot of sense in a time when digitalisation technologies are key to unlocking productivity gains – that is getting more out of existing rail infrastructure and adding intelligence to existing rail infrastructure. “I’ve recently spent time at our hi-tech rail data services…

Aurizon MD and CEO Andrew Harding named senior management teams to support the new business structure, effective July 1. The new structure has seen many senior management roles culled and new teams appointed in the past few months. The announcement features senior management appointments, including: • Ed McKeiver as the group executive of Aurizon’s Coal division • Clay McDonald as the group executive of its Bulk division • Michael Riches as new group executive, Network • Current Aurizon executive Mike Carter to lead the Technical Services and Planning division • Current CFO Pam Bains to lead Finance and Strategy…

The Volvo Trucks Drivers’ Fuel Challenge is well under way, with state winners announced following remarkable fuel effi ciency scores. The six finalists were chosen through nation-wide analysis of the intuitive Volvo Dynafleet software’s driver scores. The competition was open to all drivers using the Dynafleet package. With an overall aim to take transport into the future, the Dynafleet analysis scored drivers from 0-100 based on four key areas: speed adaptation; engine and gear utilisation; anticipation and braking; and standstill. The finalists are some of the most efficient operators you’ll find down under, all of whom qualified by simply doing their day-to-day driving as they normally would – they weren’t babying their trucks and they were delivering loads on time. THE STATE WINNERS ARE: NSW – Andrew Woodleigh, Borg…

Couriers Please (CP) initiated a study by public opinion surveyor Pureprofile of 1001 Australian adults who have shopped online at least three times in the last six months. The survey initially explored whether online shoppers currently prefer purchasing from retailers that specialise in a single category, such as fashion or technology, over online ‘marketplaces’, where they can shop across multiple categories from the same site. Of respondents, 58 per cent preferred to shop from a specialist online retailer rather than a marketplace. However, CP says that, “when told that Amazon in Australia will focus on providing low prices, vast selection, and fast delivery, 90 per cent of respondents said they would shop from Amazon”. The survey separated Amazon’s three focuses – prices, selection and delivery – to gauge what was…

Along with building commercial vehicles, SEA Electric is able to convert certain existing vehicles to electric propulsion or set the hardware into bare-bones chassis and axles, or ‘gliders’, from other manufacturers. This is the flexibility of its SEA-Drive solution – it appears only to need space for the propulsion pack between the rails, where it gains from the protection they afford to any side-impact blow, and it and the drivelines are low enough to avoid interfering with load space in the tray. GHEV is the designation for the conversion based on a 17-tonne Hino GH1728 cab chassis and includes a 40kW module for increased range of waste collection body. SEA-Drive retrofit packages use a permanent magnet motor, direct drive and regenerative braking. It uses Li-NMC cells with a high voltage…

Tesla says it will show us a world-beating semi-truck, or prime mover as they say in Australia, this September – something the industry believes impossible. Commercial long haul trucking is all about economics. Lower cost per mile matters, bling doesn’t count. Can Tesla pull this off? Tesla’s semi-truck will use Model 3 motors, suggesting a radical departure in truck design. If successful, this could let Tesla win. Tesla’s technology and experience with grid storage can enable a strongly competitive electric truck business model. If Tesla’s truck is a success, very rapid, economics-driven truck industry transition could further stress battery supply chains. Tesla tells us that come September, it will unveil a powerful, long-range, all-electric semi-truck. Tesla isn’t talking about a short-range, specialty truck for delivering feathery light croissants from the…

If you send us a photo of any Freighter, Maxi-CUBE, Lusty EMS, Hamelex White, AZMEB or Peki trailer or rigid body you will go into the running to win the MaxiTRANS Photo Fury competition. Each edition, the best photo will be chosen and the winner will win a $200 JB Hi-Fi gift voucher and get their photo published in the next edition of MaxiNEWS. How to enter: Simply email your photo to marketing@maxitrans.com.au with the subject line “MaxiNEWS Photo Fury” for your chance to win. Note that photos must be over 1MB to be eligible to enter and you must have the permission of the owner of the image and trailer/body (if you are not the owner) to submit the photo. Refer to page 2 for full terms and conditions.…