Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 374 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

“This year will show which direction and at what pace change will happen” Forward Vision is rarely involved in “the year in review”-type cogitations but this past one has been so intriguing, it’s hard to resist. Though rough and simplistic about issues in this notoriously involved and complex industry, let’s look at a few and divide them into those driven by government and non-government impetuses, while recognising that few are ever purely one or the other. The digitalisation of the vehicle and the task is a deeply private-enterprise pursuit – one, however, that is being helped and hindered by support in some regulatory quarters and the slow pace of others elsewhere, not least with the legal side where it is unavoidable. Certainly there are aspects of design rules and road…

Increased critical scrutiny of the state of truck driver training has extended to Tasmania, with that state’s Coroner’s offi ce adding its voice to the mix. Coroner Rod Chandler has released his findings on the deaths of Michael and Tracie Pel, who were knocked off their motorcycle in 2015 when hit by one of two 500kg round silage bales that fell off a truck. Though the bales were stacked two high and the truck was fully laden, they were restrained by a single-ratchet webbing strap that ran over the top of the upper bale. The coroner notes the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) requires compliance with a Load Restraint Guide. Section E, Part 6 of that guide relates to the loading and restraint of hay bales for transportation. The driver…

 A LEGAL TEST of new small business reforms has seen the nation’s largest privately owned waste management firm JJ Richards needing to revisit its standard form contracts with small businesses. “The court’s decision serves as a reminder to large businesses to review their standard form contracts” The Federal Court has declared, by consent, that eight terms in the standard form contract used by the major fleet owner JJ Richards & Sons to engage small businesses are unfair, and therefore void. The outcome shows the new rules have teeth and follows a September test case on the matter brought by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). “This is the first court action by the ACCC to enforce new laws that protect small businesses from unfair contract terms,” ACCC deputy chair Dr…

 THE NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (NATROAD) is urging the federal government to improve the design and governance of the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS) instead of terminating it. “Instead of abolishing FIRS, the Government needs to improve the scheme’s design, promotion, governance” NatRoad has laid out its views in its submission to the government in response to the consultation paper proposing to close FIRS to new entrants from July 1, 2018. Commencing in 1987, FIRS was set up as an alternative to state-based registration for heavy vehicles weighing more than 4.5 tonnes. The government’s proposal to end the scheme is based on the reduction in the numbers of FIRS-registered vehicles since 2007 and the planned introduction of the national registration system. NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says the decline in FIRS…

National Transport Commission (NTC) chief executive Paul Retter has reiterated his position on the need to rationalise Australian heavy vehicle accreditation. Retter was responding to National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) announcement of a detailed and expert probe of the workings of sometimes competing schemes, including its own scheme. He tells ATN: “I welcome the recent announcement by NHVR of an independent review into heavy vehicle accreditation schemes. “As NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto has noted, the review provides an opportunity to ensure Australia’s current heavy vehicle accreditation scheme arrangements are based on international standards and Australia ‘best practice’ guidelines. “The review will hopefully result in better roads safety outcomes for all road users. Any opportunity to improve current heavy vehicle accreditation scheme governance, oversight mechanisms and assurance activities will be welcomed…

 THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION report highlights a clear role for government policies to enable business to become more productive, Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) CEO Gary Mahon says. “The smallest gains will still aggregate a reasonable benefit for all” This can be done by removing regulatory impediments and incentivising more-efficient use of resources, he suggests. “These incentives should include heavy vehicle movements being substantially improved and, for example, single out agriculture where transport costs from the farm gate average 21 per cent of overall costs,” Mahon says. “The smallest gains will still aggregate a reasonable benefit for all.” Mahon says the report outlines the need to jolt productivity out of its mediocre trajectory of recent history in the 2000’s. “Among many recommendations, one that is very relevant to our industry is restructuring…

Les Bruzsa and Mark Collins were honoured for their technical expertise and hard work at the Technical and Maintenance Conference (TMC) Awards Dinner in Melbourne on October 17. Bruzsa, who is the chief engineer at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), was awarded the Castrol Vecton Industry Achievement Award for leading continuous improvement in heavy vehicle regulation and standards. Bruzsa’s accomplishments include computer simulation and evaluation of the dynamic performance of heavy vehicle configurations, investigations into stability, braking, safety and design of heavy vehicle combinations, accident analysis, reconstruction and investigation. The national regulator congratulated Bruzsa for winning the award. Meanwhile, Frasers Livestock Transport fleet manager Collins beat two other finalists to win this year’s Craig Roseneder Award for his dedication to workshop and driver training, including TruckSafe inductions. The Craig…

Transport Certification Australia (TCA) expects Telstra’s recent acquisition of GPS and fleet management technology provider MTData will pave the way for better use of in-vehicle technologies in Australia. MTData and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Transport Compliance Services (TCS), which received TCA certification in 2009, were offi cially taken over by Telstra for an undisclosed sum last month. MTData’s product will operate on Telstra’s telecommunications network to offer real-time data to businesses. Telstra executive director global products Michelle Bendschneider says the acquisition will bolster the company’s connected vehicle offering delivered in the IoT footprint. “MTData will bring fresh expertise to our business, including the technical know-how and software expertise to help fast track our Enterprise Connected Vehicle offerings,” Bendschneider notes. “It also supports Telstra’s focus on being a leading provider of innovative…

“Australians have become used to tracking taxis and food on a map in real time, there’s no reason why they can’t do the same for package deliveries” ZOOM2U has expanded its courier service network with the acquisition of Freight Match. The latter is an online service that matches transport operators with customers wanting to move goods. It connects freight carriers with new clients “without the hassle of having to chase clients or fuss around with paperwork and payments”. Details of the buyout, including the acquisition price, have not been made public. The deal means Zoom2u customers will have access to an alternative delivery method for interstate shipping, employing road freight carriers and air freight operators to deliver larger items such as pallets, building materials and shipping containers. For interstate deliveries,…

Linfox Australia has appointed Peter Yates and Dennis Richardson as non-executive directors to its board. One of Australia’s leading business figures, Yates, far right, is the deputy chairman of The Myer Family Investments and a director of AIA Australia.›In the June 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Yates was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his services in the field of education, financial services and a range of arts, science and charitable organisations. Richardson, right, is a leading figure on foreign policy and national security with a career spanning more than 48 years in the public service. Following almost three years as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Richardson commenced duties as the secretary of the Department of Defence in 2012, a position he held…

“We want to work with the tax offi ce to simplify the claiming system further” Back in July, the tax office announced a rash decision to slash employee truck driver meal allowances. In 2016-17, employee truck drivers were able to claim up to $97.40 per day for meal expenses, on a meal-by-meal basis, without detailed receipts. After consulting virtually nobody, the tax office slashed this amount by announcing that employee truck drivers would now only be able to claim $55.30 per day in meal expenses without receipts. At the same time, comparable employees in other industries had their amounts increased. One of the highest priorities for the Australian Trucking Association is to make sure that government agencies never treat truck drivers as second-class citizens. Our drivers are professionals and deliver…

“You need a COR compliance policy and working procedures” We have previously written on the changes coming to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and the chain of responsibility (COR) laws and outlined a plan of attack to get your business practices in shape by the time the new laws come into force – see the June edition of ATN. Some good news is that the implementation of the amendments has been deferred until December 2018, rather than mid-2018 as originally scheduled. However, rather than using this as an excuse to take your foot off the pedal, we recommend that you keep your right foot firmly planted, for two reasons: 1. The COR laws are already in force, right here and right now. You are required to be compliant with…

There’s been a bit going on in the industry relating to realising the potential of former armed services personnel. If anything is likely to test the mettle of a prospective driver, then Paul Warren’s latest project should have prospective employers clamouring for his services. The Afghanistan War veteran, a former muay thai kickboxing champion who lost a leg in the conflict, is now in the midst of the Rheinmetall MAN High Altitude Truck Expedition. Warren is part of a team aiming to break an altitude goal of more than 6690m by driving up the 6890m Ojos del Salado, said to be the world’s highest volcano, on the border of Chile and Argentina. The expedition is equipped with two off-the-shelf vehicles, an HX 4x4 254kW (340hp) and an HX 6x6 328kW…

 BORDER EXPRESS has bought New South Wales regional delivery firm Rossfreight Express for an undisclosed sum. “The appetite for innovation and ... technology is at the forefront of the organisation” With half a century of operation behind it and a focus on overnight delivery, family-run Rossfreight has over the years expanded from catering mainly to the fashion and pharmaceutical sectors to include permanent hire, taxi truck, linehaul and transport management. Rossfreight Express will continue to operate as a separate business unit in the short to medium term, according to Border Express CEO Mostafa Kassaby. “Through this acquisition, we have created a unique strategic opportunity by combining Rossfreight Express’s many years of experience and unparalleled extensive regional network with Border Express’s expansive national footprint,” Kassaby says. “The acquisition of Rossfreight Express…

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) is urging members to consider employing automotive workers who have lost their jobs since the closure of car manufacturing units in Victoria. HVIA says it is aware of opportunities within the heavy vehicle and freight sector, particularly for skilled workers with experience in manufacturing roles. Victoria-based employers who hire eligible retrenched auto workers will receive up to $7000 under the state government’s Back to Work Scheme. An additional amount of up to $4000 is available for providing accredited training to these workers. HVIA national manager policy and government relations Greg Forbes says that he is aware of members who are seeking skilled people with experience in manufacturing. “We are keen to help close this gap. Auto workers have developed a range of skills through working…

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has released its in-depth Road trauma involving heavy vehicles 2016 statistical summary. Amid the concern about the simple numbers of fatalities and fatal crashes, which has garnered much comment regarding a recent rise, there is some solace for the industry. “Over the decade to 2016, national rates of fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles per registration have fallen substantially,” the report states. “For articulated truck involved crashes the reduction was 50.2 per cent, for fatal crashes involving heavy rigid trucks the reduction was 11.9 per cent, and for bus involved fatal crashes the rate declined by 26.1 per cent.” BITRE also has details for serious injuries. Here, about 1700 people are hospitalised from crashes involving heavy vehicles each year – 5 per…

The first step in the federal government’s road funding reforms needs to be fixing truck overcharging, Australian Trucking Association (ATA) chair Geoff Crouch says. Crouch says the government must make a down-payment on its road productivity plan by urging transport ministers to continue freezing revenue from fuel and registration charges. “Trucking operators pay for our use of the road system through a fuel-based road user charge, administered as a reduction in our fuel tax credits and very high registration charges,” Crouch says. “These charges seek to recover the cost of the road expenditure that is due to trucks and buses. “Authoritative new figures from the National Transport Commission (NTC) ... show that truck and bus operators will be overcharged by $343 million in 2017-18. “The overcharging goes back years, and…

Melbourne-based truck driver Steve Bolton is the latest recipient of the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian Award. The award recognises the efforts of truck drivers who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist those around them during the course of their normal work. Bolton was honoured for his swift action and invaluable assistance to emergency services after witnessing a car roll into the river on the Tweed Valley Highway in NSW. He was praised for his cooperation with police and other attending services in recovering the driver of the vehicle. Toll Group head of government relations Royce Christie says safety is a key focus for the company and Bolton, who has been with the company since 2008, always has it at the forefront of his actions. Bridgestone Australia…

Followmont Transport, Frasers Livestock Transport’s Ross Fraser and Team Transport & Logistics won top honours at the 27th Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) Awards this year. The annual industry awards event, which was held in Brisbane on October 14, was attended by 350 guests including political leaders, QTA members, suppliers, industry stakeholders and business people. The event also celebrated QTA’s 110 years of service in the state road freight industry. This year’s winners include: • Followmont Transport – Industry Safety Award • Ross Fraser, Frasers Livestock Transport – Industry Excellence Award • Team Transport & Logistics – People Leadership Excellence • Mark Waddington, Cannon Logistics – Professional Driver of the Year • Belinda Polglase, All Purpose Transport – Trucking Woman of the Year • Errin-Leigh Ebzery, Team Transport & Logistics and…

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has introduced some new fleet-management and operator-focused features on its portal. The new features aim to allow operators, road managers and NHVR staff to interact on its AccessConnect technology platform for the first time. AccessConnect executive director David Carlisle thanks operators and road managers for their patience and feedback during the transition that began in October. “More than 400 road managers across Australia now have the ability to respond to consent requests using an online form or an NHVR Portal Form,” Carlisle says. “This is the first step moving away from the original email-based process, moving all users onto the same NHVR Portal interface for access applications. “In the coming weeks, groups of road managers will transition to the full NHVR Portal - Road…

“We will be the local voice for local truck carriers, providing support and advocacy on behalf of our members” NEW SOUTH WALES-BASED industry representative body Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) will become an independent organisation from January 1 next year. The organisation currently operates as a subsidiary of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), with its roots tracing back to 2007 when it began operating as ATA NSW. It changed its name to Road Freight NSW in 2015. The organisation delivers a range of services and benefits to members, including advice on workplace relations, legal counsel and engagement, discounted off the pump and bulk fuel, and representation on industry issues, interests and concerns to federal and state governments. It is recognised as a respected advocate for trucking operators, and a conduit to…

Smaller online retailers are more likely to welcome Amazon in Australia than larger businesses, a new research indicates. Smaller players see the entry of the e-commerce giant as an opportunity to grow their business. The results are part of an independent survey carried out by parcel delivery service CouriersPlease (CP) among its online retail customers to gauge sentiment about the arrival of Amazon. The study reveals that 59 per cent of the 193 online retailers that took part in the survey – many of them small businesses – see Amazon’s arrival as a chance to expand their across Australia and international destinations. The sentiment was directly related to the size of the business, with 62 per cent of micro businesses, 56 per cent of small businesses, 53 per cent of…

The TWU wants the federal government to take steps to protect employee drivers following an “embarrassing climb down by the ATO over unfair tax changes”. TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says the government must ensure the previous tax changes are never reinstated. “They caused widespread confusion and anger among drivers, who are already under enough pressure,” Sheldon says. “The ATO is refusing to reverse the decision and has only given drivers a reprieve for this tax year. “Truck drivers need certainty on what they can claim and how. This is a disgraceful way to run a tax department and the Federal Government must take responsibility for it. “During meetings, the ATO demonstrated a lack of understanding about working patterns for long-distance truck drivers, including the frequency of travel and the…

As uncertainty and scandal rocked the political scene in October, a set of controversial Senate committee recommendations surfaced with little fanfare. While many in the industry may have accepted the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) would have been raised again in the event of a change of government, they may not have foreseen the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee advising the formation of something altogether heftier in its Aspects of road safety in Australia report. And the issue of ‘safe rates’, fought for hard and long by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), is in the mix. The senator Glenn Sterle-chaired committee’s seventh recommendation in a total of 12 calls for the federal government to “convene a series of industry-led roundtables to make recommendations to government to establish…

For most of the country, the new Transport Industry General Carriers Contract Determination (GCCD) in New South Wales is a state matter that once appeared to threaten cross-border overreach but in the end didn’t. Even within the state, there were some concerns it might go a long way, and needlessly, beyond its former relevant region – the Sydney basin. In the end, though, it has expanded to include realities on the road that were perhaps less apparent 30 years ago, the last time much work was done on it, thereby taking in Sydney’s major satellite cities – Newcastle and Wollongong – and the 50km surrounding their city centres. A change of federal government at some stage is a political reality, with that to be Labor or Labor-led and therefore sympathetic…

Mainfreight has moved to enhance its Australian operations following a pleasing performance in its past financial year. The New Zealand-headquartered transport and logistics firm has invested in new Australian facilities again, focusing on the eastern states. “Over the last three years, we have completed over a dozen significant building projects in Australia’s capital cities both in our domestic and international businesses,” the company says of moves replicated in the US and Europe. “Further development is now taking place in other major cities – these investments are designed to optimise productivity and increase service levels for our customers.” Mainfreight is to open two new branches, in Toowoomba and Bendigo, with the Toowoomba branch’s location yet to be confirmed. It is also planning a new site in Newcastle, to be completed early…

 NEW SOUTH WALES Joint Traffi c Task Force officers have inspected a number of trucks belonging to an unnamed excavation company after a truck rolled in Richmond, spilling waste onto the road. “It is imperative for the safety of all road users that [trucks] are safe” A compliance audit of three tipper trucks and trailers was conducted at the Penrith Heavy Vehicle Inspection Station. During the inspections, four major defect and two minor defect notices were issued for a variety of defects including fuel leakages, hydraulic oil leaks, brake imbalances, loose bolts, exposed holes in tipper bodies, a cracked chassis, and inoperative lights. The operation came in response to a crash in late October, when a B-double belonging to the company rolled on Lennox Street, Richmond, spilled a load of…

THE FORESHADOWED but still keenly awaited 2017 National Truck Accident Research Report has been released by the National Transport Insurance (NTI)-backed National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC). While some details have been aired at industry forums during the year, the whole biennial package gives a fascinating insight into trends and developments while asking searching questions of policymakers. High on the list is fatigue, which has shown a stubborn reluctance to continue being an improving factor. While reform in September 2008 for heavy vehicle driving hours saw a “considerable improvement” in fatigue-based losses, that is seen to have stalled. “With this current finding of 12.2 per cent we have seen neither an improvement nor deterioration in the fatigue result since the last report,” it states. “The question is: With this result…

AUSTROADS has published draft guidelines for the weighing of oversize and overmass (OSOM) vehicle combinations using portable scales. The existing Austroads guidelines for weighing heavy vehicles do not address the weighing of OSOM vehicles – in particular units with more than four axles in a group, or spread axle groups, the technical body says. The project aimed to develop a nationally-consistent procedure for assessing the mass of OSOM vehicles and develop mass measurement adjustment (MMA) factors applicable to OSOM vehicles. The report, Development of National Mass Assessment Procedures for Oversize Overmass Vehicles, describes the conduct of field trials involving repeated weighing of four different OSOM vehicle combinations and analysis to determine the level of accuracy to be expected during roadside inspections. Testing was conducted at a roadside inspection site on…

Amid the headlines on the ‘three Sydneys’ concept, little was heard offi cially on the freight vision of the draft Future Transport 2056 Strategy for New South Wales. Now, state roads, maritime and freight minister Melinda Pavey and transport and infrastructure minister Andrew Constance have spoken of planning for semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles, including trucks and platooning on regional roads and highways. Part of the draft strategy is the Regional NSW Services and Infrastructure Plan. Launching the draft regional plan in Ballina, Constance nailed down the government’s acceptance that trucks as well as cars will have an autonomous component, while Pavey emphasised her desire to have autonomous vehicle trials on NSW roads. Underpinning the direction is the expectation of a reduction in crash and fatality rates the technology aims to…

 THE SERIES OF RECENT truck crashes has spurred the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and National Transport Insurance (NTI) to urge companies and drivers to focus more heavily on safe driving and strategies that support it. “ It’s important that all drivers are proactive and take extra care during the busy lead-up to the holiday season” In a plea from this year’s Technical and Maintenance Conference (TMC), also uploaded as a video on Facebook, industry trainer Ian Pendered tells transport company operators they need to talk to their people about driver distraction. Pendered has been in the industry for more than 45 years as a driver, business owner and now trainer. “Take a look at your business. Talk to your people. Make your drivers and schedulers aware of distractions: drivers eating…

The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) warns success of the state government’s five-year Victorian Infrastructure Plan (VIP) hinges on its implementation. While welcome, the VTA has cautioned that proper planning must be applied to project delivery to mitigate future gridlock on the state’s transport networks. “The government’s endorsement of many of the projects outlined in the report demonstrates they have listened to the needs of industry associations like the VTA and the operators we represent, who are desperate for infrastructure that reduces road congestion, encourages greater public transport patronage and makes our ports more effi cient and accessible,” VTA CEO Peter Anderson says. “As these projects are further prioritised and funded, it will be vital that their construction is planned and executed in a way that does not create unintended additional…

Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) has announced a new sponsorship agreement with BP Australia that will provide RFNSW members with significant fuel discounts. Announcing the agreement, RFNSW general manager Simon O’Hara says the relationship with BP will deliver a range of benefits to its members, including: • Access to an extensive network of truck stops and key diesel sites strategically located throughout major transport routes in Australia • Improved discounts on BP Plus card for BP Diesel and ULP products • Support to RFNSW through industry events, seminars and awards. The new arrangement included a BP Plus Card offer to new RFNSW members whereby added discounts will apply for the first seven months trading as well as no transaction fees for 12 months (subject to conditions).…

TOLL HAS LURED experienced senior executive Peter Stokes, left, to the role of group operational services president. Based in Melbourne, Stokes will lead a centralised network of operational functions to service Toll’s three divisions in express networks, contract logistics and global forwarding. He brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in logistics and mining operations, with previous top roles at Barminco, Linfox and Accenture, plus global experience having worked in markets across Africa, Asia, Australia, the UK and the US. Toll MD Michael Byrne says Stokes joins Toll “at an important period, as the business builds a world-class logistics operations capability”. “He will play a key role in delivering the next generation of Toll’s operational capability so we can support our customers and drive significant improvements in safety…

While the image of over-dimension trucking might be one of brawn over brains, Jason Clift knows that getting an oversized load from A to B requires a keen and focused mind. As director of Brisbane-based Forrest Logistics, Clift has learnt over many years that many of the headaches you’ll have in moving the big stuff will come from juggling paperwork and permits, not on the road. Operating out of a small but comfortable shed over the back fence from Archerfield Airport, the sun blazes down, heats the gravel and bounces a harsh white light sharply off the white flanks of Clift’s trusty pilot ute. You get the feeling sunglasses are a permanent feature of Clift’s face. It might be hot, but he keeps a cool head. He has to. He’s…

“All of industry applauds the achievement and dedication that has emanated from Driscoll over the last 30 years” In early October, an icon of the road freight industry retired. Owen Driscoll had been not only 43 years with the road transport insurance industry, but has been a keystone player in many initiatives that have changed the culture of the industry and left an enduring legacy. For nearly 30 years, he was the national manager of industry and government relations for National Transport Insurance (NTI), which emerged from very humble roots to become an active heavyweight in a highly competitive industry. He was the industry face of NTI over this period. GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES Driscoll also became a member of two famous national trucking triumvirates. Firstly, the national transport…