Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 381 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

“Companies also were forced to stop deliveries, since they did not have fuel” Without trucks, Australia stops. If you like the saying, get the limited edition (well 2,999 of them according to one online purveyor) stainless steel watch for just shy of $200. It’s a terrific statement in the Australian way of passive-aggressive messaging. It states the obvious to make the point of the industry’s value and leaves unsaid the ugly reality of what that might follow. As one man said in an online questions-and-answers site: “Without trucks, Australia’s f*cked.” Yet, arguably, the power implied has only really been used to game-changing effect once in our history, during the Razorback protest. What might it look like now, if such were ever to happen again in earnest? Well, we might never…

Rivet Mining Services put 19 prime movers and 24 side-tipping trailers on the block in June as it slimmed down its Port Hedland-based heavy haulage fleet. The company sold 87 lots, including low loaders, Franna cranes, prime movers, fuel tanker trailers, side tipping trailers, dolly converter trailers and extendable trailers, through a tender process run by Gordon Brothers. Rivet chief operating officer Philip Tonks tells ATN its heavy haulage operations were largely a sideline to the bulk haulage arm, which made up “99 per cent” of the business. “This is just surplus assets in the heavy haulage area which we don’t require,” Tonks says. “We are still doing some heavy haulage in the region and we still specialise with certain clients for that, but apart from that, there is nothing…

LINFOX AND AUSTRALIA POST have been swept up in a malware breach at human resources services firm PageUp, after the talent management system was compromised at the cloud-based software purveyor. PageUp counts Linfox and Australia Post amongst its clients and features Linfox and subsidiary Armaguard testimonials on its website. Australia Post told ATN that it is “urgently” seeking clarity from PageUp to determine if any personal information had been compromised by the job application system breach. It told applicants that information such as bank details, tax file numbers and superannuation details may have been at risk, the Australian Financial Review reports. “We are in the process of contacting job applicants to notify them of this incident and to advise them of steps to prevent any potential misuse of information. As…

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released a series of tools that aim to help heavy vehicle operators boost the safety performance of their business. The resources include 10 guides and templates, fact sheets and an information book. Further guidance material will be released later this year. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says the tools were essential components of a safety management system, including safety policy and documentation and most importantly safety risk management. “A safety management system is also an effective way for an organisation to comply with the additional responsibilities under Chain of Responsibility laws in the coming months,” Petroccitto adds. “Templates can be downloaded from the NHVR’s website to assist businesses to develop their own safety policy, risk management or incident reporting processes, as well as other…

“Road managers should place a HVRA on the approach or departure side of the town.” ACCESS TO TOILETS, lighting and potable water at truck rest areas is a requirement, not a desirable asset, for truck drivers, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) argues. The group is calling for major changes to the guidelines for truck rest areas, ahead of the release of a research report into the issue, prepared by Austroads. Austroads has developed a set of new guidelines for the design of heavy vehicle rest areas (HVRAs) following a series of surveys of drivers at rest stops and online, completed earlier this year. According to the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad), the guidelines outline a table of facilities to be considered for each class of formal HVRA (ranked from 1-5)…

DOMESTIC SHIPPING industry veteran Patrick Guarino, left, is the new chief operating officer at Tasmanian multimodal transport firm SeaRoad. The company notes Guarino began his 35-year career with Australian National Line (ANL) before moving to the newly established TT-Line in a succession of roles, ranging from that of purser on the original ferry, Abel Tasman, to general manager of freight services and operations, and ultimately chief operating officer. “Pat knows Bass Strait inside out and adds a wealth of knowledge and understanding about meeting Tasmania’s transport requirements,” SeaRoad executive chairman Chas Kelly says. “Pat has been doing some business development work for us and I am very pleased he has accepted the Board’s invitation to take on this leadership role.…

“There is an objective test for the positive duty to make enquiries.” Directors are generally familiar with their duty to act with reasonable care and diligence. It resides in section 180 of the Corporations Act 2001. In considering this duty, regard must be had to the surrounding circumstances. However, it is not unusual for section 180 to act as a “catch-all” against directors. That is, if a director has breached another duty, then they have almost certainly also breached section 180 by doing so, thereby also exposing the company to a contravention of the law. One species of care and diligence breach can be categorised as acting with ‘information deficiency’. That is, making decisions or acting without the requisite information a reasonable person in their circumstances ought to require. So,…

In designing and developing this generation Colorado for release in 2012, GM didn’t piggyback off Isuzu as it had done for all its previous Rodeo utes and even the original Colorado. Instead, GM marshalled its global resources to design a ute from the ground up with its VM Motori four-cylinder diesel coming from Italy, the six-speed automatic from GM in the USA, and the whole thing pulled together by a design team headquarted at GM Brazil. The trouble was that it wasn’t quite right on many fronts and was tweaked in 2013 and then again in 2014 before being pulled right apart – almost down to the last nut and bolt – and put back together with a host of new or revised parts for its 2017 rebirth. Australian Holden…

All D-Max dual-cab 4x4 pick-ups have six airbags, a reversing camera, an eight-speaker audio with a CD slot and USB and iPod inputs, a seven-inch or bigger touchscreen, cruise control and trailer-sway control as part of the chassis electronics package. The as-tested top-spec LS-T, which is auto only, has leather, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, proximity-key entry, push-button start, an eight-inch touchscreen, sat-nav, side steps, a reversing camera, projector headlights with daytime running lights and 18-inch alloys.…

BT-50 GT 4X4 DUAL CAB Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel Engine: 147kW (197hp) @ 3,000rpm Max torque: 470Nm @ 1,750-2,500rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 42.3:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 2,118kg GVM: 3,200kg Payload: 1,082kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM: 6,000kg Overall length: 5,365mm Width: 1,850mm Height: 1,821mm Wheelbase: 3,220mm Turning circle: 12.4m Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres ADR fuel claim: 9.2 litres/100km Test fuel use: 12.2 litres/100km Touring range: 605km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

MERCEDES-BENZ X250D PROGRESSIVE 4X4 Engine: 2.3-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel Max power: 140kW (188hp) @ 3,750rpm Max torque: 450Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 44.6:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ coil springs Kerb weight: 2,137kg GVM: 3,250kg Payload: 1,113kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM: 6,130kg Overall length: 5,340mm Width: 1,920mm Height: 1,819mm Wheelbase: 3,150mm Turning circle: 13.4m Fuel tank capacity: 73 litres ADR fuel claim: 7.9 litres/100km Test fuel use: 10.4 litres/100km Touring range: 621km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

MITSUBISHI 4X4 DUAL-CAB EXCEED Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel Max power: 133kW (178hp) @ 3,500rpm Max torque: 430Nm @ 2,500rpm Gearbox: Five-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range full-time (+2WD) Crawl ratio: 35.4:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 1,955kg GVM: 2,900kg Payload: 945kg Towing capacity: 3,100kg Towball download (max): 310kg GCM: 5,885kg Overall length: 5,280mm Width: 1,815mm Height: 1,780mm Wheelbase: 3,000mm Turning circle: 11.8m Fuel tank capacity: 75 litres ADR fuel claim: 7.0 litres/100km Test fuel use: 10.5 litres/100km Touring range: 664km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMMISSION (NTC) has recommended Australia’s Performance-Based Standards (PBS) be revised by July next year in a bid to attract more industry interest in the scheme. The recommendation is one of four made by the group in a report into the scheme which was approved by state and territory transport ministers in a meeting held last month. First developed in 2007, the PBS scheme was designed to help deliver further productivity without developing further infrastructure – encouraging industry to develop innovative vehicles that could carry a greater volume of products safely. NTC chief executive Paul Retter says issues such as barriers to access have meant the industry has been reluctant to participate in the scheme. Specifically, industry uncertainty as to whether a vehicle will be approved to access…

Australia Post says embracing environmentally sustainable options into the future will help it save $10 million every year, as it aims to cut emissions to 25 per cent of its 2000 levels by 2020. Company chief financial officer Janelle Hopkins made the comments on the release of Australia Post’s Environmental Action Plan 2018-2020, which the company says will help it shape future activities that will lead to long-term sustainability, and reach its 2020 target of 261,327 tonnes of carbon emissions. The company cut emissions from 348,436 tonnes in 2000 to 279,737 tonnes in 2016-17, despite a rise in domestic parcel volumes. “We are seeing immediate returns as we unlock renewable energy at some of our busiest sites, which helps to insulate the business against rising energy prices,” Hopkins says. “In…

“New logistics facilities in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth will add a further 52,000 square metres to our warehousing footprint.” NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT and logistics giant Mainfreight has seen its Australian operation help power a record annual net profit result of NZ$107.9 million (A$99.3 million), up from last year’s NZ$101.5 million. The Australian operation brought in the most revenue in the 2017-2018 financial year after trailing the core NZ market and the ‘Americas’ operation in the previous year to March – generating what Mainfreight says was the best performance improvement of any country in its network. Australian sales revenue increased 16.6 per cent, up A$88.77 million to A$623.77 million, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) improved 18 per cent to A$49.92 million. Mainfreight says it plans to continue…

Tony Richardson and the team at Richardson Bros. can close the door on the livestock transport business with a smile on their faces, after their asset sale went well. The company took its remaining six prime movers and eight sets of B-double stock crates to auction with Ritchie Bros. at the auctioneer’s Yatala yards. Ritchie Bros. marketing manager David Fanning tells ATN the company had 1,241 registered bidders on the day of the auction, with the Richardson Bros. stock dispersal attracting buyers from all over Australia. Ritchie Bros sold a 2015 Kenworth T909 6x4 Prime Mover for $200,000, and a 2013 model of the same vehicle for $155,000. A 2015 Western Star 4900FXT Constellation 6x4 prime mover sold for $185,000, while a 2016 6.3m Tri/A B-double lead stock trailer sold…

Toll Group has reversed its recent financial direction, returning to annual results growth after a huge slump, with this year’s financial results showing annual profit and revenue gains for the first time in three years. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) was $119 million for the year ended March 31, an improvement of over 70 per cent on the 2017 financial year, while its revenue of $8.2 billion was up $309 million on the prior year. The company’s EBIT had fallen from $379 million to $69 million over two years. Toll Group MD Michael Byrne says the performance marks “the successful execution of the first year of Toll’s transformation strategy”. “Our transformation continues, and our results to date show that our strategy is the right one for today’s markets and…

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS provider Northline is marking its 35th anniversary with a major international expansion which it says will see the Adelaide-based company represented in more than 100 countries by year’s end. “The integration of Northline’s domestic and international network will help fuel the company’s future growth by meeting the changing needs of its customers and their customers,” the company says. “Northline is already providing end to end supply chain solutions for import and export in key markets such as China, UK, Europe, US and the Middle East but will soon further expand into Asia with the company’s international freight business growing 20 per cent over the last year.” Northline’s international team recently returned from visits to partners in Dubai, Portugal, UK, Europe, Thailand and Vietnam – with Vietnam and…

Volvo Group Australia (VGA) has appointed Clive Jones, right, as vice president sales Volvo Trucks Australia, New Zealand and Oceania markets, commencing from August 1. Currently national sales manager – Volvo Truck and Bus in New Zealand, Jones will replace Mitch Peden who becomes Volvo Malaysia MD in August. VGA president and CEO of Peter Voorhoeve welcomes Jones to the group leadership team, saying: “We are looking forward to leveraging his deep insight gained from more than 20 years of experience in the truck industry.”…

All Ranger 4x4 dual-cab pick-ups have six cabin airbags, cruise control, auto headlights, rear locker and trailer-sway control as standard. The XLT, as tested here, also has sat-nav, dual-zone climate, a centre console cooler, rear parking sensors, auto wipers, tyre pressure sensors, a 230-volt outlet in the cabin, a 12-volt outlet in the tub, a sports bar, sidesteps and a 3,500kg-rated towbar as standard. Radar cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning and a driver-impairment monitor are available as a ‘technology pack’ on the XLT as an extra-cost option.…

HOLDEN COLORADO LTZ DUAL-CAB 4X4 Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel Max power: 147kW (197hp) @ 3,600rpm Max torque: 500Nm @ 2,000rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 36.4:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 2,121kg GVM: 3,150kg Payload: 1,029kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM: 6,000kg Overall length: 5,361mm Width: 1,872mm Height: 5,361mm Wheelbase: 3,096mm Turning circle: 12.7m Fuel tank capacity: 76 litres ADR fuel claim: 8.7 litres/100km Test fuel use: 9.9 litres/100km Touring range: 718km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

ISUZU D-MAX LS-T DUAL-CAB 4X4 Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel Max power: 130kW (174hp) @ 3,600rpm Max torque: 430Nm @ 2,000rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 33.3:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 2,026kg GVM: 3,050kg Payload: 1,024kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM: 5,950kg Overall length: 5,295mm Width: 1,860mm Height: 1,855mm Wheelbase: 3,095mm Turning circle: 12.6m Fuel tank capacity: 76 litres ADR fuel claim: 7.9 litres/100km Test fuel use: 9.3 litres/100km Touring range: 767km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

All Hilux dual cabs come with seven airbags, a reversing camera (accessory for cab-chassis), tilt-and-reach steering wheel adjustment, and trailer-sway control. The SR then adds a rear locker, driver’s seat height adjustment and a seven-inch touchscreen, while the SR+, as tested here, adds alloys and sat-nav. The SR5 adds to this with auto-key entry, push-button start, LED daytime running lights, a sports bar and a smooth-sided tub to replace the ‘commercial’ tub on the lower-spec models. The SR5+ then adds leather and heated front seats.…

The Sportline (as tested here) is the cheapest of the Amarok V6 models and looks more like a commercial-grade rather than a recreational ute. Standard equipment includes front and front-side airbags (but no airbags in the rear of the cab), tilt-and-reach steering wheel adjustment and four-wheel disc brakes – equipment that’s also standard with four-cylinder Amarok models. The Sportline V6 also has dual-zone climate, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay, 18-inch alloys and a 12V outlet and lighting for the tray. Unlike the more expensive Highline V6, the Sportline doesn’t have sat-nav, sidesteps, chrome sports bar, tyre-pressure monitoring, bi-xexon headlights and LED daytime running lights.…

Reforms to the Chain of Responsibility (COR) laws will be implemented from October 1, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has confirmed. Timing for the changes was confirmed by Queensland transport and main road minister Mark Bailey. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says the start date for the reforms follows lengthy consultation and information for heavy vehicle businesses over the past 18 months. “The NHVR has been engaging with many of the 165,000 businesses which make up the heavy vehicle supply chain, and conducted more than 100 workshops,” Petroccitto says. “October 1 provides the additional time that some sectors were asking for to prepare for the changes, particularly the agricultural sector. “This change to COR laws is a significant leap forward in recognising everyone in the heavy vehicle supply chain has…

CTI Logistics will buy regional Western Australian freight carrier Stirling Freight Express for $4.5 million as the company continues with a nation-wide expansion process. A family-run business, Stirling operates depots in Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Merredin and Kalgoorlie and provides overnight delivery services to towns in the southwest of Western Australia with 100 employees and a fleet of over 50 vehicles. All but the Merredin depot are fully owned by the vendors and will be leased by CTI, with these depot towns also boasting an on-ground fleet to help further facilitate product delivery. The Stirling business will be merged into CTI’s existing regional freight network, with bases in Albany, Bunbury and Perth – with the future Perth base to also house operations of CTI’s Broome Freightlines and Bunbury Freight Services.…

A PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM, designed to help women obtain a heavy vehicle driver licence, will be offered through a new partnership formed by Wodonga TAFE, Volvo Group Australia and Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL). The four-week intensive training will be offered in metropolitan Melbourne and cover theory, practical training behind the wheel, mechanical appreciation and assessment, with the first intake graduating at the end of August. The first intake of students to the Women Driving Transport Careers program will start the training on July 23. “It will give women the chance to get behind the wheel of a prime mover and work towards joining the heavy transport workforce as truck drivers, which is a skill in very high demand in Melbourne as well as throughout Australia,” says Simon Macaulay, the…

“... the driver community was not really consulted, and the report reflects this.” And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended, And at night the wond’rous glory of the everlasting stars.” These magical words by Banjo Paterson struck a chord with me early on in life and have inspired many a day and night on the road for me ever since. Sadly, much of my time now is spent in the “dingy little office”, so I thought it was time to walk in the shoes of drivers and spend some time to better understand rest stop quality and shortage, which is becoming a major issue for trucking. Australia has the fifth biggest freight task in the world and contributes to 9 per cent of our gross domestic…

FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 DUAL CAB Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel Max power: 147kW (211hp) @ 3,000rpm Max torque: 470Nm @ 1,500-2,750rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 42.3:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 2,159kg GVM: 3,200kg Payload: 1,041kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM: 6,000kg Overall length: 5,351mm Width: 1,850mm Height: 1,848mm Wheelbase: 3,220mm Turning circle: 12.7m Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres ADR fuel claim: 9.2 litres/100km Test fuel use: 12.0 litres/100km Touring range: 616km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

This generation D-Max first arrived here in 2012. Most notably for a manufacturer with a long history of designing and building its own utes, this D-Max wasn’t a 100 per cent Isuzu product – unlike its predecessors. The starting point for this D-Max was, in fact, a GM design, at least in terms of its basic chassis and body shell, even if Isuzu engineers were involved in the design process from early on. Taking the basic chassis and body shared with the Colorado, Isuzu then added its own engine, gearbox, transfer case, rear axle, suspension springs and dampers, interior fitout and exterior body panels, grille, lights and other details to end up with what is a very different ute to the Colorado. Things stayed much the same until 2017 when…

All three X-Class grades – Pure, Progressive and Power – have seven airbags, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, a reversing camera, tilt-and-reach steering wheel adjustment and four-wheel disc brakes. The as-tested Progressive adds 17-inch alloys, auto wipers, sat-nav, seven-inch touchscreen, tyre-pressure monitoring and adjustable load rails on the sides of the tub. The top-spec Power then adds leather, keyless entry and start, 18s and LED headlights and tail lights, among a host of other features.…

All Triton dual-cab 4x4 pick-ups from the base-grade GXL up have seven airbags, a reversing camera, tilt-and-reach steering wheel adjustment and trailer sway control. The GLS then adds Super Select 4x4, 17-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a sports bar. The top-spec auto-only Exceed, as tested here, then adds leather, heated front seats, auto wipers and headlights, paddle shifters, smart-key entry and start and a rear locker.…

NISSAN NAVARA 4X4 DUAL-CAB ST-X Engine: 2.3-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel Max power: 140kW (188hp) @ 3,750rpm Max power: 450Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 44.6:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ coil springs Kerb weight: 1,980kg GVM: 2,910kg Payload: 930kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 300kg GCM: 5,910kg Overall length: 5,255mm Width: 1,850mm Height: 1,840mm Wheelbase: 3,150mm Turning circle: 12.4m Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres ADR fuel claim: 7.0 litres/100km Test fuel use: 11.0 litres/100km Touring range: 677km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

TOYOTA HILUX 4X4 DUAL-CAB SR+ Engine: 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel Max power: 130kW (174hp) @ 3,400rpm Max torque: 450Nm @ 1,600-2,400rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio: 36.1:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 1,955kg GVM: 3,000kg Payload: 1,045kg Towing capacity: 3,200kg Towball download (max): 320kg GCM: 5,650kg Overall length: 5,330mm Width: 1,855mm Height: 1,815mm Wheelbase: 3,085mm Turning circle: 11.8m Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres ADR fuel claim: 8.5 litres/100km Test fuel use: 10.9 litres/100km Touring range: 684km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK V6 SPORTLINE Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel Max power: 165kW+ (221hp+) @ 2,500-4,500rpm* Max torque: 550Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic 4X4 System: Single-range full-time Crawl ratio: 17.4:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Front suspension: Independent/coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/ leaf springs Kerb weight: 2,078kg GVM: 3,080kg Payload: 1,002kg Towing capacity: 3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM: 6,000kg Overall length: 5,254mm Width: 1,954mm Height: 1,878mm Wheelbase: 3,095mm Turning circle: 12.95m Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres ADR fuel claim: 7.8 litres/100km Test fuel use: 11.2 litres/100km Touring range: 664km** *180kW on over-boost (see text). **Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

YCL Jewels, an international jewellery brand specialising in high-quality jewellery, is a DHL customer that has been growing its overseas customer base to more than 90 international markets via the DHL Express network since 2017. CEO Fabienne Costa says YCL Jewels has built a loyal following for the brand in the US, Europe and Asia over the past three years. “Our business has further grown since we started offering timely express delivery through DHL Express last year,” Costa says. “We are confident that, by working alongside a trusted brand like DHL Express, we will continue to grow exponentially in these markets, bringing more of our offerings to consumers around the world.”…

“The regulators are becoming increasingly vigilant and prosecutions are becoming more common.” What are the possible effects of the Banking Royal Commission on the cover for fines and penalties offered by insurers? The Banking Royal Commission is likely to lead (as it already has) to charges being laid against some individuals and to some significant fines and penalties for both companies and individuals following prosecutions. At present, it is quite common for professional indemnity and directors’ and officers’ insurance policies to extend cover for civil fines and penalties. The policies generally exclude cover for dishonest, fraudulent or intentional acts or omissions. However, as the policies generally cover defence costs and often the prosecution is resolved by negotiation, the policy exclusion often does not come into play, as there is no…

A continuing spike in truck sales, along with overall increased margins and revenue, are the major themes for 2018 in trucking, according to ANZ associate director of client solutions Timothy Suffield. Suffield is due to release ANZ’s annual economic report into trends in the road transport industry soon, and has hinted the key signs are good. “The demand for trucking has continued and our figures show we have top-line growth for the first time in a while. It means that the actual revenue the sector is generating in total has increased, which is a real positive,” he says. A consequence of that is that margins have picked up for trucking businesses, something that wasn’t happening 12 months ago. “We’ve seen a noticeable increase across the board with margins improving, and…