Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 395 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

One score and two months ago, this column warned that a fragmented trucking industry was ripe for the plucking, with financial chunks then being torn off by stevedores from port container haulage players and by state governments through hefty truck-focused toll imposts for new road infrastructure. On that latter note, it seems the target remains too easy to ignore, as Western Australia’s tyro leader of the opposition, Liza Harvey, showed when singling out trucks to be the only vehicles tolled under her ‘vision’ of the Roe 8 and Roe 9 freeway extension projects. Thought bubbles like that need to punctured quickly, which the Western Roads Federation was able to do effectively because it represents more than the trucking industry and doubtless also due to her claim of consultation with freight…

Transport operator Wettenhalls has released a statement after one of its vehicles was involved in a serious multi-vehicle crash on the Monash Freeway in Melbourne. The collision forced the closure of all in-bound lanes on July 25. A number of people were hospitalised in the incident, with officials saying it was “an absolute miracle” that no-one was seriously hurt. Victoria Police tells ATN that investigations are ongoing. “This morning a Wettenhalls vehicle was involved in a multi-vehicle accident on the Monash Highway,” the company said in a statement at the time. “Three people were injured in the accident and have been taken to hospital. “Wettenhalls is concerned for the welfare of all people involved and extends to them its best wishes for a speedy recovery. “At this stage the cause…

A transport boss has admitted to breaching his duties as a director after being accused of misappropriating $575,000 of funds from his Queensland-based business. Edward Harold Pye pleaded guilty before the Brisbane District Court to two charges of dishonestly using his position to gain an advantage for himself and/or another person. He admitted to breaching his duties while a director of Gatton-based ERH Transport Services Pty Ltd. Pye had been charged with two counts of dishonest use of position with the intention of directly or indirectly gaining an advantage for himself or someone else under section 184 of the Corporations Act following an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) investigation. Liquidators were appointed to the company in 2014 and initially reported the misappropriation of business funds. ASIC alleged that in…

The South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) has claimed a lobbying win regarding the South Eastern Freeway truck descent rules, citing a recent case involving SA Police dropping charges against a truck driver. The association notes it had been involved in lobbying around the application of the new penalties which came into effect on May 1. It says: “Our success is securing a reasonable and sensible policy response from the government and the commissioner of police.” It notes it been watching carefully a court case “involving the same offence”. “The wording of the offence is the same now as it was prior to 1 May, so this case effectively would be a test of the application of the law. “The driver had been told eight or nine times by the…

Worksafe Victoria reports Spotlight Pty Ltd has been fined $150,000 without conviction after a truck driver’s foot was crushed when he was twice run over by a mobile shipping container transporter. The retailer pleaded guilty in the Werribee Magistrates’ Court to failing to ensure that the workplace and the means of entering and leaving it were safe. The court heard that the incident occurred as the driver walked along a marked pedestrian area at the company’s distribution centre at Laverton North. “He was returning to his truck while a shipping container was being unloaded from it by a mobile straddle carrier,” WorkSafe notes. “As the carrier moved forward it struck the driver and its front wheel ran over his leg. “A Spotlight employee saw the driver was trapped and signalled…

Fastway Couriers is in the process of rebranding to Aramex across Australia and New Zealand, marking the final milestone of the 2016 acquisition by the latter. The Dubai-based logistics services company purchased New Zealand-founded delivery service in Australia and New Zealand in January 2016 for $117 million. The rollout of the Aramex brand will span the Australian network of 27 regional franchisees and more than 800 franchise partners, as well as the New Zealand network of 18 regional franchisees and 280-plus franchise partners. “We are combining our local customer service with a fresh new look and global mindset with access to even more shipping destinations,” Fastway Couriers Australia chief executive Peter Lipinski says. “The rebrand represents a powerful opportunity for our local franchise operators, and for the many Australian businesses…

A coronial investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of a fatal truck explosion in remote Western Australia. A truck filled with explosives burst into flames near Mount Magnet on Friday, July 26 while travelling on the Sandstone-Menzies road between Sandstone and Menzies en route to a licensed blast site at Bulga Downs station. The driver, Tony Hickey, had initially been reported as missing. According to reports, forensic officers were not able to fully assess the scene at the time due to potential undetonated explosives left in the wreckage. However, a later search led to the discovery of human remains. “Mt Magnet Police are preparing a report to the Coroner in relation to an incident that occurred on the Menzies Road in Sandstone on the afternoon of Friday 26 July…

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has issued papers before conducting state committee meetings in Brisbane and Sydney on truck and trailer width and the Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA). These items are listed on the agendas and will be up for discussion. The truck and trailer width document tackles the perception that vehicle width and vehicle steer axle mass are constraining the uptake of advanced safety features on heavy trucks. Given Australia is a European and US technology taker, rather than maker, it is argued that Australian rules impose an avoidable reengineering compliance burden for vehicles designed overseas to different width and axle-mass criteria. HVIA believes that “any increases in width should be considered in conjunction with increased steer axle masses. “Moving to Euro 6 will generally require fitting of…

Quality matters in every aspect of Allied Seafreight’s management and customer service; the company first achieved the ISO accreditation in 1997 and has maintained it ever since. It offers an effective food safety management system that controls food safety hazards, as well as also being organic and fair trade certified, and dairy accredited. Being safe is Allied Seafreight’s number one priority; it maintains and promotes safe operations and ensures systems, procedures and processes as well as training are in place. “This means that we are fit for work, that we identify hazards and put controls in place, that we use safe working practices, that we report incidents and near misses and that we learn from our experiences and continually improve out practices,” O’Connor says. “Our commitment to safety is formally…

Ever wondered how often you should have an eye check-up? As we lose our natural vision the older we get, we often require the assistance of others to see what is before us. This holds true in the life of a family business; the longer we co-exist together, the harder it becomes to “see” and be forward-thinking without the assistance of others – our business leadership team and employees. On our own, we may no longer see what needs to be fixed, before it breaks. Why should we fix something that isn’t broken? In a business, vision and innovation are inseparable ingredients in remaining relevant to our customers’ changing needs and remaining sustainable as a business for our shareholders and families. The marketplace for our goods and services is changing…

Washington Kudiwa (above) can attest to SGS’s philosophy. A former lawyer in his native Zimbabwe, Kudiwa’s journey has taken him to Australia via the UK. Starting out for a more mainstream company, he saw an ad for SGS in early 2016 and took the plunge, and has enjoyed his time ever since. “The bigger companies look after their own – the environment was getting a bit hostile and there was so much pressure on the driver. “By the time you get home, you’re an angry man. “Here, I don’t feel that pressure. “They respect you as a human being. They’re approachable. “I know I have a job to do and ensure the customer is happy. But If I have any personal requirements I don’t need to explain myself. “Even though…

Complex and costly, turbo-compounding has had its fair share of detractors over many years but don’t be surprised if it becomes increasingly more commonplace as engine makers look for every opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide outputs. However, it’s now evident the technology may be applied in a number of innovative ways other than boosting performance of the diesel engine. For instance, according to several informed sources, the system’s turbine could be also employed to drive an alternator to help charge an electric motor in a hybrid driveline, or to power the steering pump or air compressor currently driven by the diesel engine. However it’s used, it can only be a good thing to utilise the energy normally wasted through the exhaust.…

Sustainability solutions provider South Pole has helped Toll, Nike and Stockland achieve the first NCOS-certified carbon neutral building through two high-quality reduction projects: the Tasmanian Native Forest Protection project and Nakhon Biogas, an energy recovery project at a cassava starch factory in Thailand. South Pole carbon and energy senior manager Jay van Rijn sees the achievement setting a new benchmark in sustainability for Australian businesses. “Commitments and partnerships between leading organisations help set an example of strong action on climate change for others, and South Pole is excited to help a growing number of businesses make those commitments and transition to carbon neutrality,” van Rijn says. The Nakhon Biogas project mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and prevents local air pollution from the starch plant by capturing methane and generating sustainable energy,…

One of the most important and underrated updates HSV adapted to its SportsCat is a remanufactured master cylinder. The new cylinder, also featured on the Series 1, is coupled with the brand’s AP Braking Package and required a complete recalibration to ensure it worked smoothly and efficiently with the SportsCat’s ESC and anti-lock braking (ABS) systems. “The main change with regard to the master cylinder was increasing the main bore from 22.25mm to 25.4mm,” explains David Kermond, HSV’s chassis engineer. “This change required a new manufactured master cylinder. We worked closely with Bosch to produce this new part, which underwent full durability testing. “When coupled with the new brake package (caliper, rotor, etc.) the complete system was recalibrated with regard to ESC, ABS and downhill decent control.” A master brake…

■ To his fans, and there are a few at the kennel, John Hewson was the best prime minister Australia never had. Very bright, quite feisty and forever burdened with “losing the unlosable election”, they argue that the electorate doesn’t always get it right. Now chairing Bioenergy Australia, he doesn’t mind a joke, telling the Just Biodiesel launch last month: Putin and Trump are leaving the recent G8 meeting and Putin says “Donald J Trump – what does the ‘J’ stand for?” Trump turns and replies: “Jenius!” ■ On the cold and wet northern Victorian winter’s day, Just Biodiesel’s new plant officially launched near the sweet but sometimes overlooked village’s historic pub, The Star. The diminutive locale came in for some good-natured ribbing, with Refuelling Solutions MD Tony Hartin saying:…

Tasman Logistics Services says it is business as usual for its own operations after it was identified as one of the parties affected by the saga around embattled recycling company SKM. SKM provided recycling services to local councils across Victoria, Tasmania and NSW, processing about 400,000 metric tonnes of material a year, but was dubbed a “rogue operator” after a series of fires at its sites, leading to a crackdown by the environmental watchdog for licence breaches including stockpiling material. At the time of writing SKM was in liquidation after being pursued by creditors in the Victorian supreme court “over debts totalling millions of dollars”. It emerged Tasman Logistics – owed $3.35 million – was among 10 creditors to the claim. Tasman Logistics CEO Ivan Vanis tells ATN “it’s business…

Silk Contract Logistics (SCL) has acquired Victorian-based wharf carrier Rocke Brothers. In a statement, SCL says the purchase “marks an historic moment in the journey of both businesses”. “[It] marks the coming together of two dynamic Australian logistics companies, each with a strong history in the Australian transport and logistics industry. “SCL remains committed to its vision to be recognised by our target customers as their partner of choice in the provision of integrated logistics solutions, and firmly believe that the addition of Rocke Brothers will complement Silk Contract Logistics’ ability to deliver on this vision. “This announcement marks an exciting next step in SCL’s journey and aligns with the strategy SCL has held for the past five years in relation to growth and a vision to be. “It also…

The transport sector’s vulnerability to impacts from global fuel disruptions means now is the time to take action on Australia’s liquid fuel security. That is the joint message from peak associations National Road Transport Association (NatRoad), Western Roads Federation (WRF) and Northern Territory Road Transport Association (NTRTA), who are calling for the federal government to prioritise securing Australia’s liquid fuel supply. NatRoad notes that on April 4, 2019, the Department of the Environment and Energy released the Interim Report on the Liquid Fuel Security Review, which recognised that liquid fuel – especially diesel – accounts for 98 per cent of transport needs, making the transport sector vulnerable to impacts from liquid fuel disruptions. NatRoad made a submission in May to the federal Department of the Environment and Energy in relation…

Terms of reference have been released and Deloitte Access Economics secured to undertake Victoria’s Port Pricing and Access Review (PPAR), it has emerged. Promised on the release of the Victorian Freight Plan, Delivering the Goods document, following a growing national outcry from port haulage and trade supply chain interests, and revealed by former state transport minister Luke Donnellan nine months ago, the development will be watched closely by other states. A terms of reference document, signed by present ports and freight minister Melissa Horne on May 5, states: “This review will assess port pricing/charges at, and access issues into and out of, the Port of Melbourne. “While industry is currently concerned with the infrastructure charge, it is important that any review of charges is carried out in the context of…

A prevalent but often hidden facet of industry about to receive significant examination is the wellbeing of heavy vehicle drivers in remote areas who become first responders to road accidents. The NT Road Transport Association (NTRTA) and Western Roads Federation (WRF) have highlighted the importance of supporting drivers in such situations, who are often made to bear the emotional scars “without consideration of their mental health”. NTRTA and WRF will be consulting with drivers and member companies to better understand the extent of problem, after receiving funding as part of National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) 2019 Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Federal Government. The associations use the example of a truck driver who was the first responder on a remote regional road and was required to provide…

On 22 July 2019, NatRoad lodged its submission to the National Transport Commission on the subject of fatigue management. One of the issues that NatRoad emphasised was the importance of reducing the administrative burden that the current system imposes on operators and drivers. Reducing red tape should be a priority in looking at reform of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). In June this year, the Morrison government answered critics who said it lacked an agenda when the prime minister made a major speech promising to slash government red tape to unlock investment. Morrison emphasised that regulatory and bureaucratic barriers that stop businesses investing need to be lifted to “provoke the much needed ‘animal spirits’ in our economy”. “Removing what governments identify as excessive or outdated regulation is one thing.…

The barcode – a simple collection of lines printed on a piece of paper – is one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century. It absolutely changed the world and yet the world tends to take it for granted and largely ignores it. When Joseph Woodland first came up with the idea of using Morse Code on a piece of paper as a way of capturing product information, he probably had little idea of how much of a gamechanger it would be. The fact that it made maintaining inventories easier and more accurate, queues shorter, and tracking of freight possible was just the beginning. What it really did was turn physical goods, of all shapes and sizes, into digital goods. Anything with a barcode on it was, suddenly,…

Channel 9 news publicly released footage of a driver who had filmed himself while driving, with the report revealing he had worked for operator Wettenhalls before being suspended pending investigation. In the report, Wettenhalls CEO Mike Lean pointed to the company’s half-a-million-dollar driver simulator and driver distraction warning systems in place to ensure strong driver standards, telling Channel 9 news he “had never seen anything like this” in the driving community. Instead, the focus has turned back to how individuals slip through the cracks in the current system. Victorian Transport Association (VTA) CEO Peter Anderson backed Wettenhalls – and by extension the majority of the state’s compliant operators – instead taking aim at broader industry changes that needed to be made. “The VTA is appalled by any unprofessional behaviour by…

The first in a series of on-road trials designed to test potential direct road user charging options for heavy vehicles started last month. In a partnership between government and the heavy vehicle industry, minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development Michael McCormack says that while no decisions have been made to change the way heavy vehicle charges are currently collected, the first stage of the National Heavy Vehicle Charging Pilot will provide a way to test potential alternatives, well ahead of any decisions being taken. “Decisions to implement a new way of collecting heavy vehicle charges may be part of a potential future stage of Heavy Vehicle Road Reform. These decisions are likely to be a number years away and will take on board the real-life experience of industry following…

Have you ever stopped to wonder how healthy the heart of your electrical system is? Many of us are guilty of ignoring the need to calculate the total power usage of our vehicles and make sure we have the right alternator. The electrical system of your vehicle finely balances energy demands with energy production and when this balance is disturbed, subsequent failures may occur in various components causing expensive downtime and mechanical repair. This electrical balance is often disturbed by the addition of driving lights, marker lights, cooling systems, refrigerators, microwaves, etc. These products draw additional current, placing more load on a system. The outcome can present itself in premature battery failure, damage to starter motors or the alternator itself. PACCAR Parts senior product manager Rekha Mohan shares some key…

Commentary on the aesthetic impact of livestock transport through central Melbourne has drawn the ire of Victorian transport groups. It was revealed that Melbourne councillor Nick Reece floated the idea of livestock truck restrictions on Southbank’s City Road at a Yarra River Business Association lunch. His reasoning was that “anyone who lives or works in Southbank knows, the smell, the noise, the manure and effluent on the road from cattle trucks [is] a terrible advertisement for Melbourne”. “What would a tourist to Melbourne think if cattle effluent spilled on them as they walked along City Road?’’ he was quoted as saying. “There have been documented cases of animals getting injured in the CityLink tunnels.” Southbank Residents Association president Tony Penna extended that sentiment to placarded loads such as dangerous liquids.…

“It is inequitable to apply a charge to only one segment – the road transport industry.” Western Roads Federation (WRF) has quashed a state Opposition proposal to impose a levy on freight transporters – but not commuters – to help fund the Roe Highway projects. Western Australian Liberal leader Liza Harvey pledged at the party’s state conference to build Roe 8 and Roe 9 if the Liberals won the state election. She doubled down on the levy stance in an interview radio station 6PR, saying previous dealings with industry validated those claims. “To that end, the freight sector has said that they are prepared to forego a portion of their productivity gain by way of a levy on trucks and on the freight industry to help fund the project,” she…

Australian transport ministers have approved the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy (NFSCS), which was developed with industry input and integrates different transport modes for the first time. Federal transport minister Michael McCormack says the NFSCS, and its associated National Action Plan, developed by Australian governments with industry input, positions Australia to meet freight and supply chain demands over the next 20 years. “Australian freight supply chains [deliver] about 163 tonnes of freight per person around the country each year,” McCormack says. “With our freight volumes expected to grow by more than a third by 2040 and online shopping growth at over 20 per cent a year, we need to increase the productivity of our freight system. “At the same time, we have to plan for and manage the introduction…

Women transforming the transport industry has been the biggest change O’Connor has noticed. Her transport manager Jayde Goring, is an example. She is the third woman in the role so far. “I think the industry has changed dramatically but you can still see that ceiling in a lot of places,” O’Connor says. “I think there was a perception for a long time when I first started that you can’t drive a forklift or a truck; well, I think you can prove that you don’t have to do that. There’s a lot of guys that work in logistics and importing and exporting but don’t know how to drive a truck. “At the start, I think I had to prove myself twice because I was a woman in the industry plus it…

Just Biodiesel’s relaunching of a refinery at north east Victoria’s Barnawatha, just south of Albury, signals the early stages of a possible renaissance for the low-carbon alternative fuel in the Murray River region. If realised, the resurgence will come after the renewable option fell out of favour earlier this decade due to falling conventional diesel prices, new federal government excise of biofuels and the hangover from reliability and quality issues among some suppliers. The company and its partners are now pitching for business from truck and bus fleets. Hailing its product as a “renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that is reducing Australia’s dependence on foreign petroleum, creating jobs and improving the environment”, Just Biodiesel, in partnership with like-minded distributor and transporter Refuelling Solutions, is building on the foundations of an earlier…

There is a lot of activity in the transport industry around Chain of Responsibility supplier audits where prime contractors carry out audits of their transport suppliers’ COR compliance. This stems from the principle of shared responsibilities in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), Section 26A, which states that the safety of transport activities relating to a heavy vehicle is a shared responsibility of each party in the COR. This initially caused parties in the chain to think they were responsible for the behaviour of other parties, but this has since been clarified by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), with Geoff Casey, executive director of NHVR, stating: “The law makes it clear that it’s the transport operator’s responsibility to manage their own operations and activities so as to ensure safety…

SGS Logistics is a relatively new kid on the block but its approach reveals a maturity beyond its years. In its fourth year, the business led by Luke Sadler and David Gay may seem like any other operation, yet dig deeper and subtle differences are reaping the rewards. So much so that SGS most recently featured in the Financial Review’s 2018 Fast Starters – one of only two transport companies – as an upstart enjoying a solid rise. Noticeably, there’s a progressive edge to the operation. Located in a swanky Scoresby business park that looks more like a Silicon Valley hot-desking utopia than a standard transport outfit, the directors are personable and savvy digital operators who make use of their LinkedIn networks and emotional intelligence to help drive the business…

The certification of the Toll-Nike logistics facility, owned by Stockland, caps off Toll’s significant investment in energy efficiency at the site, which was named Best Industrial Project at the National Energy Efficiency Awards in 2017. The site’s energy efficiency program features upgrades to a 2.5km conveyor system, which is powered by 145 individual electric motors, and the retrofitting of 1,300 light fixtures with high efficiency LEDs. This has led to a halving of the site’s total electricity consumption, exceeding the greenhouse reductions required by the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). The site has also received a Green Star performance rating, the first Green Star rating for Nike and Toll, and the first in Stockland’s Logistics portfolio. Toll energy and emissions manager Mark Jones says the 18,000 square-metre warehouse and fit-out…