Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 413 i Australasian Transport News (ATN)

ROB McKAY has been a journalist for more than three decades, with the last 25 years focused on national and international freight transport As the year gets into gear in earnest, themes that have either gone quiet of their own, or their proponents’, accord, or been bubbling away quietly, have resurfaced and gained heat. Some, such as bringing more women into the industry, have seen some notable individual achievements. But the numbers still tell a tale of obstacles presenting high degrees of difficulty that may yet see drivers imported. After all, when presented with chronic labour and skills shortages and policy failure, it’s the Australian way. Then there is gas. Once seen as a truck propellant of the future that would tick significant environmental and strategic boxes, its various forms…

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) hails the founder of Ron Crouch Transport, Ron Crouch, who has been honoured in the Australia Day 2021 Honours List. Recognised for his service to community and the road transport industry, Crouch has been awarded a medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). "Mr Crouch has a long history in the transport industry, establishing Ron Crouch Transport with his wife Beverly in 1978 – a business that has grown from a single client organisation to one that caters for more than 1,700 companies today and is recognised nation-wide," the ATA states. "Recognised for his professionalism and passion, Mr Crouch was a proactive member of industry associations and groups with a vision for improving industry safety. "In the 1980s, Mr Crouch played an integral role in…

New South Wales has been busy on the logistics facilities front lately and the momentum continues with state government approval of a new warehouse and distribution hub in Kemps Creek. Some $242 million in economic investment will pour in for the new Kemps Creek Warehouse, Logistics and Industrial Facilities Hub. NSW planning minister Rob Stokes says the project will deliver investment and new opportunities for Western Sydney to combat the economic impacts of Covid-19. "This development will create 700 construction jobs and 950 operational jobs while injecting $242 million into the Western Sydney economy," Stokes says. "The approval means we can get shovels in the ground faster. This government is committed to fast-tracking planning assessments to help stimulate the economy during the pandemic." The development is a joint venture between…

With an election looming and in the wake of union and Coalition promises of cash for truckstops, the Western Australian government has made its own pledge. Echoing a Western Roads Federation (WRF) statement that the government is working with the industry to identify and prioritise regional rest areas, state transport minister Rita Saffioti says. An industry working group has identified 17 initial locations for improvements, costing $14 million with works to start in June, subject to approval of the allocation of the funds by the federal government. A working group involving Main Roads WA and industry bodies including the Transport Workers' Union (TWU), the WRF and the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA (LRTAWA) determined the improvements program. The WRF welcomes the move, saying that, although subject to federal…

A Volvo Group Australia personnel change sees Mack Trucks vice president Gary Bone take on the role of Volvo Trucks vice president. The move follows the recent promotion of Tony O’Connell to managing director of Volvo Trucks Malaysia Bone has 17 years’ experience with Mack and Volvo Group Australia, initially starting out in Mack retail sales. Since then, he has held a number of roles, including two years in the US with the Mack brand, before assuming the position of senior vice president of Mack Trucks Australia from 2005 to 2008, and as vice president of Volvo Trucks Australia from 2009 to 2013. Bone rejoined Volvo Group Australia as Mack vice president in March 2020 after over five years at Chesterfield Australia. “In a rapidly changing transport environment, I am…

WARREN CLARK is CEO of the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) The ‘gig economy’ is an issue facing many industries and, while there is no current evidence that more so-called ‘gig’ jobs are being created in the heavy vehicle sector, on-line deliveries are growing in the road transport industry, especially in the food delivery sector. We know that current trends started by the Uber phenomenon have the potential to increase contracting roles. But the term ‘gig job’ is currently a loaded term that does not convey that these roles are contractbased with the benefits that come with independent contracting, which is often overlooked by commentators. It is clear that the popularity of this form of engagement is low amongst members. When NatRoad conducted a member survey in 2019 to find…

Integrated transport, logistics and rural supply firm Lindsay Australia ushers in the new year with an optimistic first-half trading update. Lindsay announces that, based on unaudited management accounts for the half year ended December 31, 2020, it anticipates underlying EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) between $26 to $27 million – or growth of about 12 per cent. The group previously announced it was expecting to maintain EBITDA growth of 8 per cent for the half-year. It credits gains in new business avenues as outstripping deficits in underperforming segments due to Covid-19 impacts. "Investment in previous years to diversify the Group's geographical and product reach has seen improvements in both Rural and Rail which has offset the declines in the import/export logistics segment which continues to be impacted…

A dedicated truckway complementing a railway could fill the missing link between Inland Rail and Brisbane’s port, a Senate committee hears. Stating that there is a shortfall in vision on how either end of Inland Rail is to work, Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) CEO Gary Mahon outlines a plan that, he argues, adds flexibility and recognises risk on relying on a single, very costly modal link that would likely be in place for many decades. "Our concern, with the Brisbane end and the Melbourne end, is that there is not enough detail," Mahon says. "We don't see the foresight. We would prefer to see some lateral thinking in terms of where they could take the opportunity to make sure they optimise the benefit. "For example, you cannot rely just on…

The Sydney container haulage sector is questioning how deeply Port Botany operator NSW Ports has thought through its plans to ease truck queue congestion. One possible unintended consequence raised with NSW Ports by Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) may be a heightening of congestion and decreased safety due to trucks circulating the precinct waiting for a space to open up without knowing when that has happened. "While safety is paramount, the NSW Ports’ Direction is dealing with the symptom of the congestion, not the direct causes," CTAA director Neil Chambers tells his members in a commentary on the development. "The ECPs in Port Botany continue to operate at or above capacity because not enough empty containers have been (or are being) evacuated by shipping lines to reduce the considerable surplus…

One of the best things about being in the truck moving business is having a crew of long term, reliable, older and experienced drivers as part of the team at Truck Moves Australia. With a solid work ethic and trustworthiness, I know my drivers can get the job done without any fuss. And I’m happy to pay them what they are worth – they deserve it. Unfortunately, not all employers think this way. One of the worst things about wage theft in the truck moving industry is how it affects older drivers. I’m disgusted at some of the stories I’m hearing about certain unscrupulous business owners and how they are treating older drivers: I’m sitting on actual evidence of this exploitation and outright theft because these drivers didn’t know where…

Naomi Frauenfelder is the new CEO of industry mental health non-profit Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds (HHTS). Frauenfelder brings extensive rail experience to the role and was most recently executive director at TrackSafe Foundation, an Australian rail industry not-for-profit that addresses suicide on the rail network and the resultant trauma caused to train drivers and other frontline staff. “The HHTS board is delighted to welcome Naomi into this executive leadership role, and looks forward to working collaboratively with her as the foundation builds on its three key pillars; training, standards and wellness,” HHTS chair Paul Graham says. Frauenfelder will oversee early this year HHTS’s launch of a three-year Industry Blueprint Strategy, national framework, guidelines and a Charter for Psychological Safety for road transport and logistics, in conjunction with AP…

ROZ SHAW after a 30-year career in running her family’s transport business Gallagher National Head of Transport Roz Shaw moved into an equally highlevel role in insurance, drawing on her industry experience and knowledge of operating a large transport business. The freight and logistics industry is an essential component of the national economy, ranking fourth in terms of its contribution. The sector is also integral to business activities in all other industries, influencing both productivity and overhead. But the impact of Covid-19 on freight movements is calculated to cost the sector an annualised decline of 1.3 per cent over 2020-21. At the same time, digitalisation of freight and warehousing logistics promises increased efficiencies and decreased costs, but requires a skilled workforce to implement these innovations. How the sector meets these…

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) tells of Pearson’s association with the transport industry beginning almost 70 years ago when he purchased a Caltex Service Station at Marks Point south of Newcastle. In 1955, Pearson started Lake Macquarie Freighters and Macquarie Transport, before moving to Port Macquarie in 1974 and establishing Jim Pearson Transport. Pearson was recognised for his dedication and commitment to industry with the ATA’s Outstanding Contribution to the Trucking Industry award in 2010. In 2015, Jim Pearson Transport won the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award for its strong safety culture and passion for improving safety outcomes within the business and wider community. "The ATA and trucking community are deeply saddened by the loss of Jim, who was an outspoken and outstanding contributor to our industry," ATA chair David…

Industry groups have expressed alarm at a recent Queensland incident prompted by the use of dubious refrigerant gas in a truck cabin. A Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) safety alert reports that, on January 11, a mine worker driving a truck in an underground mine suffered serious burns to their face, hands and chest as a result of an explosion in the truck cabin. The worker's eyes were protected from the blast by safety glasses. The force of the blast blew some of the cabin windows clear of the truck. While the investigation is still ongoing, the findings of the RSHQ investigation to date indicate that: • the AC was charged with a refrigerant containing propane and isobutane (hydrocarbon) instead of compliance with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirement,…

The move of stevedore Patrick Terminals to charge shippers for mis-declared weights of imported containers has raised road haulage concern about how this will be implemented. Patrick announced on November 5 that it would enforce a fee of $230 plus GST for any container that is found to be 1 tonne more or less than advised. The fee is called ‘weight amendment fee for import containers - weigh and adjustment charge’, that began in Brisbane at the start of the month and is due to be rolled out in other major container ports. Certainly, overweight containers are a menace to the safety of trucks, ships and container-handling generally but, in a move like that of container access charges, Patrick is levying the fee on haulage firms. "Patrick will provide the…

MCKELLAR TAKES OVER AS ATA CEO The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has appointed international association executive Andrew McKellar as its new CEO. McKellar was, most recently, the Paris-based secretary general for mobility at the International Automobile Federation (FIA). Before joining the FIA, he was CEO of the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). In government, he was a senior adviser to successive Australian industry ministers from 1996 to 1998. He also worked as an economist and research officer in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the federal Treasury and the Queensland Treasury. ATA chair David Smith is confident McKellar will “lead the ATA to new levels of effectiveness and member service”. “The board was very impressed by Andrew’s experience in international advocacy…

Hino Australia has unveiled a series of senior management changes, with president and COO Sam Suda now president and CEO, supported by two new vice presidents. Bill Gillespie is assigned the new role of vice president – brand and franchise development, moving up from a general manager role. The brand and franchise development division encompasses sales, supply chain, franchise development, product strategy, marketing and bus departments. Greg Bleasel has also been promoted to the new position of vice president – product support from a general manager role. His expanded responsibilities now include information technology alongside customer experience, parts sales, parts supply chain, service and technical support and national training.…

DAVID SMITH chairs the Australian Trucking Association Like many Australian industries, the trucking industry is facing disruption and innovation as modern technologies change the way we do business, work and live. Our industry can be expected to go through great change but must also address the issues of today, including safety, building business productivity and recruiting skilled and motivated employees. In response to this change, and with the responsibility to ensure a viable future for our industry, the Australian Trucking Association and Daimler Truck and Bus partnered to deliver the career-defining Future Leaders’ Forum. Now in its fourth year, the Daimler Truck and Bus Future Leaders’ Forum is developing the next generation of trucking leaders, shaping them to be strong, experienced and knowledgeable representatives of their business, community, association and…

It’s mid-week in early December and Victorians are tentatively emerging from 112 days of severe lockdown. Unquestionably the strictest and most gruelling restrictions in the country, by a long shot. Yet, walking through Tullamarine airport for the first time in a year, and in cafes and hotels and shops, there’s a subtle but nonetheless sanguine sense of reprieve as the state nervously retreats from a depressingly difficult and, as many believe and begrudge, largely avoidable second wave of Covid-19 infections. A wave that took more than 800 Victorian lives. Still, it comes as no real surprise that at Paccar Australia headquarters in Bayswater on Melbourne’s south-eastern rim, Covid protocols remain robust and uncompromising. Security has always been tight at ‘Kenworth castle’ but never like this. For employees and visitors alike,…