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Calls grow for national road crash investigation agency

Australia’s peak membership association for road safety professionals and advocates has joined the trucking industry in calling for a national road crash investigation agency.

The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) said the Australian Government must take urgent steps to address the persistently high rates of road trauma across the country.

It’s urging the federal government to legislate and appropriately resource a national road crash investigation agency, like the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which currently investigates air, marine, and rail incidents but is prevented by law from examining road crashes.

With over 10 times more fatalities on Australian roads each year than in air, marine, and rail transport combined, a dedicated, independent, no-blame investigative body is essential, said ACRS.

ACRS said investigations by the ATSB have been instrumental in identifying systemic safety risks and driving industry and government action to prevent further tragedies.

Applying this model to road safety would allow for targeted investigations, providing critical insights into the factors contributing to severe crashes, the association said.

“Road trauma continues to devastate Australian communities, with over 1300 fatalities and tens of thousands of serious injuries occurring annually,” said Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the ACRS.

“When there’s a crash on a plane, boat or train, we do an in-depth investigation to find out why it happened and how we can prevent it from ever happening again, road users deserve the same level of investigative oversight to reduce these tragedies.”

Johnston said the most recent transport safety data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics highlights the urgent need for change.

“While road safety experts continue to address preventable causes of crashes, such as speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue amongst others, the absence of comprehensive, systematic crash investigations means we are missing valuable opportunities to identify and mitigate additional factors contributing to road trauma.”

ACRS stresses that the creation of a national road crash investigation agency would complement existing efforts, including state-based crash analyses and local road safety initiatives.

“By fostering collaboration and evidence-based recommendations, such an agency would strengthen Australia’s capacity to achieve its National Road Safety Strategy targets and, ultimately, save lives.

“ACRS calls on all levels of government, industry stakeholders, and the broader community to support this critical initiative. The time for decisive action is now.”

In its election campaign initiatives, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) also called on the next Australian Government to resource the safety experts at the ATSB to investigate serious crashes involving trucks.

“The ATSB is Australia’s independent transport safety investigator,” said ATA chair Mark Parry.

“It investigates aviation, commercial shipping and rail crashes and is recognised as a world leader. We don’t recognise the ATSB as the asset it is; we don’t take advantage of its expertise to investigate road crashes.”

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 Industry News

#PicOfTheDay – Joe Flaws

Three-year-old Axel helps his dad on the weekend to give this SRV Road Fright T610 SAR a wash.

We’ll choose a pic to appear in our Facebook cover slot, and will publish some of the best pics in our upcoming print edition of Big Rigs where you now also have a chance to win a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card.

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Kiwi takes over top job at National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Nicole Rosie, the former boss of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), is the new CEO of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

In announcing the appointment today, NHVR Chair Duncan Gay said Rosie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and is looking forward to officially welcoming her to the regulator on June 30.

NHVR Chief Operating Officer Janelle van de Velde had been interim CEO since Sal Petroccitto left the role on January 24 after 10 years in the top job.

“I am pleased to announce Ms Rosie was selected as the new NHVR CEO following an extensive and rigorous recruitment process,” Gay said in a media release.

“With over 20 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, most recently Ms Rosie was the CEO at New Zealand Transport Agency following her role as CEO of WorkSafe New Zealand. Nicole has also held senior executive roles at Fonterra, KiwiRail, Vector, and Toll NZ.

“Ms Rosie’s strong background in governance, law and public policy, combined with a deep understanding of transport and infrastructure, made her the ideal candidate to lead the NHVR into its next chapter of harmonisation and innovation.”

Gisborne-born Rosie had been at the helm of the NZTA for 4.5 years before leaving in mid-February.

“Leading the NZTA has been a highlight of my more than 20 years in senior management,” Rosie said at the time.

“The team at NZTA is incredibly dedicated to ensuring New Zealand has a land transport system that supports economic prosperity and serves our communities, and I’m proud to have been part of that.”

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 Industry News

Truckies’ fuel tax credits again under threat, warns peak bodies

Peter Dutton’s pledge to halve the fuel excise for 12 months if the Coalition wins the next federal election on May 3 has triggered renewed concern and backlash from Australia’s trucking industry

Many fear a repeat of the devastating financial fallout experienced under the Morrison Government in 2022.

The Opposition Leader’s budget-reply announcement, pitched as a cost-of-living relief measure, would see the fuel excise slashed from 50.8 cents per litre (cpl) to 25.4 cpl.

However, under the proposal, the fuel tax credit (FTC) – a critical mechanism used by heavy vehicle operators to manage business cash flow – would then be abolished for the duration of the cut.

At present, operators receive a FTC of 20.3 cpl, being the difference between the fuel excise of 50.8 cpl and the road user charge (FTC) of 30.5. If the RUC is more than the excise, the operator receives no rebate.

While this may appear as a win for the average motorist at the bowser, South Australian Road Transport Association Executive Officer Steve Shearer said it will create a damaging cash crisis for trucking businesses, especially the small-to-medium family-run operations that make up over 80 per cent of the industry.

Shearer said SARTA has discussed the Dutton announcement in detail with several Coalition MPs, including shadow ministers, and has made it clear that the vague assurances that Dutton would consult with the industry about the proposed 50 per cent fuel excise cut don’t go far enough.

“We are not prepared to risk the election of a Coalition government that has not committed unequivocally to ensure that the road freight sector is not harmed, as we were under Morrison’s debacle,” Shearer told SARTA members in a recent bulletin.

“Statements that road freight will “benefit too” are meaningless because the spin merchants will argue that the minor reduction in the Road User Charge (RUC) is somehow a benefit, which is utter misleading nonsense.”

Shearer said any thought the officials and Coalition decision-makers may have that the reduction in fuel prices by 25.4 cpl will cover the operators’ loss of the 20.3 cpl FTC is absurd.

“It shows a complete lack of understanding that the customer base will mercilessly demand the fuel price cut be fully passed on.”

Shearer said the opinions of large corporate operators, which Treasury and other officials occasionally seek, are largely irrelevant.

“Large corporate operators operate in a different economic and commercial world from that which the massive bulk of the industry, upon which they rely heavily, operates in.”

Shearer said there are only two options for an incoming Coalition government to avoid causing extensive economic harm to the trucking industry which will flow through to the broader economy.

The first is to reduce the RUC by the same amount (25.4 cpl) as the fuel excise, a call echoed by a number of other peak bodies.

“This is the only option that guarantees the 50 per cent cut in excise will be passed on to the customer, and hence the community.”

The other option is to legislate to stop customers taking the 25.4 cut in excise but the downside is that the customers and the community would not receive the benefit of the 50 per cut in excise.

“Whilst some operators may be able to increase their freight rates to recoup the lost FTC, they will be few and far between,” Shearer said.

“The Coalition must make a public unequivocal statement very soon during the election, not at the 11th hour, to the effect that they will adopt one of the above options.

“Or that they will work with the broader industry if elected to ensure that HV operators continue to receive the equivalent benefit of the FTC whilst the fuel excise is reduced.”

Graphic: QTA

Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon also warned that if the RUC isn’t halved under Dutton’s proposal, it will also cause freight prices to increase.

“Fuel pricing might dip a bit, but from the Morrison experience, it’s highly unlikely to dip to the same extent that the government has reduced the excise, so in effect our people are paying more and also not getting a fuel tax credit,” Mahon said.

NatRoad also said the industry  can’t afford another FTC hit.

“About 98 per cent are small businesses and average profit margins are just 2 per cent; they lack the bargaining power to simply pass on costs,” said NatRoad CEO Warren Clark.

He said that unless FTCs are protected, the benefits of lower excise will not flow on.

“Instead, many in the industry that keeps Australia’s shelves supplied could face financial ruin.”

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 Industry News

Coalition promises $840 million for Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass if elected

The Coalition has revealed its plan to deliver an $840 million Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass, to help remove heavy vehicles from congested suburban streets – if elected in the upcoming federal election on May 3.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said yesterday (April 7) that the bypass would take trucks off Cross Road and “get trucks out of our hills and out of suburbs”.

“We are the only state without a freight bypass,” Dutton said.

“So, this brings us up to the standard of every other capital city and I could not be more excited. We want people to be safer, we want our truckies to be able to get all of their goods to market sooner.”

According to Dutton, this is something he has been working on for over a decade.

He says the $840 million pledge to build this bypass would take trucks out of suburbs.

“It provides a safety corridor and it provides something that every other state takes for granted.

“We can’t have trucks coming down through one of the most dangerous intersections and road corridors in our country and pretend that nothing is to be done about it.

“The Prime Minister came to Adelaide and he promised 50 per cent funding for this project. That meant that the South Australian Government wasn’t going to go ahead with this project because their argument is that it should have been 80-20 like other jurisdictions have had.”

Former state and federal governments had previously committed to the project and stage one of a Truro bypass, which was scheduled to begin in late 2023. However the project was axed only nine months before works were due to commence.

Then last month, the federal government announced $525 million over 10 years for the High Productivity Vehicle Network (HPVN) as part of the 2025-2026 Federal Budget.

The HPVN would deliver upgrades between the South Eastern Freeway and Sturt Highway such as the duplication of the Swanport Bridge and Murray Bridge Township Bypass in Monarto.

Dutton explained, “Our announcement means that a Commonwealth Government will contribute 80 per cent of the cost of this project and that will mean that the South Australian State Government has money spare to spend on other road projects.

“Our plan is to get this bypass built, the money is on the table now, it starts this year and we can work closely with the South Australian Government to see this come to fruition.”

The City of Burnside has previously shown its support for the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass, with its CEO Chris Cowley and Mayor Anne Monceaux lobbying for funding to be reinstated.

The council says it is in favour of a reduction in the volume of heavy vehicles on Portrush and Glen Osmond Roads via the bypass, which it said would also increase freight productivity, reduce damage and injuries as a result of traffic collisions, improve traffic flow, and reduce noise and pollution.

Recently, the City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters echoed these calls for a Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass. In a release last month, the council said it “is concerned about the safety of all road users due to the ever-increasing number of large freight vehicles using the South-Eastern Freeway and subsequently, Portrush, Glen Osmond and Cross Roads.”

The council would like to see the bypass come to fruition to reduce the volume of heavy vehicles on Portrush and Glen Osmond Roads.

A graphic from the City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass information sheet.

“The council also supports calls for the reinstatement of Federal funding to develop the GAFB, including the Truro Bypass project, to achieve national productivity goals.

“Implementation of the GAFB would also form an important part of creating a High Productivity Vehicle Network (HPVN) across South Australia, which seeks to maximise the efficiency of South Australia’s freight network and improve interstate supply chain connectivity.”

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 Industry News

ALRTA marks 40th anniversary by celebrating industry legends and rising stars

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner and awards night at the weekend.

The event, held on Saturday April 5 in Canberra, was well attended, with over 320 guests gathering to celebrate the occasion.

The Rural Transport Rising Star Award was a tie between the two finalists: 23-year-olf Isaac Davis from Southfork Transport in Scottsdale, Tasmania; and 28-year-old Kyle Nicholas from Edmonds Transport in Naracoorte, SA.

ALRTA said that both of the young operators impressed the judges with their maturity and passion for the industry; demonstrating a clear desire to better their industry knowledge through training and personal development.

Isaac and Kyle, who have built up a great new friendship throughout the lead-up to the announcement, were thrilled to share the award.

The ALRTA and Kenworth also honoured Craig Congram from Finley, NSW as the Icon of the Road for 2025. When presenting the award, Athol Carter of the ALRTA likened Craig to the “modern day Swaggy” – often spending days and weeks on the road for the love of what he does.

Craig was blown away by the recognition. “I simply love carting livestock, and I love driving trucks,” he said.

The Bruce McIver Award for 2025 was presented posthumously in honour of Jack Mitchell from Western Australia, who was the founding Vice President of the ALRTA in 1985 and was a huge advocate for the livestock and rural transport industry in the association’s formative years.

Jack passed away in 1989, aged 57. The award was received by Jack’s son John Mitchell, who acknowledged his father’s hard work and his strong friendship with Bruce McIver.

In collecting his father’s award, John said he wished his dad was there to receive the award himself.

The night culminated with a fireside chat with the founding legends of the ALRTA.

ALRTA Executive Director Anthony Boyle hosted a 40-minute reflection on the creation and journey of the ALRTA and its involvement in the industry.

This included the association’s role in establishing the Australian Trucking Association (ATA).

Legends of the industry included Ross Fraser OAM from Queensland, Gordan Martin from NSW, Peter Berwick from Tasmania, Gavan O’Sullivan from Victoria, Joe Sepos from NSW, and the first Executive Director of the ALRTA Robert Gunning.

The panel described the journey and challenges they overcame to build the association into the respected organisation it is now. The audience sat in silence for the duration and gave the panel a standing ovation at the completion of the event.

Anthony Boyle described the task of hosting the chat as “extremely daunting, but equally rewarding” to be able to honour the people who have established the pathway for the ALRTA’s 40 year existence.

The Rural Transport Woman of the year was awarded to Pauline Kearney from Barooga, NSW. Pauline started her journey in the transport industry at just 15 years of age, washing trucks. Now with her husband Glen and three sons, they operate eight trucks, servicing all aspects of rural transport. Pauline has also had a long-time hands-on role driving trucks all over rural Australia.

To round out the gala event, the Livestock, Bulk & Rural Carriers Association of NSW (LRBCA) presented Joe Sepos a Life Membership. Joe heads up the JS Transport Group of companies which includes Stocktrans and was involved in the earlier fireside chat.

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 Industry News

Isuzu tightens stranglehold at top of truck market

Overall numbers may have dipped slightly on last year’s record start to the year, but Isuzu had plenty to celebrate when the latest truck sales were tallied for the first quarter of 2025.

According to the most recent Truck Industry Council’s (TIC) records, Isuzu notched 1107 deliveries for March, boosting its year-to-date (YTD) overall market share to 28 per cent, up 2 per cent on the same YTD total last year.

Isuzu, which officially launched its 2025 range this month, also muscled its way into second spot overall in the heavy-duty sector with 249 units rolling out the dealership gates in March.

That puts the Japanese powerhouse, the number one badge in Australia for the last 36 consecutive years, 20 clear of Volvo in the YTD race for second – 589 versus 569 – with Kenworth already taking a firm grip on the top spot.

Heavy-duty numbers for March. Graphic: TIC

Kenworth recorded 302 deliveries in March and now has a YTD total of 766, or a 22.7 per cent market share, up from 18.5 per cent for the first quarter of 2024.

The only other notable performers in the heavies for the month were Scania, which put a small gap on nearest challenger Mercedes-Benz for the fourth spot with 91 units versus 69, and Hino, better known for its smaller trucks, recording a very respectable 70 units for March.

Overall, TIC said 4125 new trucks and vans were sold during the month, marking a 4.9 per cent decrease compared to March 2024.

Overall sales for March. Graphic: TIC

Despite this year-over-year decline, the cumulative first-quarter sales totalled 10,356 units, positioning it as the third-best performance on record for an opening quarter.

Given the potential financial market volatility that the industry has historically seen in a federal election year, TIC CEO Tony McMullan said the current heavy vehicle market’s strength and resilience is pleasing to note.

“However, this will no doubt be tested over the course of the next few months leading up to and beyond the May 3 election,” McMullan said.

Overall, the heavy-duty segment experienced the biggest dip in March with a total of 1363 units delivered, down noticeably, 11.1 per cent ( or 170 trucks), on March, 2024.

The first quarter result is marginally better, still in negative territory though, with 3380 heavy sales YTD, representing just a 10.8 per cent decline (-408 trucks) over quarter one 2024 sales.

The medium-duty segment posted solid sales in 2024, however the segment is down like all others in 2025. The March 2025 result saw total sales of 623 medium trucks, down 4.6 per cent, (-30 units), on March 2024.

At the end of quarter one a total of 1664 medium duty trucks have been delivered, that is down by 4.4 per cent (-77 trucks) over the 2024 tally.

Light-duty truck sales (those with a GVM between 3500kg and 8000kg) saw record sales in 2023, fading slightly in 2024.

Those slowing sales in 2024 have carried through into 2025 with new sales in the light truck market shrinking a little more in quarter one with 1177 trucks delivered for the month, down 7.4 per cent (-94 trucks) over March 2024.

For the quarter, light-duty truck sales lag those of the same period last year also by 7.4 per cent, that equates to 235 less lights sold in 2025 compared with quarter one 2024.

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Tully residents thank truckies for keeping their town stocked and supplied during floods

A “Thank-U truckies” sign has been added to a “Welcome to Tully” sign beside the Bruce Highway to acknowledge the great work our drivers do to deliver food and supplies during floods.

Truckies quickly had shelves restocked, as soon as they could get through. Image Dippy Southern

Tully is 200km north of Townsville and 150km south of Cairns and is one of the wettest places in the country – in fact it’s been dubbed Australia’s wettest town.

It’s average annual rainfall is about 4000mm. And one weekend late in February saw a whopping 458mm fall from the Friday night through to Saturday morning,

When the Bruce Highway was closed after heavy rain and resultant flooding, trucks carrying goods were held up for long periods.

But when authorities gave the all clear for the heavy vehicles to get through, they soon had supermarket shelves replenished.

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Nullarbor cyclist asks for truckies’ help to make ‘paddock’ safer

A cyclist in this year’s Indian Pacific Wheel Ride across ‘the paddock’ is calling for more collaboration with truckies to prevent further tragedy on the dangerous highway.

Kevin Paine, who’s riding by the name of Pizza Rider, reached out to Big Rigs from the road as he came through Ceduna, en route from Fremantle to Sydney in the unofficial 5500km annual event.

Paine has already crossed the Nullarbor in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and returned again last year, only to stop at Fraser Range when 62-year-old Chris Barker was killed after being stuck by road train about 190km west of the SA border.

When he returns home this year, Paine said he’s going set up a website to provide advice and information for the 100-plus who cycle across the desolate road each year and also wants input from truckies.

“I feel it’s best for the two communities to work together, rather than be adversaries,” Paine said in an email to Big Rigs.

“I’m reaching to you and others in the trucking community to have something that works well for all. Riders using hi-viz, mirrors, multiple lights and UHF as an example. Getting off the road when vehicles are going where you are (not a legal requirement, but absolutely recommended for the safety).”

Paine also said simple things, like a short toot of the horn or a flash of high beam at night to ensure the rider is aware of an approaching truck “would be great”.

“Riding at night is considerably safer due to lower traffic volumes and higher visibility,” he said.

Paine also said the lower temperatures, lack of sunburn, less wind, and the spectacular night sky are other reasons why night riding is popular among cyclists.

“Bicycles have been ridden across the paddock since Arthur Richardson in 1896,” he added.

“Each time I’ve crossed I’ve met riders heading in the opposite direction. There will always be riders on the Nullarbor. Long distance and touring cycling is a growing global trend.”

Paine said he’s hoping to start on the project in May.

“Roads are not dangerous. It’s the actions of those who use the roads that creates the danger,” he added.

“This year I met five other cyclists who were crossing the Nullarbor in the opposite direction and have seen pictures from at least one more that I missed meeting.

“Cyclists are never going to be banned from crossing the Nullarbor, so it’s best to do what we can to make it safer for riders and easier for drivers.”

Veteran interstate truckie Robby ‘Roadtrain’ fears that it’s only a matter of time before there is another tragic accident on the Nullarbor involving a cyclist.

Robby was speaking out after witnessing first-hand the dangers for riders in the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride as he headed west on his weekly run to Perth.

Truckie Damien Tsouris was so concerned for the cyclists’ safety he called the Ceduna police.

“One of the cyclists was on the fog line with no lights or high-vis in the dark. I nearly hit him as I didn’t know he was there.”

John Mulder also wrote on our Facebook page that the number of riders on the highway is “getting beyond a joke”.

“There used to be one or two you’d see a year, now it’s like six or seven each trip and they don’t wear hi-vis, but opt for the highly standout black – you struggle to see them.

“It should be against the law that a road train has to hit the brakes to slow for a pushbike, or veer onto the wrong side of the highway to avoid them

“It needs to be stopped before more are killed and innocent truck drivers pay the price of prison for driving down a highway trying to do their job.”

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Overnight closure of Pacific Hwy this weekend, truckies asked to park up

Truckies have beeen warned of a three-hour closure of Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour this weekend, with no detour available to trucks.

The highway is being closed from midnight on Saturday, April 12, until 3am on Sunday for the safe removal of the now disused Luke Bowen Footbridge.

Transport for NSW said the old structure will be cut from its mountings and craned onto the edge of the highway where it will be dismantled.

During the closure, light vehicles and emergency services will be detoured via James Small Drive.

There is no available detour for heavy vehicles.

Operators of oversize and/or overmass vehicles are encouraged to park up in rest areas or truck parking bays before they get to Korora, north of Coffs Harbour.

The highway is being closed for the removal of the old footbridge. Image: TfNSW

During the three-hour highway closure, parking will be provided for any heavy vehicles unable to avoid the work area.

Following the temporary closure, the highway traffic will return to one lane in each direction on the southbound carriageway while the crane and worksite is demobilised.

All four lanes of the highway will be reopened by 7:30am on Sunday, April 13.

For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

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