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To address the skilled worker shortage, Remondis Australia is thinking outside the box, launching a training program that provides opportunities for those who are long term unemployed.

Remondis’ Industrial Services Pathway was launched at the company’s specialised liquid processing plant at Henderson, south of Perth, in July.

The conclusion of the three-week program has seen ten recruits, nine men and a woman, receive intensive hands-on training and obtain industrial services tickets and licences across areas including health and safety, high pressure water jetting, forklift operation, gas testing and working at heights and in confined spaces. These recruits are also working to obtain their Heavy Rigid (HR) truck licenses.

The program guarantees longer-term employment, with participants staying on in full-time capacities for at least 12 months. That involves initially being buddied with experienced operators so participants meet competency and compliance requirements to obtain full operators’ licences.

The program was designed and delivered by Gnalla Enviro, an Aboriginal owned and managed company

specialising in commercial and industrial waste. Not-for-profit employment services provider Workskil Australia was pivotal in supplying the trainees.

“The skills shortage is so severe that trying to find workers through advertising and word-of-mouth is often futile,” said Remondis Australia WA industrial services manager Steve Tunbridge.

“So we thought let’s tailor-make a training program ourselves and develop skills that match our needs.

“The intensive three-week training is just the start. The program leaves the door open for full-time employment and mentoring, enabling each participant to take their skills and qualifications further.

“In a very short timeframe we’ve produced a fresh cohort of workers chomping at the bit to contribute and grow. It’s a win for each worker and a win for the skills-starved industrial sector.”

The program is run through Gnalla Enviro’s training arm called Gnalla Biddi.

As Gnalla Enviro CEO Jason Collar explained, the word ‘Biddi’ means ‘pathway’ in the Noongar language. “And that’s what it is – a pathway for Indigenous or disadvantaged workers into the workforce,” he said.

“We’re enabling a ground-level start for people who might have experienced things such as unemployment and isolation.

“We know from experience that many people in these situations shine with the right opportunity.

“Beyond skills and employment, this is about human-connection, teamwork, purpose and passing knowledge down the line. These are life-changing leg-ups that mean everything to the individuals and send positive ripples across the community.”

Trainee Damon Cotton said the pathway had turned his life around. “Workskil Australia told me about the program and since joining I haven’t looked back,” he said.

“I’ve gone from being unemployed to working a minimum of five days a week with overtime options.

“I’ve achieved tickets and licences I never thought I would or could obtain.

“The support and encouragement from everyone involved has been great, leaving me feeling that I can have a long-term future in the industrial services sector.”

Remondis is planning to run similar programs across its many other divisions nationally.

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JOST Australia Regional Sales Manager Victoria, Graham Cox, is celebrating 10 years at the company.

Cox’s journey with JOST, the company said, is a testament to dedication and growth.

Starting at the business as Warehouse Leading Hand, he moved through roles in customer service to his positions as Sales Representative and then Area Sales Manager.

Cox now leads JOST Australia’s Victorian sales team as Regional Sales Manager.

“Throughout his career, Graham has consistently provided customers with the exceptional JOST experience, embodying the company’s core values in every role he’s held,” JOST said in a statement online.

“His enthusiasm for seizing opportunities and his commitment to fostering a learning environment make him a true team player, always bringing others along on the journey of growth and development.”

Reflecting on his time at JOST, Cox said he has enjoyed working with like-minded people who have a passion and belief in the products which JOST supplies.

The opportunity to progress in the business with the knowledge and skill sets learned from within, he said, has also been memorable.

“I would like to thank the people who gave me the opportunity to start at JOST, and those who have mentored me through my journey at JOST Australia and continue to do so,” Cox said.

“I’m looking forward to the progress of JOST technology products like sensor systems, Loc-Light and more so KKS auto coupling systems, [as well as] new products JOST will release to market and the expansion into a new Melbourne facility in the future.”

In other news, after a two-year wait, Australia’s largest integrated conference and exhibition dedicated to the logistics industry is returning to Melbourne.

The post Graham Cox celebrates 10 years at JOST Australia appeared first on Trailer Magazine.

Former truckie-turned WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle has had gutful of hearing stories of drivers being fined for simple spelling mistakes in their work diaries.

A fired-up Sterle used his two minutes in the Senate yesterday to speak on a topic of his choosing to deliver a stinging attack on the current anomalies in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

A year earlier he’d raised the same subject in the Senate said he was disappointed to see the same issues still persist amongst the HVNL jurisdictions, particularly when there is such a shortage of transport workers nationwide.

“Truckies are still pursued, fined and prosecuted for simple spelling mistakes in their logbooks, while motorists who break the law and endanger lives face lesser fines,” Sterle told the Senate.

“Fining truck drivers for spelling mistakes does nothing for fatigue management, nor does it drive down the number of accidents and fatalities on our roads, but it does contribute to state and territory revenues.
“It is a national tragedy that states and territories continue to use minor errors made by our hardworking truckies to raise revenue while there is carnage out on our roads.”
Sterle said road safety must be a national priority, and urgent action is needed from all levels of government.

“Issues like training, licensing, enforcement of safety laws must be a priority nationally. “We have a shortage of 26,000 transport workers. This shortage is particularly difficult to address considering these enormous safety challenges, alongside the petty and vindictive targeting of truckies for minor errors in their logbooks.”

He also cited several infringement fine examples to highlight how truckies were being more harshly penalised.

Sterle said that in NSW, motorists who are caught using a mobile phone while driving are fined $362.

In South Australia, driving up to 20km/h over the speed limit attracts a fine of $455.

In Queensland, if a driver fails to give way during a U-turn, they face a fine of $483.

“Truckies that had minor spelling mistakes in their logbook – where they slept last night, for crying out loud – get fined $780.”

Sterle said he’s now written to all state ministers, police, road safety and transport bosses for a second time hoping “some commonsense” will prevail.

“Enforce the law, make our roads safe, [but] stop pinging truck drivers for a damn spelling mistake.”

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The post Stop ‘pinging’ truckies for spelling mistakes, implores senator appeared first on Big Rigs.

In Australia, the current demerit point system is a one-size-fits-all approach that does not adequately consider the unique circumstances of professional heavy vehicle drivers.

Under the National Heavy Vehicle Law, both standard domestic licenses and heavy vehicle licenses are subject to the same 12 demerit points limit (in most states). However, this fails to account for the vast difference in driving distances and the critical role that a licence plays in the livelihood of professional drivers.

The vast discrepancy in driving distances

A typical holder of a standard or domestic license may drive up to 20,000 kilometres per year. In stark contrast, a heavy vehicle driver can easily clock up to a million kilometres annually. This staggering difference in mileage significantly increases the likelihood of accruing demerit points simply due to the law of averages. The more time spent on the road, the higher the chances of encountering situations that could result in demerit points, despite a driver’s best efforts to adhere to the myriad of road regulations.

The livelihood of professional drivers

For heavy vehicle drivers, a licence is not just a legal requirement; it is the cornerstone of their livelihood. Losing their licence means losing their income and the ability to support themselves and their families. The current demerit point system does not take this into consideration, treating professional drivers the same as those who drive significantly less. This lack of distinction is not only unfair but also unsustainable given the critical role that truck drivers play in our economy.

The complexity of road regulations

Australia’s road transport laws are comprehensive and detailed, designed to ensure safety and compliance across the board. However, for heavy vehicle drivers, the sheer volume of regulations they must adhere to increases the likelihood of unintended infringements. These regulations include but are not limited to fatigue management, load restraint, speed compliance, and vehicle maintenance. With such an extensive list of rules, even the most diligent driver can occasionally fall foul of the law, leading to the accumulation of demerit points.

A lawful and sympathetic argument

We are not advocating for leniency or suggesting that it should be acceptable for professional drivers to breach the law. Safety and compliance are paramount. However, we argue that the law should recognise the unique position of heavy vehicle drivers. By increasing the number of demerit points available to them, we can create a fairer system that acknowledges their extensive driving requirements and the critical nature of their work.

Proposed changes to the demerit point system

To better support heavy vehicle drivers, we propose the following changes:

Increased Demerit Point Limit: Increase the demerit point limit for heavy vehicle licenses to reflect their higher annual driving distances. This could be set at a more reasonable threshold, such as 24 points, to account for the increased exposure to potential infringements.
Graduated Penalty System: Implement a graduated penalty system that considers the severity and frequency of offenses, rather than a blanket approach that treats all infringements equally.
Review and Support Mechanisms: Establish a review system that allows professional drivers to contest demerit points with the support of legal representation, ensuring that they have a fair chance to explain and rectify minor or unintended breaches.

Heavy vehicle drivers are the backbone of Australia’s transport and logistics industry. They deserve a demerit point system that reflects the reality of their profession and the critical importance of their licences. By increasing the demerit point limit for professional drivers, we can create a fairer and more sustainable system that acknowledges their unique challenges while maintaining road safety and compliance.

At Heavy Vehicle Lawyers, we stand with professional drivers and advocate for changes that recognise their vital contribution to our economy. We invite policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public to consider these proposed changes and support a fairer approach to demerit points for heavy vehicle drivers.

For more information, or to support this cause, please contact Heavy Vehicle Lawyers. Email contact@heavyvehiclelawyers.com.au or call 0493 492 970.

Together, we can drive change for a fairer system.

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The post Why heavy vehicle drivers deserve more than 12 demerit points appeared first on Big Rigs.

The livestock industry says current road train access restrictions to Rockhampton abattoirs are hampering productivity, driver safety and animal welfare.

Currently, Type 1 road train operators require a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) permit to travel directly to Rockhampton abattoirs.

Even with a permit however, there are operating hours and route restrictions, established by Transport and Main Roads Queensland (TMR).

Home to two major red meat processing facilities, Rockhampton has become known as Australia’s beef capital. Together, these facilities employ 1400 people and produce up to two million kilograms of red meat a week, that goes into the global supply chain.

While PBS vehicles including A-doubles and quad quad B-doubles can travel through Rockhampton through the Bruce Highway corridor more freely, livestock operators with Type 1 road trains have restrictions around their movements, including curfews.

The Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland (LRTAQ) held a roundtable discussion about the issue on Friday August 16, at the CQLX Saleyards in Gracemere, calling for a more workable solution – however TMR declined an invitation to attend.

At the roundtable meeting, Australian Livestock & Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) vice president Athol Carter told industry stakeholders, “For the past seven years, we’ve been lobbying to gain better access for our high productivity vehicles to the two red meat processing facilities of North Rockhampton with the use of high productivity road trains.

“We have current access from 7pm to 7am but it’s now time to reconnect, rethink and drive animal welfare and driver safety outcomes for an industry that delivers to the world and allow access.”

For this particular route, Carter says livestock road train operators require three permits a year, resulting in significant compliance costs.

Instead of preventing Type 1 road trains from accessing the abattoirs, the current restrictions just mean the combinations have to be split up, leading to more truck movements.

Carter wants authorities to provide livestock operators with better access to improve productivity, efficiency and safety. Such a move would also help to take heavy vehicle traffic out of Rockhampton’s CBD.

As Carter explained, “They still have to arrive here at the CQLX breakdown pads, split those trailers, decouple, and do two trips to deliver those cattle through the CBD of Rockhampton, and come back here and cross load those cattle.”

From an animal welfare point of view, he said: “We’re leaving animals unattended out here at the saleyards, while we double run those trailers, at a time and a cost of 3.5 hours. For every 3.5 hours that we’re taking to do that, it means less time for the drivers to eat and sleep and perform maintenance on their vehicles.

“So we have a huge increase for driver safety, we have an increase in time and cost to industry. We all know what the cost of living pressure is doing to the Australian community at the moment. And this is only just adding to that through the red meat supply chain.

“It’s also meaning drivers are having to go through town when they should be asleep – and they’re having to work in the dark.

“There are PBS high productivity vehicles, 30 metres long, quad quad B-doubles and A-doubles, with two trailers running along the same portion of the route that we do, unrestricted.

“We are professional, conscious transport operators. This is our living. We’re very heavily invested in this industry and acutely aware of what our heavy vehicle footprint does.”

The livestock industry is calling for a more sensible approach to the issue, including allowing Type 1 road train access between the hours of 10am and 3pm, and from 5pm to 5am, seven days a week.

“We won’t be in town during those peak times of traffic in the morning and the afternoon with school. Let us get on with the job and let us deliver the freight like we do professionally, all day, every day,” Carter added.

“We’ve also requested a meeting with the minister’s office and will be preparing a factual evidence-based report.”

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