This week’s industry news updates include more fallout from the passing of the Closing Loopholes Bill, major fines being handed down, funding updates and new key partnerships.

ATA calls for FWC focus

The Australian Trucking Association has called on the federal government and the Fair Work Commission to ensure that truckies are getting a fair go in the new laws included in the Closing Loopholes Bill.

ATA Chair David Smith raised concerns over payment terms and fuel surcharges in its road transport contract chain orders. The FWC now has powers to make decisions on such matters.

The call arrived after the ATA’s Wednesday meeting last week.

“Payment terms and fuel surcharges are a longstanding problem for trucking businesses,” he says.

“We believe the industry and the TWU should be able to achieve a common position on these issues for the commission to consider.”

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine supports David’s notion.

“Dangerous practices such as elongated payment times that push unsustainable financial risk onto transport operators and owner drivers on wafer-thin margins will be first cab off the rank,” he says.

The ATA and TWU will work together to ensure the FWC sets fair guidelines on these issues, as well as employees’ ‘right to disconnect’ when not on the job.

Operator fined for category two offence

A heavy vehicle operator has been found guilty of a category two offence under Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), receiving their sentence this week.

A collision occurred on the South Eastern Freeway at Urrbrae in 2022 involving one heavy vehicle and several other vehicles. This resulted in nine people sustaining injuries.

The company and operator received fines of $84,000 and $7000 respectively after their sentence was handed down on February 23 at the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

NHVR executive director Ray Hassall wants to remind everyone within the chain of responsibility to take their part in safety seriously.

“It’s imperative that operators understand their obligation to keep their drivers, and importantly all road users, safe on the South Eastern Freeway,” he says.

“In this incident, we’ve seen a heavy vehicle lose control, skid and roll into oncoming traffic at the intersection.

“This case strongly reminds us of the reasons for the robust safety and operational standards within the heavy vehicle industry.”

LRTAQ meets with government over funding

The Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland has met with key government officials to discuss funding to upgrade the state’s beef corridor roads.

LRTAQ Vice President and Central Queensland Field Officer Alister Clarke met with Banana Shire Council mayor Nev Ferrier, Capricornia MP Michelle Landry and Senator Matt Canavan at the Gracemere saleyards this week.

While there are figures of $400 million promised for upgrades to the key logistics pathway for livestock transporters, this has been pushed out to 2027-2028 and into the 2030s.

The senate estimates revealed $50m had been moved to 2027-28, with a further $50m to 2028-29, $100m to 2029-30 and 2030-31 and the remaining $100.1m assigned to 2031-32.

This would see $300 million committed to seal 457km of roads across seven local government areas including the Alpha Rd in Clermont, May Downs Rd, Kilcummin-Diamond Downs Rd, Alpha-Tambo Rd, Dawson Developmental Rd, Fitzroy Developmental Rd from Bauhinia to Duaringa and from Bauhinia to Taroom, Duaringa-Apis Creek Rd, and Glenroy Road Corridor.

A further $100 million was promised towards expanding heavy vehicle corridors on the Burnett, Leichhardt and Dawson highways. Before being pushed back, the LRTAQ understood that work was to begin as early as next year.

TCA recognises new RIM service provider

Transport Certification Australia has recognised The Fleet Office as a new service provider for the Road Infrastructure Management application as a part of the national telematics framework.

Gavin Hill, General Manager Strategy and Delivery at TCA congratulated The Fleet Office.

“Registered service providers create an essential interface between eligible transport operators and the road managers who activate RIM schemes within their jurisdictions,” he said.

“With RIM, transport operators have the option to choose from an extensive range of telematics devices or use their own telematics devices (if deemed suitable by the service provider).

“A key element of RIM is the standardised approach to data collection.

“Standardisation enables data to be collected in an efficient and low-cost manner, enabling Australasian road managers to better understand the footprint of heavy vehicle operations across their road networks through visualisations and reports made available through the Telematics Analytics Platform.”

Healthy Heads announces new partnerships

Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds has announced a number of new partnerships in 2024, joining forces with a trio of industry bodies.

It has formalised its partnership with the Australian Logistics Council, which it has worked alongside since inception. The partnerships aims to progress joint programs and campaigns that benefit the sector, particularly in regard to creating a thriving and productive workforce, including increased diversity, and assisting to address the skill and capability gaps facing supply chain and logistics.

‘’We’re really excited to embark on this strategic partnership with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds,” says ALC CEO Hermione Parsons.

“We understand just how important wellbeing and mental health are, especially in our industry where our people often work in demanding and isolated settings.

“I’m certain our work together will make a real difference in boosting workforce vitality and positively enhance Australia’s supply chain and freight logistics industry.”

Healthy Heads has also partnered with HVIA ahead of TruckShowX in May this year. The pair of organisations initially partnered at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show.

“Healthy Heads has hit the ground running and is doing incredible work to create awareness, promote practical tips for the workplace, and publishing supportive, tailored materials for the industry,” HVIA CEO Todd Hacking said.

“We know mental health is a challenge for every workplace and by formalising our partnership, we hope to be able to increase the accessibility for these valuable tools for HVIA members.

“One of our first opportunities to showcase the partnership will be to shine a light on mental health during TruckShowX, which coincides with R U OK? in Trucks & Sheds Day on Tuesday 14 May 2024.”

The last new partnership announced is with Transport Women Australia Limited. The pair will work together to raise mental health awareness in the trucking industry, with Healthy Heads offering TWAL more access to their resources.

“Transport Women Australia Limited is very excited to be partnering with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds,” Jacquelene Brotherton, Chair of TWAL said.

“The partnership will add value to both organisations and offer opportunities for our TWAL Members. We are looking forward to an exciting collaboration and working together for the future of our industry.”