ALRTA News – 27 January 2017

MEETING NOTICE: ALRTA NATIONAL COUNCIL

Members are advised that the ALRTA will be holding a Council meeting on Thursday, 16 February 2017.  Details are:

Start: 1:15pm
Close: 6:15pm
Location: Brown & Hurley, 28-30 Carrington Road, TORRINGTON QLD 4350.

For more information please contact the ALRTA Secretariat.

REGISTER TO VOTE IN ATA ELECTIONS

The ATA’s 2017 elections are underway, with voter registrations and candidate nominations now open until 22 February 2017.

The ALRTA encourages all members to register and use your vote in the election.

In the election, owner drivers with one truck and small fleet operators with 2-5 trucks will elect two representatives to the ATA’s General Council, which sets its strategic policy direction.  The council meets in Canberra at least 4 times a year and ALRTA is also represented directly on the council.

To register to vote in the election, you must own, be purchasing or leasing 1-5 trucks over 4.5 tonnes.  You will also need to provide a valid ABN and an email address that is unique to you.

You must be a member of an ATA member association, such as one of the ALRTA’s six state associations, to nominate for one of the positions.  The nomination form is available on the ATA website.

The election will be conducted entirely online, using a secure voting system.

Register to vote now

Background information about the 2017 ATA election

If you are thinking about nominating for one of the positions, let the ALRTA Secretariat know and we will do what we can to support you.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO RSRT REPORT

In September 2016, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman report into the impact of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) was publicly released.  This week the Federal Government responded to the Ombudsman’s 14 recommendations and committed that it will:

  • never re-establish the RSRT, or a similar body, that sets mandatory rates of pay for owner drivers and small transport businesses.

Given that the Federal Government axed the RSRT on 21 April 2016, this commitment is very welcome but hardly surprising.  However, you may be interested in several other elements of the response.

Recommendations supported by the Government

  • States to consider the RSRT experience.  Setting of mandatory minimum rates for owner drivers at the state level is strongly discouraged.
  • Governments should consider alternative regulatory bodies and frameworks rather than tribunals.
  • Government to improve consultation with small businesses during development and operation and should take small business views into account.
  • Governments should allow more time for small businesses to understand, seek advice and make changes to adapt to new regulation.
  • Government should enquire into ways to reduce payment terms for owner drivers.
  • ACCC should provide targeted information to owner drivers on unfair contract laws.
  • Industry associations to work with media to ensure that accident reporting does not hold truck drivers at fault before the outcome of a police investigation.
  • Industry associations should actively engage with owner drivers and small businesses to represent their views in government processes and build upon communication networks.

Recommendations ‘in principle’ supported by the Government

  • Consideration of any impacts on mental health when developing new small business regulation.
  • When intervening in a market, Governments should provide education, support and compensation where appropriate.
  • Governments and NHVR should fund national advertisements to educate other road users about how to share the road with trucks.

Recommendations noted by the Government

  • Future tribunals to use less formal and legalistic processes.
  • Governments to establish an apprenticeship/traineeship scheme to get young people into the trucking industry.
  • Treasury and the ACCC to work with industry to develop a Code of Conduct for the Road Freight Industry.

Generally, industry should be satisfied with the findings of the ASBFEO Report and the Federal Government’s response to the 14 recommendations.  Yet, the response does indicate that there are two key challenges ahead.

Firstly, industry will need to collectively lobby members of the Transport Industry Ministerial Council and the NHVR to press our case for a nationally funded advertising campaign to educate other road users about how to share the road with trucks.  Light vehicle drivers are actually responsible for around 80% of accidents that involve a light vehicle and truck and because they usually come off second best the media routinely blame the truck driver.

Secondly, the response makes it very clear that a mandatory code of conduct is not the Government’s preferred option and would only be considered when all other options have been exhausted.  I think this response is cause for industry to pause and consider all of our options, including the impact that any code might have on the operation of a free market – one of the key Government concerns.

You can find the full Federal Government response here.

APPLY NOW: BUILDING BETTER REGIONS FUND

The $298m Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) supports the Australian Government’s commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities into the future. The new fund replaces the National Stronger Regions Fund which in 2016 approved 67 projects for a total of $126.m in new funding.

The BBRF represents an attractive opportunity for potential applicants to upgrade or install new infrastructure to improve safety and productivity in the rural transport supply chain.

For example, in 2016 the ALRTA and LTAT supported an application for the construction of a new truckwash in Powranna, Tasmania.  This successful application received an additional $250,000 Federal grant to match the $247,000 already committed by the Tasmanian Government.

Separately, new funding was also provided for upgrades to two regional livestock exchanges.  The Central West Livestock Exchange in Forbes has received $1.5m towards a $3.4m project to lift capacity from 1,800 cattle a day to 2,600.  Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange has received and additional $0.9m towards a $1.7m project to promote faster and larger turnover that includes reference to minimising fatigue for transporters.

Eligible applicants include local government authorities or not-for-profit organisations.  The ALRTA encourages eligible parties in the rural transport supply chain to consider making an application under the BBRF in 2017.

There are two streams of funding available under the program:

  • Infrastructure Projects Stream:  Individual grants available from $20k – $10m for new or upgraded infrastructure that delivers economic or social benefits.  Applications open 18 Jan 2017 and close 28 February 2017.
  • Community Investments Stream: Individual grants available from $5k – $10m for local events, strategic plans, leadership and capability building activities. Applications open 18 Jan 2017 and close 31 March 2017.

Some projects that might be worth considering include:

  • Truckwashes
  • Effluent dumping points
  • Livestock loading/unloading infrastructure (incl user-pay)

If you know of a worthwhile project please contact the ALRTA office and we may be able to assist with your application or support your proposal.

More information can be found here.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: 17-18 FEBRUARY

It is only three weeks until the ALRTA and LRTAQ combined National Conference to be held 17-18 February 2017 in Toowoomba, QLD.

Delegates will hear from keynote speakers including:

  • QLD Minister for Transport – the Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP
  • Federal Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister – the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP
  • Founder of the ‘Heart of Australia’ mobile specialist medical service – Dr Rolf Gomes

The national policy session will include highlights such as:

  • NTI Major Crash Report:  Protect yourself by knowing about the latest accident trends and risk factors.
  • Rollovers:  An expert presentation on how it happens – You may be surprised!
  • Electronic Stability Control:  Will it be mandatory and is it right for you?
  • Farm Gate Access: Hear about the nation-leading program in WA and how it is being tackled in the East.
  • Effluent Control: Can chain of responsibility really work?
  • A focus on new technology: What is under development and when will it be available?

You can also relax with a round of golf, meet the locals at our community breakfast, grab a bargain at the fund raising auction and kick your heals up at the legendary Bull Carter’s Ball.

The full two-day program of events and registration brochures can be found here.  We hope to see you there!

NATIONAL CONFERENCE AUCTION ITEMS

Get ready to place your bids!  ALRTA thanks our national sponsors for donating some amazing auction items for the 2017 National Conference in Toowoomba on Friday 17 February 2017.

CUMMINS ENGINE

Option 1:  Signature GENII engine that meets ADR80-00 emission certification and is rated at a Hp of 500Hp/1850 FtLb torque and this engine is rateable to 600hp/2050FtLb torque for a scheduled fee. This engine has a single cylinder air compressor option fitted.
Retail Value – $52,363 + GST

Option 2:  ISX EGR engine that meets ADR80-03 emission certification and is rated at a Hp of 500Hp/1850 FtLb torque and this engine is rateable to 600hp/2050FtLb torque for a scheduled fee. This engine has a single cylinder air compressor option fitted.
Retail Value – $67,437 + GST

Option 3:  ISXe5 engine in that meets ADR80-03 emission certification and is rated at a Hp of 500Hp/1850 FtLb torque and this engine is rateable to 600hp/2050FtLb torque for a scheduled fee. This engine has a single cylinder air compressor option fitted.
Retail Value – $60,657 + GST

All the engine options listed above come with Cummins standard base factory warranty included and do not have extended coverage applied.  However, this can also be purchased for a scheduled fee.

BEAUREPAIRES TYRES
2 x Steer tyres. Goodyear S100+/S200+ (295/80R22.5). RRP $1100
8 x Drive tyres. Goodyear G667 (11R22.5). RRP $4400
2 sets of 12 x Trailer Tyres. Goodyear LHTII (11R22.5). RRP $4800
4x GY 4×4 Wrangler Tyres valued RRP. $1500

KING BARS BULLBAR
A King Bars bullbar up to the value of $10,000 (can include fitting and freight). The successful bidder has 12 months to take up the offer. The bullbar can be any design from King Bars product line.

BP
Truckies hamper and $500 gift card

PACCAR
2 x PACCAR promotional kits including jackets, shirts, bags, sheets, umbrella and more. RRP $265 – $430

Please call Tanya on 02 6247 5434, if you want some additional information or wish to place a phone bid on the night.