ALRTA Newsletter – 25 January 2019

Happy New Year
Thank you to our Platinum Partners for 2019

 

 

FIRST EDITION FOR 2019

Welcome to the first edition of the ALRTA Newsletter for 2019.

Over the year the ALRTA team will keep you updated each week about our activities, events and other major developments. You don’t have to be a member to receive our newsletter – if you would like to subscribe just send your email details to sponsors@alrta.org.au.

You can also keep your finger on the pulse via our Facebook page which is updated regularly during the week or via our website which contains additional resources plus links to the websites of our state member associations, national sponsors and affiliated organisations.

ACTIVISTS ENCOURAGE ANIMAL CRUELTY

Animals Australia and Stop Live Exports have been exposed for offering cash payments for footage of animal cruelty.  The leaked emails detail how the cash offers directly induced persons who were meant to be caring for export livestock to propose intentionally causing distress.

The Federal Government is investigating.

Read what LRTAWA President Andy Jacob had to say about the revelations here.

The tactics of some activist associations have been laid bare for all to see. They trespass, sabotage, vandalise, intimidate, misrepresent facts, regularly break the law and will even offer cash to incentivise the very practices they claim to oppose. They persecute industry and lobbyists while at the same time raising millions of dollars to spend on their own lobbyists and slick communications campaigns.

It about time that the donors who support these dangerous activist organisations saw them for what they really are.  The vast majority of Australians know that producers and transporters deeply care for their animals and the environment – and that’s what matters in the end.

NHVR & HVNL DEVELOPMENTS

ALRTA welcomed NHVR’s John Gilbert (Executive Director Strategy & Stakeholder Relations) and Joe Fitzgerald (Executive Director Corporate Affairs) to our office this week.  The NHVR senior management structure is undergoing some changes and Joe has recently been appointed.

Photo (L-R): Joe Fitzgerald (NHVR Executive Dorector Corporate Affairs) and Mathew Munro (ALRTA Executive Director). 

There is plenty going on relating to the HVNL and regulator.  Here is a quick summary.

HVNL Review
NTC has released the terms of reference for the HVNL Review and announced the panel of experts who will oversee the review.

The expert panel will be chaired by Peter Harris, the recent chairman of the Productivity Commission.

The expert panel comprises:

  • Sharon Middleton – Director, Whiteline Transport and President, South Australian Road Transport Association.
  • Andrew Ethell – Executive Director, Amalgam Strategic and Board Member, Infrastructure Australia.
  • Gary Mahon – Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Trucking Association.
  • Gary Liddle – Enterprise Professor of Transport, Melbourne University and Senior Strategic Adviser, Transport, Jacobs.
  • Louise Bilato – Executive Officer, NT Road Transport Association.

The NTC will meet with the expert panel at the end of January 2019 and will provide more information on how the review will be conducted after this meeting.

National B-Double Notice
NHVR has announced that a new National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-Double Notice will commence on 1 February 2019.  ALRTA lodged a detailed submission on the draft notice.

The new notice will harmonise B-double requirements across HVNL jurisdictions potentially delivering productivity benefits for 19,000 vehicles.  The notice reduces the number of conditions and creates a national b-double network.

For more information click here.

Baled Hay and Straw
NHVR has published an information bulletin for transporting baled hay and straw.  The information bulletin summarises the eligible vehicles, dimension exemptions, approved routes, operating conditions and load restraint requirements by state and territory of operation.

NHVAS Consultation Sessions
NHVR is now consulting on proposed changes to NHVAS to better align the scheme with recent changes to chain of responsibility laws.

Feedback can be provided online or at face to face information sessions.  Click herefor dates, locations and the web portal.

NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR REST AREAS

Austroads has released new national guidelines to help road managers assess the need and prioritisation for heavy vehicle rest areas.

ALRTA provided several submissions during consultation on the guidelines which are a vast improvement on the previous version.  For the first time, the guidelines now include consideration of livestock effluent disposal facilities.

While ALRTA welcomes the guidelines as a positive development, the main problem in many areas is a total lack of any facilities at all.  This is a funding issue that we will continue to raise during the heavy vehicle charging review.

REDUCTION IN ROAD DEATHS

Road toll statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics have recorded a 6.4% reduction in deaths in the 12-month period ending December 2018.  While the 1,146 deaths remain a serious challenge it is the lowest level recorded since August 2014.

HAY RUNS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FARMERS

The rural road transport sector is continuing to support drought affected farmers with several hay runs planned over the next two weeks.

For the third year in a row, NTI has provided financial support for the well-known Burrumbuttock Hay Run which is taking place 24-26 January 2019, stretching from Darlington Point (NSW) to Quilpie (QLD).

Almost 50 trucks and 3,000 bales of donated hay and fodder is travelling from Norseman (WA) to Cobar (NSW) as part of the ‘Farmers across borders, hay from WA’ convoy.

Meanwhile, the ‘Need for Feed’ hay run, which includes 12 Victorian semi-trailers and 10 other vehicles, is due to arrive in the Wellington (NSW) shire this weekend.

Please look out for these vehicles on the road and maybe give them an encouraging wave.

NATIONAL TRUCKING AWARDS

The ATA has opened nominations for the 2019 National Trucking Industry Awards.

Acknowledging individuals and organisations, the prestigious awards recognise those who have gone above and beyond to improve their workplace and contribute to the trucking industry.

“Trucking plays an important role in the lives of all Australians and our economy, so it’s important we recognise those who go the extra mile and inspire others,” ATA Chair Geoff Crouch said today.

Nominations are now open in the following categories:

  • Outstanding Contribution to the Trucking Industry
  • National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
  • National Professional Driver of the Year
  • National Training Excellence Award

The award winners will be announced at the ATA’s Trucking Australia 2019conference, held 3-5 April in Perth during the Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner. The Don Watson Memorial Award and TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award will also be presented on the evening.

“By acknowledging our industry’s high achievers, we are recognising an investment in quality, a commitment to serve, and the business awareness required to operate in this environment,” Mr Crouch said.

“I invite all in the industry to nominate someone great and join us in Perth as we celebrate industry excellence,” he said.

The ATA thanks Foundation Sponsors BP, NTI and Volvo trucks, and award sponsors Cummins South Pacific, Sutton Road Training Centre TISC and AEI Transport Insurance Brokers.

Nominations close 8 March 2019 

View award criteria and nominate someone great

Register for Trucking Australia 2019

2019 ATA ELECTION

Preparations for the ATA’s 2019 elections are now underway.

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.  Candidate nominations open on 4 January 2019 and a nomination form is available on the ATA website.

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

Both voter registrations and candidate nominations close at 5pm AEDT, 31 January 2019.

Register to vote now

Background information about the 2017 ATA election

If potential or current voters or potential candidates have any questions, you can email elections@truck.net.au

The current representatives to the ATA Council are:

  • John Beer (Owner Driver); and
  • Lynley Miners (Small Fleet).

Both candidates have nominated for re-election in 2019.

Owner Driver Candidate: John Beer
John Beer is a Livestock and Rural Transport Industry veteran of over 50 years.  He started out as a young driver hauling livestock as well as fencing posts, hay and grain.  Together with his wife Melva, he operates his own single-truck transport business J & M Beer Carrying Service Pty Ltd from Romsey in central Victoria.

John is a past President of the ALRTA and the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria.  In 2015, John was the first recipient of the ALRTA McIver Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Livestock and Rural Transport Industry and in 2016 was a finalist in the ATA Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry.

Small Fleet Candidate: Lynley Miners
Lynley Miners is the current President of the NSW based Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, a role he has held since 2016.

Lynley has a deep association with the trucking industry as a successful operator and small business owner.  Lynley has 30 years’ experience driving a truck, growing up on a grazing property in the Snowy Mountains and working alongside his siblings in the family livestock transport business which is still in operation today under Lynley’s direction, are key to his success in this industry.

Holding several voluntary positions including Deputy Mayor of Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Lynley has a proven track record of working productively with a range of industry associations, businesses and government bodies.

CONFERENCE DATES FOR 2019

The ALRTA advises the following conference dates for 2019:

Now is the time to start planning your trip to one of these informative, productive and fun events.