ALRTA News – 18 October 2019

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UPDATE ON LOADING FRAME TRIAL

The Parallel Access Landing (P.A.L.) Frame user-pays trial is well underway at Kilcoy Global Foods in SE Queensland with usage rates increasing over the course of the trial period. ALRTA Project Officer, Sue Davies, estimates the usage rate at 32% (ie one in three trucks entering the site) in the first two weeks of the trial has increased to around 52% in mid-October.

Graeme Hoare of Martin’s Transport says that their drivers are very positive about the benefits of using the unloading frame, reporting that it is easy, safe and quick to use. This encouraging driver feedback, and the fact that the charge rate is gradually reducing over time, from $15.00 to $2.50 at the end of the trial, will hopefully see increasing numbers of livestock transporters use the PAL frame to unload cattle at the Kilcoy processing plant and improve worker safety.

To check the current charging level for PAL frame usage click here.

To see the the ALRTA news video of the launch of the HVSI PAL frame project click on this youtube link https://youtu.be/iYyawQXqSqw

A Martins driver using the PAL frame to unload cattle at Kilcoy Global Foods

2020 DAIMLER FUTURE LEADERS’ FORUM

ALRTA is pleased to nominate Matt Henderson from Western Australia to participate in the 2020 Daimler Future Leaders’ Forum. 

Matt is the managing director of MDH transport. MDH transport currently run six trucks across several industry types, from bulk haulage of agricultural commodities, civil haulage with side tippers, and line haul car carrying between Western Australia and Northern Territory.

Matt’s business has undertaken many projects across WA over the past 8 years, working together with large scale companies such as NRW, WBHO, CPB Contractors, Main Roads WA, Marley’s Transport and CEVA Logistics.

Matt is passionate about the industry and has been a Committee member of the LRTAWA for the past three years and more recently elected to the vice president role. He has also been the LRTAWA Delegate to travel and attend ALRTA National Council meetings.

Matt’s leadership project is focused on creating a pathway for younger people to become involved into the transport industry.  This should increase the skill level of operators in which we share our roads and potentially have a positive impact on the current ageing workforce.  He is sure most companies would welcome the idea as he knows that recruiting skilled staff can be very difficult at times.

Matt Henderson of LRTAWA.

LIVE EXPORT IS CRUCIAL TO WA

Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie has doubled-down on calls to maintain WA’s live sheep trade, saying it is a crucial pillar in regional towns and communities.

Speaking with Countryman in Brunswick on Tuesday during a day-long South West visit, Senator McKenzie reiterated her support for the State’s live sheep industry.

“Ideally, what I want to see is a profitable and sustainable live sheep industry here in WA — it underpins thousands of jobs and farmers’ livelihoods,” she said.

“We know what would happen if those sheep flooded the WA market — it would be devastating to the price of lamb.

“We have trusted partners overseas that we’ve been working with for decades to supply them with a safe, high-quality product and I want to see that continue.”

Senator McKenzie met with Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of WA President David Fyfe and Executive Officer Jan Cooper at Wedderburn Transport owner-operator Mark Talbot’s Brunswick property. Read More

LRTAWA President David Fyfe, LRTAWA Executive Officer Jan Cooper, Wedderburn Transport owner Mark Talbot, Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie, Forrest MHR Nola Marino, and TW Pearson and Son boss Geoff Pearson. Photo Credit: Zach Relph

TRANSPORTER PROSECUTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY

An unnamed livestock transporter received a $5,000 fine for after pleading guilty to two counts of animal cruelty.  The case was prosecuted by Agriculture Victoria and heard in the Horsham Magistrates Court.

The charges related to a consignment of sheep delivered to an abattoir.  Sheep that went down during the journey were allegedly thrown from the top deck and top of the ramp.  The transporter then left injured animals, failing to seek appropriate attention or treatment for sheep still alive.

ALRTA strongly condemns this rare, but abhorrent, behaviour which can reflect poorly on all livestock transporters. 

Members are reminded of the legal obligations concerning ‘fit to load’ and ‘humane destruction’ under the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock.  A comprehensive accreditation system is also available via the ALRTA endorsed TruckSafe Animal Welfare Module.

Further information concerning the ALRTA National Animal Welfare Policy can be found here.

AHA RECOGNISES ALRTA EFFORTS

Animal Health Australia magazine “The Link” recognises ALRTA efforts to improve industry practices. 

The latest edition has a couple of articles: “Who is the ALRTA?” and “A Shared Responsibility.

To have a read click on The Link and go to page 46 in the magazine.

ATA WELCOMES JULIE RUSSELL APPOINTMENT TO NHVR BOARD

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has today welcomed the appointment of Julie Russell to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator board. 

The ATA and its member associations collectively represent the 50,000 businesses and 200,000 people in the Australian trucking industry. Together, we are committed to safety, professionalism and viability. 

Ms Russell is a director and third generation family member actively working in Russell Transport with 15 years’ experience in the family’s road transport business. In 2014, Ms Russell was named Queensland Trucking Association Woman of the Year and National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year in 2015. Ms Russell is also Chair of the ATA’s Skills and Workforce Committee. 

ATA Vice Chair David Smith said the appointment of Ms Russell reflects the ATA’s argument that the NHVR board should include representatives with real industry experience. 

“The ATA has always believed in the need to have an industry representative on the NHVR board,” Mr Smith said. 

“Throughout her career and in her role as an ATA and TruckSafe director, Julie has actively worked on numerous committees and boards within the road transport industry to provide a medium sized family business perspective to policy proposals, training standards, industry awareness programs and similar initiatives that arise in the ever-changing landscape of the industry. 

“The appointment highlights the need for the corporate governance provisions in the Heavy Vehicle National Law to be redone. 

“There is no legal requirement for the board of the NHVR to include even a single member with trucking industry experience. This has to change,” he said. 

In the ATA’s submission on risk-based regulation to the review, we argued that the NHVR board should be increased from five to nine members, and that at least two of those members should have recent experience operating a truck or bus business, either as a director or as an employee. 

Ms Russell this week announced her retirement from the TruckSafe board of directors, a position she has held since 2016. 

“Julie has our full support, and I thank her for service to TruckSafe,” Mr Smith said. 

“Julie is highly qualified for this new role and I have the highest confidence that she will make a positive contribution by adding industry knowledge and expertise to the board,” he said.

PERMIT APPLICATION TIPS

The NHVR has released a top tips guide to the Portal to help operators reduce their application processing times.

NHVR Access Manager Roger Garcia said the short guide was aimed at addressing common errors and questions when applying for access permits.

“Following these simple tips makes it faster and easier for us to process your permit applications,” Roger said.

“The guide answers some common questions and gives step-by-step advice on how to input things like mapping and axle spacing.

The guide details how to follow these top 5 tips:

  1. Use detailed mapping
  2. Include axle spacing
  3. Provide accurate mass breakdowns
  4. Specify ground contact width
  5. Include tyre size

“Bookmark the page or print it out and keep it handy for the next time you’re putting in an application.”

Find the guide here.

PERMIT COMPLIANCE RATES

A national operation inspecting more than 3500 heavy vehicles, including oversize overmass and Performance Based Standards combinations, has found that 93 per cent were compliant with their permit conditions.

NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said the third Operation Kingsize was conducted over nine days in September.

“This year, officers inspected 3533 heavy vehicles which showed that 93.1 per cent were compliant with their permit or notice conditions,” Mr Salvati said.

“Importantly, we saw over the course of the operation, the compliance rate increased as word spread about the nature of the operation.

“This year’s operation was also designed to better educate drivers on compliance with 25.9 per cent of intercepts resulting in a warning and information for operators.”

Authorised Officers from 10 agencies including police, state transport agencies and the NHVR were deployed to 142 locations across Australia, a significant increase from the 28 locations utilised in 2018.

Mr Salvati said the operation was intelligence-led, with real-time data managed through the NHVR Command Centre, ensuring information between NHVR, the heavy vehicle data network and on-road officers including police was managed effectively.

“The average intercept duration for compliant vehicles was 14.1 minutes, compared to the average intercept duration of 30.7 minutes for non-compliant vehicles,” Mr Salvati said.

Overall there were 872 offences recorded across a range of categories, which equates to a compliance rate of 82.3 per cent of the vehicles intercepted – an increase from 80.7 per cent last year.

The most common offence in relation to access was failure to carry a required permit or notice, required under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Other offences included breaches of mechanical safety (31.8 per cent), mass (12.8 per cent), dimension (5.2 per cent), and loading (4.8 per cent).

WINNERS OF THE NTI FACES OF TRANSPORT COMPETITION 

A ‘tell-it-how-it-is’ truck driver and ex-army mother of two are among the winners of the National Transport Insurance (NTI) Faces of Transport Competition.

NTI announced that Glen (Yogi) Kendall from Western Australia and Kerri Connors from Tasmania will be inducted into its Hall of Fame for their long-standing commitment to the industry.

Jonathon Lowien from Queensland won Best on Ground for his outstanding ability as a young driver, while Georgia Easton took out the award for Best Industry Rep.

NTI CEO, Tony Clark, says the Faces of Transport Competition shines a spotlight on hard-working individuals.

“This year we’ve received more than 2000 nominations from members of the industry nominating their friends, colleagues, and loved ones to be 1 of 4 Faces of Transport. NTI are so proud to recognise these hard- workers. We are passionate about this industry and appreciate our winners who strive to make it better every single day,” Mr Clark said.

The annual awards are designed to honour the hard-working individuals of transport to help raise industry standards and improve road safety.

NHVR – WAGGA WAGGA HEAVY VEHICLE SAFETY FORUM

A free Industry Forum for all Heavy Vehicle owners, drivers, managers and subcontractors in our South West NSW region will be held at The Range Function Centre, 308 Copland Street, Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 27 November 2019.  

The invitation is open to interested parties who operate a gross vehicle mass over 4.5 tonnes with the latest information from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, heavy vehicle inspectors, NSW Police, Roads and Maritime, NSW Centre for Road Safety and Australian Trucking Association.

To register click here.

CONFERENCE DATES FOR 2020


LBRCA (NSW)  on 6-7 March 2020 at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre NSW.
LRTAQ (QLD) on 19-21 March 2020 in Roma QLD.
LRTASA (SA) on 12-13 June 2020 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre SA.
LRTAV (VIC) on 14-15 August 2020 at All Seasons Resort Bendigo VIC.