ALRTA News – 19 August 2016

ALRTA LAUNCHES NEW LOGO

The ALRTA has launched a new corporate logo.

Speaking at the joint ALRTA and Livestock and Rural Transporters of Victoria National-State Conference on 6 August 2016, ALRTA National President, Kevin Keenan, said that the new logo better reflects the ALRTA’s broader range of interests.

“Over the 30 year history of the ALRTA our association has been evolving.  Back in 1985, several state livestock transport associations got together and formed the Australian Livestock Transport Association to represent their interests at the national level”, said President Keenan.

“Since then, all states have become involved, we have added a national member chapter and our focus has broadened to include all rural transport tasks”.

“The grass roots membership of the ALRTA’s state associations is now highly diverse.  In addition to livestock carriers who initially formed the base of our association, we have hundreds of members who transport bulk grain, fertiliser, hay, milk, fruit, vegetables, water, fuel, machinery and general farm supplies”.

“We are proud of who we are and what we do.  I believe that our new national logo will instantly convey our national focus on the entire rural supply chain”, he said.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the rural road transport task comprises close to 20% of the total road transport task when measured in billion tonne kilometres.

JOHN BEER AWARDED LIFE MEMBERSHIP

The ALRTA has awarded an honorary life membership to 50 year industry veteran, John Beer.

The life membership was presented by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Darren Chester MP, at the joint ALRTA and Livestock and Rural Transporters of Victoria (LRTAV) National-State Conference on 5 August 2016.

ALRTA National President, Kevin Keenan, said that Mr Beer had made an enormous contribution towards the betterment of the rural transport industry and to our affiliated associations.

“John is one of the most passionate individuals I know, especially when it comes to driver safety and animal welfare.  He was the driving force behind the development of the ALRTA National Guidelines for Loading Ramps and Forcing Yards and the promotion of an innovative new side loading platform that greatly reduces safety risks to drivers and animal handlers”, said President Keenan.

“John started out as a young driver hauling livestock as well as fencing posts, hay and grain.  Together with his wife Melva, he now operates his own single-truck transport business J & M Beer Carrying Service Pty Ltd from Romsey in central Victoria”.

“Some people would unknowingly owe their health or their lives to the efforts John has put into improving infrastructure around livestock facilities.  His contribution to the rural transport sector over many decades deserves the highest level of recognition and the ALRTA is proud to award John an honorary Life Membership”, he said.

Beer was previously the State President of the LRTAV for 7 years and National President of the ALRTA for 2 years.

In a decorated career, Beer holds a Life Membership of LRTAV and was the first recipient of the ALRTA McIver Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Livestock and Rural Transport Industry.  In July, Beer was a finalist in the National Trucking Industry Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry.

Left to Right: David Smith (LRTASA President); Kevin Keenan (ALRTA National President); John Beer (ALRTA Life Member); Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon Darren Chester MP.

CATTLE AND SHEEP WELFARE STANDARDS

Over the past few years the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (a cooperative effort between the Commonwealth and States) has produced several new sets of nationally consistent standards and guidelines for animal welfare in various parts of the livestock production chain.

Already, standards and guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock have been implemented in all states and territories except WA (pending).  This has resulted in a mix of mandatory enforceable requirements that chain parties must adhere to as well as some voluntary ‘best practice’ guidance material.

Earlier this year, standards and guidelines for Livestock at Saleyards and Depots were finalised and are now awaiting endorsement from Agriculture Ministers.

Right now, the endorsed new standards and guidelines for Cattle and for Sheep are being progressively implemented around the country.

To find out where things are up to in your State, and who will be enforcing the rules, click on the links below:

Standards and Guidelines for Cattle

Standards and Guidelines for Sheep

INQUIRY INTO PAYMENT TERMS

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has announced that it will soon launch an Inquiry into payment time issues.  The ASBFEO will look at:

  • Current practices;
  • The impact of payment timing on small businesses; and
  • Options for improving the situation.

While the Inquiry is not specific to the trucking sector, the ASBFEO has recently reviewed the RSRT system and is quite familiar with cash flow problems that can cripple small trucking businesses.

One of the only broadly supported elements of the RSRT Orders was compulsory 30 day payment terms.  The ALRTA and ATA are also exploring the possibility of a mandatory code of conduct established under the Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2001 that could, among other things, address payment terms.

The ALRTA will engage with the ASBFEO on this important issue during the Inquiry period.

RATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FIRS REGULATOR

The Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS) is administered by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

The ALRTA is now seeking your feedback on the performance of the Department in administering FIRS.   If you have vehicles registered under FIRS, please click here to download a short survey form.

Forms can be returned to the ALRTA (mathew@alrta.org.au) until COB, Thursday, 25 August 2016.

The survey is entirely confidential and we will not identify either yourself or your business.  ALRTA will collate the responses and provide the information to the Department.

NHVR RELEASES BLUEPRINT FOR HEAVY VEHICLE REFORM

The NHVR has released its five-year blueprint for a safer, productive and more compliant heavy vehicle industry.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said the Agenda document would link three key strategies to continue the reform of the heavy vehicle industry.

“This plan focuses on the three national strategies for Safety, Compliance and Assurance, and Productivity to guide Australia’s regulatory heavy vehicle agenda between now and 2020,” Mr Chester said.

“As a regulator, the NHVR will set the standard in relation to heavy vehicle safety, while taking a balanced approach to cutting red tape and improving industry access to services and products.

“Australia’s reliance on a safe and sustainable road freight industry across urban, rural and remote communities will only grow with a large portion of that growth driven by interstate freight movements.”

Setting the Agenda – Strategies for a Safer, Productive and more Compliant Heavy Vehicle Industry, includes an Action Plan to ensure the strategies are delivered.

Key items of the Action Plan include:

  • Developing a safety risk management framework
  • Developing and delivering a national heavy vehicle awareness road safety campaign
  • Guidance and education material on Chain of Responsibility
  • Implementing new guidelines for the registration of Industry Codes of Practice

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said these strategies underpin the NHVR’s long-term Strategic Directions 2016 document released in May.

“A number of key items are already being delivered including a national health check of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet, a national inspection manual and national notices to reduce the reliance on permits,” he said.

“The heavy vehicle industry has told us they are looking for a safe level playing field whether it’s an operator in an outback community, a transport company in the middle of a major city or a business involved in the supply chain purchasing transport services.

“This will improve industry and the Regulator by focusing resources on activities that provide the greatest safety and productivity benefits through addressing unacceptable high-risk behaviours.

“I am excited by the prospect of industry, including supply chain parties, and the NHVR working together to achieve the Regulator and industry we envisage for 2020.”