ALRTA News – 28 June 2018

 

Beaurepaires Tyre-riffic 4 day sale starts Wednesday. Available until 30 June 2019.

No rain checks. Service & fitting apply on all tyres. Not available with any other offer.

Offer available to cash and store based account customers. Prices exclude GST.

Also Check out our EOFY truck specials in store now!!!

Call your local store on 13 23 81 or visit our website beaurepaires.com.au

 

SAFE PEOPLE AND PRACTICES

The NTC has opened consultation on a fourth HVNL Review issues paper relating to ‘Safe People and Practices’.

This topic and issues paper covers the driver and the practices of other people that influence the driver’s safety. It’s about keeping the driver safe and making sure the driver is operating safely so all road users are safe. It covers many behaviours and includes things that, through no direct fault of the driver, can impact safe driving.

This paper does not deal with safe vehicles, accreditation, or compliance. These will be dealt with in future issues papers.

Submissions close on 30 August 2019.  Please contact your state association or ALRTA to have your say.

INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT DISCUSS HVNL REVIEW

ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, attended a joint meeting of the NHVR Industry Reference Forum and the National Operational Strategy and Policy Advisory Group.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss problems with the current HVNL and to identify potential solutions.

During the meeting, Sal Petroccitto, facilitated discussions with an expert panel comprising (L-R): Paul Davies (NTC), Natalie Pelham (Chair of the Jurisdictional Oversight Panel), Peter Anderson (VTA) and Peter Harris (Chair of the HVNL Review Expert Panel).

PROGRESS ON EFFLUENT

The ALRTA’s Effluent Code of Practice Working Group met via teleconference this week.  A face to face meeting will be held in Melbourne on 17 July 2019.

ALRTA representatives Fiona Wild (LRTAQ), Athol Carter (LRTAQ), Mark Collins (LRTAQ), Mat Munro (ALRTA) and Sue Davies (ALRTA) also travelled to Queensland this week to meet with the Mayor, Councillors and Executive of Somerset Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council.  The meetings were held to identify potential roadside effluent disposal sites.

REDESIGN OF USER-PAY UNLOADING FRAME

ALRTA facilitated a teleconference this week to discuss technical challenges relating to the operation of a user-pay unloading frame.  The frame was constructed as part of a trial using funding acquired under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.  Normally, this type of frame pivots at a fixed point and swing into a parallel position alongside a trailer (see this video for more information).  However, to accommodate good access by vehicles using the site, our frame has been modified to move in/out while remaining in a parallel position.  This innovative new design has resulted in some technical challenges with the sensors and auto-correct function. All parties are working towards a solution and we remain hopeful that the frame will be operational in July 2019.

NEW OFFICE OF ROAD SAFETY

Welcome news for the trucking industry, with the new Office of Road Safety to start on 1 July.

The announcement follows lobbying efforts by the ATA, calling for an agency that would provide independent reports and advice to governments, as well as taking on a leadership role to drive change and save lives.

The new office has been established to improve leadership and coordination efforts across government to reduce road deaths and serious injuries.

The office will operate as the primary policy adviser to the federal ministers responsible for road safety on matters related to delivering safe roads, vehicles, speeds and people. It will also work collaboratively with counterpart agencies across the states and territories.

NTC CONSULTING ON DRIVER DISTRACTION

The NTC has released a consultation regulation impact statement (RIS) seeking feedback on technology-neutral options to regulate driver distraction.

Distraction is seen as a significant road safety risk that is not as well understood as other risk factors such as drink-driving and speeding. Studies have found that a task which takes a driver’s ‘eyes off the road’ for as little as two seconds can be particularly hazardous.

NTC Chief Executive Officer Gillian Miles said that new technology-related distractions, outdated rules and a general lack of understanding from road users present significant challenges.

‘Drivers engage in non-driving activities every 96 seconds while behind the wheel. Distractions take our concentration off the road which means we may not have time to react to hazards.

‘We are proposing four options for consideration. The views of a broad range of stakeholders are crucial to guide any policy reform to deal with driver distraction’, Dr Miles said.

The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) reviewed the best international research available to date on driver distraction. This work supports the NTC’s efforts in stimulating discussions about driver distraction research, policy and legislative reform options.

Consultation on this paper closes on 21 August 2019. We will then deliver a decision RIS for transport ministers’ consideration in May 2020.

For more information, including an infographic of the key data, see the NTC website.

NHVR LAUNCHES SAFETY CAMPAIGN

NHVR has teamed up with Australian Supercars star Garth Tander and professional truck driver Kerri Connors to launch a major new safety campaign targeted at light vehicle drivers.

The ‘We Need Space’ campaign highlights the common mistakes that car drivers make around trucks.

For more information click here.

EDUCATION ON TRUCK FIRES

NHVR has released a new safety bulletin for Reducing the Risk of Vehicle Fires in the Heavy Vehicle Industry. Fires have become an increasing risk with the additional of new electrical and engine technology.  The bulletin identifies a number of common risks including:

  • Shorting of electrical cables and connections;
  • Inappropriately rated electrical components;
  • Fluid line failures;
  • The heat generated by a turbocharger; and
  • Maintaining a clean engine bay.

The bulletin also recommends several preventative actions including:

  • Reviewing the common causes of fires and identifying those that may be most present in their fleet;
  • Reviewing maintenance management systems to remove or reduce any risk factors, and improve the safety of their transport activities; and
  • Ensuring those who carry out servicing or modification on higher-risk components or systems on their vehicles, such as electrical systems, have measures in place to verify that fire risks are not introduced.

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN”S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Funding has just been released to support the development of female leaders across Australia’s transport and logistics sector.

The initiative is providing women with grants of between $3,000 and $7,000 to enable participation in one of three programs that cover such things as Presence and Presentation Skills, Leading Innovation and Change, and Emotional Intelligence and Conflict.

The scholarship funding is provided with the specific intent of providing powerful and effective development opportunities for women in the transport and logistics sector.

Expressions of Interest
Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to 13th September: www.wla.edu.au/farmingagriculture

UPCOMING EVENTS

2019 LRTAWA Annual Conference
The 2019 LRTAWA Annual Conference will be held 26-27 July at Abbey Beach Resort, Busselton, WA.  For more information and to register click here.

2019 LRTAV Annual Conference
The 2019 LRTAV Annual Conference will be held 16-17 August at All Seasons, Bendigo, VIC. For more information and to register click here.