ALRTA News – 18 December 2020

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSORS

Despite an unexpected 2020, ALRTA would like to say a special thanks to our National Sponsors who have continued to support us during this year.

Our National Sponsors provide support to achieve important outcomes “on the ground” for the Australian livestock and rural transport industry.

Consider your National Sponsors in your next business decision to support your industry!

LATEST ON BORDER CONTROLS

Tuesday 15 December 2020 – NSW Update
The NSW COVID-19 Border Control – South Australia Order 2020 has been repealed. This removes all border restrictions or requirements relating to people entering NSW from SA, including the need to fill out a declaration on arrival.
 
For more information visit – https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa
 
More Information
There is a new cluster under investigation in NSW.  If you are working or travelling over the next few weeks please regularly check the latest summary of border rules and testing sites here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

ALRTA National Council, staff and state secretariats sincerely wish all members and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  It is fair to say that 2020 has been unique with a prolonged drought leading into unprecedented bushfires, floods and a worldwide disease pandemic.  Yet, it is times like these that make you realise just what is really important in this fast-paced and complex modern world of ours.
 
Of course, it is your family, friends, colleagues and community that are most important. And toilet paper – that’s something we discovered in 2020!  With supermarket shelves running low after a spate of panic buying, who was it that came to the rescue? Truckies!  Our grass roots members around the country kept agricultural and regional supermarket supply chains humming while other industries were ordered to close down. Why? Because we are essential.
 
Our trucking associations also put a shoulder to the wheel in support. When governments closed cafes and truckstops we got them open again. When cross-border rules were unworkable and testing sites unavailable we fought hard to get it fixed. When PPE supplies were running low we put members in contact with new sources.  You were there for us, so we were there for you.
 
At this point we must acknowledge that truck drivers and trucking businesses were extremely compliant with the sudden, complex and often impractical COVID19 rules.  Transport operators diligently adopted COVID19 plans and complied with border crossing processes. In doing so, freight was moved from one end of the country to the other without road transport ever becoming a significant disease vector. Given the nature of the industry that is an amazing achievement of which we should be very proud.
 
At lot of Australians owe their livelihoods, health and safety to the outstanding commitment and courage of our road transport operators. 
 
ALRTA must also thank our national sponsors NTI, PACCAR & Dealer Industry Fund, Cummins, Beaurepaires, Byrne, BP and Lowes for continuing their support during 2020. Even though we have been unable to provide our usual events program at which we bring our members and sponsors together, our partners have stuck with us and enabled us to continue doing what we do best – protecting and enhancing the trucking operating environment.
 
While the start of the year was a bit of a scramble to deal with emergencies, we have rounded off the year nicely with a new national ramp standard, removal of rego from class 3 livestock permits, construction of effluent disposal infrastructure and completion of our user-pay unloading frame project.  There is plenty more in store for 2021!
 
On behalf of the team at ALRTA, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please have a safe and relaxing break. You really do deserve it.

COMMENT ON HEAVY VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

The NHVR is undertaking a five-yearly review of the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM) and is seeking input on the revised draft – NHVIM 3.0.
 
Consultation began on 7 December and feedback can be submitted until 29 January 2021 via the NHVIM feedback form.
 
Click here for draft NHVIM 3.0 and feedback form
 
The NHVR is also seeking feedback on the revised draft VSB6 Section T – Tow Trucks, which has been updated to align with current design and construction techniques.
 
Consultation began on 7 December and feedback can be submitted until 29 January 2021 via the VSB6 feedback form.
 
Click here for draft VSB6 Section T – Tow Trucks and feedback form

RIVER ST CAMPAIGN COMES TO CANBERRA

ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, met with Karina McLachlain, Petition Coordinator, of the Stop River St Bridge Campaign. The campaign is seeking to prevent the construction of a new bridge in Dubbo to cross the Macquarie River at River St, eventually connecting with the Newell Highway near the Emile Serisier Bridge.  The group favour a new freight bypass constructed by raising the bridge at Troy crossing and constructing a ring road to reconnect the Newell in the vicinity of Minore Road.
 
LBRCA President Paul Pulver has previously spoken in favour of the concept at a Stop the River Street Bridge rally in Dubbo.  The River St proposal is opposed by Dubbo City Council but supported by NSW Roads and Maritime Services.  Troy crossing was not considered in an earlier assessment of six options. ALRTA is assessing options for supporting the campaign.

Karina McLachlain and Mat Munro. 

A DIRTY JOB, BUT SOMEONE’S GOTTA DO IT

Read the ALRTA opinion piece on effluent management during livestock transport in this month’s Power Torque here.

SUPPORT FOR REFINERIES IN 2021

The Australian Government is accelerating support for local oil refineries as part of its commitment to Australia’s long-term fuel security.
 
From 1 January 2021, the Australian Government will provide a minimum one cent payment for each litre of primary transport fuel (petrol, diesel, and jet fuel) from the major domestic refineries who continue operations in Australia.
 
To receive the payment, refineries must agree to continue to operate for the duration of the program. Support is also contingent on refineries committing to an open book process and long-term self-help measures to further inform the development of the long-term package.
 
This announcement builds on the Government’s previously announced actions to secure Australia’s long-term fuel supply and bolster local industry. The 2020-21 Budget announcement includes three elements:

  1. Investing $200 million in a competitive grants program to build an additional 780ML of onshore diesel storage;
  2. Creating a minimum stockholding obligation for key transport fuels; and
  3. Backing the refining sector through a market mechanism to deliver a refinery production payment.

NHVR FEE CHANGES FOR 2021

NHVR access fees will increase by $1 from January 11, following a six month freeze on fee changes.
 
Fees will also increase for National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme modules for the first time since October 2018.
 
The NHVR delayed the changes by six months to assist businesses managing the ongoing changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Click here for the new fee schedule

NVD CHANGES FROM 1 JAN 2021


Updated versions of LPA NVDs for all species have been available since 1 July 2020, identified by version number 0720.  This is now considered the ‘current’ version.  A range of support materials are available on this website including ‘How to complete’ pdf guides and an animation.  
 
Previously accepted versions of NVDs can continue to be used until 31 December 2020.  However, from 1 January 2021:

  • Only the current version (0720) should be accepted for livestock movements for all species.
  • Livestock movements consigned using incorrect NVD versions are a breach of the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) Rules & Standards and may result in Corrective Action Requests (CARs) being issued.
  • Multiple CARs can lead to suspension from the LPA program.
  • Without LPA accreditation, producers cannot access LPA NVDs.

New eNVD
The mobile-friendly, user-centric eNVD system has been available to producers since April 2020.  The switch to digital consignments has been steadily building with over 8,000 users per month and nearly 18,000 consignments in November 2020. 

The eNVD system is always the current version and is available online.  For this reason, ISC producers are encouraged to become familiar with the eNVD system as either:

  • their preferred NVD OR
  • as a back-up option should they need it. 

A ‘How to Guide’ on completing eNVDs is available here.
 
eDEC decommissioning
With the eNVD covering all information in the eDEC, but in a more user-friendly way, the eDEC system is being decommissioned. Running a single digital system will be a cost and time saving for industry.
 
Sale of eDEC tokens ended on 30 April 2020 and eDEC users with remaining tokens can use them up until 31 December 2020, when the eDEC system will be decommissioned.  From 1 January 2021 users who need or want to continue using an electronic version can switch to eNVD.

NTI URGES MEMBERS TO CHECK-IN

It’s already been one of the busiest years on record for the transport and logistics industry, so this festive season, Australia’s leading transport and logistics specialist insurer NTI is joining forces with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (HHTS) to urge workers to be mindful of their wellbeing, and encourage motorists to show their thanks.
 
With more than two million parcels delivered daily in the weeks preceding Christmas, on top of food and beverage deliveries across the retail sector, Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Interim CEO Lachlan Benson said it was important for workers to be reminded of practical strategies to help de-stress during this busy period.

READ MEDIA RELEASE

ROAD AGENCY HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS

The NHVR offices will be closed from Friday 25 December 2020 to Friday 1 January 2021 inclusive.
 
The call centre will be closed on the national Public Holidays and open on all other business days from 8am–6pm (AEDT).
 
The Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line will be closed Monday 21 December 2020 to Monday 4 January 2021 inclusive. If it’s an emergency or there’s a safety risk happening on the road right now, call 000.
 
Please be aware that other road managers, such as local governments, may have limited to no service available during the Christmas/New Year’s period. This may delay the assessment and consent process. Further enquiries regarding road manager operating hours and levels of service should be made directly with the relevant council or agency.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Over the Christmas and New Year period, there are travel restrictions in place for certain Class 1 heavy vehicles.  For vehicles operating under a permit, operators should check the permit’s conditions to establish whether Christmas or public holiday travel restrictions are explicitly listed or referenced in related notices.
 
For more information on travel restrictions click here.

ALRTA OFFICE SHUTDOWN

Members and other interested parties are advised that the ALRTA National Secretariat will shut down over the Christmas and New Year period.  We will close at 5:00pm, Wednesday 23 December 2020 and re-open at 9:30am, Monday, 4 January 2020.

The regular ALRTA Weekly Newsletter will resume from 22 January 2021. 
 
For urgent enquiries contact the Executive Director, Mat Munro, on 0421 082 489.


ALRTA National Office Staff  – Mathew, Jack, Sue and Colleen at our end of year Christmas lunch. We haven’t been together as a group as often in 2020 but made an exception for Christmas. We are all looking forward to the end of social distancing in 2021!

FRIDAY FUNNY

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa’s reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should’ve known …..ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALRTA CROSSWORD 

Click on Download for the ALRTA CROSSWORD.

Email completed crossword by Monday 4 January 2021 to office@alrta.org.au or sponsors@alrta.org.au to be in the draw for one of the 6 prize packs.

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021

LRTAQ Conference – Roma QLD – 9-11 April 2021
LRTASA Conference – Adelaide SA –  18-19 June 2021