ALRTA News – 19 March 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR  MEDIA PARTNER POWERTORQUE

If there is one thing people living in rural areas excel at, it is telling a good yarn. PowerTorque is here to help the rural trucking community tell its yarns.

That’s what PowerTorque’s ‘Rural Trucking Matters’ is all about, telling someone’s story, and in our industry, there is so much to tell:

Have you come up with an innovative solution to a perennial problem?

Have you found a piece of equipment which will make any trucking task easier?

Would you like someone to build you a piece of equipment which will make any trucking task easier?

Is there a problem creating issues for trucking in rural areas, which is being ignored?

Do you have a tall tale to tell about a trucking adventure, which is fit to print?

What can rural trucking operators teach their counterparts in the big city?

What is the latest issue which your representatives need to raise in Canberra or the State capitals?

Get in touch Tim Giles, Editor at PowerTorque and tell your tale on 0420 279 641 or via email at tim.giles@primecreative.com.au

Read an ALRTA story in PowerTorque

ALRTA MEMBERS CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE RAMP STANDARD AWARENESS

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) is a federation of six state membership associations including:

  • Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association of New South Wales
  • Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria
  • Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of South Australia
  • Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Western Australia
  • Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland
  • Livestock Transporters Association of Tasmania

Over the past few weeks, our state associations have been out in the media promoting the Australian Standard for the Livestock loading/unloading ramps and forcing pens (AS 5340:2020).
 
Former LRTAQ President David Scott has spoken to Farm Online about how a simple slide gate at the top of a ramp could have prevented a major injury that occurred when a cow backed down a ramp pinning him to the race. David’s pelvis was broken in five places and he spent three and a half months in hospital.  Mr Scott followed up the story with an interview on Rural Queensland Today.

Former LRTAV President and Former ALRTA President John Beer spoke with Stock & Land about past injuries including a broken shoulder blade, broken ribs, busted hand and being carried by a bullock down a ramp.  Mr Beer asked all facilities to upgrade ramps and encouraged all transporters to report injuries.
 
Former LRTASA President David Smith spoke with Stock Journal. Mr Smith said that the job is hard enough already dealing with live animals and ensuring animal welfare without worrying that the driver may break an arm or leg and be out for many weeks, or worse.  Mr Smith also spoke with ABC SA Country Hour (this may be aired today).
 
Chair of the ALRTA Driver and Animal Welfare Committee Graeme Hoare also spoke with Trailer Magazine about last year’s trial of a user-pay pivot access loading frame at KGF in Kilcoy, Queensland. 
 
Around Australia, the ALRTA and our state member associations are preparing for even more promotion opportunities in media or at upcoming events such as Beef Week Australia 2021, Brisbane Truck Show, state conferences or field days.  We are also producing a promotional brochure summarising the Australian Standard for Livestock loading/unloading ramps and forcing pens which we will send to all members for distribution.
 
You can help us by letting ramp owners know about the Australian Standard and encouraging immediate low-cost and practical upgrades such as slide gates. 

Please also complete our injury survey (see below).

LAST CHANCE: LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT INJURY SURVEY

Have you ever been injured when loading or unloading livestock? How often do you experience a near miss?
 
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) is conducting a National Survey about injuries to livestock loaders and unloaders and the incidence of injury reporting.
 
You can help us by answering 10 questions online.
 
The national survey builds on a previous Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria (LRTAV) survey, which demonstrated some concerning statistics.  Your survey responses will help to establish national baseline data for a five year period. We will be able to repeat the survey in future to determine trends in safety and reporting levels.
 
The results of our survey may also influence facility owners to review safety, upgrade facilities or install new facilities to meet the recently published National Standard (AS 5340:2020) Livestock Loading Ramps and Forcing Pens
 
The survey will not ask for your personal name, business name or contact details.  All data is anonymous, confidential and will be aggregated for statistical purposes.
 
ALRTA encourages all members to participate in the survey via the link below by Friday 26 March 2021. 
 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9ZR9FBX

ARE YOU RECEIVING FULL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS?

As part of your membership with one of our six state associations you are entitled to exclusive benefits courtesy of our National Sponsors.  For example, you can receive a discount on BP and Lowes fuel, a discount on Goodyear Tyres and free extras on NTI insurance products.
 
You can check out the full range of benefits on the ALRTA website: https://alrta.org.au/national-sponsors-2/
 
To make sure that you are receiving your benefits you need to:

  1. Inform BP, Lowes, Goodyear or NTI that you are an (State abbreviation) member (so it can be recorded on your account).
  2. Inform the secretariat of your state association of your account numbers and trading name (so we can record it on your membership).

By making sure that your details are linked you will also be helping to support your associations protect your operating environment.
 
Once it is set up there is nothing else to do, except enjoy the benefits!  Please contact us if you require any assistance – we are always happy to help.

CAMEL MAN RETURNS TO MAINLAND

After spending five and a half months travelling around Tasmania John Elliott the ‘Camel Man’ returned to the mainland via Hodge Livestock Transport (LRTAV) on Friday12 March.

To date John has experienced bushfires breathing down his neck as he travelled through Canberra during the Black Summer of 2021, COVID border closures, a 20 metre fall down Mt Buller in Victoria,  trying to get into Tasmania while in Victoria during the hard lockdown and becoming stuck deep into the descent between Carthcart Bluff and Mount Blackwood on the Tasmanian Trail.

The reason he is walking around Australia is to promote the early detection of Melanoma to help fight Australia’s “National Cancer”,  if you want to get on board and show your support .

John, his camels and dog Bruski ready to walk the last 1km in Sheffield Tasmania to the loading ramp. 

The LRTAQ 2021 Annual Conference is scheduled for 9 – 11 April.  Fittingly, the event will be held in Roma, Queensland, back where it all began 40 years ago in 1981.  Conference features include:

  • Livestock transport and handling workshop;
  • Committee / AGM;
  • Transport Forum;
  • Trade Showcase;
  • Partners Tour;
  • Clay Target Shooting; and of course
  • The legendary Bull Carters Ball.

ALRTA understands that confirmed speakers now include Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Hon Mark Bailey MP, and the Federal Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, the Hon Scott Buchholz MP.
 
To register click here.

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT AND HANDLING WORKSHOPS

In conjunction with our upcoming Conference, the LRTAQ is hosting two full-day Livestock Transport and Handling Workshops on the 7 and 8 April at the Roma Saleyards.

There are unique safety considerations for working as a livestock transport driver and the free workshops will provide an understanding of cattle behaviour and handling techniques.

You can read more about these workshops here.

FRIDAY FUNNY

I was walking down the street today when a tow truck pulled over and said, “Excuse me, I’m looking for the accident site involving a van carrying a load of cutlery.”

“No problem,” I replied. “Go straight down this road for 2 kms, then take the first left, and when you get to the fork in the road, you’re there.”

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021

LRTAQ Conference – Roma QLD – 9-11 April 2021 – Registration Information
Brisbane Truck Show 13-16 May 2021 – ALRTA will have a booth
LRTASA Conference – Adelaide SA – 18-19 June 2021 – Registration Book
LRTAV Conference – Bendigo VIC – 20-21 August 2021