ALRTA News – 28 May 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
PACCAR & DEALER INDUSTRY FUND

Designed for the unique Australian environment, Kenworth trucks have been manufactured in the Melbourne suburb of Bayswater since 1971.
 
Kenworth trucks are made from around 60 percent Australian-owned resources and our supply chain includes over 70 Australian suppliers located across nearly 300 local sites, the majority are Australian-owned companies located in the Melbourne region.
 
Of the 70,000+ Kenworths produced in Australia since 1971, more than 50% remain registered and in active service.
 
Backed by a strong nationwide dealer network and supported by PACCAR’s global technologies and services, Kenworth delivers the right truck for you and your environment.
 
For more information, visit https://www.kenworth.com.au/about-us/australian-made/

LATEST ON BORDER CONTROLS

Lockdowns and travel restrictions have re-commenced following another COVID-19 outbreak. The information below is provided courtesy of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
 
Victoria
 
In line with advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has announced the state will enter 7-day circuit breaker restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday 27 May 2021.

 Please read carefully the list of public exposure sites.

New South Wales

  • Entry declaration permit required if travelling from Victoria – Apply here

Essential travellers – if you have been to a close contact venue, you must contact NSW Health on 1800 943 553 to determine if you are permitted to return to NSW. Please carefully check the close contact venues prior to submitting your declaration permit.

Queensland

QLD has just updated their travel advice and there is an impact on essential freight workers arriving in QLD from VIC. If an essential freight worker has attended an interstate exposure venue they will be required to go into mandatory quarantine if arriving in QLD.

For more information see the COVID-19 Department of Transport and Main Roads Heavy Vehicles Unit message.

From Thursday 27 May everyone arriving from Victoria will be required to complete a border pass.
Any of those arrivals who have been in the City of Whittlesea local government area on or since 11 May, and are a non-resident, will be turned away unless they have an exemption to enter the state.

Essential Freight workers can apply for a Freight and Logistics Pass (F Pass).

South Australia

South Australia has provided the following update in relation to road movements into SA from Victoria. Please make your drivers aware of the current situation.  In regard to the current border closure with Victoria, South Australia have 8 primary border locations which are;

  • Sturt Highway, Yamba
  • Mallee Highway, Pinnaroo
  • Dukes Highway, Wolseley
  • Wimmera Highway, Laurie Park
  • Casterton Road, Penola
  • Glenelg Highway, Myora
  • Princes Highway, Glenburnie
  • Glenelg River Road, Donovans/Nelson

Essential Travellers are encouraged to maintain currency with the required COVID19 testing regime and of course practice the highest levels of driver and road safety in and around road border operations.

  • While every effort will be made to minimise traffic issues on the approach to border sites, including the establishment of speed restricted zones etc,  every driver of every vehicle must take personal responsibility for driving safely AND to the conditions.
  • While every effort will be made to minimise delays for Commercial vehicles, if delays are being experienced SA Authorities will ‘wave through’ heavy vehicles ONLY when it is safe to do so.
  • When there are no delays being experienced, HV’s should be prepared to be stopped and produce their “current” CBT/ET approvals – numbers and evidence of compliance with the approved COVID testing regime (this will speed up their processing)
  • We would ask the HV industry to assist us (through their networks – including various radio networks) to communicate to all of their drivers about the existence of road border sites / speed restrictions etc
  • We would appreciate the HV industry reporting to SAPOL any observations of issues building or existing at or on the approach to a border site.

Tasmania

Tasmania has announced a hard border for arrivals from Victoria effective of 2pm Thursday 27 May 2021.

Essential freight workers will be permitted to enter TAS with a G2G pass and will be subject to testing requirements. An essential traveller must be able to produce a negative Covid-19 test not more than 7 days old or submit to testing within 48 hours of arrival and then again on day 12 if remaining in TAS.

Western Australia

Western Australia has announced a hard border is in place from Thursday 27 May for arrivals from Victoria.

Essential freight workers will be allowed to enter WA if they have a G2G pass and can produce a negative Covid-19 test not more than 7 days old, or submit to a Covid-19 test within 48 hours of arrival and again on day 12 if remaining in WA.

Northern Territory

  • Border crossing declarations required – Apply here

If travelling from a location listed as public exposure site in Victoria mandatory quarantine may be required.

More Information
For the latest summary of border rules and testing sites click here.

DRIVER AND ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE

The ALRTA Driver and Animal Welfare Committee met via Zoom this week.  Issues discussed included promotion of the Australian Ramp Standard, results of the ALRTA National Injury Survey, fit to load responsibilities, crate inspections, research and development priorities and the electronic PigPass.



ALRTA has recently issued copies of the Australian Ramp Standard and several thousand copies of a supporting promotional brochure to all of our state member associations.  If you would like to obtain a copy of the standard or the brochure, please contact your state associations.  We encourage all members to assist us in promoting the standard to ramp owners or managers on farms, depots, saleyards and processors around the country.  Better ramps mean a safer workplace for you and your co-workers.

EFFLUENT DISPOSAL IN FORBES

LBRCA and ALRTA discussed options to establish an effluent disposal facility with NSW Roads and Maritime Services and Forbes Shire Council.  All parties agreed on a preferred site that would service north-bound traffic on the Newell Highway.  The site is well situated to accommodate heavy vehicles and adjacent to effluent storage and disposal options.
 
The parties will work together to develop site plans and a detailed funding proposal in anticipation of the next round of the Federal Heavy vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.

Members are reminded that effluent tanks can currently be emptied free of charge at the Forbes Saleyards.

FUEL SECURITY BILLS IN PARLIAMENT 

Further to last week’s Australian Government’s announcement of a fuel security package, the Morrison Coalition Government has introduced into the House or Representatives the Fuel Security Bill 2021 and the Fuel Security (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021. 
 
Together, the bills will implement a minimum stockholding obligation and a fuel security services payment (without a new levy or tax on fuel).

ROADWORTHINESS INSPECTIONS SUSPENDED IN VICTORIA

Member are advised that due to the emerging COVID-19 situation in Victoria, the NHVR has suspended National Roadworthiness Survey activities in Victoria until further notice.

TRANSPORT MINISTERS MEET TODAY

When they meet on Friday 28 May 2021, Australia’s transport ministers should focus on safety and increasing the productivity of the trucking industry, Australian Trucking Association CEO Andrew McKellar said today.

At the meeting, ministers will consider how to complete the review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), which regulates truck safety and access to the road system in the eastern states and South Australia.

“Back in 2011, it was forecast that the national truck law would deliver up to $12.4 billion in economic benefits to Australia. That hasn’t happened. In fact, productivity has declined,” Mr McKellar said.

“Increasing access for high productivity freight vehicles – trucks and trailers that can carry more freight than traditional vehicles – is the key to increasing the trucking industry’s productivity. These trucks need special permits to operate unless they are travelling on a defined network of roads.

“We need measures to expand the defined, gazetted networks so we can get more of these safe, new vehicles into service.

“This approach could save the trucking industry $1.8 billion a year by 2050, reduce the costs of Australian industries by $900 million a year and save households more than $400 a year on their everyday purchases,” he said.

Mr McKellar urged ministers to reject proposals that the HVNL be amended to require businesses with trucks to hold a special business licence or to meet a national operator standard.

“The ATA and NatRoad commissioned modelling from Deloitte Access Economics into the cost of trucking business licensing,” Mr McKellar said.

“Deloitte found that it could require licensing 131,580 businesses at a total cost of $3.2 billion over ten years.

“The official RIS prepared by the National Transport Commission was unable to identify any clear safety benefits from trucking business licensing. It would be red tape for the sake of having red tape.

“Instead, the ATA has argued that ministers should strengthen the chain of responsibility provisions in the law, which impose obligations on the industry’s customers, their directors and executives.

“At the same time, the fatigue laws need to be made simpler and more flexible, with lower penalties for paperwork offences. The high penalties for minor errors such as forgetting to sign a work diary page do not increase safety and turn truck driving into a maze of random traps,” he said.

REMINDER: NTC DRIVER SURVEY

The National Transport Commission (NTC) wants to understand commercial drivers awareness of their obligations regarding the control of a vehicle.  The survey findings will be used to help educate commercial and non-commercial drivers about proper control of a vehicle.  The NTC has contracted Bartley Consulting to conduct the survey.  
 
The survey is anonymous. NTC and Bartley Consulting abide by the Australian Privacy Principles. Only aggregated data will be reported. The report is due to be finalised by July and published on the NTC website later this year.
 
Please click on the link below to take the survey which should take you less than 10 minutes to complete.
 
https://survey.confirmit.com.au/wix/p868652096157.aspx
 
The survey will be open until 4 June 2021.

TAKE THE PLEDGE TO DRIVE SAFELY

Join forces with Craig Lowndes and other Australians to beat road trauma and take the pledge to Choose Road Safety by promising to:

  • Always be fit to drive
  • Stay focused on the road
  • Scan the road ahead
  • Keep a safe distance
  • Drive to suit the conditions

SAFETY AT AUSTRALIAN MEAT GROUP LTD

The LRTAV Driver & Animal Welfare Committee are aware of concerns raised regarding access and safety at the Australian Meat Group Ltd (AMG) site located at 342 Hammond Rd, Dandenong, Victoria.

The Committee is conducting a survey to gather accurate and concise data about issues being experienced by drivers who attend the site.

The LRTAV Driver & Animal Welfare Committee members encourage LRTAV Members to participate in the survey via the link below – the survey will remain accessible until 12 midnight Sunday 13 June 2021.

***The survey will not ask for your personal name, business name or contact details. All data is anonymous, confidential and will be collated for statistical purposes.

LRTAV  would appreciate your time – and that of your staff – to complete the survey – enabling the LRTAV representatives to work with facility management on improving these areas of concern. Please note, this post is not a platform to air your dirty laundry. Be constructive and complete the survey below. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M5N27GT

LRTAQ CONFERENCE

ALRTA members are warmly invited to join the LRTAQ Annual Conference, including the legendary Bull Carter’s Ball, in Roma on 16-18 July 2021.
 
After postponing due to COVID-19, preparations have well and truly resumed and the details of the revised program can be found here on the LRTAQ website.
 
The LRTAQ conference will be a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Association. To mark this special milestone the LRTAQ have put together this video to reflect on the history and legacy.
 
For any questions, please contact Laney O’Neil at the LRTAQ Secretariat on 07 3726 5039.

FRIDAY FUNNY

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021

LRTASA Conference – Adelaide SA – 18-19 June 2021 – Register Here
LRTAQ Conference – Roma QLD – 16-17 July 2021 – Register Here
LRTAV Conference – Bendigo VIC – 20-21 August 2021
LTAT/National Combined Conference – Hobart TAS – 22-23 October 2021