ALRTA News – 13 August 2021

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COVID-19

The ACT has joined the lockdown club with much of regional NSW now also affected (with signs that southern NSW may soon be similarly affected).
 
We are aware of member concerns that test turnaround times in NSW are not sufficient to support the rolling 7 days testing regimes applied in other jurisdictions. This problem is particularly acute on the NSW/QLD border. ALRTA is working with our state associations and authorities to improve the situation. Solutions are difficult because of the rapidly increasing demand for tests in NSW and the very high risk that the delta variant poses to other jurisdictions and their own testing capacity.
 
Please remain patient and stay tuned.
 
An informative checklist of QLD border requirements is provided below (kindly provided by the Queensland Trucking Association).



It is important that we all look after ourselves during these challenging times. If you are experiencing hardship there are some good resources specific to the transport industry.

Visit the NHVR website for the most up to date information for heavy vehicle border entry requirements.

LOADING DENSITIES FOR LARGER CATTLE

The ALRTA Driver and Animal Welfare Committee has recently agreed to work jointly with Meat and Livestock Australia to develop guidance on loading densities for larger cattle.
 


Loading density information is vitally important to the road transport task for three reasons:

  1. Animal welfare: Over-crowding and under-crowding must be avoided so that animals are not crushed and as a group remain stable during transport.
  2. Vehicle stability: Even pen densities provide for stable vehicles, reducing rollover risk.
  3. Volumetric Loading Schemes: Higher productivity livestock loading schemes rely on agreed loading densities to limit the risk of overloading (i.e. vehicle and axle group mass limits).

Currently, part GB4.9 of the nationally agreed Land Transport Standards specifies loading densities for cattle within a range of 100kg to a maximum of 650kg (using 50kg mean live weight increments).
 
ALRTA members report that heavier cattle of up to 800kg are now more frequently encountered.
 
While ALRTA intends to seek an extension of GB4.9 as part of the review of the Land Transport Standards scheduled to occur in 2022, given that GB4.9 has the status of a voluntary guideline, we have formally approached MLA to jointly progress work on establishing publishing interim loading density guidelines for cattle of 700kg, 750kg and 800kg mean live weight.
 
We are pleased to advise members that MLA understands the importance of our proposal and has agreed to commence work in the near term.  

TRUCKING INDUSTRY WELCOMES ADD-ON INSURANCE PROTECTION

Trucking companies and their customers will keep convenient access to add-on insurance under a draft exemption from new requirements.

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA), Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) and Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) welcomed the exemption for add-on transport and delivery insurance products but have sought more clarity about incidental storage.

The Australian Government is introducing a new deferred sales model for insurance that would prohibit the sale of add-on insurance for at least four days after a customer has purchased a product or service.

“Livestock and rural carriers are often called on to move livestock or high value items at short notice, including livestock sold at auction where the owner, value and destination are not known before the sale,” ALRTA Executive Director Mathew Munro said.

“And in the removals industry, 22 per cent of customers book their move within five days of service. In some places, this could be up to 50 per cent of customers,” AFRA Executive Director Simone Hill said. 

“These moves include the industry’s most vulnerable customers, including victims of domestic violence, persons under threat of natural disaster or where the building is at risk, moves into and out of aged care and other situations,” she said. 

Acting ATA CEO Bill McKinley said the Government’s exposure draft of the exemptions from the model included an exemption for add-on transport and delivery insurance products. 

“The exposure draft addresses many of the industry’s concerns about the deferred sales model, but the exemption should in our view be amended to include incidental storage,” Mr McKinley said. 

“Incidental storage is part of the normal movement of livestock transport, including the need to unload livestock on long journeys, storage close to export vessels and abattoirs, and storage as a result of unforeseen changes to the journey or the need to change vehicle combinations,” Mr Munro said.

“In the removals industry, incidental storage is also critical,” Ms Hill said.

“It is needed in a variety of scenarios, including storage between an initial move and when goods can be delivered to a customer’s new premises, as well as incidental storage at transport depots ahead of long distance moves,” she said. 

The Australian Government is introducing the deferred sales model in response to a recommendation of the Financial Services Royal Commission. 

Read the submission

BROADER RANGE OF PBS TYRES

Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles will soon be able to use a broader range of tyres, encouraging the take-up of safer, more-productive vehicles in the Australian heavy vehicle fleet.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the recent Infrastructure Transport Ministers’ Meeting supported the NHVR’s leadership in reforming the PBS scheme to enable a new standardised tyre approach using a set of tyre properties and data for PBS assessments.

“This decision will allow us to streamline the current approach, which requires vehicles in the PBS scheme to have their on-road performance assessed using specific tyre types and brands,” Mr Petroccitto said.
 
Read more about the PBS tyres announcement here

HML NOW PERMITTED IN THE ACT

Eligible heavy vehicles can now operate at Higher Mass Limits (HML) on authorised routes in the ACT.

The Australian Capital Territory Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2021which comes into effect today, is the result of a review of HML access by the NHVR and Traffic Management and Safety, Roads ACT to boost productivity benefits for heavy vehicle operators.

The Declaration replaces the Australian Capital Territory Class 3 Mass Management Accreditation Exemption Notice 2019, although vehicles can continue to operate under this until it’s revoked on 7 September 2021.

To operate under the new Declaration, eligible vehicles must be fitted with certified road friendly suspension. Eligible vehicles are listed in the Operator’s Guide to the Declaration. Excluded vehicles include rigid combinations, including car carriers, and vehicles equipped with a tri-axle drive group.

Authorised routes are shown on a new digital map produced by Traffic Management and Safety, Roads ACT. 

TEMPORARY CHANGES TO TRUCKSAFE DRIVER MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

A growing number of TruckSafe operators are finding that they are unable to schedule driver medicals, due to the tightening COVID restrictions across Australia.

As a result, TruckSafe is putting in place a temporary change to our driver medical requirements.

From today, 13 August 2021, a driver may continue to drive with an expired TruckSafe medical until they can practicably obtain a new one.

The temporary arrangements will be in place until 31 January 2022, and are aligned with arrangements that the NHVR is putting in place for NHVAS.

FREE COR WORKSHOPS FOR FARMERS

Peak grains representative body GrainGrowers has partnered with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to host free workshops to help farmers better understand their role under Chain of Responsibility (COR) laws.
 
The COR workshops have been funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, supported by the Federal Government.
 
“The NHVR’s number one priority is the safety of everyone in the heavy vehicle supply chain,” NHVR Sal Petroccitto said.
 
“Projects like the COR workshops for farmers help improve safety for the entire industry – whether that’s at the farm, in the warehouse or on the road.”
 
Places are limited and registration is essential. You can secure your spot here

UNSEALED ROAD TRAVEL SURVEY

On behalf of the National Transport Commission (NTC), ALRTA is conducting a member survey of travel by double road trains, triple road trains (including larger combinations) and b-triples on unsealed roads across each state and territory in Australia.
 
The information will be used to inform cost-allocation modelling within the PAYGO heavy vehicle charging model. The last such survey was undertaken 16 years ago – we need to know if the proportion of travel undertaken on sealed vs unsealed roads has changed.
 
We encourage members who operate road trains and b-triples to click on the link below to provide anonymous information. Please skip any combinations or states and territories not relevant to your business.
 
Take the survey here.
 
This survey will close on 31 August 2021.

SITE SAFETY SURVEY

The ALRTA National Driver and Animal Welfare Committee met this week to consider issues including land transport standards, promotion of the national ramp standard, construction of effluent disposal facilities, site safety surveys and crate inspections.
 
ALRTA members have expressed concern about the safety of facilities and business practices at some livestock loading or unloading sites that they visit regularly. To help ALRTA focus on the sites of most concern we are conducting a national member survey. Please tell us about the sites that you think should be a priority and the particular safety issues that need to be addressed.
 
Take the survey here.

NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARDS

Celebrate those who make the Trucking Industry great. 

While we are in the midst of unprecedented and stressful times, it has never been more important to celebrate the valuable contribution of the trucking industry and its people. 

The ATA is proud to present the 2021 National Trucking Industry Awards, celebrating those who go the extra mile to improve their workplace and the industry. 

Nominations close 20 August 2021

NSW POLICE & OPERATION CONVOY

Between 2 – 5 August, Police attached to North West Highway Patrol along with Transport NSW heavy vehicle inspectors held the blitz on the Newell Highway, Moree.  Operation Convoy focused on compliance with fatigue management, driver impairment and compliance with vehicle standards, as well as compliance with the Public Health Order.

295 heavy vehicles were intercepted with more than 200 offences detected and infringement notices issued for: speeding, fatigue breaches, vehicle standards offences, load breaches, dimension breaches, diary offences and other offences.

Operation Convoy will continue in other locations across the state.

2021 LRTAV CONFERENCE CANCELLED

The LRTAV Executive and Conference Committees met last night to discuss holding or deferring the 2021 LRTAV Conference.

The difficult decision was made to cancel the 2021 event set for August 20 and 21 in Bendigo.

The safety of LRTAV members and sponsors is paramount and therefore, it was decided the risk was too great to hold a conference in the current climate.

This difficult decision has been made in the best overall interests of our industry.

LRTAV will however push ahead with plans for a face-to-face AGM if the situation allows on October 9, 2021. The venue and time will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

LRTAV looks forward to holding a Conference and Dinner in 2022 and will lock in a date shortly.

ALRTA STAFF WORKING FROM HOME

From 5:00pm on Thursday 12 August  2021 ALRTA staff – Mathew, Sue, Colleen and Jack are working from home after the ACT has been put into a 7 day lockdown with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Territory.

Please email office@alrta.org.au or call Colleen on the ALRTA mobile 0490 515 681 or Mathew (ED) on 0421 082 489.

FRIDAY FUNNY

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021 & 2022

LRTAWA Industry Day – Perth WA – 14 August 2021
LTAT/National Combined Conference – Hobart TAS – 22-23 October 2021
LBRCA Conference – Wagga Wagga NSW – 10-12 February 2022
LRTAQ Conference – Surfair Marcoola QLD– 4-5 March 2022