ALRTA News – 1 October 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
bp

 Save 9c a litre with bp PLUS

Looking for more ways to save on business expenses? With a BP Plus fuel
card your business can save 9 cents per litre, for your first 4 months when you
sign up by 30 November^.

Plus, if you’re on the road a lot, you can make every trip even more rewarding
and earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when your business refuels at bp
within the first 4 months^. Use those points to reward yourself, your team or
offset your business expenses on flights, accommodation, car hire or
something special from the Rewards Store.

Do business the clever way. Sign up for a BP Plus fuel card today.
Use code ALRTAQBR9FOR4
Sign up now

T&Cs apply ^ visit www.bpplus.com.au
^To earn bonus Qantas Points with BP Plus your business must 1) successfully sign-up for a BP Plus account between 1 September and 30 November 2021, 2) be approved for a BP Plus account, and 3) be a Qantas Business Rewards member, or within thirty (30) calendar days of being approved for a BP Plus account, become a Qantas Business Rewards member.

Approved businesses will receive 9 cents off per litre off the pump price of Ultimate 98, 91, 95, Diesel and Ultimate Diesel, for a period of 4 months commencing from the date of the BP Plus application being approved, with the offer expiring after 4 full months have passed.

When the discount period has ended, BP Plus account holders will revert to the ALRTA base offer. Your business will earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points on eligible fuel purchases within 4 months of successfully opening a BP Plus account; bonus points will be awarded as follows: Purchase 3,500 litres to earn 20,000 bonus Qantas Points; or Purchase 7,000 litres to earn 50,000 bonus Qantas Points; or Purchase 16,500 litres to earn 100,000 bonus Qantas Points. Bonus Qantas Points for the qualifying tier of spend will be awarded within 8 weeks of the final day of the 4 month discount offer period.

BP Plus and Qantas Business Rewards terms and conditions apply. Qantas reserves the right to determine the award of bonus Qantas Points to eligible customers.

ALRTA /LTAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE ALRTA/LTAT
2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE HOBART
The event will be livestreamed from Wrest Point, Hobart, Tasmania from 9am – 1pm, Saturday 23 October 2021.

Online registrations are FREE and the first 40 registrations will receive a FREE Flavours of Tasmania Participant Pack.

REGISTER NOW

CHECKING PRIMARY PRODUCER REGO CONCESSIONS MADE EASY

Users of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Registration Checker app can now check for primary producer concessions across all eastern states and South Australia.
 
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the free service would allow loaders, packers and other supply chain parties to ensure vehicles were operating under the correct registration.
 
“We’ve responded to feedback from industry groups and businesses that regularly raise concerns about some operators using primary producer discounts to operate on a commercial basis,” Mr Petroccitto said.
 
“Including concession information will help industry and governments address, and hopefully begin to reduce concession misuse across the industry in a more collective way.”
 
Mr Petroccitto said the NHVR had worked with states and territories (that hold responsibility for registration laws and concessions) to address industry concerns.  He thanked participating jurisdictions for agreeing to include registration concession information in the Registration Checker app.
 
The Registration Checker app is an easy-to-use system that establishes the status of a heavy vehicle’s registration by keying in or taking a photo of a license plate’s details.
 
Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association National President Scott McDonald said making the concessional information available was a step in the right direction.
 
“Our member operators often report vehicles registered under primary producer schemes that are operating on a commercial basis – up to 10 per cent of vehicles in some areas,” Mr McDonald said.
 
“Allowing authorised officers and other parties in the supply chain access to this information is an important step in stopping this behaviour.”
 
The NHVR Registration Checker app can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store or Google Play and is compatible with Android and IOS.
 
For more details, visit www.nhvr.gov.au/regocheck
 
Payments and queries regarding heavy vehicle registration and licencing should be directed to the relevant state or territory road transport authority.

DRIVER APPRENTICESHIP CONSULTATIONS

The ATA has welcomed the release of a consultation paper on a plan to introduce truck driving apprenticeships. 
 
“It’s no secret that operators around the country have difficulty recruiting truck drivers,” ATA Chair David Smith said.  
 
“There is a shortage of new starters in the trucking industry, and it’s due to the image of the industry and the image of truck driving as a career.  
 
“By improving the professionalism of the industry, strengthening driver training would make driving a more attractive career,” he said.  
 
The consultation paper notes that the sourcing and retention of professional heavy vehicle operators plays a critical role in ensuring the safe, productive and environmentally sound movement of goods and services throughout Australia.  
 
“The ATA has long called for stronger and more comprehensive truck driver licensing and training. There is a significant skills shortage that must be addressed as a matter of urgency,” Mr Smith said. 
 
The committee is now seeking feedback on the paper, with everyone in the industry encouraged to share their views. The ATA will work with its members to prepare a detailed response. 

MANDATORY VACCINATIONS

Queensland
As expected, Queensland has now announced that interstate truck drivers and freight workers must have at least one vaccine dose by 15 October 2021. A second dose (or evidence of a booking) is required from 15 November 2021.
 
A new COVID vaccination clinic for truck drivers has opened at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds.
 
South Australia
From Monday 7 October, all commercial transport and freight essential travellers arriving from NSW, ACT, VIC and parts of QLD must have evidence of at least one TGA approved COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter South Australia.
 
SA has also introduced a new provision requiring persons entering from NSW, ACT, VIC and parts of QLD to provide evidence of a negative PCR test in the prior 72hrs or they will be directed to undertake a point-of-care antigen test/or a COVID-19 test within 12hrs. 
 
Victoria
From Thursday 23 September, freight workers with Specified Worker (Multiple Entry) Permits crossing into Victoria must have had a first vaccine dose. However, until Thursday, 7 October, permits holders can alternatively show evidence of a vaccine booking.
 
Freight workers with Specified Worker (Multiple Entry) Permits receive priority bookings for free COVID-19 vaccinations, even if they are not a Victorian resident. 

Learn more about booking vaccinations.

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

DRIVER AND ANIMAL WELFARE

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, effluent code of practice, loading densities and site safety surveys.
 
Chair of the ALRTA Driver and Animal Welfare Committee has urged drivers and livestock handlers to report all injuries or near misses.
 
“Loading or unloading is the most dangerous part of a livestock transport journey,” said Mr Hoare.
 
“Our industry has developed an accepting attitude towards minor injuries with most people just getting on with the job and not bothering to report an incident or near miss.  However, minor incidents are a warning that a major incident is waiting to happen.
 
“It is important to report and document all incidents or near misses so that facility owners are aware of the risks.  You can’t fix problems you don’t know about.
 
“As much as facility owners have a duty to provide a safe workplace, persons who visit these workplaces have a duty to report safety risks.  It is by working together that sites can be improved. If risks are still ignored, workplace authorities can be involved,” said Mr Hoare.

BE PREPARED: INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE

As the country enters a weather phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Australia’s leading specialist insurer, NTI, is urging all transport and logistics owners and operators to be proactive and revisit weather emergency plans.

The Indian Ocean Dipole will likely see a continuation of a wet Winter, into a wet Spring as a result of the IOD being in a negative phase. The greatest impacts will be seen across parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

 “HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS FOR WET WEATHER CAUSED BY THE NEGATIVE INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE”

ALRTA EXECUTIVE TAKE OFFICE

ALRTA Executive Office Bearers elected at the 27 August 2021 AGM formally took office on 1 October 2021 for a one-year period. The 2021-22 National Executive is:

  • President: Scott McDonald
  • Vice President: Ian Wild
  • Vice President: Matt Henderson
  • Treasurer: Stephen Hopkins
  • Secretary: Grant Robins
  • ATA Representative: Athol Carter
  • Immediate Past President: Stephen Marley

ALRTA thanks outgoing ATA Representative John Beer for his service in the role over the past two years. John has been an outstanding advocate for owner drivers.

FRIDAY FUNNY

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021 & 2022

LTAT/National Combined Conference – Hobart & Online – 23 October 2021 – REGISTER NOW
LBRCA Conference – Wagga Wagga NSW – 10-12 February 2022 – Registration
LRTAQ Conference – Sunshine Coast – 4-5 March 2022