ALRTA News – 19 February 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR CUMMINS

Powering a better today and tomorrow
Visit Cummins website

ALRTA NATIONAL COUNCIL

The ALRTA National Council met via Zoom this week. Issues discussed at the meeting included heavy vehicle charges, promotion of the Australian Ramp Standard, changes to effluent regulation in Victoria, NVD roll-out, our operational relationship with ATA and a revision of our strategic plan. 



ALRTA National and State Presidents met prior to the meeting to ensure clarity on financial and governance issues ahead of the Council meeting.  The next ALRTA Council meeting is scheduled for 26 March 2021.

ALRTA SEEKS CONTINUED FUNDING FOR LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT PROJECTS 

ALRTA has made representations to Deputy Prime Minister McCormack to propose continuation of funding for livestock transport industry proposals in Round Eight of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) and the removal of the associated requirement for such projects to be located in a drought declared area.
 
In HVSPP Round Seven, there were two successful livestock project applications at Longreach and Finley attracting $832,270 in Australian Government funding, with a matching investment committed by the applicants.  ALRTA believes that it is important for the Australian Government to continue funding for livestock transport industry proposals in HVSPP Round Eight due to the November 2020 publication of AS 5340:2020, an Australian Standard for Livestock Loading/Unloading Ramps and Forcing Pens
 
Most livestock ramps in current use do not meet the Australian Ramp Standard.  Continuation of funding for livestock transport industry proposals under Round Eight of the HVSPP will assist Regional Councils to upgrade livestock facilities to meet the standard. 
 
While a requirement that livestock transport industry projects be located in a drought declared area was a reasonable criteria for prioritising funding under Round Seven, improved seasonal conditions across much of Australia now warrants the removal of this criteria.  Continuation of this criteria would exclude the majority of livestock facilities in need of assistance.

ALRTA CALLS FOR ACCESS TO GRAINCORP AMENITIES

ALRTA has called for GrainCorp to extend access to amenities including shower facilities for heavy vehicle drivers at GrainCorp sites.  ALRTA members have reported that drivers have been denied access to shower facilities at some GrainCorp sites due to COVID-19 risks. 
 
Truck drivers provide an essential service for GrainCorp operations.  At some point in the supply chain most grain has been on board a truck.  Road freight has been recognised as an essential service by Australian governments within their COVID-19 response plans, which include exemptions for border crossings and exemptions for businesses operating truck driver facilities.
 
The chain of responsibility provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) require all named parties to identify and control safety risks. This extends to instructions, actions, inactions or demands that may cause or contribute to an offence under the HVNL.  It is likely that most GrainCorp sites using road transport services would fall into one or more of the named categories of prime contractor, consignor, consignee, loader/unloader or loading manager.
 
Among other things, the chain of responsibility provisions extend liability in respect of fatigue offences.  GrainCorp sites are often located some distance from other amenity options. Inbound/outbound truck drivers may have been on the road for many hours with many hours still to travel. Providing reasonable access to amenities including shower facilities is one of the most basic ways to manage fatigue risk.
 
ALRTA as advised GrainCorp about Australian Government protocols that detail how access to truck driver facilities can be provided safely.  We have recommended that GrainCorp consider legal obligations under the HVNL in conjunction with the published government protocols, and work towards providing safe access to amenities for drivers, including showers where available.
 
During the COVID-19 pandemic it is important for the rural supply chain to work together to deal with increased demand while continuing to operate in a manner that best protects the safety of all workers.

NHVAS CHANGES TAKE EFFECT 22 FEB

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) revised Business Rules and Standards — under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) — will take effect on Monday 22 February 2021.
 
Among the changes, the duplication between the Advanced Fatigue Management and Basic Fatigue Management modules has been reduced to allow both to operate under a single set of seven standards.
 
Other safety-related improvements include a requirement to notify the NHVR of any significant or major safety incident involving a NHVAS-nominated vehicle or driver operating under a fatigue module, a requirement to keep a register for infringement and defective vehicle notices related to the scheme, and revised requirements for loading and weighing.
 
The revised Business Rules and Standards, including fact sheets and videos to help NHVAS auditors and operators transition to the new requirements, are now available on the NHVR website at https://www.nhvr.gov.au/nhvas-business-rules

PROPOSED OPERATING STANDARD ABSURD

The ATA has attacked the Australian Logistics Council’s proposed National Operating Standard, slamming it as nothing more than an anti-competitive tax on hardworking small and family businesses. 
 
In recommendations to the Heavy Vehicle National Law review, the ALC’s proposed standard has called for mandatory electronic recording of driving hours and the location of every heavy vehicle. 
 
“From our consultations with operators, we know that this kind of hardware costs are around $12,000 – not including optional safety systems,” ATA CEO Andrew McKellar said. 
 
The ALC’s proposed standard claims they could be installed for as little as $2,500.  
 
“The proposal is unclear as to how it could be applied, and the estimated costings are completely absurd and misleading,” Mr McKellar said.  
 
“Trucking operators live in the real world, not the fantasy land the ALC seems to inhabit,” he said. 

NEW METHOD FOR TAX CREDITS

The ATO has recently released a simpler way to calculate fuel tax credits for diesel used in heavy vehicles. If you claim less than $10,000 each year and use a heavy vehicle, you can use the new basic method for heavy vehicles.
 
The method makes it easier to work out your fuel tax credit claim, including your on and off public road use. As the rate for travel off public roads is higher, you will get more fuel tax credits if you calculate your off public road use correctly. Travel off public roads includes when you’re idling, loading or unloading your heavy vehicle in warehouses, depots or car parks.
 
All you need is the distance you’ve travelled and the amount of eligible diesel you’ve acquired for use in the heavy vehicle for the tax period to use the method.
 
Use the basic method for heavy vehicles when you lodge your next BAS. Follow the steps on the ATO website at ato.gov.au/basicmethod.
 
Fuel tax credits provide businesses with a credit for the fuel tax that’s included in the price of fuel used in a business.
 
If you’ve just started using fuel in your business, check if you are eligible for  fuel tax credits on the ATO website at ato.gov.au/ftceligibility.

ATA ELECTION RESULTS

Darren Johnson and Angela Welsh have been elected in the Australian Trucking Association’s 2021 General Council election as its owner driver and small fleet operator representatives. 

Independent Returning Officer Phil Potterton declared Darren Johnson (Goulburn, NSW) elected as the owner driver representative and Angela Welsh (Blaxland East, NSW) re-elected as the small fleet operator representative. They were both elected unopposed. 

“I would like to congratulate Darren on his election and Angela on her re-election. Darren and Angela will represent Australia’s owner drivers and small fleet operators, contributing to the ATA’s decisions and having their say on the critical issues affecting our industry,” ATA Chair David Smith said. 

“I would like to thank the owner drivers and small fleet operators who showed their commitment to the industry and the ATA by signing up to our electoral roll. 

“I would also like to thank Frank Black for his time on council as our owner driver representative.” 

Mr Johnson will take up his role at the ATA’s 2021 annual general meeting, to be held on 14 April. Ms Welsh is the ATA’s current small fleet representative and will continue in her role.

Read the declaration of results

TASMANIAN POWRANNA TRUCK WASH

Agriclean Powranna Biosecurity Truck Wash is located at the Powranna Livestock Marketing Complex on Powranna Road, just off the Midlands Highway in Tasmania’s Northern Midlands. It provides two wash bays each of which can handle up to B-double trucks undercover, with high pressure water and long hoses to reach every area of your truck.

If you already have a “National Truckwash System” or “Avdata” key to an existing truck wash you can use the Powranna Truck Wash.

RAISING OUR STANDARDS IN LIVESTOCK

John Beer has recently written an article in Owner Driver magazine – “It has taken loss of lives for the issue of safer ramps and forcing yards to finally get recognition.”

For the last year or more John had been on a committee at Standards Australia working on the Safe Design of Livestock Loading/Unloading Ramps and Forcing Pens. “It’s been a hard slog. It’s only taken 20 years to get the fight to this stage. It’s also taken a very few dedicated people who sometimes get accused of destroying the industry; they stayed the distance to try and make all who work and load livestock safer.”



John Beer, with four decades as an owner-operator under his belt, is currently Immediate Past President of the LRTAV and ATA representative in the ALRTA. In addition, John is a past president and life member of both associations. He was the first recipient (2015) of the ALRTA McIver Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Livestock and Rural Transport Industry and in 2016 was a finalist in the ATA  Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry. John sat on the ATA Council as the owner-driver representative from 2017 to 2019.

Read John’s article in Owner Driver

Copies of the standard can be obtained here.

ATA  – SURVEY ABOUT TRUCK CHARGES

Last chance to complete the survey (feedback will be anonymous) and be in the draw for a $50 gift card.

The ATA is looking for your insights about truck charges, the costs you can pass on to your customers and how easy or hard it is to change your freight rates.

It’s part of the work we are doing to prepare the industry’s response to the National Transport Commission’s heavy vehicle charges consultation report. The report looks at—

  • reducing the fuel tax credits you can claim by 0.6 cents per litre and
  • increasing the national roads component of truck and trailer registration charges by 2.5 per cent, in the states that apply the national charges.

The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Take the survey.

ATA  – SURVEY ABOUT TRUCK CHARGES

Last chance to complete the survey (feedback will be anonymous) and be in the draw for a $50 gift card.

The ATA is looking for your insights about truck charges, the costs you can pass on to your customers and how easy or hard it is to change your freight rates.

It’s part of the work we are doing to prepare the industry’s response to the National Transport Commission’s heavy vehicle charges consultation report. The report looks at—

  • reducing the fuel tax credits you can claim by 0.6 cents per litre and
  • increasing the national roads component of truck and trailer registration charges by 2.5 per cent, in the states that apply the national charges.

The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Take the survey.

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
LRTAV Conference – Bendigo VIC – 20-21 August 2021