ALRTA News – 30 September 2022

EARN UP TO 5x QANTAS POINTS FOR YOUR BUSINESS WITH BP PLUS

BP Plus Offer 1 October – 30 November 2022

Looking for ways to give your business a boost?

With BP Plus and as a Qantas Business Rewards member you could earn up to 5x Qantas Points*.
In the first 6 months of your account and as a Qantas Business Rewards Member you could:
1. Earn 3x Qantas Points on all eligible fuel and shop transactions when you spend a
minimum of $500 per month,
2. Earn 4x Qantas Points on all eligible fuel and shop transactions when you spend a
minimum of $1,500 per month or
3.Earn 5x Qantas Points on all eligible fuel and shop transactions when you spend a
minimum of $3,000 per month*.


Visit BP Plus.com.au for more. It really is,business, the clever way. *T&Cs apply

Use code QBRMULTIALRTA

Sign up now

*To earn bonus Qantas Points with BP Plus your business must apply for a BP Plus account between 12.01am (AEST) 14September 2022 and 11.59pm (AEST) 30 November 2022, be approved for a BP Plus account during that period & become a Qantas Business Rewards member (if not already a member) within 30 days of being approved for a BP Plus account. Your
business must not have held a BP Plus account within the previous 24 months, be a government entity or similar public sector business, be a BP supplied distributor of automotive fuels, nor be subject to a strategic pricing arrangement with BP.

For six calendar months, your business will earn three times the base earn rate on Qantas Business Rewards by spending $500 or more on eligible fuel or shop products in a calendar month, four times the base earn rate on Qantas Business Rewards by spending $1,500 or more on eligible fuel or shop products in a calendar month or five times the base earn rate on Qantas Business Rewards by spending $3,000 or more on eligible fuel or shop products in a calendar month, using BP Plus following BPPlus account approval and confirmation of Qantas Business Rewards membership. Your business must not have any overdue amounts on its BP Plus account. Qantas Points will be awarded within 6 weeks of on time BP Plus monthly account payment. BP Plus and Qantas Business Rewards Terms & Conditions apply. See BP Rewards T&Cs for eligible products. See BP Plus for full offer Terms & Conditions including privacy information. Promoter: BP Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 53 004 085 616). See full Terms and Conditions of this offer at here

ALRTA RESPONDS TO LIVESTOCK LOADING REVIEW

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has responded to the NHVR’s Review of Livestock Mass, Dimension and Loading Arrangements.  The ALRTA submission makes 12 recommendations regarding the content and architecture of a harmonised national livestock loading scheme in Heavy Vehicle National Law jurisdictions.
 
ALRTA National President Scott McDonald said that harmonisation of state livestock loading schemes is desirable and would have implications for livestock transport for decades to come.
 
“Livestock transport is a truly national endeavour with integrated supply chains reaching across all states and territories of Australia.  Trucks are routinely loaded in one state and unloaded in another state where livestock loading rules are different,” said Mr McDonald.
 
“Reflecting the historic genesis of state-based of livestock loading schemes, rules vary concerning the livestock species that may be carried, eligible vehicles, accreditation of operators, training, allowable tare mass and approaches to gross vehicle or combination mass.  All ALRTA member associations in HVNL jurisdictions support harmonisation of scheme rules.
 
“In preparing our submission, ALRTA has held multiple member forums with positions considered by our Driver and Animal Welfare Committee and National Council. Members have agreed on almost all parameters that would comprise a national livestock loading scheme.  However, there remain some differences of opinion concerning the best approach to training and gross vehicle mass.
 
“This is to be expected given that business operations and equipment are now built around state schemes that have been in operation for decades. 
 
“While reform will be challenging, harmonisation of state livestock loading schemes has potential to lift productivity and reduce non-compliance risk for multi-state operators. I encourage NHVR to boldly strive for a harmonised national approach, having particular regard to enhancing safety, animal welfare, competitive neutrality and facilitating full network and farm gate access”.

ALRTA SECURES FUNDING FOR SAFETY PROJECT

ALRTA will receive crucial funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Federal Government to deliver a safety project: “Using telematic data to reduce the incidence of truck roll-over crashes”.
 
ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, said the project will be delivered in the next 12 months.
 
“This important project will promote, and provide guidance in, the use of telematic data from heavy vehicle electronic stability control systems (ESC) to encourage safer driving in the livestock transport industry and reduce the incidence of truck roll-over crashes,” said Mr Munro.
 
“This will be achieved through demonstration of the processes necessary to collect telematic data, interpret the information and use it to positively influence driver behaviour”. 
 
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said ALRTA is one of 16 grantees that will receive funding as part of the Federal Government’s $5.6 million investment towards HVSI projects.
 
“As part of the HVSI, industry will be driving its own safety initiatives to contribute to safer roads, drivers, and vehicles,” Mr Petroccitto said.
 
“Round 7 projects include practical resources to assist industry with load restraint and mass compliance, advanced driver training, and crash prevention technology.
 
“I am excited to see how ALRTA’s project will make an impact, to deliver improved safety outcomes for all road users.”
 
For more information visit www.nhvr.gov.au/hvsi

WORK DIARY & DAYLIGHT SAVING

Daylight Saving Time for ACT, NSW, SA, VIC and TAS starts on Sunday 2nd October and will require all clocks to be turned forward 1 hour from 2:00am to 3:00am.
 


When recording in the work diary, simply note the time from your base as whatever the time is, at that time.

To assist, it is advised that you note on the page ‘daylight saving changes’ and an authorised officer will be able to identify the daylight saving time change.

NTI – TWO DECADES OF DATA SHOWING ONGOING IMPROVEMENT IN TRUCK SAFETY

“A review of almost two decades of truck accident data by Australia’s largest logistics and transport specialist insurer NTI, has revealed a vast improvement in the trucking industry’s safety performance.
 
NTI has just released the 2022 Major Accident Report from its National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) and has analysed trends since 2005.
 
It found while there’s been a 55 per cent (%) increase in the number of trucks on the road and a 51% rise in road freight volumes, the rate of serious truck accidents has not followed this trend.”

Full Media Release

LIVE EXPORT BY AIR TO CONTINUE

ALRTA is pleased to confirm recent advice from the Federal Department of Agriculture that live exports by air will not be phased out by the Albanese Government.  Incoming Ministers had previously stated that a live export ban would cover both sea and air. ALRTA had questioned the decision to ban live exports by air given the extremely low mortality rates reported in official government statistics.

ATA 2022 TRUCK TECH AWARD

Do you know someone in the trucking industry who is committed to technical and maintenance excellence in the trucking industry?

Now’s your chance to nominate them for the ATA’s 2022 Craig Roseneder Award.

The winner will be announced on Thursday 1 December 2023.

Thanks to Castrol, the award winner will be sent on an all-expenses trip to the US to attend a US Technology and Maintenance Council’s Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition.

They will also be invited to attend the next in-person ATA Technology and Maintenance Conference.

The selection criteria and nomination form for the award is available here.

Nomination closes Friday 11 November 2022 at 4pm.

HAVE YOUR SAY: NATIONAL ACCESS FRAMEWORK

Members are invited to provide feedback to Austroads on a proposed National Access Framework for Heavy Vehicles (NAFHV).
 
The NAFHV is a principles-based policy document that highlights the role of road managers in managing the access of heavy vehicles on the road network. It is proposed that under the NAFHV, road managers nationally will adopt a set of shared principles to enhance road manager functions, to:

  • Enable access unless by exception
  • Foster collaboration and coordination between state and local road managers, third parties and industry
  • Harmonise access decision-making practices while encouraging innovation
  • Encourage the use of safe, productive and sustainable vehicles
  • Automate access decision-making; and
  • Facilitate the exchange of open data.

It is also proposed to establish a national Access Working Group to support the NAFHV and deliver a targeted national Access Work Program based on these principles, for subsequent approval by officials and ministers.  
 
You can provide feedback by participating in a brief online survey by 4 November 2022

NHVR OPENS NSW OFFICE

Heavy vehicle safety services in New South Wales have a new home following the official opening of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Parramatta headquarters.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway opened the new office as part of the transition of state-based heavy vehicle services to the NHVR.

“Over the last six months, the NSW Government and Transport for New South Wales have been working closely with the NHVR to make the transition as smooth as possible while ensuring the heavy vehicle industry continues to operate safely and productively,” Minister Farraway said.

“Nationally consistent compliance is essential for the safety and productivity of heavy vehicle operators, and I look forward to continuing to work with the NHVR to keep NSW roads safe and our economy growing.”

NSW is the fifth state or territory – after South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Victoria – where the NHVR is directly delivering heavy vehicle regulatory services.

Read more about the Paramatta office opening

REMINDER: ATO ADVICE ON FTC

The temporary reduction in fuel excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates ended this week on 28 September 2022. 

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) says from 29 September:

  • increased fuel tax credit rates will apply. Eligible businesses must apply the applicable fuel tax credit rate based on the date the fuel was acquired. 
  • eligible businesses that use fuel in heavy vehicles for travelling on public roads can claim fuel tax credits for fuel acquired. They cannot claim between 30 March to 28 September 2022 because the road user charge exceeds the excise duty paid, reducing the fuel tax credit rate to nil.
  • the road user charge for liquid fuels will increase to 27.2 cents per litre. This means the fuel tax credit rate for liquid fuels used in heavy vehicles for travelling on public roads will change to 18.8 cents per litre.

 The ATO says businesses should keep accurate records to support their claims. Records need to show the type, date, and quantity of fuel acquired for business activities. Find out more at the ATO website

ALRTA EXECUTIVE TO TAKE OFFICE

ALRTA Executive Office Bearers elected at the 12 August 2022 AGM will take office on 1 October 2022 for a one-year period. The 2022-23 National Executive is:

  • President: Scott McDonald
  • Vice President: Ian Wild
  • Vice President: Matt Henderson
  • Treasurer: Alan McKenzie
  • Secretary: Grant Robins
  • ATA Representative: Athol Carter
  • Past President: Kevin Keenan

NO NEWSLETTER NEXT WEEK

There will be no ALRTA newsletter next week as the ALRTA Executive Director will be on leave. 

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2023

LBRCA – 9-11March 2023 – TAMWORTH NSW
LRTAQ – 16-17 March 2021 – TOWNSVILLE QLD