ALRTA News – 9 July 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
LOWES

Maximise your membership entitlements link your Lowes Petroleum account. Haven’t got a Lowes account for your bulk fuel talk to a Lowes Sales Manager phone 1300 4 LOWES (1300 4 56937) or click  https://www.lowespetrol.com.au/contact-us/ .

As regional Australia’s fuel and lubricants delivery specialists, Lowes Petroleum Service is offering ALRTA members great deals on delivery of bulk fuels and lubricants to your business or farm. Your local Lowes sales manager can create packages tailored to your needs. Our offerings are for ALRTA members, large or small, with tailored solutions including bulk deliveries and tank storage solutions at your primary site. We also provide fuel card benefits with our Australia-wide network of around 1400 service stations and $0 monthly fees for your fleet as they move through other districts.

A Lowes bp+ fuel card also provides everyday discounts, hassle free statements – ready for BAS – and of course access to the bp plus app. The bp+ app allows you to manage your fleet from your phone. Your fleet admin manager is able to add or delete cards in real time and allows drivers to have contactless free payment options for short or long periods, it’s up to you.

The Lowes bp+ fuel card provides ideal tools for your company to save time and reduce risk during COVID lockdown periods.

We have also updated the Lowes bp+ card offer with Blue Ribbon card discounts at Lowes owned sites. With an additional level of discounts, you can now choose from Blue Ribbon, Gold Diesel and Green Selected Sites. This ensures ALRTA Members get maximum benefits from our association between the two organisations.

 The three levels of card discounts have been colour coded to link to the bp network page on the Lowes website for easy ALRTA Member reference.  

ALRTA HAILS INSURANCE DECISION

ALRTA has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, that wholesale style insurance products will be exempted from new regulation applying to add on insurance products. 
 
The exemption means that ALRTA members will continue to have convenient access to insurance covering land transport of livestock and other high value items.
 
Arising from a recommendation of the Financial Services Royal Commission, from 5 October 2021, the Australian Government will introduce a new Deferred Sales Model prohibiting the sale of add-on insurance for at least four clear days after a consumer has committed to acquire a principal product or service. 
 
ALRTA National President Scott McDonald said that the proposed prohibition would have had significant negative consequences for livestock and other carriers.


Photo: ALRTA National President Scott McDonald. 

“Our member carriers are often called upon to move livestock or high value items at short notice,” said President McDonald.
 
“In these circumstances, carriers may require additional insurance cover which must be arranged at the same time as accepting the load. Livestock sold under auction conditions is particularly problematic because neither the owner, value or destination are known prior to sale. We simply cannot wait four days to acquire an appropriate add on insurance product.
 
“While ALRTA appreciates the need for consumer protection, this must be achieved in a manner that optimises choice, minimises red tape, and does not impede efficient freight flow or induce carriers to take unnecessary risks.
 
“Without this exemption, customers or carriers who are unable to obtain add-on insurance quicky and easily may choose not to cover additional risks.  In some cases, freight movement may need to be delayed.
 
“Although it would be possible to obtain add-on insurance from an alternative provider, in our view this would not in of itself provide enhanced consumer protection. In fact, it would reduce choice and increase red tape associated with urgent freight movements.
 
“I thank Treasurer Frydenberg for listening to our concerns on this important matter and agreeing to establish an appropriate exemption,” said President McDonald.

COVID EASING IN SOME STATES

COVID-19 restrictions is easing in some States across Australia but will be tightened across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

The NHVR provides the latest Covid-19 updates for the heavy vehicle industry.

The Australian Government Department of Health page provides updates about the current situation, latest case numbers and related information. The page is updated every day by 9 pm AEST and reflects the previous 24 hours.

ATA DEFENDS CHARGE CLAIMS

On Saturday, Weekend Australian columnist Robert Gottliebsen said that trucks do not pay for our use of the roads.

Here are some facts:

Businesses operating trucks pay about $3.3 billion in fuel tax and registration charges each year. On top of this, trucks also pay above and beyond their fair share for urban toll roads.

In 2021-22 heavy vehicle charges increased by 2.5 per cent, above the expected inflation rate of 1 and three quarter per cent.

Meanwhile, a current NTC review of truck charges could see charges increase by up to 21.3 per cent from 2022-23.

“Our members and Australia’s trucking businesses deserve better,” ATA Chair David Smith said.

FUNDING BOOST FOR ROAD SAFETY INNOVATION

Forty projects aimed at reducing road fatalities will benefit from a share of $10 million over the next three years under Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Road Safety Innovation Fund.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Australian Government is committed to reducing road injuries and fatalities.

“The Road Safety Innovation Fund targets projects designed to reduce fatal and serious road crashes,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“This program prioritises initiatives that seek to improve road safety for everyone travelling on Australian roads.

“These innovative projects have potential for expansion here in Australia and internationally, and they set the foundations to change the way Australians approach safety and the movement of people and goods.

“Funding innovation to test and implement new methods, infrastructure upgrades, products and road-safety management are part of the Safe System principles – an inclusive approach to road safety shared by all Governments through the National Road Safety Strategy.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the Government received a high level of interest in the program.

“Round 2 saw 114 applications received, reflecting strong engagement across industry and the research community in seeking new ways to improve road safety,” Mr Buchholz said.

“Strong and diverse interest in Round 1 led the Australian Government to opening up the program in Round 2 to a wider range of innovative road safety initiatives, including seed funding and research projects.

“The Road Safety Innovation Fund is one of the many ways the Australian Government is investing in road safety to move towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.”

ATA TMC ONLINE

Registrations are now open for TMC Online, a free and interactive event that will deliver the latest technical and maintenance updates, insights and stories from trucking industry experts across Australia.   

TMC Online will feature live and on-demand content that has been developed with input from the ATA’s Industry Technical Council and the wider trucking industry including: 

ATA STAFFERS MOVE ON

ATA CEO Andrew McKellar has resigned after five months in the role and will leave the ATA on Friday 6 August before commencing as the CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) on Monday 9 August. 

Member Services and Corporate Partnerships Director Dean Seeley who is taking on a new role within his successful and growing family business, Dean’s final day with ATA will be Friday 16 July.

Safety, Health and Wellbeing Director Melissa Weller will soon make the move to Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, joining the foundation as its new Director of Industry Relations and Program Management. Melissa’s final day will be Friday 23 July.

Chief Engineer Bob Woodward has been appointed as chair of the Standards Australia technical committee ME-053 Heavy Road Vehicles.

FRIDAY FUNNY 
Send jokes to office@alrta.org.au

My daughter went to a Mexican fast food and ordered a taco.

She asked the person behind the counter for ‘minimal lettuce.’

He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg lettuce.

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021

LRTAQ Conference – Roma QLD – 16-17 July 2021
LRTAWA Industry Day – Perth WA – 14 August 2021 – REGISTER
LRTAV Conference – Bendigo VIC – 20-21 August 2021
LTAT/National Combined Conference – Hobart TAS – 22-23 October 2021