BP would like to wish members a very happy holidays, and safe travels for those staying on the road!
If you are looking to fuel up this holiday period, our online site locator can help you plan your route and find your nearest BP.
Remember that if you are on the ALRTA member BP+ offer, you receive discounts at all BP branded service stations and enjoy maximum savings across our National Diesel Offer (NDO) sites. You can find a list of these sites on the membership portal OR by checking the box next to “NDO Sites” to only show these on our online site locator.
INFORMATION ON FIRES & ROAD CLOSURES
ALRTA encourages transport operators to check the current status of fires and road closures when travelling in this hot and busy period. With conditions worsening around Australia we have decided to expand the links published a few weeks ago to cover all of Australia.
You can find the primary links here
NATIONAL FATIGUE OPERATION UNDERWAY
The NHVR is urging heavy vehicle drivers to take care in the lead up to Christmas while Authorised Officers conduct a multi-agency fatigue compliance operation.
NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said the latest Operation Wake Up, coordinated by the NHVR, was underway across Australia with Authorised Officers checking drivers for compliance with fatigue regulations.
“Making sure that you’re managing your fatigue is one of the most important things you can do as a heavy vehicle operator to keep yourself and other road users safe,” Mr Salvati said.
“So far we’ve spoken to 2392 drivers and we are taking the opportunity to provide them with information and education.
Mr Salvati said there are also productivity benefits of complying with fatigue guidelines with an average delay for compliant vehicles of 15 minutes, compared to an average delay of 29 minutes for non-compliant vehicles.
The NHVR’s recent Tell a mate campaign is urging drivers to Recognise the signs of fatigue! Take a break and get home safe!
For more information on work and rest hours under the National Heavy Vehicle Law visit www.nhvr.gov.au/fatigue
ROAD TRAIN STEER AXLE MASS INCREASE
The steer axle limit for road trains has increased from 6.7 tonnes to 7.1 tonnes (for tyre widths of at least 375mm). This reflects the increases in modern road trains’ tare weight.
Minor changes are also underway to some vehicle standards regulations, including simplified long vehicle or road train warning sign requirements (see VSG19).
Complete information about the changes made to the Vehicle Standards is available in VSG2. A full list of Vehicle Standard Guides is available at www.nhvr.gov.au/vsg
CONSULTATION ON CHARGES BEGINS
The National Transport Commission (NTC) has formally commenced consultation on proposed increases to heavy vehicle charges of 2.5% for 2020-21 and 2021-22. Under the proposal, vehicle registration costs would increase by 2.5% in in each year and the Road User Charge (RUC) would increase to 26.4 cents per litre on 1 July 2020 and to 27.1 cents per litre on 1 July 2021.
Ministers were originally considering increases of 6.0%, 3.0% and 2.4% over three years from 1 July 2020. Effective industry lobbying in the lead up to the Transport Industry Ministerial Council on 22 November 2019 resulted in Ministers expressing a preference for the reduced increase of 2.5% in each year.
ALRTA will continue to argue that rural and regional Australia is already struggling with a depressed national economy, fires and widespread drought conditions and that no account has been taken of the $1.6b that the trucking industry has been over-charged since 2013-14.
Responses to the NTC Charging Consultation Report are due by 28 February 2020. ALRTA National Council will meet to consider the charging proposal on 7 February 2019.
NHVR ASSUMES CONTROL IN VICTORIA
All VicRoads on-road services have transitioned to the NHVR, with Victoria joining South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said operators would see distinctive NHVR uniforms and vehicles on Victorian roads.
“As a national regulator, the NHVR can provide nationally consistent training and enforcement methods and resources, and undertake more complex, cross-border Chain of Responsibility investigations,” Sal said.
“The borderless delivery of these services is another step towards consistency that supports productivity for operators and makes our roads safer for everyone.”
As part of the transition the NHVR will also provide escort services to the over-dimensional transport industry—a service previously provided by VicRoads.
Under the new arrangements, NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers will:
- provide escorts for vehicles carrying very large items
- conduct compliance check against permits.
The charge-out rate for these services is $227.00 per hour (including GST), with a minimum charge of two hours for weekdays and three hours for weekends and public holidays. These rates and conditions are consistent with those previously applied by VicRoads.
Booking a vehicle escort
To book and escort service email HVescorts@nhvr.gov.au or call 0417 091 454.
Before you book an escort service, ensure you have a permit for the journey as bookings cannot be done without a permit. Please also ensure invoices for previous bookings have been paid.
For more information head to this link – https://www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/national-services-transition
OSOM PERMITS IN QUEENSLAND
The processing of Class 1 Oversize and Overmass permit applications for Queensland will transfer from Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads to the NHVR from the 16 December 2019.
This is the last phase of the delegations to return to the NHVR and from this date, all permit applications in Queensland must be submitted to the NHVR via the NHVR Portal.
DRIVING DIVERSITY CHANGE – WE WANT YOU
ALRTA members have the chance to be part of a ground-breaking initiative that will celebrate industry diversity, develop diversity champions, and improve industry image.
The ATA’s Teletrac Navman Driving Change Diversity Program will showcase diversity champions to the trucking industry and wider community, promoting positive perception of industry and encouraging new entrants into the workforce.
While Australia is experiencing a big shift in the perception of transport, there is still a lot of ground to cover when it comes to diversifying the workplace.
Data shows the average Australian truck driver is a 47-year-old male, with females accounting for only three per cent of the driver workforce, and close to 60 per cent of truck drivers are aged 45 years or older.
The 2020 program will consist of filming program participant stories in their workplace, two days of diversity training and marketing campaign development workshops from 31 March – 1 April 2020, participation in Trucking Australia 2020, in Cairns from 1-3 April 2020 and an industry marketing and promotional campaign.
For more information: Fact Sheet
To apply: Nomination Form
Please send completed nomination forms to project@alrta.org.au by 31 January 2020.
For more information, to nominate yourself or someone you know for the program, get in touch with ALRTA to download a fact sheet and nomination form.
INTERNATIONAL ROAD SAFETY GUIDELINES
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has welcomed the release of new global road safety guidelines, which highlight the importance of upholding strong safety standards, fair payments for small businesses, improving truck rest areas, driver training and road safety.
The ATA and its member associations collectively represent the 50,000 business and 200,000 people in the Australian trucking industry. Together, the ATA and its members are committed to safety, professionalism and viability.
The guidelines were released following the United Nations International Labour Organization’s expert meeting in Geneva in September, where ATA Chair Geoff Crouch was selected to join, representing Australian and New Zealand truck and bus businesses.
ATA Chair Geoff Crouch joined experts from around the world to develop the code of practice and guidelines on best practices in road transport safety.
“It was an honour to be invited and hosted as a guest of the ILO,” Mr Crouch said.
“Road transport is critical to the economy both in Australia and globally, but we lose far too many people to road crashes.
“We need more action to improve safety on Australia’s roads. Globally, road fatalities are the eighth leading cause of death.
“These guidelines, if adopted globally, will save lives,” he said.
Mr Crouch said that the guidelines recognised significant safety, professionalism, and viability priorities for the industry.
“Safe working practices, fair payment terms for small business, improving driver training and industry diversity are all significant local priorities that are reflected in the guidelines,” Mr Crouch said.
“I was delighted with the need for good quality truck rest areas to also be reflected,” he said.
ATA CEO Ben Maguire congratulated Mr Crouch for his participation in the meeting and his input in influencing global legislation.
“This is our national trucking association at its finest,” Mr Maguire said.
“This has strengthened the ATA’s formal consultative relationship with all levels of government in not only Australia, but on a global scale,” he said.
Mr Maguire said the ILO expert meeting was a unique opportunity for the ATA to represent the Australian trucking industry and positively contribute to the development of important safety guidelines.
“Geoff’s participation in the forum highlights his commitment to the trucking industry, representing the best interests of Australians on this international platform,” Mr Maguire said.
Mr Crouch commended the triparted approach of guideline development, and the high level of standard that was implemented during the process.
“The experience of participating in the expert meeting followed by the guideline development was a fascinating process and provided many learnings that could be implemented in the way we develop legislation here in Australia,” Mr Crouch said.
“Having government, operators, regulators and other industry members all come together in the same room provided an invaluable collaborative opportunity.
“Not every clause will be applicable to Australia, but the guidelines reflect a number of our priorities and in some nations would represent big gains for road safety,” he said.
The guidelines are not binding on Australia and are not automatically implemented.
NTI – USE ‘ MEGA ROADSIDE REST AREAS’ THIS HOLIDAYS
Motorists, particularly those towing caravans, are being urged to be smart about how they share roadside rest stops with trucks this Christmas holiday season.
New statistics released today by Australia’s leading transport and logistics insurer, NTI, show 83% of fatigue-related accidents involving trucks in the lead up to Christmas last year happened between 10pm and 6am despite only one-sixth of the country’s freight being moved during those hours.
NTI’s General Manager Janelle Greene said over-crowding at rest areas was a major problem in managing fatigue at this time of year.
“Fatigue-related crashes are twice as likely to be fatal and it is critical everyone has a safe place to ‘stop, revive, survive’,” Ms Greene said.
New ‘mega roadside rest areas’ have started opening alongside highways across the country providing separate areas for cars, caravans and trucks as well as providing toilets and undercover seating areas.
“There are currently 12 mega sites around Australia with some big enough to fit more than 20 semi-trailers and they’re designed so that the truck’s cabin faces away from headlights on the highway so drivers can get some quality sleep.”
Ms Greene said holidaymakers and motorists using old-style rest stops could help by parking to one side.
Truck driver Peter Caldow said: “If there is a caravan or cars that aren’t parked in the correct area it makes it a bit harder for us.”
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has just completed an eight day Operation Wake Up across Australia targeting fatigue.
More than 4000 trucks were stopped between the 2nd and the 9th of December at 80 locations.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the overwhelming majority (93.9%) of heavy vehicle drivers were doing the right thing when it came to fatigue management.
“Managing your fatigue is one of the most important things you can do as a heavy vehicle operator to keep yourself and other road users safe and it is a responsibility drivers take very seriously because like other road users they want to get home to their family safely too,” Mr Petroccitto said.
Mega Rest Stop Locations:
- Darwin – Manton Dam
- Perth – Bindoon
- Brisbane – Nudgee, Gatton, Colinton
- Sydney – Partridge VC, Pheasants Nest, Cowan
- Melbourne – Wandong Southbound, Wandong Northbound, Jock Comini Memorial Rest Area, Ravenswood
ALRTA MAILOUT
Apologies if you received the ALRTA hardcopy mailout with an incorrect address, there was a glitch in the spreadsheet. Please be assured that the ALRTA database is correct. For those members who have not received their mailout, watch out for ‘Postman Pat’ this coming week.
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2020
LBRCA (NSW) on 6-7 March 2020 at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre NSW. Register Now
LRTAQ (QLD) on 19-21 March 2020 in Roma QLD. Register Now
LRTASA (SA)on 12-13 June 2020 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre SA.
LRTAWA/ALRTA (WA & National) on 24-25 July 2020. Location in WA to be advised.
LRTAV (VIC) on 14-15 August 2020 at All Seasons Resort Bendigo VIC.
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