WA TRANSPORT MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2020 EDITION

THE TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY MAGAZINE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WA

ISSN 2202-6193

100007516 December 2020 | price $6.95

TRANSPORT magazine

Page 12

IN THIS ISSUE: WA PBS Certification now available Rest areas – national solution needed New Cranbrook rest area Waste to Wages

DIGITAL ROAD TO A SMART PORT Fremantle Ports Senior Logistics Officer Dom Thatcher says the Port needs to use the best digital tools to create a seamless flow throughout the supply chain in and around the Fremantle Inner Harbour - so trucks can get in and out of the port in the least amount of time.

WATM • December 2020

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TWU Giving a Sh*t about Truckies’ Amenities

By Tim Dawson | Branch Secretary

Especially when fatigue is mandated by the government - not having acceptable places to stop should be illegal

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he TWU’s campaign to improve truck driver amenities on the highways of WA Roads is gaining a lot of momentum, thanks to the unrelenting termination of TWU members.

Driven by TWU members filling out surveys and petitions and making sure Governments understand the importance of truck drivers to the economy.

Now more than ever, if COVID-19 taught us anything it is that truck drivers are an essential cog in the wheel of the economy.

In 2020, the uncertainty of COVID-19 has shone the light on the disgusting conditions truck drivers have to endure. And the pandemic has highlighted the plight of long-distance truck drivers.

Finally, Pollies are recognising the current state of rest areas truckies have to endure, no hot showers and no clean toilets for hundreds of kilometres.

Especially when fatigue is mandated by the government – not having acceptable places to stop should be illegal.

TWU members have been beating the drum about this issue for quite some time.

Their campaign for better rest stops is finally been heard and receiving the recognition it deserves, how that transport workers, especially long-distance truck drivers, are an essential service.

That it is not good enough to have third world amenities in the 21st century.

The construction of new toilets and showers at the Cranbrook Heavy Vehicle rest bay, and toilets installed at Greys Plain truck bay near Carnarvon, are just a few examples of what has been won through this campaign already.

This is a start but it cannot stop there.

The TWU along with surveys and petitions to the government now has a working group of long-distance drivers that we are talking to, made up of operators who drive on all the routes around WA and the Eastern States.

The union is also consulting with Government on changes and a priority list of rest areas RTAA (hookup areas) and roadhouses that need urgent attention.

The working group has been working to identify hot spots and secure government funding for construction of amenities.

We also must, ensure that the councils or those responsible for the upkeep and care of the amenities, have the resources to clean and maintain the facilities so truckies have access to clean, safe and secure amenities.

This campaign goes straight to the heart of improving the transport industry, to make sure that we attract a new generation and retain the current generation in the industry.

It is necessary because the current workforce is aging, with the average age of a truck driver well over 45.

In order to attract younger operators, women operators and retain good operators we need have an industry that treats its operators like human-beings. Shows them the respect they deserve and have earned. How can we do that if we cannot even give them a decent sh*t house?

Truckies should not have to defecate on the side of the highway or piss in a bottle.

It is time for the Government to stop talking about improving rest areas and do something. We have put a plan to them to upgrade driver amenities after consultation with our members. We have a priority list and a medium to long term strategy to make sure that rest areas with amenities are brought into the 21st century.

It is a human right to have access to safe and secure sanitation.

We don’t live in a third world country so why shouldn’t we demand better?

This will lead to an ongoing process to ensure that our essential service truck drivers have the right amenities they have for so long deserved.

WORK IN TRANSPORT? PROTECT YOURSELF! JOIN YOUR UNION

đ&#x;Œ?đ&#x;Œ?đ&#x;Œ? www.twuwa.org.au

đ&#x;—¨đ&#x;—¨đ&#x;—¨ www.facebook.com/twuwa

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đ&#x;“žđ&#x;“žđ&#x;“ž 1800 657 477 ✉ info@twuwa.org.au

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Transport Workers Union - for the people who carry Australia

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Our Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk is available 7 days a week.

Talk to us about: Permits

Accreditation

OSOM movements

Route Assessments

Trafic Escort bookings

Compliance

The Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk is open from: 7am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 3.30pm Saturday, Sunday and WA public holidays.

Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services 525 Great Eastern Highway REDCLIFFE 6104

Tel: 138 486 Fax: 9475 8455 Email: hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au www.mainroads.wa.gov.au 1 WATM • December 2020

Focus

HEAVY VEHICLE REST AREAS – A national solution is needed

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ruck drivers throughout Australia have for many years been complaining about recreational vehicles, including, caravans, motorhomes, backpacker vans and cars using the designated ‘heavy vehicle rest areas’ (HVRA’s) and ‘truck stops’,” advises Ken Wilson manager of the Truck Friendly Caravan Road Safety Program.

Fatigue regulated truck drivers must by law stop and rest at regular intervals. Many company owned trucks are fitted with electronic monitoring to help ensure their drivers abide by these laws and the location of the truck is known at any point in time.

Rest areas have been placed at regular intervals along the highways so all drivers have a safe place to stop and rest. Many, but not enough, are designed for heavy commercial vehicles or fatigue regulated vehicles only.

Many truck drivers may have been driving the same routes for years and use the same rest areas on a regular basis and for that reason may assume that it is a ‘Truck Stop’, - but what does the signage on that area actually say?

“With COVID-19 there is an increase in

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WATM • December 2020

the number of recreational vehicles on the highways and with the lack of Government or industry funding for caravan road safety programs like the privately funded Truck Friendly Caravan Road Safety Program, the problem has been allowed to get to boiling point and we now have an unhealthy ‘us and them’ mentality between the two road user groups,” says Ken. “Truck drivers report that they arrive at a heavy vehicle rest area at 2am and often find it filled with RV’s leaving them nowhere to park a B-Double. They then feel forced to drive on, stretching their safe and legal driving hours to the limit or beyond. Truck drivers advise that some have been woken from their compulsory rest by RV drivers and asked to turn off their refrigeration units as the RV driver finds it hard to sleep with the noise.

“This attitude, and lack of understanding, helps fuel anxiety and frustration in all drivers which often is reflected in dangerous and aggressive driving behaviours by some,” says Ken. “There are good and bad drivers in all vehicle types. Most drivers want to, and do, do the right thing. There is also a

group in all vehicle classes that either are plain ignorant, or do not care about the safety of other drivers and those who are misinformed or uneducated. We cannot fix stupid with a law.

“The Queensland Government Transport Minister has recently announced changes commencing September 2020 to help fix the problem. I hope they pave the way to a national solution, and am assuming these changes will relate to the ‘legal definitions’.

Truck Friendly has been continually active in helping educate caravanner’s and motorhome drivers on the correct use of truck stops and HVRA’s and fully supports leaving the designated areas for the fatigue regulated vehicle driver’s exclusive use.

So, what is the real problem?

“We all know the intention of the rest areas and the laws are to allow fatigue regulated drivers a safe place to rest, but Governments on all levels have left large grey areas that will make it difficult to police and enforce intended usage”, says Ken. “The signage is ambiguous, nonconsistent interstate and within the same states, non-specific and does not refer to

the legislation. There are too many names, symbols, and silhouettes with nonspecific identified legal meanings. The ‘KIS principle’ needs to be applies – Keep It Simple.

“There are also limited fact checking or ‘truth in advertising’ when it comes to the multitude of rest area apps, books and web sites providing false and misleading information on where is the best place to spend the night. Information given by camper hire companies have also been reported to be very misleading and the legality in question.

Ken explains that as many truck drivers and RV drivers travel from state to state and they cannot be expected to stay up to date on all the individual state laws and definitions each time they cross a border.

“All States currently can’t agree on the maximum speed limit when towing a caravan, GVM and GCM upgrades etc., so please do not ask when a national towing licence will be introduced including caravans, horse floats, large boats and builders trailers etc.

“In my opinion, for any state to go it alone would be political and tourism suicide,” Ken states.

“Whilst most RV drivers do the right thing and respect other road users, many social media pages and their comments provide common ‘excuses’ on why they should be allowed to use HVRAs. These include, “I pay my taxes”, to “My vehicle is registered as a truck”, “My motorhome is over 4.5 tonne so I can legally use the heavy vehicle rest areas” and other such deliberate or accidental excuses. While we cannot fix all bad behaviour, with the current legislative situation it is hard to argue against them.

Let us look at some of the problems with individual State and NHVL legislation.

The National Heavy Vehicle Law, (NHVL) defines the following: - ‘Truck means a rigid motor vehicle built mainly as a load carrying vehicle’. This definition would also include every Mazda BT-50, Toyota Hi-Lux, Dodge Ram and many more vehicles/utes on the roads currently towing a caravan. So, we must ask who can then ‘legally’ use a rest area signed ‘TRUCK STOP’, or ‘Truck parking only’ etc.

“Heavy vehicle has the meaning given

by Section 6 - For the purposes of this Law - a vehicle is a heavy vehicle if it has a GVM or ATM of more than 4.5t. Also, for the purposes of this Law, a combination that includes a vehicle with a GVM or ATM of more than 4.5t is a heavy vehicle.”

“Therefore with this definition of the law - many

motorhomes who are well over 4.5t GVM are also included as being able to legally use HVRAs. “Queensland has just changed some definitions to help solve the problem but does it? Under Transport Infrastructure (State-controlled Roads) and other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2020 Subordinate Legislation 2020 No. 203 there is ‘no’ definition of a truck. So, if this is the case, why do we have signage saying, ‘Truck rest area’, ‘Truck Stop’ etc. when they have no legal meaning?

However: - there is an entry entitled ‘Commercial Truck’ which means a vehicle, other than a general vehicle or fatigueregulated heavy vehicle— (a) with a GVM over 4.5t and designed to carry goods; or (b) with a GVM over 4.5t designed to carry goods and is towing a trailer or a combination of trailers.”

“While this may be a definite step in the right direction, there is still no commercial

Many rest areas simply have a silhouette of a car and truck that leave caravanner's and large motorhomes confused. Many ‘car areas’ are simply not big enough to turn around a large motorhome or car towing a caravan and yet recreational travellers feel condemned if they use the truck areas.

Ken suggests clearer signage that reflects the actual intended use of the rest area in relation to the legislation and calls for a ‘national approach’ to this matter.

For example: - “FATIGUE REGULATED VEHICLES ONLY” or “COMMERCIAL HEAVY VEHICLES ONLY”.

“If we want drivers to move to the end of a rest area to allow for long vehicles to park, why do we have the tables and seats placed in the middle of the parking area encouraging cars and RV drivers to park beside the tables blocking long vehicle parking access,” Ken asks?

“Let’s make it easy for people to do the right thing even if they do not know they

Truck Drivers have been asked to turn off their refrigeration units as the RV driver finds it hard to sleep with the noise. usage requirement in the definition and only implied by the name. The inclusion of ‘designed to carry goods will help remove many motorhomes etc. from the definition.

“The inclusion of a 4.5t weight GVM also will exclude the BT-50, Hilux and other utes used to pull a caravan. There are however many vehicles of 4.5t designed to carry goods, towing caravans, or 5th wheelers. The simple inclusion of a ‘commercial use’ in the definition will help keep them out also,” suggests Ken. “Whilst Queensland is certainly on the right track with their changes, not all states are a part of the NHVL so there are differences in legislation from state to state.

So, we also need to clearly identify which legislation overrides which regarding the use of rest areas, and ensure uniformity between the states and territories, if we are going to have an enforceable legal pathway.

NOW WE GET TO SIGNAGE Ken asks, “Does the signage reflect the relevant state legislation and is it consistent and easily understood nationally?”

“We have just seen that there is no definition of a ‘Truck’ under one states legislation so what are the definitions in other states and do they match the signage?

are doing it.”

Changes to make clearer, enforceable signage, better designed and additional rest areas will cost money, but with the large number of fatigue related vehicle accidents, money needs to be spent.

“We constantly see road works to have highways bypass the small communities therefore limiting the visual clue, and signage to stop and rest. All new road works need large segregated and clearly signed rest areas for all vehicle types to encourage safer driving practices.

“All drivers need their rest, and we should all agree that we need many more, better signed and designed rest areas to cater for the different vehicles and fastchanging demographic of highway usage while encouraging all to rest when tired by making it easier for all.

I and many others want to fix this problem and remove the accidental or deliberate misinterpretation it creates.

However, until we conduct a full audit and compatibility of rest area legislation and signage on a National level, we will still have truck drivers denied their legal and safe rest requirements.

For more information on the Truck Friendly Program visit www.truckfriendly.com.au WATM • December 2020

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WA

TRANSPORT

magazine

VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 11 Angry Chicken Publishing Pty Ltd Telephone 0430 153 273 www.angrychicken.com.au ABN: 35 486 530 095

PUBLISHER / COMMISSIONING EDITOR Karen-Maree’ Kaye T: 08 9296 4488 Email: karen@angrychicken.com.au WRITERS Karen-Maree' Kaye, Russell McKinnon CONTRIBUTORS Jan Cooper, Cam Dumesny, Carol Messenger, Ray Pratt ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Angry Chicken Head Office T: 0430 153 273 E: karen@angrychicken.com.au

FROM THE PUBLISHER

I

think I say this every year, but can you believe it is nearly Christmas.

Well, like many of you I am looking forward to the end of 2020 and it will have to go down as one of the most challenging years I have ever encountered. Who would have thought that we would be hit by a global pandemic and all that ensued from it.

For me, and the magazine, I am ever so grateful to our Federal Government because without the assistance they have given to so many in this country I would not still be in business. I am thankful to live in Western Australia and I just hope that some common sense can return to human kind… the kind of common sense that I see more in the transport industry

than anywhere else – where there are good, honest, hardworking people who are genuine. Yes, there are clowns in every circus but being involved with this sector and its people has helped keep me grounded.

So onwards and upwards to 2021.

Let’s hope the vaccines bring things back to normality. Here’s to all of you, my readers, all the advertisers, the contributors… I raise my glass of bubbly to you all and wish you every prosperity, happiness and wellbeing for the New Year.

Best,

DESIGN / PREPRESS Cally Browning | Bare Creative ACCOUNTS T: 08 9296 4488 E: accounts@angrychicken.com.au

CONTENTS

PRINTER Daniels Printing Craftsmen SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions available directly from the Publisher.

T: 08 9296 4488 E: karen@angrychicken.com.au Australia: 1 year $65.95 (inc GST) 2 years $127.55 (inc GST)

Karen

2............................................... Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas – A national solution is needed 6............................................... WA PBS Standards Certification now available 9............................................... Letters to the Editor 10............................................ WA Budget delivers another blow for small business 11............................................... Federal Budget encourages business investment

Overseas subscribers: Airmail postage will be added to subscription rate.

12............................................ The digital road to a Smart Port

Editorial Submissions: The Publisher welcomes

14............................................ Record jobs and sales in WA’s resources sector

editorial submissions. Once received they will become the property of the Publisher who reserves the right to edit the or adjust the content to fit with the format of our publication.

15............................................ Critical road upgrades for the Mid-West 16............................................ Western Roads Federation – WA Transport supports Waste to Wages 18............................................ LRTAWA – Time to secure the future

West Australian Transport Magazine (WATM) is published by Angry Chicken Publishing Pty Ltd ABN: 35 486 530 095 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, adapted or transmitted in any form by any process (graphic, electronic, mechanical or storage and retrieval system) or sold, resold or otherwise exploited for any purpose without consent of the Publisher.

The publisher, contributors, editors and consultants disclaim any and all liability and responsibility to any person or party, be they a purchaser, reader, advertiser or consumer of this publication in regards to consequences and outcomes of anything done or omitted, or being in reliance whether partly or solely on the contents of this publication. No person, organization or party should rely on or on any way act upon any part of the contents of this magazine without first obtaining the advice of a fully qualified person. The Publisher shall have no responsibility for any action or omission by contributor, consultant, editor or related party for content within WATM. The opinions and content within WATM does not necessarily reflect those of the Publisher, editor or their agents. No responsibility is accepted for damage or loss of material supplied to the publisher.

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WATM • December 2020 October 2020

19............................................ Bullsbrook Intermodal Container Terminal 20.......................................... High fatalities from truck crashes 21............................................ New animal welfare regulations for WA

Every Month 7................................................ Questions to WA State Government 8............................................... A Fair Go for Owner Drivers 10............................................ Bird’s Eye View 22.......................................... HCVC 24.......................................... WA Transport History

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News

Western Australian Performance Based Standards Certification now available at Heavy Vehicle Services

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estern Australia’s Performance Based Standards (PBS) Scheme offers heavy vehicle transport operators the ability to achieve higher productivity and safety through innovative vehicle design. The PBS Scheme looks at how well a vehicle performs on the road by assessing the vehicle’s design against a set of safety performance standards, rather than prescriptive limits.

PBS vehicles are specifically designed to achieve improved efficiency and safety outcomes. The assessment process ensures that vehicles meet a minimum safety performance standard, as stipulated in the WA PBS Scheme Standards and Vehicle Assessment Rules, and each PBS vehicle is certified to ensure it meets the particular PBS design specifications. This is in contrast to conventional road trains that can be configured in any manner, provided they meet prescriptive limits.

Previously, the PBS certification service for Western Australian operators was provided by National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) approved PBS Certifiers however, as these certifiers are based outside Western Australia, local applicants were often paying more (to cover associated travel and accommodation expenses for the Certifier).

Main Roads’ Heavy Vehicle Services (HVS) has been actively working towards implementing a more efficient certification process for Western Australian operators, along with reduced associated costs. Staff have been trained to undertake vehicle certification and, as a result, where PBS vehicles can be presented for inspection in the Perth Metropolitan Area, HVS can offer PBS vehicle certification at no cost. Where a vehicle cannot be relocated to Perth for an inspection, HVS staff can travel to an 6

WATM • December 2020

agreed location within WA to complete the inspection. In these instances, HVS will seek to recover costs for travel and/ or accommodation (in agreeance with the applicant).

This certification service will only be available to applicants under the WA PBS Scheme. Applicants who have submitted

applications under the National PBS Scheme will still need to comply with the National PBS rules, and engage an NVHR approved PBS Certifier.

For more information about the PBS Scheme in Western Australia, please visit mainroads. wa.gov.au > Heavy Vehicle Services or call the HVS Helpdesk on 138 486.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OPENING HOURS

M

ain Roads wishes to advise that on Friday 18 December, the HVS public counter will be closed from midday. Telephone enquiries will be handled by the Customer Information Centre on behalf of the Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk on 138 HVO (138 486) until 5pm.

During the Christmas / New Year period, the Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk and the Notices and Permits Section will be operating in accordance with the following times: DATE

OPERATING HOURS

Saturday 19 December ~ Sunday 20 December

Closed

Monday 21 December ~ Thursday 24 December

7am ~ 5pm (reception counter open 8:30am ~ 4:30pm)

Friday 25 December ~ Monday 28 December

Closed

Tuesday 29 December ~ Thursday 31 December

7am ~ 6pm (reception counter open 8:30am ~ 4:30pm)

Friday 1 January 2021

Closed

Saturday 2 January 2021 onwards

Normal service resumes

For further information, please contact the Heavy Vehicle Services Helpdesk on 138 486 or hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au

Over to you QUESTIONS TO THE WA STATE GOVERNMENT Thank you to our WA State Government for answering WA Transport Magazine reader’s questions. If you have a question that is related to the transport industry please email it to the publisher at: karen@angrychicken.com.au

QUESTION Who removed the rubbish bins from the parking bays between Sandfire and Roebuck Roadhouse leaving skip bins at the 24 hour tourist stopovers Goldwire and Stanley that trucks cannot access? Where have all the bins gone from Perth to Kununurra and when will they be installed from Pardoo up? Plenty of tourist bins but they are not accessible with a triple road train. There are two bins at Derby T Junction and none in designated truck bays through to Halls Creek. What is going on?

Response from Main Road’s Spokesperson Main Roads is continuously working to improve the condition and appearance of WA’s vast State road network within its available budget. Funding for roads is limited however, and the monies available must be directed to those areas providing the greatest community benefit.

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With approximately 18,500 kilometres of roads under the Agency’s responsibility, it is not possible to maintain litter-free road verges for anything other than short periods of time without a significant increase in resources, particularly if people continue to litter.

Main Roads has been actively working with Keep Australia Beautiful Council (KABC) over an extended period of time in a bid to reduce litter along our state road network and recently committed $400,000 to KABCs WA Naturally Thanks You campaign which encourages motorists to use vehicle litter bags which are available for free at roadhouse locations.

The replacement of the smaller 200 litre drum bins with 2.5m3 skip bins in the Kimberley was undertaken as part of trial in 2016 which saw the bins removed from parking bays and replaced with some strategic litter collection points along the Great

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Northern Highway, mainly at 24 hr rest areas.

After feedback from the freight industry, additional skip bins were placed at locations accessible to road trains, including at Derby Highway intersection, Spring Creek, and Wyndham intersection and you are able to access and use waste disposal facilities provided at road houses and town-sites which is now generally well accepted.

After the bins were removed, the amount of litter on the ground in parking bays reduced significantly and there was no noticeable increase in roadside litter however, it is noted that litter continues to be a problem in the parking bays, which are still cleaned regularly.

Main Roads acknowledges that the smaller bins are not always accessible for heavy vehicle operators and, as such, will investigate the provision of more suitable bins at heavy vehicle rest areas.

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7

Over to you A FAIR GO FOR OWNER DRIVERS by Ray Pratt

OWNER DRIVERS BATTLE TO STAY IN BUSINESS

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wner Drivers like most small businesses really battle to stay in business. It is a mammoth task for an Owner Driver to purchase a truck, obtain good work and then get paid for doing that work.

Buying the truck isn’t too difficult as there are plenty of avenues to go down to get financial help to get started. Finding work isn’t too hard at the moment as the country is experiencing a huge shortage of drivers.

Getting a job that pays well is difficult but getting paid in an acceptable time frame is what brings a lot of Owner Drivers undone. Too many Owner Drivers have to wait in excess of thirty days for payment.

The law in Western Australia states that Owner Drivers must be paid in fourteen days after receiving a claim for payment. If you have an agreement with the company you work for then payment may be made in thirty days after receiving a claim. The law does not get any clearer than that.

Many will say that they have never heard of such a law. This law was put in place over ten years ago after a lot of work by the then minister of transport Alannah Mac Tiernan, concerned Owner Drivers and the Transport Workers Union. The idea was to ensure that truck drivers are paid a safe and sustainable rate and they are paid within a

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WATM • December 2020

reasonable time frame.

The sad outcome is a lot of transport companies think they are above the law and choose to ignore this. Some of this problem is the fault of Owner Drivers for not standing up for their rights and demanding better working conditions.

I have been made aware of cases where Owner Drivers have tried to educate their transport companies about this Act and they have been shown the door and told never come back.

This merry go round of hard work and

Every month, fuel companies, insurance companies and a myriad of other companies expect their accounts to be paid on time irrespective of whether you are getting paid regularly

then waiting for payment presents the biggest obstacle in Owner Drivers staying in business. The big companies that dictate what and when you get paid need to be held accountable as drivers struggle to stay afloat.

Every month, fuel companies, insurance companies and a myriad of other companies expect their accounts to be paid on time irrespective of whether you are getting paid regularly.

This action by big business screwing small businesses is not new and does not just apply to the transport industry. For too long now, big business uses this late payment issue as a cheap means of funding their big empires and they care little about what it does to the economy and to how they ruin the lives of individuals. All that seems to matter to them is their bottom line and taking home huge bonuses at the end of the year.

So what is the answer?

I would love to name and shame these greedy companies and expose them and their dishonesty. They all do a terrific job getting on the media saying what good corporate citizens they are but as far as I’m concerned they are nothing short of greedy thieves that are prospering at the expense of the real workers of this country. ~ Keep it Safe, Ray Pratt.

Over to you YOUR SAY

Letters to the editor Open letter of concern for the transport industry

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s predicted many years ago, the driver shortage is now biting hard.

Almost every company, large and small, are suffering the consequences of intergenerational hand sitting, from both Government and industry leaders.

Even the big companies, whose practice of driver poaching, is not working for them now.

To their credit, the WA state government, has allocated some funding for a driver training pilot scheme in Collie.

However, it seems not well supported with resources or clear vision as to what the outcomes should be.

It is my understanding that in the Collie pilot scheme initial intake of students, there was over 50 candidates. However, when told that the course did not include a licence upgrade from the minimum HR to HC, fifty immediately withdrew their candidacy, leaving only seven to continue.

This is the same story we had with the Blue Card system.

Why bother participating when there

is no benefit or outcome which gives the student a pathway into the industry or better pay and conditions for higher skill levels. Any training must provide skills which benefit the employer and are worth more money to the participant, or at least an upgraded licence.

How can we have a situation where we have 7% unemployment and up to 15% youth unemployment, especially in the regions and no one to drive trucks?

The issue is the cost of getting the licence. This is the single biggest hurdle facing a prospective entrant into the transport sector. The licence cost for a young person on unemployment benefits or a low wage is the problem.

Government just seems unable to recognise this and seems happy for these people to remain on social welfare instead of stumping up the cost of getting these people a licence and off a long-term demoralising welfare system. It just makes no sense to be paying people $30,000 plus a year to look

More protection for small businesses

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mall businesses will soon be better protected when entering into contracts with big business after federal and state governments made a joint agreement to outlaw unfair contract terms.

Unfair contract protections were extended to small businesses back in 2016, however, under current laws, unfair contract terms are not illegal, which means contract terms can be voided by courts but civil penalties cannot be imposed.

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar announced the government has secured the agreement of state and territory consumer affairs ministers to strengthen protections for SMEs, saying the changes will:

• make unfair terms unlawful and give courts the power to impose a civil penalty; • expand the definition of small business and removing the requirement for a contract to be below a certain value; and • clarify what is a ‘standard form contract’ and when the protections apply.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell welcomed the national agreement, saying financial penalties will be “a real disincentive” for large businesses to have unfair contract terms and the new guidelines will see a significant expansion to the size of businesses covered by the protections.

for work and not pay a one off two or three thousand dollars for a truck drivers’ licence.

Would it not benefit the entire community for a welfare recipient to become a tax payer? People who want to contribute are not being assisted sensibly by government and the industry needs to stop complaining about it stand up and be counted.

Our goal of professionalising the transport industry, making it safer for all road users and creating a pathway to a future apprenticeship, is now a reality.

However, it is still a pilot initiative.

The industry needs all involved supporting this initiative moving forward. It must have an objective and that is a licence upgrade. Industry support to encourage both students and operators to see value in this initiative is crucial. If government would subsidise existing employees with an HR licence that wish to upgrade and employers also contribute, this may yet be a salvageable scheme.

We need to get serious about this situation or the entire Australian community will eventually suffer. It is the same principle as the farmers now ploughing in crops because they have no one to pick fruit and vegetables. Companies are about to have trucks parked up and produce just will not be able to get to market. Let’s make this happen.

On another note, I also read with interest and frustration the letter to the Main Roads in the November edition of WA Transport Magazine regarding no toilet facilities at a new parking bay. Main Roads suggested that it was not too far into town and if truck drivers needed to go to the toilet or refresh themselves, then they could drive into town.

This is a pretty flippant comment at best and shows the contempt with which our industry is held. I did make a similar comment regarding the Bunbury road train assembly area which also has nothing in the way of facilities for drivers. The Federal Government allocated 10 million dollars for this facility.

Mark Mazza CEO Express Group WA. WATM • December 2020

9

Over to you BIRDS EYE VIEW by Carol Messenger

Thumbs up for the new Shire of Cranbrook rest area

H

ow great it is to report on a good news story for a change.

Truckies have always been the lifeblood of this country. If it wasn't for the trucks that bring in the supplies and cart the grain, produce and livestock in and out, most of the small rural towns would cease to exist. So it is really wonderful that the Shire of Cranbrook think enough about truck drivers, their safety and well-being that they were prepared to put their money where their mouth is and provide us with

some proper facilities.

And what a wonderful facility it is.

Opened on Friday 30th October 2020, by Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner, the new rest area (which is situated a few kilometres south of the Cranbrook town site on the corner of Albany Highway and the Great Southern Highway) has room for at least eight road trains and includes two unisex toilets, two unisex showers and a shower/toilet with disability access. Also included is an onsite solar farm providing

power for the lighting and with a gas hot water system on the showers it means that truck drivers can clean and freshen up after a long day at work.

Outgoing CEO Peter Northover was delighted with the facility. With the CBH grain facility being expanded to 530 million tonnes, which makes it the second largest receival point in the state, Mr Northover wanted to ensure that they could help make sure that drivers accessing CBH and the town were well rested.

WA Budget delivers a blow to small businesses News

S

hadow Minister for Small Business Alyssa Hayden has expressed serious concerns for the WA Small Business community following the release of the 2020-21 State Budget after revelations it will be slugged by a 16% increase in electricity bills.

Ms Hayden said the Budget failed to recognise that the strength and resilience

10

WATM • December 2020

of small businesses is the key to WA’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

“The Labor Government’s Budget revealed that electricity bills for small businesses will increase by 16% over the next four years, with an increase of 3.7% per year for the next four years for all businesses,” Ms Hayden said.

“This is another burden on small businesses at a time when so many are struggling and this Budget highlights the fact that small businesses have again been neglected by the current State Government.

“Western Australia is the only state in Australia that has not awarded grants up to $10,000 to small businesses affected by COVID-19.”

Built at a total cost of around $1.6 million this project has been three years in the making. Main Roads contributed $485K and the other $1.2 million came from the Road Trauma trust fund.

Concerned that there were no suitable rest areas between Williams and Albany and with their harvest intake growing steadily which necessitated a large number of trucks delivering into the town, the Shire first touted this idea in 2017 with the then Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia as a safety issue.

Main Roads originally planned the rest bay as just a small strip of gravel. Certainly no showers, no toilets and advised that drivers could use the town's toilets.

Obviously no-one at Main Roads have ever tried to negotiate a road train round the

small back streets of town (even if we were permitted to do so) in order to pee in private.

The Shire Council stuck to its guns, using safety concerns for both its town citizens ‘and’ the truck drivers. They managed to reclaim some land from a local farmer and lease an area from Main Roads and the plan started to become a reality.

New incoming shire CEO Greg Blycha was one of those originally on the Road Safety Commission Management Team and has been instrumental in seeing this project through to completion.

Aware that this rest area will be used, in the majority, by grain carters who access CBH in the grain season, CBH have agreed to pay for the maintenance and cleaning for six months of the year with the Shire of Cranbrook covering the other six months.

This really is a fantastic initiative on behalf of the Shire of Cranbrook and other shires need to look at providing similar areas within their shire boundaries. Main Roads who have so many rules, regulations and ‘fines’ for those who contravene fatigue management rules, in my opinion, need to get real and put a stack more of these up and down the highway if they are serious about truck drivers getting a good night's sleep and being refreshed for the morning.

So let’s support the towns that support us. If you are heading through Cranbrook try stopping and support a cafe or business in town. The three cafe's Kaffee 107, Nana Vick’s and Cafe 124 all have plenty of parking for trucks and would welcome the extra business.

It wonderful that the Shire of Cranbrook thinks enough about truck drivers, their safety and well-being and provides us with some proper facilities The WA Transport industry thanks the Shire of Cranbrook and everyone involved for building a purpose built ‘truck’ facility

Federal Budget encourages business investment News

T

he introduction of temporary full expensing will drive trucking business investment and encourage the purchase of new, safer trucks and trailers.

Businesses with a turnover of up to $5 billion will be able to write off the full value of any new eligible asset they

purchase for their business. For small and medium businesses, this will also include second-hand assets.

The budget announcement also includes: • Offset tax losses for businesses with up to $5 billion turnover • JobMaker hiring credit, an employer wage subsidy for hiring young

Australians • JobTrainer skills package, including a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 100,000 new apprentices or trainees • $110 billion infrastructure pipeline including upgraded truck rest area, bridges and roads, and $17.8 billion in personal income tax relief.

WATM • December 2020

11

News

THE DIGITAL ROAD TO A SMART PORT

H

ow does a port become more efficient and productive? How can the supply chain work smarter?

According to Fremantle Ports Senior Logistics Officer Dom Thatcher, the port of the future must be smart and digital to remain relevant and sustainable.

“Fremantle Ports needs to use the best digital tools to create a seamless flow throughout the supply chain in and around the Fremantle Inner Harbour, so that we can get trucks in and out of the port in the least amount of time.

“Most ports in the world are moving this way and Fremantle Ports is exploring and pioneering these technologies.”

But that doesn’t mean costs and effort will be borne by the road transport industry.

“The road transport industry will receive intrinsic benefits there will be free-flowing traffic through the port, we will minimise or eradicate queueing and we’ll improve truck turnaround times as the digital tools enable us to anticipate potential problems and take mitigating action before they occur.”

So how does the Port of Fremantle become a Smart Port?

Fremantle Ports has been working on innovative digital initiatives to assist it to advance key strategic and operational opportunities and challenges.

“The future smart port will deliver integrated solutions that optimise port and supply chain efficiency, while minimising community and environmental impacts,” Dom said.

“In a logistics context, the term Smart Port refers to a shift from being a traditional port infrastructure provider to also being a provider of digital solutions for the entire port ecosystem, including multimodal supply chain participants, and the nearby port and broader communities.

“This means taking on an impartial data governance role to enable the development and management of digital solutions for the benefit of the port ecosystem.”

Dom said, from a broad organisational perspective, becoming a Smart Port meant developing solutions to address the current and future challenges faced by seaports, including spatial and physical constraints, pressures on efficiency and productivity, new business opportunities, safety and security risks, and sustainability.

“Our exploration of Smart Port digital initiatives started with identifying the key driving features of the port’s landside logistics activities, from which a series of models, tools and concepts were developed.

“Finally, a single platform was created to unify the various initiatives.”

The series of models, tools and concepts are at varying stages of development, ranging from conceptual through to pilot and finally operational.

They include a Landside Logistics Activity Model, WA Supply Chain Data Intelligence Hub, Trade Prediction Model, Trade Data Visualisation Globe, 3D Digital Twin, Truck and Train Video Analytics, Container Tracking Concept, Green Light

3D Digital Twin of Fremantle Inner Harbour: A virtual representation of the physical port, enabling in an unprecedented manner real-time visualisation of the key functional components of the port

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WATM • December 2020

Motorcade Concept and Port Carbon Footprint Concept.

He said the convergence of these digital initiatives would fundamentally transform the way Fremantle Ports and its supply chain partners do business.

“It will allow us to shift from the current reactive nature of our supply chain to being proactive and innovative.”

“Real-time information and enhanced visualisation provided by our digital capability will deliver new insights and intelligence that will enable supply chain optimisation.”

“Through an understanding of the potential of digital technology, we have defined our digital vision which is to transform our port capability through digitisation and redefine our position as an essential physical and digital node in the supply chain, by developing real-time, living models that drive business outcomes.

“Our ability to anticipate and optimise will be markedly enhanced, which will unlock unprecedented potential and opportunity to capitalise on our new capabilities, leading to a significant step change across the organisation.

“This is a journey for us all that might take several years to come to fruition and, together with our port partners, we are striving to generate tangible benefits across the supply chain.”

Dom Thatcher

BEST CONTAINER TRUCK TURNAROUND TIME AT * AUSTRALIAN PORTS

www.fremantleports.com.au

WATM • December 2020

80220

*Fremantle Port’s average truck turnaround time was the shortest of the five Australian major port terminals, Waterline 65, Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.

13

News

Record jobs and sales in WA’s resources sector

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estern Australia's resources industry experienced record sales of $172 billion in the 2019-20 financial year, according to statistics released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

Iron ore sales reached a record $103 billion on increased output and an eightyear price high.

Gold sales also soared to an all-time high of almost $16 billion, with prices averaging more than $2,300 per ounce.

Mineral exploration expenditure hit

$1.7 billion, an increase of 17 per cent from $1.4 billion in 2018-19.

Oil sales increased to $2.6 billion on higher volumes, despite lower prices across the first half of 2020, while nickel sales recovered to more than $3.1 billion, a four-year high.

A record average of 135,000 people were employed in the resources sector during 2019-20, up from 128,374 the previous year. Iron ore and nickel construction activities accounted for most of the growth, while exploration

$98 million graphite processing facility planned for Rockingham

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ockingham is set to house a multi-million-dollar downstream processing facility supporting Western Australia’s growing battery minerals industry, with the signing of an agreement between DevelopmentWA and EcoGraf.

The demand for battery minerals in electric vehicles and battery storage systems has created an exciting opportunity for Western Australia, which has the fourth largest reserves of graphite in the world.

EcoGraf has signed an option to lease on two lots in the Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area (SIA), with plans to develop a graphite processing facility in two stages.

The development, occupying 6.7 hectares, is expected to commence construction in mid-2021 and create up

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WATM • December 2020

to 200 construction jobs and 75 ongoing operational jobs once complete.

WA-based EcoGraf owns a patented state-of-the-art, eco-friendly graphite purification process, catering to strong demand in global markets for environmentally responsible battery-grade spherical graphite.

Production capacity for Stage 1 of the proposed Rockingham facility is 5,000 tons of battery-grade spherical graphite per annum, increasing to 20,000 tons per annum with the completion of Stage 2.

Rockingham SIA was chosen as the site of the proposed facility due to its existing infrastructure, access to global markets, and recent lithium developments and related activity in the Rockingham-Kwinana region.

employment also increased 12 per cent.

Almost $19 billion was invested in WA's resources sector, up from $17 billion in 2018-19. This represents the first year-on-year increase in mining and petroleum investment since the 2012-13 iron ore and LNG boom. There are currently more than $100 billion worth of projects in the pipeline.

For more information, visit http://dmp. wa.gov.au/About-Us-Careers/LatestStatistics-Release-4081.aspx

WA Premier Mark McGowan said, “The allocation of this prime industrial land to EcoGraf supports the State Government's Future Battery Industry Strategy, which aims to grow this emerging sector in WA and transform it into a significant source of economic development, diversification, jobs and skills.

“Importantly, this proposed multi-milliondollar investment comes just two months after the opening of Alloy Road unlocked new strategic industrial land. This is another demonstration of the great work done by the Industrial Lands Authority facilitate to industry growth and investment in WA.”

News

Critical road upgrades for the Mid-West

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ore than $20 million has been allocated by the State Government to fund critical road upgrades throughout the Mid-West region.

Upgrades already underway or due to be completed before the middle of 2021 are: • $4.8 million worth of upgrades to Brand Highway between Cooljarloo and Badgingarra - works include 30 kilometres of widening and installation of audible edge lines. Work will start in November 2020 and is expected to be completed by April 2021; • $2 million to upgrade the intersection of Brand Highway and Barrett Drive preliminary safety works to commence next month with major works to start in January 2021; • $10.1 million of upgrades to Great Northern Highway - 75 kilometres of widening and installation of audible edge lines in the Shire of Meekatharra. Work to commence in January 2021 and is expected to be completed by June 2021; • $3.8 million to upgrade Indian Ocean Drive - includes 30 kilometres of widening and installation of audible edge lines in the shires of Gingin and Dandaragan. Work started in September

and is expected to be completed in December 2020; • $1.83 million - to install a roundabout at Durlacher and Maitland streets, in conjunction with the City of Greater Geraldton, due to be completed early next year; and • $120,000 for North West Coastal Highway - This includes installing street lighting from Johnston Street to Utakarra Road. Works to start in December 2020 and are expected to be completed by June 2021.

Given the expected traffic increases during the upcoming Christmas holiday period, Main Roads will put in place a temporary restriction of right turn movements into and out of Barrett Drive by November 2020.

Major work will commence in early 2021 and will include: • installation of a separate southbound left turn lane from Brand Highway into Barrett Drive, allowing clearer visibility for turning traffic; • widening of the intersection of Brand Highway and Barrett Drive to improve safety of truck movements from Barrett Drive onto Brand Highway; • extending the dual southbound lanes

on Brand Highway past Lockyer Road, moving the merge point past the Lockyer intersection; • intersection improvements at Lockyer Road/Brand Highway; and • new median and island treatments.

As part of a recent visit to Geraldton, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti met with local government representatives to discuss the Dongara-GeraldtonNorthampton Planning study.

The preferred route was defined by a Main Roads alignment selection study which was undertaken to identify a road corridor that could provide a long-term solution for freight, safely accommodate heavy vehicle combinations and remove heavy vehicles from town sites.

Following extensive community feedback and investigations, the preferred single corridor between Dongara, Geraldton and Northampton has been proposed.

Community consultation on the preferred corridor commenced in late September and anyone interested is encouraged to visit www.mysaytransport. wa.gov.au/dongara-geraldton-northampton before January 29, 2021 to have their say on the route.

Coolgardie-Esperance Highway set for $52 million upgrade

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oad safety and regional jobs in south-central Western Australia will get a boost, with Highway Construction named as the preferred proponent to upgrade the CoolgardieEsperance Highway.

Upgrades will be delivered on the 25-kilometre section between the Goldfields Highway intersection and Widgiemooltha, known as Emu Rocks South, supporting approximately 90 jobs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said, “Our focus is on getting people back into work quickly, which is why we have committed $1.5 billion to prioritise shovelready projects and targeted road safety works that can boost the economy and support jobs immediately.

“The Australian Government’s $110 billion 10-year infrastructure pipeline will support our economy and create jobs, particularly for those in the construction and manufacturing industries.”

Western Australian Minister for Transport

and Planning Rita Saffioti said the project formed part of the State Government’s $80 million investment to upgrade road infrastructure and support local jobs in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

“Over 290,000 vehicles use this remote stretch of road every year, of which nearly 35 per cent are heavy vehicles,” Minister Saffioti said.

Over 290,000 vehicles use this remote stretch of road every year, of which nearly 35 per cent are heavy vehicles “This critical upgrade will significantly improve safety for locals, tourists and freight operators alike.

“The $52 million investment is part of our ongoing commitment to provide safer regional roads across Western Australia.”

Works will include constructing a northbound and southbound passing

lane north of Widgiemooltha, upgrading intersections at Goldfields Highway and Kingswood Street, and widening and sealing road shoulders.

The Coolgardie-Esperance Highway at Emu Rocks forms part of the PerthAdelaide route on the National Land Transport Network.

Federal Member for O'Connor Rick Wilson said, “By investing in this stretch of the highway we are supporting the productivity of regional industries on what is a major freight route through the Goldfields-Esperance region, with around two million tonnes transported each year.”

The project will also include replacement and extension of culverts and installation of signage, line marking and audio tactile edge and centre lines.

Construction is due to start in December 2020 and completion is expected by April 2022.

The $52 million project is jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $41.6 million and the Western Australian Government $10.4 million.

WATM • December 2020

15

Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO

WA Transport Industry Supports Waste to Wages

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ast month, myself representing Western Roads Federation and the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Labor Senator for Western Australia, Glenn Sterle took a full road train of pre-loved and unwanted furniture from Perth to Kununurra to support local families in the East Kimberley.

I don’t think too many Australian Federal Senators can drive a road train, let alone drive one up and back to Kununurra.

To make this possible, the support and contribution from our West Australian transport industry was incredible.

As was the reception we received once we got there.

About the Waste to Wages Program Established in mid-2017 by East Kimberley Job Pathways (EKJP) which is owned in partnership by Wunan Aboriginal Corporation and the Kununurra Region Economic Aboriginal Corporation - Revive operates as a ‘Waste to Wages’ social enterprise. While on wages with Revive, job seekers are supported to gain skills and experience in order to obtain sustainable Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Labor Senator for Western Australia, Glenn Sterle and Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny

employment in the open labour market - which in turn creates opportunities for successive job seekers.

The ‘Waste to Wages’ program trains and employs Aboriginal youth to collect and repair recyclable items for their recycling store.

The workers repair old furniture and push bikes as well as create art out of used materials which are then sold on to the local community at an affordable price.

Families come from as far away as Balgo, Halls Creek and Kalumburu to purchase these much-needed items. EKJP underpins all costs associated with operating the enterprise and utilises funds derived through the sale of products, namely furniture, to directly employ vulnerable Aboriginal job seekers on a supported wage.

Look out for the ACFS Indigenous Truck Arthur Tzaneros at ACFS Port Logistics donated a brand new 2653 Mercedes Benz Prime Mover with fuel, a trailer and dolly for the journey.

The Prime Mover is covered at the front in artwork designed by a young aboriginal artist from the Kimberley. You can now see the truck running around Perth and Fremantle port.

Keys Got Us Moving Nick D’Adamo and his team at Keys – The Moving Solution in Canning Vale assisted with 16

WATM • December 2020

loading and storing furniture that has been donated by generous community members.

In addition to this, Nick has donated a significant amount of extra furniture that was also delivered and a trailer for it to be transported in. Nick and four of his staff also very generously donated their own time on a Saturday morning recently to load all of the furniture in preparation for departure.

made medical face masks to support the local community and health practitioners.

Senator Louise Pratt for the donation of art supplies that were delivered during the journey to help young children on the Dampier Peninsula Finally, a big thank you to Daimler, BP, and 3M for their support..

Drivers in Lockdown On the trip, we also took the time to stop and meet with Truck Drivers in Port Hedland who have been unable to return to their homes in the East since April. Before anyone makes the comment that they should move here, you should first listen to their stories. Bluntly some of them are downright heart breaking.

Thanks Also Too Thanks to G&S Transport and North West Quarries for putting on a BBQ and a couple of rehydrating beverages.

Scott Huntsman from All-Cast PPE Supplies who donated 1800 Australian

WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION IS THE UNITED VOICE OF WA TRANSPORT COMPANIES Western Roads Federation has been formed to give a strong unified voice for companies who use WA roads for commercial benefit.

Western Roads Federation is a membership driven organisation. If you believe in the industry and what you do, then make sure your company is a member, and get involved.

For a membership application form Email cam.dumesny@westernroads.com.au â—† Phone 08 9365 7799 or 0481 064 371 180 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004

WATM • December 2020

17

Over to you LRTAWA by David Fyfe, President

Time to secure the future

U

ncertainty and volatility are gathering speed as the catch cry of the second decade of the 21st century. It has never been more important to prepare for the unexpected, particularly when it comes to government policy.

The last twelve months have shown us that to insulate our own citizens from unexpected shocks we need to plan for disasters better than we have done. It has also highlighted the significance of the freight industry. During fires, floods and

pandemics we have encountered the risks of interrupting the supply chain.

Against this backdrop and the lessons of the recent past I am concerned about the impact of the closure of the Kwinana BP refinery on WA’s fuel security. Our reduced

Bullsbrook Intermodal Container Terminal project reaches next stage News

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Market-led Proposal for the development of a new Bullsbrook Intermodal Container Terminal is being considered by the McGowan Government, with the proposal progressing to Stage 2.

The proposal, by Harvis Capital Pty Ltd, for an intermodal terminal at Bullsbrook could unlock future development in Perth's north-eastern corridor, facilitating economic activity and attracting job opportunities to the area.

Moving metropolitan freight from road to rail helps reduce road congestion and improve efficiency, safety and productivity of the freight network, ensuring Western Australia is competitive in domestic and international markets.

It also supports job creation in the 18

WATM • December 2020

north-east corridor.

An intermodal terminal would bring containerised freight from Fremantle Port to unload in the Bullsbrook industrial area, where it would be transferred from rail to the regional road network.

Stage 2 of the project assessment process will further investigate the feasibility of the proposal, with the proponent to now submit a detailed business case on the project.

Market-led Proposals are a streamlined way for businesses and government to work together to create a stronger economy and jobs for Western Australians.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, “One of our key election

commitments was to move more freight onto rail to help ease road congestion and improve safety.

“An intermodal terminal at Bullsbrook has the potential to boost the efficiency and capacity of the rail freight system, reduce truck movements on metropolitan roads and to increase job creation and economic development in Perth's north-eastern corridor.

“We will continue to work closely with industry to encourage and support more freight on rail, to make our freight supply chains as efficient and cost effective as possible.”

More information is available at www. wa.gov.au/organisation/department-offinance/market-led-proposals.

capacity to manufacture transport fuel in WA is exacerbated by the threat that several other Australian refineries have a question mark over their future. The Kwinana refinery is Australia’s largest oil refinery and will be converted to an import terminal as a result of the closure decision. WA transport will then be dependent on imports of crude oil products like petrol and diesel.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends its member countries, including Australia, hold emergency oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net oil imports to guard against an emergency. Australia has 20 days’ worth of diesel fuel in reserve, while petrol supply is around 25 days.

Australia is the only developed oilimporting country where there is no government controlled stock of crude oil or refined petroleum products and no mandated commercial stock requirements for oil. The Australian Government has stockpiled fuel in the US, but it is hard to accept this will help in the face of a global threat to supply lines. Fuel from the US will take a month to reach Australia, assuming shipping lanes are not disrupted.

The privilege of having the capacity to produce sufficient food to meet our own needs in a disaster will be no use if we cannot fuel equipment to plant and harvest food; and transport it to the Australian population. This issue, like the need for protected freight routes with access for high productivity vehicles, is a vital policy matter our leaders and their agencies need to pay attention to in the national interest.

Fuel security is just one issue that

An intermodal terminal would bring containerised freight from Fremantle Port to unload in the Bullsbrook industrial area, where it would be transferred from rail to the regional road network

I am concerned about the impact of the closure of the Kwinana BP refinery on WA’s fuel security disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic have caused us look at differently. The impact of more of people travelling to the regions and enjoying what our great state has to offer is another. The Wander out Yonder campaign to encourage Western Australians to visit the regions and experience the range of tourism opportunities available was a great idea and provided a welcome boost to regional businesses hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions. The downside however has been a dramatic increase in tourist traffic on regional roads, many of whom have little experience with the distances involved and are unaware how to share the road with heavy vehicles. It is time to roll out an advertising campaign to alert car drivers to some of the key messages about keeping everyone safe on our roads over the Christmas and holiday period with a special emphasis on how to drive safely around heavy vehicles.

Transafe WA’s Give a Tru*k’ campaign is a great initiative to get information out

D

o you have what it takes to be on the next season of Outback Truckers?

With Season 9 in production, the producers are on the lookout for new talent. Prerequisites include travelling on difficult roads or dealing with

to road users about truck drivers’ pet hates such as overtaking and cutting in front of heavy vehicles but as a not for profit, Transafe’s resources are limited.

Government or Road Safety Commission funds need to be expended in getting the safety message to the travelling public during the holidays. Such a campaign needs to be developed in consultation with the heavy vehicle industry.

Wandering out yonder has also brought another issue to our attention - caravaners and holiday makers in light vehicles using heavy vehicle rest areas, in some cases even setting up camp. Rest areas are not huge areas and if a camper has taken up space so a heavy vehicle cannot fit, there is a risk the truck driver will need to move elsewhere for a rest. Whilst there is currently no legal prohibition on light vehicles using safety bays, it is important that the community is educated about their purpose and how to properly use them. Safety bays are part of a truck driver’s workplace and with a little bit of thought and education, the holidaying public can accommodate the essential freight industry.

The alternative to better education is to go the way of some other states and apply on the spot penalties for misusing heavy vehicle rest areas. Better signage about appropriate use and the distance to the next safety bay would also assist the industry.

This will be the last edition for the year, so it is time to wish all our industry colleagues a safe and happy Christmas. Hopefully you be able to spend time with your families and not too much of it on the road. Here’s to a new year that is plain sailing.

challenging loads.

If you are interested, contact them at mail@prospero.com.au or send them a message on their Facebook Page telling them a bit about yourself and the types of loads and journeys you do.

WATM • December 2020

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News

High fatalities from truck crashes demand greater safety standards

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t has been three decades since Australia’s worst truck accident resulted in 21 fatalities. On October 20, 1989, a longhaul truck driver careered onto the wrong side of the Pacific Highway in NSW at 4am, crashing into an oncoming bus and killing half its passengers.

The annual road toll along that stretch of highway has since dropped, in part due infrastructure upgrades and improvement in general performance in the trucking industry however, an average of 200 people are still killed every year across Australia in crashes involving trucks.

Dr Christopher Walker, a regulation and policy expert from UNSW Arts & Social Sciences, says Australia needs to put pressure on the trucking industry to improve safety standards. Relying on regulation through licensing will never be sufficient, he says. “[Truck companies] respond to regulators to a certain degree, but they are also very responsive to the people with power — people who are giving them work, those who contract with them,” he says.

“So businesses, such as Coles and Woolworths, should be saying, ‘We need to know that you will maintain your vehicles, we need to know that your drivers will not drive excessive hours', before entering into contracts with them."

A reliance on stimulants The autopsy of the truck driver who 20

WATM • December 2020

crashed into the Sunliner bus was found to have 80 times the legal limit of ephedrine levels in his blood. Ephedrine is a stimulant truck drivers are widely known to use to stay awake while driving long distances.

It is not uncommon for drivers to haul loads and work beyond the daily limit, Dr Walker says, and an 80 or 100 hour plus working week is not uncommon.

“I've interviewed truck drivers, and they've said to me, ‘I'd get my pay in one hand and my pills in the other’.

In 2019, WA Labor MP Glenn Sterle, a former truckie, proposed an inquiry into the industry, receiving widespread support from truck drivers, transport operators and other industry associations.

The final inquiry’s report Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industry is expected on 11 February 2021. The report will also look at an enforceable minimum wage rate and training for drivers, better regulation in the industry, safety standards and nationwide infrastructure improvements.

The pyramid of Australia’s trucking industry Dr Walker says Australia’s trucking industry is like a pyramid. The world’s biggest and most sophisticated trucking firms are at the top of the triangle. But a larger number of entry-level owners operate at the bottom, where cutting corners on safety is endemic.

“Because our economy is so dependent

on trucking [to transport packaged and manufactured goods, as well as produce such as grain or livestock], we have these massive vehicles like nowhere else in the world,” he says.

“In the United States, B-doubles [prime mover trucks with two semi-trailers] are highly restricted in their movements,” he says. But here in Australia, even bigger B-triple trucks and road trains up to 53.5 metres are in regular use on our roads.

Modern trucks have sensors that monitor breaking and fuel consumption, and their location and speed are also monitored around the clock every day of the year, he says.

“Some of our truck drivers could be driving a vehicle that is as sophisticated and as valuable as a light aircraft, with the technology they're dealing with.”

“So, the owner of those trucks is more likely to ensure the vehicle performs efficiently and is safe because the costs are so high and the product is incredibly valuable.”

Entry-level truck companies At the bottom of the pyramid, the smaller truck operators often work in demolition, excavation, and local freight and packaged goods movement, Dr Walker says.

“There’s all these little guys starting-up and leaving the industry. And they're the ones who can create a lot of risk as they try to become profitable,” he says.

“So the driver is [likely to be] the owner of the vehicle. If he wants to save money, he might neglect to maintain the vehicle. So he's usually the biggest risk.

“He might be the fourth owner of a second-hand truck and it’s maybe done one-and-a-half to two million kilometres.

If he doesn’t maintain it, then when he’s going down the motorway his tyre goes ‘pop’, or he nods off to sleep. He’s the guy who is going to cause a problem.”

Weak regulatory guidelines Dr Walker says owner operators only need to get their truck license, purchase a truck and register an ABN to start a trucking company in Australia.

“They don't have to prove they’re financially viable or that they don't have a compromised driving record,” he says, unlike in the UK where the industry is regulated through licensing in a process that is similar to the taxi industry in Australia.

He says trucking is such a competitive industry that entry-level owner-operators are regularly seen undercutting others on price. “They often do it by putting other

News

Investigation uncovers fake Singaporean licences used in WA

New animal welfare regulations for livestock transport and saleyards

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ew regulations will bring into effect modern and nationallyagreed animal welfare rules for transporting livestock in Western Australia.

Introduction of the Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020 follows broad consultation by the State Government with the Western Australian community and industry.

The regulations implement the standards set out in two Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines, to ensure the welfare of sheep and cattle during land transport, and at saleyards and depots.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will work with industry stakeholders to promote awareness of the new regulations and understanding of any changes under them.

In addition, the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle have been adopted as a Code of Practice, which covers the use of pain

relief when dehorning adult cattle.

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said, “The McGowan Government amended the Animal Welfare Act 2002 in late 2018 to allow Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines to be implemented in Western Australia for the first time.

“The national standards have been endorsed by all States and Territories, some dating back to 2012.

“Implementing the transport standards now brings WA into line with other States and Territories, while we are among the first to implement the standards for saleyards and depots.

“Clearly most farmers and transporters provide excellent care for their animals, but we need the ability to take action if this does not occur.

“It is in the interest of all livestock producers to have clear and transparent standards in place.

For more information visit www.agric. wa.gov.au/animalwelfare

road users at risk by working 16 hours a day six days a week, for example.”

needs a couple hundred metres to stop. So you can't pull in front of it.”

Sharing the roads

Editor’s Note: Over the next 10 years, the Federal Government has promised to spend $110 billion on improving infrastructure to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads and this article does not address the different culture between the east and west coast of Australia nor late payments. I would be interested to hear WA operator’s thoughts on this story.

Dr Walker says better driver awareness and education is needed, alongside infrastructure improvements, to reduce the road toll related to truck accidents.

“It’s so easy to pull in front of a truck on a motorway and not understand that there's over 60 tonnes of goods and that the driver cannot stop quickly,” he says. “The driver

A

n investigation by the Department of Transport (DoT) has uncovered fake Singaporean licences have been used to illegally obtain Western Australian driver's licences.

A tip off from the public led to an investigation by DoT who, with the assistance of the Singapore High Commission and Singaporean Police, detected 173 fake licences had been used in WA. As a result of the detection, 122 of the WA driver's licences obtained falsely have been cancelled. The remaining 51 licence holders are no longer in Western Australia or further follow up into their whereabouts is underway.

The investigation commenced in January this year and examined licences used between 2015 and 2020.

Western Australian authorities advised their Eastern States counterparts of the scam which has led to interstate cooperation and some States launching their own investigations.

The names of those involved have been provided to WA Police and the Federal Department of Home Affairs.

Anyone can report suspicious activity to the Department of Transport's Alert Us line on 1300 040 456.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, "This is a concerning scam because people have deliberately acted to avoid demonstrating the required standards necessary to obtain a WA driver's licence.

“All drivers deserve to feel safe on our roads and can be assured fraudulent or suspicious driver and vehicle licensing matters are being identified and dealt with

by DoT. WATM • December 2020

21

Over to you Classic Chev ute

By Kevin Toovey

It was hard to get a picture of the HCVC members as they were hiding in the shadows under the trees but they were there enjoying the day

York Motor Show 2020

T

he events page has been rather empty lately but then the York Motor Show was on, the weather was perfect and people turned up in droves.

At one stage there was a queue to get into town. I heard on the grapevine that 1200 vehicles had registered for the event. I think they must have been very pleased with the turn up. The main street was packed and there was a line in front of every coffee shop and food outlet. Definitely a great day out.

Ramsay’s Classic red W model Kenworth

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WATM • December 2020

Above and below: Ryan Demasi from Bandana earthmoving had the Hulk on display. There was a friendly trans-former with whom you could have your picture taken. His dad’s International has just been restored and they had a Ford Aeromax there too

Left, The main street Below, David Brown - Turbo Task Master Super (Ex Qantas Tug) John Seman had just licenced this David Brown so he could drive it to the show Inset, There were only 9 built of Barbara and Morris Danks streamlined 1974 model caravan. It looks a bit like a rocket. The maker was Vin Smith.

Below & right, Pete Haynes from Midland Hiab and Haulage brought along a very nice G88 Volvo that they bought recently, it just needed a bit of finishing off and is now ready for the odd Saturday morning's work.

Right, Eddy’s T 650 Kenworth and a near new modern one Below right, ‘Book your Wander out Yonder’ is the new slogan for travel here in WA. A few people were already organised to go, with caravans in tow

Classic Chev ute

WATM • December 2020

23

History

The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry

By Russell McKinnon

Perth 1969

1969 W

Roots and H Gorman were appointed at the request of the Director General of Transport as Association representatives to a committee formed to investigate the operational and mechanical feasibility of utilising triple bottom units north of Meekatharra.

The Road and Air Transport Commission stated that transport permits would be granted for the movement of overseas containers requiring transport from Fremantle and country centres.

The March 11 Meeting of the Furniture Removers’ Division expressed concern regarding Hertz Truck Rentals advertising: “In a manner considered to be detrimental to the professional furniture removalists”. A letter was to be dispatched.

An Education Promotion Committee was established at the Executive Council meeting of April 23 for the purpose of promoting the road transport industry and careers within. The committee

24

WATM • December 2020

comprised Messrs Cox, Rowe, Samson and two delegates from the Customs Agents’ Association. The CAA agreed and offered to help pay for the costs of a book to be given to school leavers.

The Government was to appoint a committee for the purpose of examining the Road Maintenance Tax legislation. However, the Association failed to get a representative on board.

At the Annual General Meeting on August 21, outgoing President F A Manford touched on the following topics to the 30 attendees at the Association premises: • Divisional activities; • Industrial relations; • Kewdale terminal; • North-West transport; • Containerisation; • Branch activities; • Transport Advisory Council • ARTF. On August 30, the trolley bus service made its last run — toting 400 children to a picnic at Perry Lakes. The first trolley bus service began in 1933. This marked the last competition for the motorbus after nearly 70 years of competition.

The official opening of the sealing of Eyre Highway was undertaken and attended by Vice-President F L Samson on the Association’s behalf at the border with South Australia. Bitumen had to be hauled nearly 1500km from Kwinana and water was tanked more than 700km to the waterless plain, where it was stored in temporary containers that started life as suburban swimming pools. The Eyre Highway was named after the first white explorer to traverse the desert between South and Western Australia. The South Australia side of the Eyre Highway was not completed until 1975.

The Quarterly Meeting of December 11 was advised of the recent visit by the President of the American Trucking Association and the hospitality expended by the Association, including a sightseeing trip in a Bell Bros aircraft.

Recent changes to the constitution allowed for Associate Membership, which had been taken up by several companies with close ties to the transport industry, with the hope of more to come.

Mr H A Robinson resigned from the Executive Council on December 10 due to ill health and replaced by J A Gillott.

The Hay Street and Murray Street Malls in Perth were closed during December and January for the purpose of pedestrian traffic only. These were deemed a success and the Lord Mayor of Perth sent a letter of appreciation to the Association for its assistance.

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25

News

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WATM • December 2020