Western Roads Federation - Transport Safety Event February 2023

There has been a rise in the number of road transport industry accidents and near misses (anecdotal).

The investigations depending on the incident could be conducted by the Police, Worksafe, WA Regulator (HVS) or internally by the company.

However, what did they find? Are there common trends or issues; are there things we should know as an industry in order to avoid such things happening again?

How can we improve if we do not learn from our incidents or accidents as an industry?

To address this issue, Western Roads Federation (WRF) are finalising details for an industry event in February 2023 at which each of the investigative authorities and our industry will come together to work out: * How can lessons learnt be shared? * What are the barriers to sharing information and how do we remove them? * Agree a key point action plan to make it happen.

The industry round table hosted by Business News and WRF led to a 8 page article on supply chain and logistics issues impacting the state in this fortnight’s edition.

The WA State Government's $6.1 million Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set has hit a key milestone, with more than 230 Western Australians now employed following the completion of the program.

Developed in collaboration with industry and in response to the truck driver shortage emphasised during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australianfirst program provides theoretical and practical hands-on truck driver training at the state-of-the-art Driver Risk Management facility located near Perth Airport.

The program aims to train 500 new workers in Heavy Rigid (HR) licences and upskill 500 existing workers from HR licences to Heavy Combination and/or Multi-Combination licences, to combat skills shortages and support the transport and logistics industry.

Since the program began in April 2021, 232 graduates of the program have gained employment following their completion, with more set to secure employment in the transport and logistics industry this month as they receive their licences.

Significantly, around 30 per cent of participants in the course have been women, when compared to female representation among truck drivers in WA being of less than four per cent.

The six-week metropolitan course is available through Central Regional and South Regional TAFEs - in collaboration with industry - and is free for eligible participants.

Due to the critical program's success, the course has been expanded to regional areas with a 10-week program now running in the South-West.

Free for eligible students, the Practical Driving Instruction Training and Assessment and licencing costs are $500 for concession students and up to $1,250 for non-concession students.

Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said, "This program provides participants with real hands-on experience and practical hours in heavy haulage to help them become job-ready, and get more skilled drivers on our roads. "It's also great to see such a high number of women taking part and those delivering the course supporting more women into an occupation that has traditionally had very low numbers of them."

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, "Western Roads Federation and the Transport Workers' Union approached the Premier, the Minister for Education and Training, and myself in 2020 asking us to create a dedicated training course for truck drivers, and it's fantastic to see that this program is exceeding expectations.

Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny said, "This program has provided a much-needed boost to the transport industry and we're incredibly grateful for the WA Government's support of our essential industry - because the only thing we don't deliver are babies. "We're seeing a strong interest from women wanting to join the industry and the trend is very welcome news, as so many employers are keen to employ more female drivers because of the different skills and positive attributes they bring." For more information, visit www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/courses/ heavy-vehicle-driving-operations-skill-set or contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64.

Aside from having me on the front cover, the most important thing is it demonstrated that our industry can actually play a leading role in the State’s economic discussions.

That leadership comes from showing how issues that impact us, impact every sector of the economy. So, our issues are not just our problem they are every WA business sectors problem.

Do that and we start to generate real industry influence.

It's Christmas as I am writing this and some Local Governments are on the wagon again pushing for the Transport Industry to pay more for roads.

* The Transport Industry already pays $Billions in Fuel Excise to the Federal

Government for Roads but basically doesn’t own any roads, and; * The WA Transport Industry pays a high vehicle registration fees, contributing $ hundreds of millions to the State

Government who only has 12% of the state roads.

The problem is that the Feds and State collect the $ from Transport but its Local Government that has responsibility to maintain over 85% of our state’s roads.

Local Government needs to stop trying to pick fights with the Transport Industry as we serve their local communities and businesses AND instead grow a set and take up the fight for fair funding with the Feds and State. PS: Many extractive industries already pay levies and/ or royalties so that's more money being paid out for the theoretical road maintenance by local Governments. PPS: Finally, they should also try building the roads properly in the first place.

The ATA General Council supported the proposal put forward by Western Roads Federation that we need a Transport Industry Workforce strategy.

While the establishment of an apprenticeship will not solve all the current supply chain workforce challenges facing the road transport sector, Western Roads firmly upholds that an apprenticeship for the heavy vehicle driver occupation represents one critical step towards professionalising and attracting new entrants into the industry. Yes, there are issues and yes it won't suit everyone BUT you have to start somewhere.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Cam Dumesny CEO Western Australian Transport Industry Association Inc. trading as Western Roads Federation.

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 ◆ Phone 08 9365 7799 or 0481 064 371 180 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004