Over to you YOUR SAY
Letters to the editor Dear Karen It is great to see that the magazine is going digital. I read my newspapers where ever I am in the State and occasionally overseas so your magazine will be gratefully accepted on my tablet. Where ever I am on the road, I have access to my favourite publications. I love the articles and it keeps me abreast of what is happening in the industry. This is such an important part of the WA transport landscape that I trust you will continue to flourish at a time when transport is being hit the hardest by the economic times. Fantastic that you have ridden the ups and downs of the economic cycle. Long may it continue. Name and address supplied. From the Editor: Many thanks for this and the other positive messages, calls and feedback I have received from readers about the magazine going forward. I believe in this magazine and in this industry and aim to hang in there. As of this edition, WATM will be available in ‘interactive’ digital format as well as print. I have realised that not only will the magazine be able to reach a much larger demographic but there are so many people that work away and by doing this they have access to it whilst they are on the road. The most surprising thing to me has been how ‘internet’ savvy many of my seasoned readers are and it seems that I am the one needing to catch up with technology. In order to make the digital magazine available to existing readers I need your email address. Please go to Page 21 of this edition and fill in and return the form to me to: karen@angrychicken.com.au This is a ‘free’ service and you can add your work colleagues, sub-contractors, drivers or anyone you think would benefit. This would be a great help to me if you could do this please. Traditionally, the magazine has always gone out to the decision makers within the industry – Directors through
Hi Karen Please see attached form to receive the transport magazine digitally - great step and innovation. Can I also ask that you can now ‘not’ send a hard copy - I am thinking of stopping my PO address as I receive most things these day electronically - also would save you some mailing. Other magazines I subscribe to have gone this way and do not
News number of causes in many truck accidents. Overloading can also result in severe penalties and prosecutions of up to $15,000 for an individual and $75,000 for a corporate entity. The mass limits for vehicles are prescribed in the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 and further defined in RAV permit operating conditions. If you are travelling overloaded and you are stopped by a Main Roads Transport Inspector, the Inspector may undertake an inspection which will generally include: a gross and axle mass assessment using portable scales; vehicle and load dimension checks; and a check of your over size and over mass permit compliance. For non-compliant vehicles, the Inspector will advise the driver what action will be taken and depending on the severity of the offence, the matter may be treated by a caution, infringement, or summons for a court hearing. To help ensure your vehicle is not overloaded you should know the weight and weight limits of your vehicles. On Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services website, under Tips and Guides is a guide to helping you understand your vehicle ratings. Drivers of heavy vehicles must be aware of the maximum loaded capacity of their vehicles in order to operate safely, legally, and prevent
The Hidden Consequences of Overloading
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f you’ve ever overloaded your truck thinking “She’ll be right, mate” – think again. An overloaded truck can cause significant damage to the State’s road network, whilst also putting your vehicle under additional pressure. Vehicles will react differently when the maximum weights they are designed for are exceeded, affecting vehicle performance. In an emergency an overloaded vehicle can be harder to control and more unstable,
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making it difficult to stop; the braking distance increases and this can lead to the driver misjudging the stopping distance. Additionally, tyres run hotter and the centre of gravity of the loaded vehicle is raised leading to higher rates of tyre failure and risk of rollover. When a load is overweight, unbalanced, or shifts while moving, the chances of the driver losing control of the vehicle increases. Improperly loaded and overloaded trucks are one of a
Overloading can also result in severe penalties and prosecutions of up to $15,000 for an individual and $75,000 for a corporate entity damage to both the vehicle and the road network. As weight distribution is important, ensure the load is distributed properly. Part of the WA Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (WAHVA) Scheme requires accredited transport operators to comply with the Dimensions and Loading Management Module Standards. The non-compulsory module Accredited Mass Management Scheme (AMMS) provides operators with loading control guides and loading plan templates to assist transport operators in developing their own loading plans. Further information on Accreditation and Load Restraint can be found at www. mainroads.wa.gov.au or by calling the Heavy Vehicle Services Help Desk on 138 486.
WATM • October 2018
Dear Karen, I read with interest the article “The Hidden Consequences of Overloading” in the November issue of the WA Transport magazine. The article talks about performance, road damage and penalties applied to any operator that fails to comply with regulatory or permit load levels. While these are all valid points, a most important issue is missing from this article, highlighting the general ignorance of the implications of noncompliance with the loading standards laid down by the Traffic and its Regulations. Back in 2002, I was discussing overloading issues with a senior manager employed by the fertilizer manufacturer CSBP. Patrick’s question
to Operations Managers but with the digital model on board it will mean your employees and sub-contractors can also receive it. I would hope that this brings together industry as a whole, and assists
publish hard copy at all any more Again thanks for the great work you do with the magazine and best wishes for safe and joyous Christmas and Happy New Year. Regards, John Park Regional Manager WA Custom Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia Inc
to me was, “What is the situation if CSBP permit an overloaded vehicle to leave the premises”. My response to that question was that there is potential civil liability if an organisation permitted an overloaded vehicle onto the road network and it was involved in an accident. The protection afforded by complying with regulatory limits does not apply if the vehicle is noncompliant. Damages could be sought in a civil court and depending on injuries arising from the accident could be over six figures. CSBP had weighbridges and the ability to determine if a combination was exceeding limits, however, everyone has a Duty of Care to try and observe legal or permit limits. Failing facilities to observe such limits, compliance with a code of practice offers some protection. As any operator hauling fertilizer out of CSBP facilities would know, the Company is very careful to ensure that load limits are not exceeded. Operators should be aware that non-compliance with load limits and stability requirements puts their business at risk should they be involved in an accident on the road network. Ian Tarling
everyone who has trucks on the road with access to the latest information on regulations, safety as well as the ‘culture’ of our industry. Best Karen WATM • January/February 2019
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