THE TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY MAGAZINE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WA
ISSN 2202-6193 100007516 August 2020 | price $6.95
TRANSPORT magazine
Page 2
A NATION-BUILDING PROJECT THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY Australia needs ‘nationbuilding’ projects that will increase employment, help establish and increase local manufacturing, and set Australia up for an export manufacturing future. Project Iron Boomerang ticks all these boxes and this project would mean that WA Transport and associate businesses would need to grow and develop to cater to a doubling of the Pilbara as it stands now
IN THIS ISSUE: Move over Wodonga – Collie is stepping up Registration fee rise – Only in WA $223 million to unlock shovel ready projects Tonkin Gap project fast tracked WATM • August 2020
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Attracting and retaining a new crop of transport workers By Tim Dawson | Branch Secretary
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he transport industry of Western Australia has endured the COVID-19 crisis and with restrictions in the state being lifted and businesses reopening our members in road transport who worked through the pandemic will be the most important part of getting the economy back on its feet. The WA Government has shown enormous leadership during this crisis. And while this pandemic is not over, the people of WA are grateful we are returning to a new normal. Stimulating the economy is the Government’s next big challenge. The TWU has welcomed the Government’s decision to allocate significant funding to upgrades to road infrastructure networks. The Government has committed $223 million to deliver shovelready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades. However, it is important that these upgrades are used to make a genuine and productive gain. There are a number of smaller infrastructure works this money could be spent on, that will have a lasting effect on our industry. One type of road infrastructure that improves the safety and wellbeing of truck drivers is truck rest areas and parking bay amenities. Not just places to stop, rest, and hook up, but bays that include facilities like clean showers and toilets, for both genders. If COVID-19 taught us anything, it is just how essential the work of transport workers is to keep the nation’s economy moving.
The people who drive our great country's economy were called heroes during the pandemic. And making them crap in the bush is not the way you treat heroes. This does not help to attract woman or young people into our great industry neither. More must be done to ensure our industry is sustainable into the future. Upgrading road infrastructure and amenities is one way to make the industry more appealing to a new generation of truck drivers. Another way is providing a sustainable career path into the industry, one that has accredited training, an apprenticeship, and transferable skills. So that when you’re trained up to a standard and have the qualifications and know-how to reverse a truck, secure a load, and understand and resolve problems that may arise when loading and unloading goods and cargo, you can pursue a professional career that is recognised not only inside the industry but also outside the industry. The TWU has been at the forefront of an apprenticeship scheme for the transport industry for many years and was behind a Government announcement into a pilot advanced skills training program for truck drivers at Collie TAFE. The Heavy Haulage Driving Operations Skill Set is a five-week course that has been developed to support workers and businesses and gives drivers the end-to-end skills needed to drive trucks. The course will also give participants eight units of competency from the Certificate III in Driving Operations and a leg up to complete the full qualification. We welcome this education program as a way to repurpose workers, including, those in the South West mining industry who are seeing their jobs at risk through potential job losses and aviation workers, who are currently out of work. But also as a way to encourage young people to become truck drivers. When we train drivers properly from the start, they will make a great contribution to our industry. I see this pilot as the beginning of the first material change to our industry in not only attracting women and young people but developing more professional drivers from the onset. And we would hope this will put an end to opportunistic, shoddy RTOs we have seen in the past, handing out licences like they come from Wheaties packets.
WA Truckies DESERVE BETTER! SIGN THE PETITION & SUPPORT BETTER TRUCK BAYS & AMENITIES FOR WA TRUCKIES đ&#x;“žđ&#x;“žđ&#x;“ž 1800 657 477 ✉ info@twuwa.org.au
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Our Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk is available 7 days a week. Talk to us about: Permits
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Tel: 138 486 Fax: 9475 8455 Email: hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au www.mainroads.wa.gov.au 1 WATM • August 2020
Focus 22M tpy Steel Slab/Bloom/Billet/HRC Exported
22M tpy Steel Slab/Bloom/Billet/HRC Exported
PIB Steel Complex Build – 5 Steel Mills
Iron Ore
Iron Ore Shipment East 32m tpy
Abbot Point Bowen Basin
Pilbara
Newman
Coking Coal & Limestone West Shipment approx. 30m tpy
Mackay
Coking Coal
Gladstone
PIB Steel Complex Build – 5 Steel mills 6 4
© © Copyright Copyright 2015 2015 East East West West Line Line Parks Parks Pty Pty Ltd. Ltd.
A nation-building project that will benefit the entire country
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ithout a doubt, during these challenging times, Australia needs ‘nation-building’ projects that will increase employment, help establish and increase local and national manufacturing, and set Australia up for an export manufacturing future. There is a project that ticks these boxes – Project Iron Boomerang (PIB). Would it not make sense to process our raw natural commodities such as Iron Ore and Coal in our backyard rather than selling them to another country to do so; then buying back from them the finished product? The steel industry is the second biggest industry in the world after oil and gas with an estimated global turnover of 900 billion USD. By 2050, steel use is projected to increase to 1.5 times higher than the present. Currently, China produces 50% of the world’s steel. Australia does not even rate in the top ten steel producers (26th) with Japan second in line, then India, the USA, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Turkey, Brazil, and Ukraine the leaders in crude steel output. In 1979, Lang Hancock said, “I would ask you to listen to me now and before discarding my suggestions as impractical, see if you can come up with a better scheme. We should consider an EastWest Railway that joins the Pilbara to NT and coalfields of QLD. If this were done, it would be possible to put one or two steel mills at either end; and bring the
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WATM • August 2020
coal to the iron ore and vice versa, as a basis for enormous secondary industry development.” Hancock’s idea did not come to pass and not because he did not try, but because the politicians (with exception of Joh Bjelke Peterson) were not able to take this big step. Enter East-West Line Parks Pty Ltd (EWLP) who has been developing one of Australia’s biggest infrastructure projects – Project Iron Boomerang (PIB) since 2006. The project is a multi-user 3.300 km transcontinental rail infrastructure corridor linking the Pilbara iron ore mines with Bowen Basin coal mines in north Queensland, with steel manufacturing complexes at each end (Newman and Abbotts Point in QLD) which will facilitate the production of slab steel in Australia for export. Special railway carriages to purposebuilt ships will be developed for the project plus state of the art affordable greenfield smart towns which will fully integrate industry with adjacent town sites. One is proposed for Newman with an estimated 30,000 inhabitants within 10 years of first steel production, then another for Port Hedland in the future. Early feasibility study phase figures for the project show a +75-year life of production and employment for 75,000 at peak. PIB report that their production and logistics primary jobs would be 35,000 with close to 15,000 being in WA and Secondary/Tertiary industrial service jobs expected at 50,000+ in key areas.
Subsidiary jobs are predicted at $100K within 10 years of first steel production with 40% of those being in WA. The big winners will be the government. PIB has estimated that Government tax revenues would be $21 Billion p/a by 2029/30 if the project is given the green light. Sovereign Governments would be the biggest PIB beneficiaries receiving an estimated conservative figure of 30% taxable revenue (from income and commercial taxes) on a generated $72 Billion p/a at a full production rate of 44m ton of steel. PIB estimates that the first two steel mills at each end will start by 2028 with the second two, 18 months after that, and the last by the end of 2030. The people behind Project Iron Boomerang include a Board and Project Management team who encompasses a serious background of experience in financing and accessing capital, development of export markets, civil engineering, rail and road infrastructure development, technology, plus several academics and a past bureaucrat. WA Transport Magazine talked to the founder and managing director of East-West Line Parks Pty Ltd, Shane Condon to find out exactly where the project was at, and what it could mean for the economy, and particularly the transport industry in WA. “The PIB Newman Steel Complex will extend the big Four Iron Ore mines life by 20 years by taking lower grade ore
The Seven-Year Prefeasibility Study, as well as the Project Design Phase, have been completed at a cost of AU$12 million
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to specifically pre-designed PIB Blast Furnaces. This is worth $Trillion or more to the Australian and WA economies,” explains Mr. Condon. “Furthermore, PIB rail project would run through one of the world’s biggest Iron Ore Tenement areas “East Pilbara Iron Ore Tenement” some 750 km's to the coast but less than 200 km to the PIB Newman Steel Complex and 2,700 km to the PIB QLD
Abbots Point Steel complex. Transport and associate businesses would need to grow and develop to cater to a doubling of the Pilbara as it stands now.
So where is the project at present? “The Seven-Year Prefeasibility Study, as well as the Project Design Phase, have been completed at a cost of AU$12
million. Investment and steel plants are on board. The Bankable Approval Study is progressing and we are awaiting WA, NT, QLD, and Federal Government’s principal endorsement and support. “Project Iron Boomerang is economically important for Australia and its major world trading partners as it offers a sustainable and competitive means of reducing the cost per tonne of world .../Continued on page 5
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WA
TRANSPORT
magazine
VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 7
FROM THE PUBLISHER 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 Russell McKinnon CONTRIBUTORS Jan Cooper, Cam Dumesny, Carol Messenger, John Milner, Ray Pratt, Peter Swift, Vince Ziino. ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Angry Chicken Head Office T: 0430 153 273 E: karen@angrychicken.com.au
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am almost too frightened to watch the news anymore. It just seems to be one thing another, but I am truly grateful that I am living in Western Australia. Being isolated is now giving us immense benefits. I do feel bad though for the FIFO workers [and their families] here in Western Australia. Many of them have not seen their wives and children since the end of February. I hope by the time you receive this magazine, that situation has been rectified. Please all read the story that starts on Page two about Project Iron Boomerang. We need nation-building projects and this
DESIGN / PREPRESS Cally Browning | Bare Creative
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) Overseas subscribers: Airmail postage will be added to subscription rate. Editorial Submissions: The Publisher welcomes
Karen
CONTENTS
ACCOUNTS T: 08 9296 4488 E: accounts@angrychicken.com.au PRINTER Daniels Printing Craftsmen
one ticks the boxes of us manufacturing our own commodity then exporting it. Something like this would be huge for Western Australia, particularly the Pilbara and it would benefit the transport industry. If you like the idea, then please hit your local and federal MP’s with it. Email me at karen@angrychicken.com.au and I will send you the story as a PDF if you want to send it to them. Onwards and upwards and please everyone be safe and careful during these trying times. Best,
2............................................... Project Iron Boomerang – A nation-building project that will benefit the entire country 6............................................... Heavy vehicle services information sessions recommence 7................................................ Contractor sought for major works package 8............................................... Agricultural freight strategy sets course 9............................................... Letters to the Editor 13............................................ WA singled out with heavy vehicle registration fee rise 14............................................ Western Roads Federation – Evidence given to Royal Commission
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.
16............................................ Owner Driver threatened with criminal charges for urging operators to maintain their rates
West Australian Transport Magazine (WATM) is published by Angry Chicken Publishing Pty Ltd
18............................................ LRTAWA – You can never stop learning. An interview with Peter Warburton
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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17............................................. South-West supply Chain strategy sets course
20.......................................... Governments must rule out plan to tax trucks 21............................................ Tonkin Gap contract fast tracked
Every Month 7................................................ Questions to State Government 8............................................... Fair Go for Owner Drivers 15............................................ Bird’s Eye View 20.......................................... HCVC 24.......................................... WA Transport History
Endorsed by
Focus
Transport and associate businesses would need to grow and develop to cater to a doubling of the Pilbara as it stands now
.../Continued from page 3
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steel produced, whilst reducing global environmental impacts. “Before the 2nd world war and over 2,000 years before that, iron and steel were made next to the mines. The PIB case is a return to that ‘best practice’ and correcting this modern age inefficiency and resulting phenomena of the world’s biggest bulk ships and trains returning empty half the distance(7-9,000 km’s to China/Japan). Putting an end to the empty load phenomenon will save net billions per year,” said Mr. Condon
Environmental impact Coke plants and steel smelters have traditionally had high local impacts. PIB has been designed to exceed global best practice steel making, not only from an efficiency point of view but also importantly from an environmental point of view. “PIB will exceed current legislation emission standards in nearly all areas especially those areas that traditionally had a higher environmental impact, like; sound, heat, water quality, and solid wastes against current practices in Australia or worldwide,” said Mr. Condon. The project has not been without its critics. Back in 2011, our national broadcaster ABC reported an independent analyst as saying, “The cost of producing steel in Australia is too high to make a project like this worthwhile. Australia with its high wage, high dollar environment, I mean it’s not the ideal place to be doing manufacturing. He finished, “If you’re taking a 20 or 30-year view, it may well be that the world changes completely, and a project like this would be viable.” So isn’t that time now? The world has changed completely due to the Pandemic.
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Another thought is, with the Morrison Governments commitment to invest $270 billion over the next decade to upgrade the capability and potency of the Australian Defence Force. Plus, the overall need for more jobs in the country which can only come from large projects like this.
Would you like to see this happen? Spread the word. Contact your local MP or Federal Minister and if you would like a copy of the story to send to them, email karen@angrychicken.com.au For more information visit: www.eastwestlineparks.com.au
WATM • August 2020
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News
Heavy vehicle services information sessions recommence
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ain Roads Heavy Vehicle Services (HVS) will recommence information sessions in September 2020. Over the next 12 months, HVS will provide information sessions all across Western Australia so that regional transport operators have the opportunity to attend in their local area. Previous information sessions have been very well received and, whilst they will feature again, they will be presented in a slightly different format. HVS will also be seeking your input into a series of workshops focussing on
the issues that are important to industry, while providing information about new or upcoming project ideas for you to discuss with your colleagues and peers. The information sessions will also allow for Question and Answer time so that you can ask questions of our subject matter experts. In preparation for upcoming sessions, we’d like to hear from you. Do you have a topic that you think the transport industry would like to know more about? Are there any issues that you would like to discuss or learn more about? We encourage you to email your suggestions to us at
hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au so that we can ensure the sessions provide the best value for transport operators across WA. The first of our new series of Information Sessions is planned for Wednesday morning, 16 September, at Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services office in Redcliffe. To register your interest to attend, please email hvs@ mainroads.wa.gov.au Additional dates, including regional information sessions, will be published on our website once confirmed – click on the Heavy Vehicles tab at www.mainroads. wa.gov.au
Contractor sought for major works package in Perth’s eastern suburbs
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he search for a contractor to deliver a transformational, job-creating package of road upgrades for Perth’s eastern suburbs has now started, with Request for Proposals launched. The works package is one of 24 Western Australian transport projects being fasttracked to support the WA economy and local jobs during the road out of COVID-19. Initial scope for the package of congestion-busting projects in Perth's eastern suburbs includes: • A new grade separated interchange at Great Eastern Highway Bypass and Roe Highway • A new grade separated interchange at Great Eastern Highway Bypass and Abernethy Road
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• New cycling connections In addition, (subject to agreement with local governments): • Duplication of Abernethy Road between Grogan Road and the future intersection of Adelaide Street • Extension of Lloyd Street from Clayton Street to Lakes Road, including a new bridge over the Helena River • Intersection upgrade at Abernethy Road and Kalamunda Road The two grade separated interchanges will be built along Great Eastern Highway bypass - one at Roe Highway and another at Abernethy Road - will replace the current signalised intersections that are used by more than 28,000 motorists a day. Federal Minister for Population, Cities
and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the project would bust congestion and improve safety risks for traffic across the Hazelmere and Forrestfield industrial and freight distribution centres. “Safety is a significant factor. In the past five years, there have been 302 crashes reported in the area and we need to bring these numbers down," Mr Tudge said. “We are investing in critical infrastructure in WA to lay the foundations for economic recovery on the other side of COVID-19 and this project forms part of that.” The works package will join other projects already construction or in procurement in Perth's eastern suburbs, including the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road grade-separated interchange,
METRONET’s Bellevue Railcar Facility and Tonkin Highway interchange upgrades. Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said procurement for the upgrades had been streamlined to boost Western Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have been able to bring forward procurement 18 months earlier than originally scheduled, to support Western Australia’s economic recovery from the pandemic,” she said. “Western Australia’s response to managing the pandemic has been nationleading and we are now working to ensure our economic recovery is just as strong. As part of this, Main Roads is working to bring forward a record number of road projects across Western Australia to stimulate our economy over coming months and years. “Along with creating hundreds of jobs and supporting local businesses, the finished product will provide critical new connections for Perth’s transport network. “Drivers from Perth’s eastern suburbs and Hills would be familiar with peak hour queues at these intersections, and our
It will also provide major efficiencies for heavy vehicles frequenting industrial areas including Hazelmere, Perth Airport, Kewdale and Forrestfield package of works will vastly improve traffic flow in these areas,” Ms Saffioti said. “It will also provide major efficiencies for heavy vehicles frequenting industrial areas including Hazelmere, Perth Airport, Kewdale and Forrestfield. Federal Member for Swan Steve Irons welcomed the announcement that a contract was being sought for the congestion busting works package in Perth’s eastern suburbs. “These works will assist people in getting home safer and sooner and will have significant positive impact on the
transport hub,” Mr Irons said. The project is expected to commence construction in 2021, subject to environmental and statutory approvals, and will create 1,200 jobs. State Member for Belmont Cassie Rowe said the major works package addressed multiple bottlenecks on the road network. “The current traffic light system has created significant safety and congestion issues over the years. Building new interchanges will drastically improve safety while improving traffic flow,” Ms Rowe said. “These projects will also complement our other major works in the eastern suburbs, including the Tonkin Gap project that will start in coming months.” The Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges project is jointly-funded by the Australian ($144 million) and Western Australian ($36 million) governments. Further funding will be contributed from local governments towards the Lloyd Street extension and duplication of Abernethy Road, subject to final negotiations.
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Agricultural freight strategy sets course
he Revitalising Agricultural Region Freight (RARF) Strategy was released at the end of June, setting the direction for future investment in freight infrastructure in the key agricultural regions of Western Australia. The strategy provides a framework and consolidated project packages that prioritise future investment in road, rail, intermodal and port infrastructure projects for the next 10 to 15 years in the key agricultural regions of the Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance. The proposed 20 priority project packages are specifically aimed at addressing challenges relating to the need to improve rail infrastructure, establish intermodal terminals, undertake targeted road network investment, increase heavy vehicle access and improve regulatory efficiency. Feedback received on the draft RARF Strategy, which was released for public comment in June 2019, has resulted in the inclusion of a more comprehensive list of road project priorities and a more targeted list of projects on the Tier 1 and Tier 2 rail networks. The RARF Strategy complements the recently launched Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network road program which aims to improve road reliability and ensure
crucial supply chains continue to improve. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, "Work has already started with industry on progressing project packages, with the State Government working with CBH and Arc Infrastructure to progress business cases for Tier 1 and Tier 2 railway packages identified as a priority in this strategy. "We recognise there is a lot of sentiment around the Tier 3 lines and have commissioned an engineering assessment to advise on the cost and time required for potential rehabilitation. "This new strategy will provide a strong plan for investment in agricultural freight supply chains that will assist in WA's economic recovery following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It complements our recently announced $87.5 million Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network upgrades that aim to improve safety and efficiency to a key freight supply chain. "It will also provide a framework for industry to work closely with State and Commonwealth governments to develop and progress business cases for road, rail, intermodal and port infrastructure projects over the coming years." For more information visit: www.transport. wa.gov.au/Freight-Ports/RARF
TRUCKING INDUSTRY WELCOMES DOMESTIC FUEL SECURITY MOVE
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he Australian Government is to consult with industry on improving Australia’s domestic fuel security. The Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said that the Government has opened a Request for Information (RFI) process to identify opportunities to increase Australia’s domestic fuel storage capacity. The RFI process will allow the government to examine different volume, location, and fuel storage specifications, seeking input from
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industry on potential storage projects. The Australian Trucking Association said, “We are pleased that the request for information is broad enough to allow the Government to consider innovative proposals such as the plan advanced by ATA member Western Roads Federation to provide tax concessions to businesses that invest in fuel storage.” The latest petroleum statistics released by the Government show that Australia’s diesel stocks fell from 23 consumption days in January to 18 days in March.
Mandatory 30-day payment terms needed
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he Government should ban payment times longer than 30 days, provide creditors with the immediate right to claim interest and recovery costs, and impose penalties for serious non-compliance, Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Chief of Staff Bill McKinley said. Mr McKinley was giving evidence before the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee. The committee is considering legislation that would require large businesses to report on their payment times. “Trucking is an industry of small and family businesses. More than 98 per cent of trucking operators are owner drivers or small businesses with 19 or fewer employees,” Mr McKinley said. “The industry works on tight margins and operators incur most of their costs before they can bill their customers. “Extended payment times are a significant issue for all trucking businesses, large and small. “We agree with the small business ombudsman’s finding that public reporting and monitoring will not compel the worst offenders to adopt shorter payment times or improve their payment practices. “Australia needs to have legislated payment times, which could be based on the European Union’s 2011 late payment directive. “The Australian version of the EU approach should ban payment times longer than the Australian 30-day standard unless a longer payment time is agreed in writing and is not grossly unfair to the creditor, provide creditors with the immediate right to claim interest and recovery costs, and impose penalties for serious noncompliance,” he said. Mr McKinley said the ATA supported the payment times reporting bills with amendments to: • require large businesses to provide
Over to you YOUR SAY The Government should ban payment times longer than 30 days, provide creditors with the immediate right to claim interest and recovery costs, and impose penalties for serious non-compliance disaggregated information based on the business industry codes of their small business suppliers, • enable the regulator to decide not to publish information that would cause competitive detriment to a small business, and • provide that reports be made once a year rather than every six months. “In the ATA’s view, it would be better to get a richer dataset once a year, rather than a smaller amount of information twice a year, with most of that information the same anyway,” he said.
Letters to the editor
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he new TAFE supported transport course announced by the state government is a massive step forward for the WA Transport industry. 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 to support this initiative moving forward. Support to encourage both students and operators to see value in this initiative is crucial. One such incentive would be insurance industry recognition with regard onerous restrictions on age and experience attributed to insurance excesses.
Funding is also required to ensure the best educational tools and instructors are available. Express Group WA will on loan donate 5th wheel display turntables of differing pin sizes and mechanisms along with ring feeders and in-house operational procedures which can be adapted into instruction manuals. I throw out a challenge to all industry leaders from Operators, service providers to the transport industry including mechanical and auto electrical providers, truck manufacturers and enforcement to step up to the plate and support this initiative in any way possible. The future of our road users depend on it. Mark Mazza, CEO Express Group WA
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WATM • August 2020
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Over to you A FAIR GO FOR OWNER DRIVERS by Ray Pratt
TRUCK DRIVERS – THE QUIET ACHIEVERS
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ompared to the other states of Australia, Western Australia has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic pretty well so far. I know that we are not out of the woods yet but the pain is slowly easing as we get back to normal. Full marks must go to our Premier Mark McGowan and his team for biting the bullet and taking the unpopular hard decision to isolate the community to protect us and minimise potential outbreaks. It has been a hard road for many months now and many industries have excelled themselves in the way they have risen to the task and made the change from normal life caused by the pandemic more bearable. Dare I say it that our truck drivers and the transport industry have been recognised as playing an important part in this role by keeping supermarket shelves full and all the other commodities that we consume at our disposal. Before COVID-19 came along we were just truck drivers but now the penny has dropped and the public acknowledges the importance of the transport industry and truck drivers now
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are classed as essential workers. Truck drivers have always been essential workers as we kept quietly working away behind the scenes under adverse conditions delivering our freight. During
As we move on and rebuild our great state it would be great if we could obtain some help maybe from the government in building up the transport industry to a higher level the pandemic truck drivers had to deal with roadhouses closing down and being away from families in these uncertain times yet never a complaint was heard. This is typical of our truck drivers as they work hard under harsh conditions keeping wheels of this great country turning. They are truly quiet achievers as their importance to the country is often overlooked.
We are not after praise or thanks for the job that we do. We just like to go about our work and get the job done. When the job is done we just want to be paid fairly for what we do and then go home to our families. It’s not too much to ask but in reality, truck drivers have a heap of issues to contend with. Low rates and waiting to be paid are two big problems that we have to face. It is criminal the way the big multinational companies exploit our transport industry and drive down our rates and working conditions just to achieve a better bottom line. It is a fact that this pressure is a cause of transport drivers taking more risks and becoming unsafe drivers. As we move on and rebuild our great state it would be great if we could obtain some help maybe from the government in building up the transport industry to a higher level. All we wish for is a changing industry with high safety standards and getting a fair and decent return for our hard work. It’s probably not going to happen but it’s nice to dream of a better transport industry. Keep it safe, Ray Pratt.
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BRISBANE
41 Moreton Street Heathwood QLD 4110 p: 07 3372 2223 f: 07 3372 1022 qld@khitch.com.au
www.khitch.com.au
Over to you BIRDS EYE VIEW by Carol Messenger
Move over Wodonga – Collie is stepping up
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he 'training' of truck drivers in Australia has always been a bit of struggle. 'Back in the old days' we all went out with Dads, Uncles, Husbands, Brothers, etc and learned on the job. It was a kind of succession training. I learned to drive out on the flats of Yalata in South Australia. Good, straight, wide, flat roads – I drove until it was time to change gear and then built up from there – driving on all kinds of roads, in all kinds of conditions, and with all kinds of loads. And whilst we drove we learned 'all the other stuff' – how to change a tyre, load, tarp, chain, fill in a logbook, etc. This was in the days of the Owner Driver. You had one truck - maybe two if you had sons of the right age or if you were a farmer – and you drove it yourself. If you wanted to learn to drive you would go with the aforementioned Father or Uncle and get your experience that way. Real-life experience, where you actually understood and experienced life on the road - not just learned to steer around town. Aaaaah but I digress. So in today's world, there is a myriad of driving schools where you can get a licence, but not many places that teach you 'the other stuff' so we end up with a stack of steering wheel attendants that have no idea of the real world where you have to correctly load, restrain, work out weights, etc.
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Partnering with Keens Truck Driver Training, South Regional TAFE aims to help reduce the truck driver shortage by putting qualified and work-ready participants into the workforce Wodonga was one such place that offered training in a plethora of skills. The TAFE there ran courses where not only could you get your licence but you received plenty of driver training time, combined with theoretical and practical learning activities which ensured that when you actually got on the road you would be work-ready. They would also set up both mock and real interviews and help successful participants to find a job – kind of like your substitute Dad or Uncle. Unfortunately, this sort of setup is very expensive and when the government removed the funding it was the end of the very successful program. But step up Collie. The end of June saw Stage One of major upgrades to South Regional TAFE's
Collie campus being opened along with the launch of a new pilot program that will deliver advanced skills to truck drivers to increase productivity and industry safety. This five-week course will give new drivers the skills that they need to enter (and advance) in the Transport Industry. The Heavy Haulage Driving Operations Skill Set, endorsed by the Western Roads Federation, was developed following considerable industry consultation and will fill key skills gaps for this essential service. Participants will start their Certificate Three in Driving Operations and complete the first eight basic units, getting their truck licence with an eye to completing the full qualification. Partnering with Keens Truck Driver Training, South Regional TAFE aims to help reduce the truck driver shortage by putting qualified and work-ready participants into the workforce, even offering to assist with interviews with industry participants to get these new drivers on the road. The Transport Industry has always been a hardworking and necessary industry, and the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how vital it is. Without trucks, everything would stop dead but sadly the workforce has been aging and declining for a number of years now. so this new initiative is vitally important to bring in some fresh new (trained) blood - which can only be a good thing.
News
WA singled out with heavy vehicle registration fee rise
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he decision to freeze heavy vehicle registration fees was made at a meeting of State Transport ministers in May. The ministers agreed to freeze heavy vehicle registration charges at their current levels for the year 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. That is with the exception of Western Australia whose Heavy motor vehicle licence increased by 2.5 per cent from 10 July 2020. The State argues that the fees are still lower than being part of the NHVR and a state government spokesperson was quoted saying, "In 2019-20, the average MVL fee payable in WA was $870, so the proposed increase in 2020-21 will on average be $22 per vehicle. "WA is not part of the jurisdiction of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator [NHVR], which has agreed to freeze fees for 2020-21, but from a higher base (four per cent). The spokesperson notes that in WA, unlike other states, motor vehicle licence
fee revenue ‘is used to fund upgrades to roads and improve road safety, to the benefit of all road users’ and that the present state government ‘is spending a record amount on road safety and road improvement projects’. Regardless, this decision is not sitting well with industry. Livestock and Rural
over-taxed and now is not the time to increase the burden on small businesses as we all work together during this recovery period,” he said. "There has not been any consultation with industry, and we are unaware of the rationale behind WA transporters being singled out for additional costs compared to their counterparts in other states. "Whilst the rural transport industry has been fortunate in being able to keep working during the Covid-19 restrictions there is considerable concern about the challenging headwinds transporters are facing. Many grain transporters currently
There has not been any consultation with industry, and we are unaware of the rationale behind WA transporters being singled out for additional costs Transport Association of Western Australia (LRTAWA) called on the state government to rethink the increase in light of the current economic circumstances. LRTAWA president David Fyfe is disappointed with the decision. “The heavy vehicle industry is already
have a portion of their fleet parked up and the declining sheep flock will have a significant impact on our members.” Cam Dumesny, CEO of The Western Roads Federation (WRF) has also made WRF’s concern on the issue known to state transport minister Rita Saffioti.
Completed upgrades north of Muchea
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pgrades on Great Northern Highway immediately north of Muchea are now complete with newly widened and duplicated sections joining directly onto the NorthLink WA project. The overall $344.8 million, jointlyfunded Great Northern Highway project will better connect the Wheatbelt region by upgrading priority sections between Muchea and Wubin. Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said upgrading Great Northern Highway is a priority for the Western Australian Government. "This project is essential for the ongoing economic development of Western Australia, creating local jobs and providing a safer route for heavy vehicles," Ms Saffioti said. "Indeed, with Muchea North and NorthLink WA projects complete, road users can now enjoy improved, free flowing travel from Bayswater through to Chittering via Tonkin Highway and Great Northern Highway; some 55 kilometres." Federal Member for Pearce Christian Porter said the upgrades to Great Northern Highway would improve safety on the vital
stretch of road. "One of the most important benefits of this upgrade is that it will reduce congestion on Great Northern Highway, making the route much safer," he said. Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said the Muchea North section included the construction of three kilometres of dual carriageway and 10 kilometres of new wider single carriageway through to Chittering Roadhouse. "As for the final packages of work, the Great Northern Highway Muchea to Wubin upgrades at Walebing and Wubin are progressing well and are expected to be complete later this year," Ms Price said.
"The joint commitment includes funding to undertake planning, land acquisition and environmental assessment for the Bindoon Bypass, which are now also well advanced." The Australian and Western Australian governments have committed a further $275 million to construct the Bindoon Bypass. The completion of the upgrades between Muchea and Wubin together with the Bindoon Bypass, once built, will allow triple road train operations to travel south from the existing road train assembly area at Wubin to the new road train assembly area at Muchea, some 218 kilometres further south, avoiding the inefficient double handling currently required.
The completion of the upgrades between Muchea and Wubin together with the Bindoon Bypass, once built, will allow triple road train operations to travel south from the existing road train assembly area at Wubin to the new road train assembly area at Muchea WATM • August 2020
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Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO
PREMIER ANNOUNCES TRANSPORT TRAINING COURSE
L to R: Minister Mick Murray, Minister Sue Ellery, Premier Mark McGowan, Minister Saffioti, WRF Chair Craig Smith-Gander, and WRF CEO Cam Dumesny
EVIDENCE GIVEN TO ROYAL COMMISSION
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gave evidence to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements on Wednesday, 1 July 2020. The evidence followed our Western Roads Federation direct submission. The Royal Commission, whilst publicly referred to as the Bushfire Royal Commission, does have a wider remit to look at the impacts of a changing climate. My evidence sort to highlight the climate impacts on our state’s vulnerable supply chains.
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WA’s Isolation in January Specifically, that all Western Australia’s road freight routes to the rest of the nation were severed in January 2020 by three separate but simultaneous natural events, a bushfire, flooding, and a tropical cyclone. That these three events: • Served to highlight the vulnerability to natural events of Western Australia’s extremely long road freight routes. • Identified issues in the incident
GREAT DAY FOR the Western Roads Federation member working group whose efforts have led to the creation of an industry training course. This is a pilot and how it will expand around the state will be finalised once the pilot is completed.
response as noted by the road transport industry. • Enabled potential improvements to future response management to emerge. My evidence put forward several recommendations grouped into Preparation, Mitigation, and Response. Details that led to the recommendations are contained in Western Roads Federation submission which is available on request from me.
Preparation • Establish a broader incident control framework that extends beyond the immediacy of action to control the incident to include an industry stakeholder group to manage supply chain disruption. Elements of this are developing within the WA response to Covid-19 via the State’s Freight and Logistics Council. • The group would help gather and circulate information in order to reduce the demand for emergency services whilst reducing the impacts to the industry. • To develop the national freight data hub to enable it to help identify transport operators that travel along remote supply chains. • To test and evaluate the industry stakeholder group model.
Mitigation • Reduce the vulnerability to weather or natural event impacts.
Far too many remote area highways are vulnerable to climatic impacts. This should include the clearance of vegetation to reduce fuel loads near vulnerable remote highways whilst also improving road safety from animal strikes. • Provide rest areas with facilities capable of acting as a holding area for road transport held up by road closures. • Furthermore, that consideration is given to such rest areas being sufficiently large enough to enable triple road trains to be turned around. Currently, there are very limited areas along our remote highways where road trains can be turned around. • Ensure that remote area roadhouses are identified, developed, and stocked as part of an overall remote area highway disruption strategy. This will also have to include addressing their marginal commercial viability. • Enable more viable alternative routes to be developed to cope with the impacts of climate change. At present, there
are only two highly vulnerable sealed roads connecting WA to the rest of the nation. To adapt to climate change and changing security challenges serious national consideration must be given to upgrading the Outback Way and Tanami Road in their entirety in order to improve our internal lines of supply. • Ensure that Transport operators have plans in place for remote area operations that include at a minimum instruction to carry a number of days of food, water, and personal medical supplies. The period of food and water to be carried should be determined by the transport industry.
Response. That a joint industry group to manage Supply Chain disruption be established early in the planning for a response to an event. I have written to the Transport Minister with these recommendations.
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 ◆ Phone 08 9365 7799 or 0481 064 371 180 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004
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News
PBS milestone highlights industry appetite for innovation
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Owner Driver threatened with criminal charges for urging operators to maintain their rates
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rank Black is an Owner Driver who spoke out in a national transport publication where he is a regular columnist urging fellow owner-drivers ‘not’ to undercut each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Black is a TWU-backed ownerdriver representative of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) General Council and was active in the Safe Rates Campaign to pass legislation in the form of the Road Safety Remuneration Bill and the creation of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. On 1 June 2020, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wrote to Mr. Black threatening criminal charges carrying jail terms for ‘price-fixing’ in relation to his article. In particular, the ACCC listed two ‘potentially problematic paragraphs’ in Black’s column: "What does concern me is the cheap freight being offered by people taking advantage of the situation. This is no time for bottom feeders to seek to profit at the expense of others. We can’t afford for rates to be lowered anywhere in the industry. "In harder times, it’s more important than ever for us to stick together and stand strong. We all feel the calling of our personal financial needs but undercutting each other to win work will only do harm to us all."
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The ACCC believes the article raises concerns that Mr. Black, a one-truck owner-driver, may have attempted to form arrangements or reach understandings with the purpose of fixing, controlling or maintaining prices and that contravention of the cartel provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 is a criminal offence and carries serious criminal and civil penalties, including up to 10 years in jail for individuals. The comments Mr. Black made in his column were of the same vein (rate cutting and industry fragmentation) as many columnists, contributors, and letters to the editor that have been published in WA Transport Magazine over the years. The TWU responded to the ACCC’s letter, saying it was ‘utterly astounded that the ACCC is threatening criminal charges carrying jail terms to a truck driver’ over an opinion article, requested how the ACCC obtained Mr. Black’s personal contact details and asked for a full withdrawal and apology. Meanwhile, ATA CEO Ben Maguire cast Mr. Black as the author of his own misfortune and refuted any involvement in how the ACCC came to identify and locate Mr. Black. WA Transport Magazine tried to contact Mr. Black and failed to find his contact details through all normal searches.
he National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) led Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme recently celebrated 10,000 innovative heavy vehicle combinations hitting Australian roads, helping drive clear safety and productivity outcomes. The milestone was a highlight of the third annual joint report released by the NHVR and Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association Institute (ARTSA) on the Australian PBS fleet. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said, “PBS-approved combinations now make up one-in-five new relevant vehicle types — vehicles with a corresponding PBS combination — more than double that of five years ago.” “This increase has led to improved safety outcomes, such as 46 per cent fewer crashes when compared with conventional vehicles, and productivity gains of up to 30 per cent by reducing truck trips on our roads. “The continued growth of the PBS scheme shows industry’s appetite for more modern technology, and the desire to be safer and more innovative operators. “Collectively, going forward we need to ensure governments make concerted efforts to provide the supporting access certainty to encourage the use of these safer and more innovative vehicles on the road network.” ARTSA Institute’s Chair Martin Toomey said the PBS scheme was helping to accelerate the renewal of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet. “The median age of PBS vehicles is 4.3 years compared to over 12 years for the entire heavy vehicle fleet,” Mr Toomey said. “Newer vehicles have access to more modern braking and safety technology, cleaner engines, and fewer maintenance issues compared to older vehicles. They also have a high Australian build content and generate more work for Australian industry.
News “Encouraging the uptake of PBS vehicles can make our roads safer for everyone.” The Performance Based Standards – Australia’s PBS Fleet (2020 Edition) report shows: • One in five relevant new heavy vehicles manufactured in 2019 were PBS approved • In the last five years, new PBS combination approvals have doubled, while the heavy vehicle market has grown by 20 per cent over the same period • The median age of PBS vehicles is 4.3 years compared to over 12 years for the entire heavy vehicle fleet • Around 60 per cent of the new PBS approved combinations are towed by prime movers — a 12 per cent increase from 2018 • PBS vehicles have more than 80 per cent market share in the four-axle and above dog trailer market.
PBS-approved combinations now make up one-infive new relevant vehicle types — vehicles with a corresponding PBS combination — more than double that of five years ago
South-West Supply Chain strategy sets course for freight infrastructure
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ransport Minister Rita Saffioti has invited industry and the public to have their say on the draft South West Supply Chain (SWSC) Strategy. The SWSC Strategy will identify future road, rail, air and port infrastructure requirements in the South West region for the next 10-15 years, focusing on key freight supply chains in the region servicing alumina/bauxite, lithium, caustic soda, timber, grain, agribusiness, mineral sands, copper concentrate and container freight. The recommendations and initiatives in the draft SWSC Strategy are the result of research, supply chain mapping and stakeholder consultation and are based on current network constraints and anticipated future freight volumes generated in the South-West region. The release of the draft South West Supply Chain Strategy also coincides with the finalisation of another important regional freight strategy - the Revitalising Agricultural Region Freight (RARF) Strategy. Minister Saffioti said, "In the last few months we have been reminded just how crucial freight supply chains are in ensuring we all have the food and supplies needed for our day-to-day lives. "The South-West region plays an integral role in our State's economy handling large volumes of bulk exports associated with
mining, agriculture and forestry. "The draft South West Supply Chain Strategy identifies and prioritises future road, rail, air and port infrastructure requirements in the South-West region and establishes a framework and direction for future freight transport related investment in the region for the next 10-15 years. "The infrastructure improvements detailed in the SWSC Strategy aim to facilitate improved freight productivity and safety, and will help position the South West supply chains for growth into the future, supporting local jobs and businesses." Bunbury MLA Don Punch said, "Comprehensive planning for future transport and supply chain needs is vital if we are to maintain our competitive advantages for new and existing industry in the South-West region. "We know we need to attract new industries, like advanced manufacturing, to our region to create economic and employment opportunities and the only way we can achieve that is to ensure the infrastructure needed by industry to succeed is readily available." \Comments on the draft South West Supply Chain (SWSC) Strategy close on Friday August 21 and can be provided at www.mysaytransport.wa.gov.au/ southwestsupplychainstrategy
Tenders called
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enders have been called within the new State-wide Construction Panel Contract, for the third and final section of the $30 million South Coast Highway upgrade in the Great Southern region. Stage three of the $30 million project involves the construction of two passing lanes between Bluff Creek Road and Kojaneerup West Road and is expected to create up to 150 direct and indirect jobs across the life of the project. Stage one, between Killarney Road and Monty's Leap winery, was completed in June 2019 and included the construction of a passing lane at Mead Road. Stage two, between Monty's Leap Winery and the Kalgan River Bridge was completed in April this year and
The three-stage project will significantly improve safety for local residents, tourists and heavy vehicle operators accessing the highway included the widening of a 2.8km section of highway, from seven metres to 11 metres including a two metre sealed-shoulder in each direction. The three-stage project will significantly improve safety for local residents, tourists and heavy vehicle operators accessing the highway, an important freight transport corridor servicing the ports at Albany and Esperance. Construction of stage three is due to commence in late November with completion expected May 2021. The project is one of the first to be tendered under the new Statewide Construction Panel Contract, established in April this year to expedite the delivery of projects across Western Australia. The panel, designed to streamline the process for the awarding of contracts up to a value of $20 million, creates more opportunities for local businesses and protects local jobs.
WATM • August 2020
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Over to you LRTAWA by Jan Cooper, CEO, Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia (Inc)
You Can Never Stop Learning, I Reckon T
he benefits of agricultural colleges are evident in our series on emerging industry representatives, with all three of our members profiled over recent months having attended an agricultural college. The colleges are run by the Education Department and offer modern education programs and residential facilities for young people in Years 10, 11 and 12. Students study a range of subjects that lead to their Western Australian Certificate of Education and gain vocational
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qualifications which focus on agriculture as well as horticulture, viticulture, equine, aquaculture, forestry, and trades qualifications in building and construction, metals and engineering, furnishing and automotive. This month we talk to another young LRTAWA leader, Peter Warburton, affectionately known as ‘Warby’ to his friends. Peter has been an active LRTAWA committee member for several years. Peter and his family are also community
minded. Warby’s Transport has sponsored the Pingelly Shears shearing competition for many years and he has also been a driving force in three hay runs to drought effected farming areas having helped organise and taken part in the 2019 run to Cobar in NSW, a run to Meekatharra in 2019 in conjunction with Farmers Across Borders and in 2020 an Australia Day run to Esperance.
Tell us about yourself I have been around trucks all my life. I
turn 30 in October - born and bred in Wandering. I went to school in Pingelly from kindergarten to year 7 and then attended Narrogin High in years 8-10 and then boarded at Narrogin Agricultural College for years 11 and 12 where I completed qualifications in metal work and agriculture. After I left school I worked for a baling company and then on my cousin’s farm until I got my truck licence. In 2014 I went home to Mum and Dad’s transport business carting sheep and wool and then we introduced hay carting into our operations. My partner Rachel and I have just welcomed a baby boy, Todd, to our family. In addition to the transport business I help run my grandparents small farm in Wandering.
Tell us about your business I am a partner with my parents in the business – Warby’s Transport. Dad started our business in early 80’s with a twodeck sheep crate which we removed to cart wool, as well as a single axle grain tipper. We have gradually modernised and increased our trucks and combinations to two B Double stock crates, two B Double flat tops and two pocket road train sets of tippers. We have recently purchased half of another business as we realise we need to be versatile and change direction with the three month pause in sheep live export.
What attracted you to rural transport? I love getting out and interacting with people and seeing how they have done things, understanding how their businesses work and witnessing different farming practices. You learn something every day. You also don’t see the same person every day. I love the lifestyle.
What advice would you give to other young people starting their own business? Do your homework as much as you can, but it is important to listen to the people who have gone before you. Most older people in the industry are willing to give advice. Even if you think it is not useful at the time, tuck it away – it will be useful at some point in the future. I’d also encourage people from a family business, to work outside the business for a while as you see a different way of doing things and you can bring fresh ideas home.
Have you had any mentors? I have gained a lot from working with
McKenzies Transport in Narrogin and my Mum and Dad. Both businesses have slightly different ways of doing things and I’ve been able to suggest different approaches for our business which we have tried.
What do you like best about being a transporter? The freedom to get out and introduce yourself to new people and industries and the networking. You’re always talking to people learning different things. I spoke to a farmer yesterday who had a different approach to running his feedlot and it made me think that we could do something similar at home. Every person is different in their own way and you learn a lot of interesting things. Networking and talking I think are two of the most important things about transport. That’s what I like about the LRTAWA conference - I have an opportunity to talk to different suppliers and can make comparisons with products and weigh up what is best for us. You can never stop learning I reckon.
The regulation is burdensome. We’re the only industry in the world that has a specialised task force to come down on us. We’re truck driver’s not English teachers
If you were captain of the transport world what changes would you make? I’d make sure we have a level playing field across the industry regardless of company size. Too often companies with the financial resources are able to gain an advantage over smaller companies because they can afford to tick all the boxes to get units on the road. If one company can get a permit we should all have access to it. I’d also look at more consistent compliance across the board.
How do you think we can attract young people to the industry? The industry is too heavily regulated. We won’t attract young people when you can receive a $1000 fine for being on the wrong road. I’d be willing to give a young bloke a go regardless of experience as we’ve got to encourage young people to the business. Perhaps we should put ‘P’ plates on the back of a vehicle and then others in the industry will help you out and give advice. At the moment we don’t go out of our way to help young people. At the same time there are some young people who think they know it all - they are 7ft tall and bullet proof. It will continue to be hard whilst the rules are so hard. We are not welcoming people with open arms. We have a doorway to a career, but it has chains and padlocks on it that you have to break before you can walk through.
Why did you put your hand up for the LRTAWA Committee?
The regulation is burdensome. We’re the only industry in the world that has a specialised task force to come down on us. We’re truck driver’s not English teachers. Being away from family is not a good thing but I manage to take Rachel and Todd with me on occasions.
Dad was an LRTAWA member form the day he started the business. As a younger person in the industry I thought it would be good to learn what the industry is all about and network with people of different ages throughout the whole industry. There are a lot of older, wiser people you can learn from. I might go to a meeting and come away having learned a lot about Main Roads’ decisions for example and then I can explain it to other people who are not involved and it helps everyone be better informed. I’ve learned a lot from my involvement.
Will you encourage your children to do the same as you?
What have you got out of it personally?
All Todd’s uncles and aunts are in the transport game so it will be hard for him to avoid, but my father told me ‘get a trade before coming back to the business’. I’ll probably say the same to Todd. I certainly wouldn’t discourage him from transport.
You are never not learning in the industry. I reckon even the older ones are still learning and going forward. I reckon it’s the best thing out. I’ve learned how to interact with other people in the industry better which has also helped me in talking to clients.
What is the worst thing about being a transporter?
WATM • August 2020
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News
WA’s biggest-ever regional road safety initiative
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funding partnership between WA state and federal governments will see a boost to the Regional Road Safety Improvement Program. The Commonwealth Government has allocated $80 million to the program in 2020-21, with the State Government contributing its annual $20 million. The program will be delivered immediately in 2020-21 and will see around 1,400 kilometres of roads treated, with shoulder sealing and audible edge lines being installed in every region of WA. These treatments greatly reduce the number of 'run off road' crashes, which can result in severe trauma and are more common in regional areas. Modelling undertaken using roads where the same safety treatments have been introduced shows the strategy could reduce road trauma in regional WA by 60 per cent. The State Government will continue to campaign for the Commonwealth to allocate funding for an additional eight years of the program, which if funded, would see more than 17,400 kilometres of regional road upgraded with low cost treatments. The safety program was listed on Infrastructure Australia's 2020 Infrastructure Priority List.
$10 million to improve road safety on two major freight roads
Funding secured for Bussell Highway duplication
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oodyay Road will undergo $7 million worth of upgrades, with 3.5 kilometres of reconstruction works around Jingaling Brook and two kilometres of widening works at Harper Brook. Audible edge lines and a one-metre wide centreline treatment will be installed to reduce head-on crashes, while a westbound overtaking lane will also be constructed approximately 14 kilometres outside of Toodyay. The project is expected to create and support approximately 45 local jobs and
The bridge carries approximately 6,400 vehicles per day and is on a critical freight route to the Eastern States, with 17 per cent of traffic being heavy vehicles is jointly funded by the State and Federal governments. An additional $3 million will be spent replacing an ageing bridge on Great Eastern Highway over Coates Gully near El Caballo. The bridge carries approximately 6,400 vehicles per day and is on a critical freight route to the Eastern States, with 17 per cent of traffic being heavy vehicles.
ommonwealth funding has been secured to construct stage one and stage two of the much awaited second carriageway on Bussell Highway. Construction on the $85 million project is set to begin later this year, supporting up to 570 direct and indirect jobs and providing opportunities to local businesses. The project will include the construction of a five-kilometre section between the Capel Bypass and Hutton Road, along with reconstruction works for a section of the existing carriageway. Preparation works, including design and environmental approvals, for stage two of the project are continuing. The second stage includes construction of the remaining 12-kilometre section between Hutton Road and Busselton, along with three bridges. The state government completed $4.5 million worth of pre-construction works on Bussell Highway earlier this year, paving the way for the next stage of the project to commence.
Governments must rule out plan to tax trucks
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ustralia’s governments must immediately rule out a public service proposal to tax trucks and benefit the rail system, ATA Chair David Smith said. The plans are outlined in an Austroads issues paper on decarbonising the road transport network. The issues paper argues that increasing taxes on small trucking businesses would provide a ‘strong mechanism for influencing and enabling emission reductions’. The report goes on to say that ‘road pricing can provide a discretionary pricing mechanism between modes within the same corridor that incentivise mode shift to a lower emissions option.’ “Let’s turn this into plain English. Behind the big words, the report is proposing increasing taxes on small trucking businesses to benefit large corporate rail operators,” Mr Smith said. “Trucking is, and always has been, very
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prepared to pay our fair share, but will not pay more than that. “This plan would have extreme financial impacts on hardworking trucking businesses, and only increase prices on everyday goods and Aussie exports, affecting everyday Australians,” he said. Mr Smith said the report failed to consider the emission benefits of increasing the use of high productivity freight vehicles. “By using an A-double instead of a semi-trailer to move 1000 tonnes of freight, emissions can be reduced by 28 per cent,
The report failed to consider the emission benefits of increasing the use of high productivity freight vehicles
and the number of truck trips required can be halved,” Mr Smith said. “Austroads has ignored one of the main opportunities for emissions reduction in road freight, demonstrating that their report was not well researched and does not provide an accurate representation of the available options,” he said. Mr Smith said that the report also ignored the draft Productivity Commission report on national transport regulatory reform, which found it was not possible to assume that all traffic on a highway could be replaced by rail. “Rail does not deliver to supermarkets or many local communities. These deliveries rely on trucks,” Mr Smith said. “Road and rail are largely complementary modes of transport. Choice of mode should be a commercial decision, and government regulation should be neutral,” Mr Smith said.
News
Tonkin Gap contract fast tracked
Heavy vehicle technology blueprint
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he NHVR has released a blueprint to support manufacturers and operators to incorporate the latest safety technology into new and existing heavy vehicles. The Vehicle Safety and Environmental Technology Uptake Planoutlined five work packages to give Australia’s heavy vehicle industry certainty when installing new safety technology. The NHVR’s Vehicle SETUP Plan was developed following a survey of manufacturers in 2018, and is designed to meet the targets set out in the Federal
Government’s National Road Safety Action Plan 2018-2020. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the plan would be delivered over five work packages, including better harmonisation of Australian vehicle standards, better access to the latest vehicle technologies, ensuring appropriate in-service requirements, and industry education about new and emerging technology. “When we surveyed manufacturers, we saw that there was very little consistency when it comes to installing newer types of safety technology,” Sal said.
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he $400 million Tonkin Gap contract has been awarded to the Tonkin Gap Alliance, fast tracking the project and unlocking thousands of local jobs with works expected to commence in September. The Alliance, comprising BMD, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD, will work with Main Roads and PTA to deliver the project, which is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs. The project will fix a major bottleneck on Tonkin Highway through Bayswater which carries more than 120,000 vehicles per day. The project includes works from Dunreath Drive to Collier Road. It is expected to save 17,000 road users who use this section of Tonkin Highway up to six minutes during morning peak and up to 11 minutes during afternoon peak. Premier Mark McGowan said this project is part of a pipeline of major road projects for Western Australia worth an estimated $2.37 billion and creating more than 13,000 jobs. "This is one of WA's most congested sections of roads - I'm glad we have been able to fasttrack works and help support the WA economy in the process," Mr McGowan said.
State of the art temperature control in truck cabins
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ruck drivers globally could soon have access to state-of-the-art temperature control in their cabins that reduces windscreen condensation and improves comfort. An international research team involving Monash University, Zhejiang University (China) and the University of Pennsylvania (USA) have spent the past two years investigating the air inlet mode, temperature, relative humidity and flow speed of ventilation of air conditioners in truck cabins, and how this impacts dewing and driver comfort. Researchers have collaborated with automobile manufacturers in Australia and China on thermo-fluid problems, such as vehicle aerodynamics, drag reduction, and thermo-fluid flows
in engines. Findings from this study could influence the future design of automotive air conditioning systems. “The other interesting finding is that the optimised settings can effectively and efficiently control the flow velocity and temperature distributions of the window surfaces and inner cabin space,” Dr Jisheng Zhao, Research Fellow in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University, said. “These findings should provide us with a basic design guideline for the air conditioning system in trucks when considering the combined requirements. The airflow velocity and temperature distributions should also help locate comfortable positions in the cabin.”
$223 million to unlock shovel ready projects
T
he federal and state Governments have jointly invested an additional $223 million to deliver shovel-ready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades in WA. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth's JobMaker plan and help the West Australian economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Australian Government's $176 million contribution builds on
its nationwide $100 billion, 10-year infrastructure pipeline. “Federal funding for this package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation to priority shovelready projects and targeted road safety works,” Senator Cormann said. Senator Cormann further said that bringing forward these key infrastructure projects is part of $13.8 billion in infrastructure funding for Western Australia that the Federal Government has committed to transport infrastructure projects to date.
T
Large scale charging reform pilot
he Australian Government has completed a small scale trial of telematics-based charging and is now preparing to commence a large scale trial. The Small Scale On-Road Trial started in July 2019 and finished in January 2020. A total of twelve heavy vehicle operators participated, contributing 259 vehicles. Trial participants collectively operated across all states and territories and included buses and rigid and articulated trucks. Telematics service providers collected monthly vehicle trip distance, fuel consumption and location data. The trial tested whether telematics devices already installed in the participating vehicles could measure mass (weight) and distance effectively.
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Over to you Delivery of more parts
By Mel Taylor
A “NEW, QUICK, EASY, CHEAP” PROJECT
O
nce upon a time, there was a happy man with a nice B model Mack who had a less happy wife. She has some difficulty reconciling the money her husband had spent with what looked to her to be a too-large piece of useless junk filling the driveway. Just about the time the wife began to be reconciled with her husband's strange and expensive hobby two of husband's friends, Vice President and Treasurer of HCVC suggested that as they had recently finished a mutual project, "Wouldn't it be a good idea if her husband started a new project of his own in Vice President's workshop. We know where a good old Chevrolet is and with ‘our help’ and a few bob from you we can have something to fill our time and in the end, you will have a nice pickup". Yeah right. So, totally enthused with the envisioned cheap and easy project and enthralled with the treasure trove of machinery in Vice President's workshop, the husband began, first to inspect and buy a suitable chassis for the project. A quote was then sought from a restoration company to rebuild the cab. The company is called, 'Not very Cheap' and the quote was $72,000, with an
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estimated six-month wait. That may be a reflection on how rich they thought the husband was or more likely how tired the cab was. Their quote was not accepted. Three other engines were sourced, a couple from a club member at a generous price. Of these three, one was scrap only. After the engine over hauler, Enzo (who has done a great job) looked at a couple and did lots of checking did he find what he described as a ‘virgin’ an engine that had never been rebuilt, which was in good condition. This was then completely rebuilt, everything new. On enquiring at a clutch supplier if the pressure plate was able to be repaired, the man said, "Here's a new one same as a V8 Holden and a new clutch plate too". So far, that has been the easiest part of the restoration, and the cheapest. Work progressed at Vice President's workshop at a steady stop-start pace as parts were sourced from places such as Canada, the USA, and a couple of suppliers in Australia. Chev parts Qld and LMC in the USA being two helpful ones. New brakes, kingpins, and bushes, spring shackles, brake master cylinder, brake lines, radiator, diff seals, axle seals, etc etc were acquired. The Treasurer offered some useful
parts and good advice but turned out to like going fishing a lot. The Vice President turned out to be a wealth of knowledge and assorted skills with equally useful tools. One of the things he built was a new steel tray for the truck and the husband only had to pay for the steel and timber. An old ex ambulance was found on a farm by the President and subsequently, the rear brake drums were bought off it as the ones imported from Canada at great expense were found to be for the front brakes from a different model Chev and wouldn't fit the rears. The offset was not deep enough. After some thought, it was decided to buy the whole ambulance and bring it to the workshop. This was accomplished with the generous help from several members, it turned out to be a wise decision as several bits and pieces could be salvaged that would otherwise have been hard to source. Out of interest, did you know that even though the bonnet and front guards all look exactly the same on different model Chevs they are not? The husband at one point had three bonnets and six guards lying around Vice President's yard with none that fitted. One of the many advisers who passed through the workshop at different times, and there were many, offered a very intriguing
The Ambulance turned out to be a good find and produced many needed parts
Vice President with the rebuilt chassis
The first plank is cut to length
and complicated solution to making the guards fit but the husband didn't think he had enough money, and anyway, he thought he would be dead by then. Did you also know old Chevs had at least four different cross member supports for the gearbox depending on the model of chassis and the engine gearbox combination? Do you know how hard it is to marry a four-speed box to an engine in a chassis that originally had a three-speed box? I do. Do you know that I shouldn't have bought the only tyres I could find. Four very out of balance cross-ply Chinese rubbish to fit the 17" wheels, and I should have waited until Treasurer had come back from one of his many fishing holidays before buying anything. "Oh I know where you can get radials,� he said. Anyway mustn't get depressed. The cab which is now part ambulance is with a retired panel beater who is working from home. Should be ready to offer up to the chassis soon. The engine is in the chassis, is married to the gearbox and a new tail shaft fitted. It runs sweet. When the cab and guards bonnet etc are ready we should be on the home straight. I won't say that aloud because Murphy and I have a close working relationship.
The hunt for suitable parts has begun
The cab taking shape
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History
The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry
I
1965
ncreased speed limits were tabled for 1965 with the country road speed of 60mph for commercial vehicle up to 3-ton gross weight, and 35mph in built-up areas; over 3 and up to 7 tons were 50mph and 35mph; over 7 tons, 40mph and 30mph. Passenger vehicles licensed for eight or more adults were allowed 50mph and 35mph. At the March 17 General Committee Meeting, it was decided to object to the Australian Road Traffic Code Committee’s recommendation to fit every commercial vehicle with a warning device. The same meeting heard that investigations were carried out concerning the use of thongs (footwear) by drivers and it was decided: “This was a matter for each individual company to decide upon”. Decimal currency was rearing its head and the Committee endorsed a proposal to buy a new decimal adding machine at a cost of £53. A sub-committee was formed to discuss the vexing conundrum of how to convert parts of a penny to decimals. Refrigerated road services continue to operate between Perth and Wittenoom, Carnarvon and Marble Bar, Carnarvon and Exmouth and Perth and Carnarvon. Gascoyne Traders Pty Ltd now operate all services with the exception of the Perth-Wittenoom service. During the past year there has been a reorganisation of routes and now there is one major service operating between Perth and Carnarvon with minor services feeding out to Exmouth and Marble Bar. The inaugural meeting of the General Cartage Section was held on July 7 There was a need for a Section to deal with general transport matters, according to F A Manford. It was mooted at the meeting that another Section to encompass crane and forklift, low loader operators and those interested in long distance intraState transport also be formed. Over-award
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WATM • August 2020
By Russell McKinnon wages, uniforms for staff and industrial matters were dealt with. Outgoing WARTA President J P Cox used his report to the Annual General Meeting to call upon members “to face the challenge of prosperity in WA”. He said: “The previous year had brought a period of prosperity to WA and present indications were that this prosperity would continue. But the benefit to be derived could be lost if the Association failed to plan ahead to meet the challenge of the demands which must inevitably be placed before members. The State’s development is undoubtedly on the move and it is up to us to play our part in its
investigations were carried out concerning the use of thongs (footwear) by drivers and it was decided: “This was a matter for each individual company to decide upon growth. With this in view, stabilisation of the industry must be paramount in our aims.” The August 30 Meeting of the General Cartage Section struck ton-mile rates for bitumen and dirt roads. They were adopted on the basis of 6 pence and 7 ½ pence per ton-mile for loads originating at Geraldton and south thereof, and 9 pence per tonmile for loads originating on dirt roads. At the September 15 meeting the 7½ pence was dropped to 7 pence. The Government introduced a ton-mile tax in October. From August 1962 until August 1965, WARTA membership had increased by 158 members to 780. A flurry of letters between (Ed: held at the State Records Office) the Association and the Deputy Commissioner for Stamps started on September 2 when Secretary Wilf Pellew wrote about recent visits by
inspectors to members demanding stamp duty of 2/6d for any documents which show terms and conditions and which are signed by the clients. WARTA sought a waiver of “Section 49 which provides for the retrospective payment of duty over a period of two years as it relates to our immediate problem”. WARTA also sought “an amendment to the First Schedule so that this industry can be made exempt from Stamp Duty on the documents in use day to day”. The thrust of the Association was that the carrier was an intermediary of business and retailer “supplying an essential service”. Because of the dozens of forms made out every day, it would be almost impossible to deliver these to the Stamp Office daily. Also, country members would be similarly hamstrung. The Association stated that it was already “a very heavy subscriber to Government funds. Sales Tax, Fuel Tax, Vehicle Registration Fees and Department of Transport Fees are all sources revenue which the Government receives from this industry,” Mr Pellew’s letter states. The retrospective nature of the fees would mean “the cost to individual transport operators could be a crippling blow to their financial stability and to the road transport industry”. The Assistant Commissioner of Stamps talked of lifting the £5 exemption which had been in place since 1921 to a more considered amount. Opening up the Pilbara has its challenges. With the advent of the massive iron ore projects, one such instance was the transport of four 100-tonne capacity self-propelled dump trucks to be carried on low loaders from Fremantle to Dampier. The vehicles had to travel over tracks and roads where elementary roads were unsuitable or unavailable. They were accompanied by two support teams, the first travelling ahead to dismantle gates and fences to allow the overwidth loads to pass through and the second restoring the barriers behind them. The journey lasted 10 agonising days.
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News
Behind the people who keep Australia moving Everything we do, every day, relies on the people who literally keep Australia moving. From the fresh food in our supermarkets, to the petrol in our cars, from the school bus, to the train you catch to work, even your holiday travel. None of it would happen without transport workers. And behind them is TWUSUPER, the industry super fund for the people who look after you.
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