Western Roads Federation – The ‘Cost of Living’ and Transport

Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO

The 'Cost of Living' and Transport

The next Federal Government must fix the road transport industry issues if it is to help reduce the cost of living for all Australians. Here are three areas that must be prioritised.

Skills shortage

This is pretty much the number one issue in our industry and is rapidly becoming one on the East Coast too. There is no short term fix - there are now more jobs in WA than actual unemployed people for the first time on record. Less Truck Drivers: At the Australian Trucking Association Conference recently, one Government Department representative stated that we now have 20,000 less truck drivers in Australia than pre COVID-19 meaning that we have dropped in rough figures from 190,000 to around 170,000 drivers. Targeted Recruitment: The new approach being taken by Western Roads Federation of targeted recruitment from specific under employment segments in Western Australia was well received. Our first one of these started mid-May and involved specific members, a target about driving longer it’s about removing the roadblocks and delays that hold things up.

For example, the wait time to pick up a container at Fremantle Port can be up to four hours. That is non-productive time.

Waiting months to get an escort warden to move a High Wide Load - that is also a non-productive delay.

There are more examples as well, but they illustrate the point.

Fees/ Charges and Fuel Excise

Finally, fixing the fees and charges imposed on road transport will help reduce transport costs. For example, at the Port we have members paying over $200,000 a year in demurrage fees for containers that they can’t get back in time - because they weren’t able to get them for up to five days due to port issues.

The bungled fuel excise announcement which has seen our industry effectively lose the fuel excise rebate for six months, will not only keep costs up but may well send some smaller operators to the wall. The next Federal Government has to fix this immediately.

market, an adjusted work model and collaboration with the Department. We are very proud of the efforts of our WRF team in pulling this together. Kalgoorlie: WRF Members are now engaged with us on potentially adjusting the Kalgoorlie training to better reflect local needs. International Skilled Labour: Many WRF members are recruiting skilled labour from overseas. However, the delays through the Federal Department of Immigration are amazing. Even a letter we sent via the ATA to the Federal Department in Dec 21 has only just been answered.

Regardless, of the delays we do need as an industry to determine if all international drivers should have to pass a Verification of Competency test as well as learn about how to operate in WA including our HV regulations before being allowed to drive.

Productivity

If you don’t have enough people or equipment, then we need to be able do more with what we have got. That is not