Dananni Haulage’s Georgia Goss – the next generation industry leader
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en of Australia’s young trucking professionals have been welcomed to the 2021 Daimler Future Leaders’ Forum – a career-defining program that nurtures the next generation of industry leaders. Delivered by the ATA in partnership with Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific, the forum gives young leaders the tools and training needed to become strong, knowledgeable industry
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advocates. The 2021 Future Leaders represent a wide array of industry professions, from mechanics and directors to operations management, finance and technology. “Now in its fourth year, the program addresses the issues of today, including safety, building business productivity and recruiting skilled and motivated employees. The 2021 program will see participants meet in Canberra for two days of intensive workshops with mentorship from experts in leadership, media and political training. Representing Western Australia is Georgia Goss who is the Workshop and Administration Assistant at Dananni Haulage. Georgia has the ambition to be part of a better, safer future in transport and wants to develop her potential as an industry leader and build her professional skills. By taking part in the 2021 Future Leaders’ Forum, Georgia will gain an insight into how businesses can effectively influence government policy, learn how to handle media interviews and build her professional networks.
WA ready to lead Australia’s $7.4 billion battery industry
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he WA Government has welcomed the Future Charge: Building Australia's Battery Industries report identifying WA’s significant role in the global future battery industry. The independent report, prepared by Accenture for the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre, predicts the industry will contribute $7.4 billion per year to Australia's economy and create 34,700 jobs by 2030. Demand for batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems is forecast to increase 10 times over the next 10 years. According to the report, Australia can compete in several segments of the global battery industry, including refining, active materials manufacturing and battery manufacturing. WA is the only State to have a clear strategy to support the development of the industry and also has all the battery minerals needed to make a battery. Companies such as Tianqi, Albemarle, IGO and BHP Nickel West are positioning WA as a significant global producer and exporter of lithium hydroxide and nickel sulphate. The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is actively engaging with global precursor cathode manufacturers to build a manufacturing facility here in WA.
Out of date truck widths says ATA
new analysis from the Australian Trucking Association has revealed that Australia’s out of date truck width rules are restricting the availability of zero emission trucks to the Australian market. The ATA suggests that trucking operators are eager to embrace safer, zero or low emission vehicles, however, they simply can’t because the Australian rules prevent trucks built to European or US widths from being used on our roads. In its submission on the Australian Government’s Safer freight vehicles discussion paper, the ATA called on the Government to adopt 2.6 metre truck and trailer widths, to enable USA and European trucks to enter the market. “New analysis by the ATA shows that in Europe there are more than three times the number of zero emission truck models on the market than we have in Australia. In the United States, it is more than five times,” ATA CEO Andrew McKellar said.
“The Government discussion paper identifies trucks based on EU or US market designs (including those made in Australia) make up around 60 per cent of new heavy trucks, and the cost of redesigning these trucks is already estimated at up to $30 million per year. “The paper also identifies that likely future changes, including electric and hydrogen systems, will be increasingly difficult or not economical to adapt to Australia’s 2.5 metre truck widths,” he said. The ATA submission highlights that Australian trucking operators need early market access to both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks, and that zero emission trucks need to be deployed at scale to reduce costs and ensure commercially viable options exist for reducing transport emissions. “The United States has the greatest supply of zero emission truck models, made possible by zero emission truck purchase
incentives for operators and a better truck width standard. These incentives and standards should be embraced here in Australia,” Mr McKellar said. “Moving at the same time to a 2.6 metre width for trailers would deliver clear benefits for refrigerated operations, roll stability and work health and safety,” he said. Mr McKellar said the ATA welcomed the safety package proposed in the discussion paper, which would mandate extra safety technologies for wider vehicles. “These technologies would improve driver vision and include lane departure warning and side underrun protection for vulnerable road users,” he said. The Government discussion paper considers options for increasing truck and trailer widths from 2.5 metres to either 2.55 metres or 2.6 metres. In the United States, the standard width is 2.6 metres. In Europe, it is 2.55 metres with 2.6 metres for refrigerated trucks. WATM • August 2021
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