WA TRANSPORT MAG - MARCH 2023 edition

RENTCO

OFFER WORKSHOP

SERVICES – AND ‘STATE OF THE ART’ ROLLER BRAKE TESTING AT THEIR PERTH SUPER DEPOT

The ‘state of the art’ Levanta Roller Brake Tester is now available for industry to utilise at the Rentco Super Depot in High Wycombe. Capable of testing a double road train configuration without the driver leaving the cab, it also offers load simulation for unladen light tare weight vehicles

A STRONG & POWERFUL VOICE FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS’

At the TWU, we are relentless in the pursuit of building and exercising worker power, guided by clear, strong principles. We are committed to earning and keeping our members’ trust and bargaining collectively. We aim to hold corporations to account, empowering the workforce with a strong and powerful voice.

And set the standard for transport workers into the future.

TWU Members also benefit from a range of services available only to members

 Legal Services

 Wage increases and improved conditions through collective bargaining

 Income Protection and Group Accident and Sickness cover

 Collective purchasing power of UnionShopper to provide members with discounts on a range of restaurants, gift cards, white goods and more

You should be a member of your union, the TWU if you enjoy these benefits like:

The TWU has a number of Enterprise Agreements in a myriad of transport companies. If you work for a company that has an EA with the TWU, you, along with all transport workers benefit from the years of struggle and collective action of union members before you.

 Enforcement of your agreement and workplace rights

 Representation for incidents or disciplinaries

 Job Security and protection

 $5,000 Funeral benefits

 Free Wills

 Annual Leave

 Maternity Leave

 Long Service Leave

 Sick days

 Leave loading

100

 Extraordinary Driver’s License

 Penalty rates

 Superannuation

 Health and safety and workers’ compensation

 Allowances (meal allowances, shift allowances)

 Rest breaks

 Unfair dismissal protection

Becoming a member of the TWU ensures you can maintain these rights into the future. www.twu.com.au/join

Rentco offer Workshop Services –and ‘state of the art’ Roller Brake Testing at their Perth Super Depot

Founded in Perth in 1994 by brothers Bob and John Shier, the Western Australian transport equipment rental company Rentco has quickly expanded their ‘trusted brand’ throughout Australia with locations in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin… plus their ‘new’ premises and head office in Perth.

“Being the ‘go to name’ in your industry is a reputation built on long running exceptional service, customer relationships and high-quality transport equipment which is serviced and maintained to the highest standards,” says Rentco’s National Business Manager Paul Scott.

“Our service is impossible to beat and everyone in the Rentco family prides themselves on the company’s efficiency in expediently delivering much needed transport support to businesses throughout Australia.

Paul has been with Rentco for twelve years and says, “I am proud of this companies ethos to deliver the highest standards in service and equipment and am excited that we can now offer our Perth ‘Super Depot’ 19 Bay Workshop facility to owner drivers and fleet operators alike so they can utlise the same ‘state of the art equipment’ and highly skilled personnel that ‘we do in the maintenance, servicing and repairs of our own rental equipment’.

“Rentco is always looking for new opportunities to innovate and expand our services and for our Perth Workshop we have procured the latest ‘state of the art’

Roller Brake Testers are deemed critical inspection equipment for all heavy vehicle workshops and authorised inspection stations throughout Australia and New Zealand. This technology is fast replacing the older test methodologies like decelerometers and plate testers.

Rentco’s Levanta Roller Brake Tester offers load simulation for unladen vehicles with a light tare weight and is capable of testing a double road train configuration without uncoupling.

“With forward bookings we will be able to minimise downtime as the driver will not

Rentco’s

need to exit the truck – they can just drive through,” says Paul.

“A detailed report of the test is supplied and the process is compliant with relevant legislation in all states of Australia including NHVR, AS/NZS 4613:1999 and MRB10244. The process supports compliance, duty of

care and importantly… the information from the test can help reduce operating costs.

“We adhere to strict responsible corporate governance guidelines to deliver reliable, high quality and transparent products and services and are backed by our ‘Certificate of Authorised Premises, Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence for a Corporation (MRB10244) coupled with qualified personnel who all hold relevant ‘Motors Vehicle Repairers Certificates’ across automotive electrical and mechanical disciplines.

“Our Perth Workshop is equipped to handle the largest of fleets and the level of service and expertise is the same regardless if you have one truck or fifty -we can tailor an individual package to suit your size and requirements.

From then to now

While initially supplying trailers to the agricultural industry in WA, it became evident there was a desperate need for a transport equipment rental service nationwide which led to Rentco’s expansion to other states over the past two decades.

When asked what were Rentco’s key milestones Paul said, “Between 1994 and 2005 opening Brisbane, Townsville, Sydney and Melbourne Depots, between 2010 and 2020 the Darwin Depot opened as well as Melbourne and Brisbane ‘Super Depots’.

“We are really proud of our new High Wycombe ‘Super Depot’ which opened in

Levanta Roller Brake Tester.

Levanta Roller Brake Tester offers load simulation for unladen vehicles with a light tare weight and is capable of testing a double road train configuration without uncoupling

2021 and houses the Rentco head office and Perth Workshop.

Services

“Rentco offers short, medium and longterm hire which gives clients the flexibility of equipment choice and hire duration. The pricing is competitive and 24/7 breakdown cover is included.

“Asset reliability is key to our ‘trusted name’ and our maintenance program is thorough on all of our products plus all equipment must meet rigid standards in both sourcing and maintenance stages.

“Rentco offers flexibility – we can adapt each service based on the equipment purpose and usage and we are happy to go that ‘extra mile’ to source the right equipment for our clients,” says Paul.

The Fleet

“The Rentco fleet only includes highquality and top-of-the-range equipment, backed by the PBS Standards. One of our key focuses is sourcing innovate equipment that will deliver measurable efficiency improvements to our customers.

“With a national fleet exceeding 4,000

including prime movers, rigid trucks, and semi trailing equipment, it is likely that we have your requirements covered and we also offer one of the most useful pieces of kit you can lay your hands on in a commercial freight yard – the Terminal Tractor plus Swing Lifters, Light vehicles, Skel’s, PBS Dollies, Tautliners and more.

The people

“Rentco currently employ 106 people nationally. 25 have been with the company more than ten years and another five will hit the decade mark in 2023,” says Paul.

“Kirk Shier (son of Bob Shier), after completing his apprenticeship with Rentco, has worked his way up to being the Workshop Manager in Perth.

“We have had two heavy duty mechanics do their apprenticeship with us who are now both Branch Manager’s - Jarrod Dennis at our Darwin Depot and Lance Jones managing our Sydney Depot.

“To help combat the skilled trade’s shortage, Rentco provide a great Apprenticeship Program to both young and mature age apprentices to join our service and maintenance team. There are excellent

future progression opportunities as you can see from our track record.

“We are proud of our tight-knit team – they all have a genuine enthusiasm for delivering the best service to our customers and we are all looking forward to Rentco’s 30th year anniversary next year,” finishes Paul.

ROLLER BRAKE TESTING –

The Brake Roller Tester offers load simulation for unladen vehicles with a light tare weight and is capable of testing a double road train configuration without uncoupling. A detailed report of the test is supplied for your accreditation records and with advanced bookings we will save you downtime by doing the test without your driver leaving the truck. The process is compliant with NHVR, AS/NZS 4613:1999 and relevant legislation in all states of Australia including MRB10244.

FLEET SERVICE & REPAIRS

Get the same level of quality workmanship and expertise that the Rentco fleet receives with our 19 bay Workshop for all scheduled servicing and repairs of your fleet and we will tailor a package to suit your size and requirements.

The Rentco Workshop holds all the regularity licenses and is coupled with qualified personnel holding relevant Motor Repairers Certificates across automotive electrical and mechanical disciplines.

The ‘state of the art’ Levanta Roller Brake Tester replaces all previous technologies and can reduce operating costs for one truck to a fleet.

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Lots in this edition including the well attended TRANSAFE WA launch of iNSTRUCTKA!

It is fantastic to see the WA transport industry together, looking fabulous and supporting each other. A big ‘well done’ to the organisers of this event and safety initiative it offers.

When I first started with the magazine, Rentco was one year old and next year they will celebrate thirty years in business and are nationwide. Pretty cool for a WA owned and run company and in this edition they announce they are sharing their experience, facilities and ‘state of the art equipment’ including their new Levanta Roller Brake Tester with the WA transport industry -Page 2.

There is also a fair bit of poo in this

edition. I am sorry if anyone is offended. The images (Fair Go page 13) were taken by someone in our industry and illustrate perfectly what everyone has to deal with…so maybe this visual will catch better attention of the ‘powers to be’ better than words.

More poo on page 8 with Letters to the Editor where Garth Stockden perfectly sums up the ‘other side’ – where there are no toilet facilities for drivers.

And this edition would not be complete without a story on the radioactive capsule that was lost and found and thank you Carol Messenger for your ‘tuneful’ story on Page 7.

Until next month, best

BIRDS EYE VIEW by Carol Messenger

1ST OF APRIL HAS COME EARLY THIS YEAR - OH GOODY GOODY…

One, Two, three, four Stick around we'll tell you more

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, radioactive little beanie

That got lost for the first time that day

An itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, radioactive little beanie

So, in the outback, it wanted to stay

From the gauge to the bolt hole

From the bolt hole to the crate

From the crate to roadside

Guess that’s the story that they state

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny

Radioactive little beanie and when it went ‘missing’ in WA’s Pilbara it caused all sorts of bother. The thing is I don’t think that there is even one person around that didn’t question what they were hearing on this story.

It will be interesting to see the results of any investigations and I hope those are released to the public.

Apparently this substance caesium-137 is moved regularly around the state and Associate Professor Nigel Marks stated, “That many orphan sources - a self-

contained radioactive material - that get lost are generally not recovered’.

But luckily for us all it was and a check of the serial code on the capsule confirmed it was the right one. So later when people comment on seeing a two headed wombat or a green glowing roo around the Newman area, it can be attributed to a few too many pills or jugs of amber fluid.

This is how I saw this story unfold. On 12th January a radioactive capsule of caesium-137 measuring 8mm long and 6mm in diameter which was inside a gauge and was packed by a specialist radioactive materials handler was collected by a transport contractor from the Gudai-Darri mine for the 1400 kilometre trip to Malaga in Perth.

Industry defeats fuel tax changes

The Australian trucking industry has joined forces, successfully campaigning against a controversial proposal by the Grattan Institute that would have dramatically increased the effective fuel tax on trucks.

The Grattan Institute report, Fuelling budget repair examines fuel tax and the fuel tax credits system.

The report argued that fuel tax credits should be abolished for on-road heavy vehicles. Fuel tax credits for off-road vehicles would be reduced.

The ATA worked with member associations to argue against the Federal government adopting the proposals in the report.

ATA argued that if the proposals in the report were adopted, the effective fuel tax paid by trucking businesses would increase by 20.5 cents per litre, from 27.2 cents per litre to 47.7 cents per litre.

ATA Chair, David Smith warned the Grattan Institute’s proposal would spell disaster for the trucking industry - and ultimately for consumers.

The ATA ran a media campaign, targeting trade publications, including a media release.

Within 48 hours, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the government would ‘not’ be adopting the Grattan Institute's proposal.

In the House of Representatives on 8 February 2023, the Hon Michelle Landry MP asked if the Prime Minister would rule out any changes to the fuel tax credits scheme.

Prime Minister Albanese simply responded “Yes”.

So here it the Ripley’s believe it or not scenario. One of the bolts securing the gauge was shaken out just 87km into the 1400km journey and our little capsule managed to bounce up from inside the gauge and pop out that bolt hole to escape and fly free.

But our little Houdini capsule wasn’t content with that, he managed to find a hole inside the timber crate that the gauge was packed in – a hole so small that no one noticed and he continued his journey to freedom. Super powers indeed.

So this gauge arrives in Perth and if talk is to be believed, not in the highly protective casing that is subject to a certification verification stage; as per Lauren Steen Radiation Services WA who advises it should have been.

It is then unloaded off the truck – but it’s not until a load check on 25th January that the capsule is found to be missing – is that an oxymoron?

After the discovery that the capsule was missing, WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), the

Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, the WA Department of Health, the Australian Defence Force and other agencies were enlisted to locate it.

The public were warned not to go near it – warnings range from 5m to 20m away –as if you come into contact with one, it can cause severe burns and expose you to the equivalent of 10 x-rays per hour.

"It emits both beta rays and gamma rays so if you have it close to you, you could either end up with skin damage including skin burns," warned WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson.

By some amazing piece of luck this capsule was found amongst the gravel just two metres off the highway, 87 kms from the mine by a search team equipped with radiation detection equipment driving along the highway at about 70 kilometres an hour.

The recovered capsule was then placed in a lead container for storage in Newman before transport to a secure WA Health

WA OWNED AND RUN

Department facility.

After the capsule was found the Chief Executive of Rio Tinto, Simon Trott, said the company would "fully cooperate" with the investigation. He stated, “As part of our investigation, we will be assessing whether our processes and protocols, including the use of specialist contractors to package and transport radioactive materials, are appropriate.”

Well that’s good news – because they know what they are doing don’t they.

Lastly he added that Rio Tinto would foot the bill for the search if the government requested it.

Western Australia's Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said there would be an investigation and prosecutions would be considered under state radiation safety laws from 1975.

The maximum penalty for failing to safely handle radioactive substances is A$1,000 and A$50 per day the offence continues, though the state government said it was considering a change to laws to allow for bigger penalties.

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Letters to the editor

The following edited letter was sent to a wide range of government decision makers including the Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti.

Dear Minister and senior Main Roads WA (MRWA) personnel,

Further from my correspondence to you in 2018 regarding the Muchea Road Train Assembly Area (RTAA), unfortunately, I feel the need to re-address this and bring another serious “heavy vehicle transport” matter to your attention.

Firstly, I’ll address the Muchea RTAA and my ongoing concerns with that infrastructure and the failure of MRWA to provide the necessary features.

I make the particular point that my recommendations from 2018 have not been implemented, other than painting some arrows on the parking bays. For example, the amount of traffic that will use this facility absolutely requires the bays to be numbered so that drivers are not doing laps of the area trying to find their dog trailers whilst at the same time adding to the traffic congestion here. Spend an hour or two at Wubin RTAA and observe this chaos for yourself.

Secondly, each pair of bays needs to be separated by a “through bay”, as I outlined in my original email to you. Yes, this requires more real estate but we, in the transport industry, have certainly contributed enough funds to your government for this basic requirement of easy access to trailers, to be a given.

Thirdly, this RTAA definitely needs ablution facilities, such as at Wubin. It is inappropriate to expect drivers to use the

BP roadhouse nearby when sometimes the urgent call of nature does not allow for such a delay. Further to this, I remind you again that there are more and more female drivers coming in to the Transport Industry and it is completely unacceptable to require ladies to be forced to expose themselves and squat between trailers for the basic bodily function of urinating.

Perhaps we should remove the ablution facilities from your comfortable offices and force you to walk or drive a block or two when you have to answer the call of nature. Maybe then you will understand the unacceptability of failing to provide adequate and appropriate facilities at the Muchea RTAA.

Since the RTAA has been completed, I have watched on an almost weekly basis the increase in use of this facility as a “parking” convenience and much less as an assembly area.

Before even one triple road train uses this facility, it is already more than half full with other traffic at any given time. An influx of triples would create absolute chaos for everyone concerned. On 3rd October 2018 I received an email from a “Sam” on behalf of “The NorthLink WA Team” who stated that “there is sufficient land within the road reserve to enable an extensive expansion of the Muchea RTAA into the future, to meet demand.” May I strongly suggest that MRWA take advantage of this “sufficient land” and immediately expand the RTAA before it is opened up to triple road trains?

The second issue is the approximate 450kms between Newman and Port Hedland (Wedgefield) and the outrageous

amount of quad tipper road trains (quads) and severe lack of overtaking lanes – four or five in a stretch of around 400 kms.

These days it is almost impossible to complete this stretch in five hours or less, which now breaches the Fatigue Management legislation and/or forces drivers to “fudge” their work diaries in order to reach their destination without stretching it out to nearly six hours, for compliance reasons.

This section of road should be a dual carriageway all the way from Newman to Wedgefield, at the very least.

You are responsible for this section of GNH and I fail to comprehend how MRWA could allow this massive increase in heavy traffic (quads) without providing the appropriate infrastructure to handle this imposition.

I appreciate that these quads have the right to use the road (GNH) as anyone else does, but they do not have the right to obstruct, restrict and hinder the normal flow of other traffic.

Whether the reduction of maximum speed of these quads is a company requirement or a MRWA directive is unknown to me, but whichever is the case, it is an unfair and unacceptable imposition on the public.

One last point to raise, particularly on this section of road, is the issue of straying livestock. Someone owns these cattle and they are a constant hazard to all road users, particularly light vehicles. If cattle were wandering the Kwinana Freeway, they would be rounded up and removed within hours, but out on the GNH, it appears that MRWA could care less about the safety of road users.

Garth Stockden

Giraffe Movement

In late 2022 Inkosi, Perth Zoo's threeyear-old giraffe, set off on a journey across the Nullarbor to his new home in South Australia.

Inkosi travelled 29 hours alongside two zookeepers, a veterinarian, and a special convoy to join a regional breeding program at Monarto Safari Park, which aims to save giraffes from extinction.

It's not every day an 800 kg, four-metretall giraffe takes off on a 2,750 km journey across the country, and therefore the preparations were months in the making.

Inkosi took part in daily crate training to help him feel at ease on the road and

DRONES ASSISTING MAIN ROADS

to ensure a smooth journey on our roads. The Leach Welshpool Alliance worked closely with Main Roads WA and Perth Zoo to make sure he could clear the new 6.1-metre-high Leach Highway / Welshpool Road bridge with no issues.

Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services (HVS) issued a permit for transport on the Leach Highway and Welshpool Road project, providing clearance for the special cargo to move through the project site.

This has been a major milestone in conservation and a fantastic effort by Perth Zoo and everyone involved along the way. We wish the best of luck to Inkosi in Adelaide.

Since achieving Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) certification in 2019 the use of drone technology at Main Roads continues to grow, passing a recent milestone of 650 approved flights by our trained in-house pilots. These flights are now happening at a rate of one per day across the organisation, with pilots based in most regional offices and the metropolitan area.

We have a total of 30 trained pilots currently active across our workforce completing flights to capture video, stills and mapping photography to assist decision making, reporting and management of materials. These pilots follow a rigorous approval procedure to lodge flights and maintain safe operation of the equipment ensuring adherence to CASA's aviation rules.

Main Roads regional offices are benefitting from the use of this technology by getting accurate volumetric measurements, project update imagery, asset inspections and quick access to information when a natural disaster like flooding occurs.

HVS has two drones. These are deployed during enforcement activities such as roadblocks to monitor traffic build up and to check for any loads of interest approaching the roadblock which may need to be inspected upon arrival. The drones are piloted by trained and approved Main Roads staff and are used regularly, subject to airspace availability.

HVS Helpdesk 30th Anniversary

Annually, the Help Desk receives in excess of 32,000 calls and approximately 6,000 email enquiries. During the past 10 years the Help Desk has received more than 400,000 calls using the IPFX and Genesys telephony systems and 60,000 email enquiries. Calls have included road network access enquiries during cyclones, permit product advice including the movement of blades and wind turbines for various projects across the State, through to what type of permit is required to transport a giraffe.

Ten years ago on 8 November 2012, the Heavy Vehicle Help Desk officially opened for business.

The Help Desk was established as part of the Over Size Over Mass (OSOM) Unit providing the heavy vehicle industry with a 'one stop shop', introducing efficiencies and improving service levels to the heavy vehicle industry. Once established, it provided the transport industry with a single point of contact for logistical support involving OSOM movements.

The Help Desk is the customer service and communications hub of HVS. They are the first point of contact for our customers and stakeholders and provide 'first-point' general heavy vehicle assistance and support and facilitate access to HVS specialist services and advice.

They have been regular recipients, individually and collectively, of the HVS Rewards and Recognition Award for outstanding customer service and have often been praised by customers, as well as internal staff. Current Help Desk Officer Jon says, “Faces come and go in the Help Desk, but ultimately we are much like a little family – sad when someone leaves, excited when someone joins, and always happy to support one another.”

Expert exposes reality of owning an electric car in Perth

In February, car reviewer Jonathan Ross vented his frustration with trying to find a place to charge a $100,000 Kia EV6 in Perth as he shared his opinions on the ‘good and bad’ of the vehicle across his YouTube channel Ross Reviews.

During filming he travelled to four different locations then the battery levels dropped to 17 per cent giving him only 61 kms to find a charging station.

He filmed his frustration after wasting valuable charge travelling kilometres to find an inadequate charging station that was literally a small shelter that was barely big enough to charge a scooter.

the Charge Up Workplace Grant Program, a $15 million grant funding commitment from the McGowan Government as part of its strategy to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the State.

Up to $3.75 million is available in the first round of the Charge Up Grants which target not for-profit organisations, small and medium businesses, and local government authorities.

The grants will meet about half the costs of buying and installing charging stations and associated software.

Round One grants will fund:

• 50 per cent of the cost of up to four

be administered by the Energy Policy WA Group within the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in accordance with established grant administration protocols.

Round One grant applications open on 16 February 2023 and close on 12 May 2023. For full details of the Charge Up Workplace Grant Program and to apply for a Charge Up Grant, visit www.wa.gov.au/ chargeup.

Energy Minister Bill Johnston said, "The McGowan Government is committed to preparing the State for the transition to EVs and ensuring the stability of the electricity system as the number of EVs increases.

“The Charge Up Workplace Grant Program will make it easier and more costeffective for small to medium enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, and local government authorities to install EV charging equipment.

“I urge businesses, local councils, and those in the not-for-profit sector to consider how a Charge Up Workplace Grant can be used to provide EV charging infrastructure that benefits their business, their customers and clients, and their visitors.”

$140m Rest Area Steering Committee

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator the Hon Carol Brown has announced the appointment of the transport industry representatives to the steering committee of the Federal Government’s $140 million Rest Area Initiative.

When he found a sufficient charging station there was a ‘queue’ and when he got to finally recharge his car, it took about an hour for the vehicle's battery to reach 80 per cent.

At the final cost of this recharge he said, “We’re still going to have to pay, you know, the same as petrol”.

Social media users slammed the lack of available charging stations Australia wide claiming they would not be making the switch from petrol cars anytime soon and one saying I don't think Australia is ready for electric cars.

Meanwhile, the WA State Government launches a grant program for EV chargers.

Energy Minister Bill Johnston launched

Level Two EV chargers (7 to 22kWAC) per site, for up to five sites;

• 50 per cent of EV charger installation costs, with a cap of $5,000 per site in metropolitan areas and $10,000 per site in regional and remote areas; and

• 75 per cent of the cost of a two-year smart charging software subscription.

A maximum grant value of $50,000 per approved applicant will apply in metropolitan areas, with a maximum value of $75,000 in regional and remote areas in recognition of the higher installation costs.

The Charge Up Workplace Grant Program is part of a $60 million 2022-23 State Budget commitment to promote EV uptake. The grant program will

These include ALRTA Past President, John Beer, Michelle Harwood – Executive Officer of the Livestock Transport Association of Tasmania and five truck drivers appointed via an expression of interest process.

Former truck driver, Senator Glenn Sterle will Chair the steering committee. Senator Sterle said, “The key to that success is utilising the experience, insight and knowledge of the truck drivers and road safety advocates on the committee and I can’t wait to get to work.”

The Committee will meet for the first time in February.

At the final cost of this recharge he said, “We’re still going to have to pay, you know, the same as petrol

Over to you A FAIR GO FOR OWNER DRIVERS by Ray Pratt

It’s all poo

At the start of a new year I usually surmise about now how this will be the year that we may see some changes to improve the life of our hard working truck drivers. Truck drivers who have had a hectic couple of years battling hard times first with COVID-19 then the shortage of drivers and then fluctuating high fuel prices.

Truck drivers are a hard working group of people who have risen to all these challenges and have kept the supply chain functioning to minimise any inconvenience to the industry and the general public.

It has been acknowledged how the transport industry and especially our truck drivers have been the unsung heroes in their untiring effort. However, very little is being done to improve the life and safety of the thousands of truck drivers who provide a service every day of the year.

We are really quiet achievers and do not look for recognition as we go about our daily work. For as long as I can remember truck drivers have had to contend with a tough time with poor truck rest areas and a lack of ‘basic’ facilities.

Here we are in 2023, and there are still

not enough truck bays with most being just a bit of gravel or bitumen on the edge of the road with the luxury of maybe a rubbish bin or two. Sure there has been some slow progress with the odd truck bay getting a tin toilet with a bit of shade and a picnic table but finding one that is clean and fit to use is a bit of a lottery.

In fact, some are so grossly dirty they are a health hazard.

The Government keeps promising to help us and I and others have actively been lobbying for better facilities for the last two decades. Apart from the occasional new toilet block in a truck bay very little has been done.

I ask everyone reading this to close their eyes and imagine the following scenario.

You are in a truck on a busy highway and you need to go to the toilet. Forget about holding on until you reach the next roadhouse as that could be two hours away – you have to go now. You wheel the truck into a truck bay that only contains a bitumen driveway and a couple of rubbish bins. It’s in the middle of the day and a sweltering 38 degrees. You grab a small shovel and your roll of toilet paper and head for a bit of scrub

near the busy highway.

It’s hard to find a vacant bit of available real estate as every day this small bit of scrub is used by other motorists and it is littered with toilet paper, human faeces and any amount of rubbish.

You carry out your ablutions but it’s very difficult as you try and keep out of sight of the traffic whizzing by on the busy road. You pray that no one else wants to stop and make use of the truck bay.

Job done and it’s back to the truck and wash your hands and think, "Is this for real"?

Welcome to life on the road as a truck driver. We are trying to combat a truck driver shortage. Is this a good scenario for new candidates to the transport industry? We are trying to entice more women into trucks. It really does not matter on the gender; we all seek a bit of privacy when the situation arises

I ask the question. What other workplace expects their workers to put up with a similar situation?

Some of our politicians and leaders need to hop into a truck and experience the true life of what truck drivers put up with. Keep it safe, Ray Pratt

WESTERN ROADS

Over to you

FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO

Solutions to the Big Problems

Acommonly held perception amongst those wrestling with the State and Nation's big problems is that the Transport industry is the problem.

This perception is most common in the Academic and Bureaucratic circles where the words "practical" or "realistic" have been banished along with gender pronouns.

The fact is that our industry is not the problem and the truth is we the custodians of the practical answers that could deliver the solutions they need.

Our industry has the expertise and solutions to help guide Government strategy and investment to address these big issues.

The question is will they humble themselves to actually ask us?

Inflation: Freight costs and supply disruption have been identified as key contributors to the nation's inflation.

Whilst Western Roads Federation have arranged for routine briefings to Federal Treasury to highlight our issues, the fact is

there are no Government plans to address the freight cost issues.

Governments are letting the Reserve Bank raise interest rates to stop inflation but are doing absolutely nothing themselves to fix the underlying causes such as freight costs and supply disruption.

Just remember that next time you or your children face another interest rate rise that threatens your business or their home loan payments.

Climate Resilience: Weather related events ‘bushfires, floods and cyclones’ have severely impacted or cut our WA freight routes on 4 occasions in the last three years. Whilst WRF has submitted to and presented to Natural Disasters Royal Commission and is currently submitting to another Federal inquiry based on our industry experience and solutions - the reality is there are no serious plans to address the issue.

Emissions Reduction: The transport

industry has been identified as a target for emissions reduction.

The focus is on clean energy vehicles which need to be imported and there’s a limited global supply. Additionally, the current clean energy vehicle line-up has a limited range and there is a lack of supporting infrastructure.

But there are practical solutions now, that if linked to identified productivity incentives would accelerate the reduction of emissions and in due course the adoption of clean energy vehicles in our industry.

National Security: The defence of North Western Australia remains highly vulnerable due to the inadequacy our land-based supply routes to support and sustain military operations.

WRF have been jointly cited alongside the leading Academic on Australian National Security pushing our industry expertise in this matter.

Action plan to drive down road trauma welcomed

The Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) has welcomed the National Road Safety Action Plan as a meaningful pathway to address Australia’s alarming road toll statistics.

The Action Plan, developed cooperatively between the Australian Government and state and territory transport and road safety government agencies, will align relevant stakeholders to save lives.

Across nine core priorities outlined within The Action Plan, the ARSF is encouraged to see a greater focus on three core gaps within the existing approach to reducing road trauma.

Firstly, with approximately 17 per cent of all road crash deaths involving a heavy vehicle, ARSF commends the commitment to fund vital education on how to share our roads with heavy vehicles.

ARSF Founder and CEO Russell White said that community education underpinned the nation’s long-term success

and that every road user has a responsibility to understand the dangers presented by heavy vehicles.

“We have a road network across Australia totalling more than 877,000 km - more than 21 times the earth’s circumference - with many connected through high-speed roads above 80km an hour,” Mr White said.

“Combine that with the inherent risk of death and serious injury associated with the greater mass of heavy vehicles and you can start to understand how this has become a major issue across the nation.”

“It is, therefore, a critical life-saving piece of the puzzle to facilitate greater individual education and skills capability around the unique dangers and safety measures that ought to be adopted when sharing the road with heavy vehicles,” he said.

The third core area the ARSF acknowledges as a vital pillar in reducing the amount of death and injury occurring on Australian roads relates to workplace road safety.

The National Action Plan has outlined

steps for enabling improved safety culture in organisations, which will encourage businesses to take responsibility for vehicles and roads within the workplace.

“Road trauma is the largest contributor to work-related traumatic injury, accounting for more than six in 10 incidents, with half of those occurring on a public road.”

The National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-25 is the first Action Plan under The National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30, which was agreed to by the Australian Government and all state and territory governments in May 2021.

The Action Plan sets out the key actions all governments will undertake to 2025, in pursuit of the agreed priorities identified in the Strategy. An annual progress report will be publicly available on the National Road Safety Strategy website to provide oversight on the combined national effort. To view a copy of the National Safety Action Plan go to www.roadsafety.gov.au/action-plan/ national-road-safety-action-plan-2023-25

Helping drivers live their best lives

Linfox and LiSNTR have partnered to launch The Driver’s Seat with Dilruk Jayasinha, a podcast series that focuses on relatable and down to earth health and wellbeing stories and tips for listeners to live their best lives.

Created with drivers in mind, the podcast looks at what it means to live your best life - mental health, physical health, and everything that comes along with them, with each episode directly relating to issues facing drivers across Australia.

The Driver’s Seat is a podcast that

celebrates friends, family, and feeling great. It offers insights into the lives of others, discusses topics that tie into health and wellbeing either directly or indirectly, and equip you with what you need to take control of your life and put yourself in the driver’s seat.

Over the 10 episodes, Jayasinha will interview special guests including 2Day FM Breakfast announcer Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes, former Australian cricketer Brad Hodge, a range of Linfox drivers and other public figures.

Linfox Logistics CEO ANZ, Mark Mazurek said, “At Linfox, we are always looking for ways to support the health and wellbeing of our team. Given the amount of time they spend on the road, it is not always easy to reach our drivers with traditional communications. With this in mind, we decided to try a new approach and produce a podcast called The Driver’s Seat which brings real, honest conversations about physical and mental wellbeing direct to our teams, no matter where they are in Australia or New Zealand.

“Produced by LiSTNR, our host Dilruk Jayasinha has done a fantastic job at interviewing a stellar guest line-up that we believe will appeal to drivers and the people that support them not just at Linfox but across our industry as a whole. We look forward to sharing the podcast with the broader public and hope that it will have a positive impact on anyone wanting to live a healthier, happier life.”

The Driver’s Seat launched on 15th December and new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays on LiSTNR and other streaming platforms.

Geraldton port projects powering ahead

The McGowan Government’s major investment to future-proof Geraldton Port is steaming ahead, with work beginning on a new $4.5 million roundabout to maximise grain movements from the port - supporting the region’s economic growth.

The construction of a roundabout at the Marine Terrace intersection will improve traffic flow for trucks entering and leaving the port, and improve safety for local road users, pedestrians, cyclists and port customers.

The project will help to support more efficient and effective supply chains for the State's important grain export industry, with the grain harvest reaching record highs in recent seasons.

The new roundabout is among several

significant McGowan Government-funded projects being delivered at the Port, including the $350 million Geraldton Port Maximisation Project (PMaxP).

PMaxP is a major infrastructure project which will significantly boost the capacity of Geraldton Port and facilitate the export of new commodities from the Mid-West region.

Contractor BG&E Resources is well progressed in design work for PMaxP,

including product handling systems and civil works, in addition to concept validations, and vessel and marine simulations.

A critical project for the Mid-West region, PMaxP could boost Geraldton’s export capability by almost 70 per cent, delivering billions to the region and the State’s economy.

Premier Mark McGowan said, “The $350 million expansion project will massively expand the capacity of Geraldton Port and help drive new commodity exports across the Mid-West.

“Our investment will also help to futureproof the industries that our regions have relied on for decades - supporting our grain farmers as they continue to deliver for the State.”

The construction of a roundabout at the Marine Terrace intersection will improve traffic flow for trucks entering and leaving the port

We look forward to sharing the podcast with the broader public and hope that it will have a positive impact on anyone wanting to live a healthier, happier life

Future-proof supply chain operations against extreme weather events

By Geoffroy Henry, Founder and CEO of Ofload

The freight industry is a vital part of the Australian economy, yet industry participants face systemic challenges, including driver shortages, rising operational costs and capacity constraints. This is amid global, national and local challenges like trade restrictions, bottlenecks, widespread labour shortage, changing consumer buying behaviour, soaring inflation and natural disasters.

No matter the type of weather disaster, their severity impacts our supply chain operations. We have seen this recently when WA issued east-west road train permit measures due to the record rainfall and flooding in NSW and weather-related rail derailment in Victoria. While these are temporary, this disruption has a knock-on effect for the local trucking industry as it tries to enable the golden retail quarter.

There has never been a stronger case for improving supply chain resiliency. So, how can technology help operators respond to the challenges presented by severe weather events?

The modern supply chain

A key lesson from the pandemic is that those that can change gears quickly are rewarded. The ability to adjust to unexpected turns is now a serious business discussion, and investment is being made in improving the visibility of the end-to-end supply chain. The pandemic made it clear that there was a need for new solutions.

Australia is uniquely positioned to benefit from logistics technology due to the vast distance between the nation’s main cities and the country’s dependence on trucking. Every item on Australian shelves is transported via truck multiple times before it arrives in store due to the lack of reliable rail infrastructure. As a result, an investment in different technologies is imperative to driving change.

Optimising technology for demand prediction and planning is essential to ensure trucks are full. Transport operators can

collect insights across the supply chain and feed them to their planning team to create actionable insights that reduce and remove inefficiencies. This digitisation also allows operators to change how their employees work for the first time in decades. Instead of needing to all be in an office together, on the phone trying to lock in contracts, employees can now work remotely while still driving strong business results.

This process is only just getting started as operators work to implement key building blocks for modern supply chain control. These include supply chain partner data, supply and demand planning, and perhaps most importantly, a master data management layer that can collect and feed all the data to the planning team.

operators and planning truck movements to ensure that trucks are not running empty is essential to adapt to both predictable and unpredictable weather challenges.

Technology further enables the freight industry to digitalise essential support services, including invoicing and financial management, insurance, and fuel loyalty systems. By shifting towards a more agile digital approach to logistics planning, operators can manage last-minute changes at pace and adapt to climate challenges more smoothly. For instance, a digital brokerage enables operators and shippers to connect in real time to pick up loads that would otherwise be stranded. Together, it allows operators and shippers to plan ahead so that when weather events occur, they can quickly adapt to navigate the delivery of goods around the country.

The benefits of technology, such as realtime updates on staff and vehicle availability, data-driven analysis of staff and vehicle effectiveness, and a control tower view of all shipments at any one time, are clear. This is where technology provides meaningful assistance. It helps increase route efficiency, manage fatigue, reduce distractions, and keep drivers safe on the road.

Let’s get the wheels rolling

Australia has built a robust supply chain network; however, the methods that have driven success in the past are no longer viable. Technology can help to respond to weather related supply chain problems, as well as improve the response time to resolve disruptions along the way.

The benefits of data-driven digitalisation

Until recently, the tracking of shipments and drivers has been analogue—meaning it was not easily accessed or used for planning because it was written in paper log books. But a lot of activity can be predicted in the industry by examining this kind of data. Connecting this data to a broader market of

Our logistics industry has changed over the last two years but is once again poised for growth. The technology is ready, and operating analogue systems in an increasingly digitally oriented supply chain has reached its limitations. It is time for logistics to catch up with the technological wave that has swept through so many industries and reclaim its role in driving the Australian economy forward.

The benefits of technology, such as real-time updates on staff, vehicle availability, datadriven analysis of staff and vehicle effectiveness, and a control tower view of all shipments at any one time, are clear

Launch of TRANSAFE WA’s Safety Truck iNSTRUCKTA!

On Wednesday the 25th of January 2023 TRANSAFE WA held a wellattended Gala event to launch their dedicated Road Transport Industry Safety Truck called iNSTRUCKTA!

The Gala event was held on the banks of the Swan River at Burswood On Swan and was attended by 170 guests who were the first to experience the virtual reality learnings, touch screen quizzes and the projection wall.

iNSTRUCKTA! is now ready to tour schools and community events throughout Western Australia to help educate current and future road users on how to safely interact with heavy vehicles.

iNSTRUCKTA! has 10 truck seats in the trailer that participants sit on to be immersed into the trucks cabin via VR headsets. Participants will learn about Overtaking Trucks, Turning Trucks, Cutting-in and Blind Spots. There are also 10 wall mounted tablets where participants complete a touch screen road safety quiz and a projection wall that plays road safety messages. Participants will also be encouraged to pledge to interact safely with all trucks on the road.

iNSTRUCKTA! is a Road Transport Industry Safety initiative of TRANSAFE WA who are a not-for-profit organisation that is funded by industry.

L-r: Lisa Redmond, Denis Price, Ray Pratt, Helen Pratt, Allan Price, Rob Hennessey, Niomi Hurley, Matt Cooper, Rick Post, Jan Cooper, Rob Sharpe and Gavin trim (TRANSAFE WA Committee Members)

L-r: Dawn Dorotich (NTI), Rob Hennessey (TRANSAFE WA) and Tiffany Farlow

L-r: Carole Post (widow of Steve Post ) and Jan Cooper (TRANSAFE WA)

L-r: Matt and Lizz Post with daughter Stevie

L-r: Kamari Houlis (TRANSAFE WA), Sheridan Cooper (TRANSAFE WA) and Heather Jones (Pilbara Heavy Haulage)

L-r: Wendy and Paul ‘Sludge’ Andrews, Paul and Tanya Ramsay, Shannon Jeffes

L-r: John McNaughton, Leon Smit and Simon Kisch, all from Santos

L-r: Harley Spick, Nicole Paterson and Emma Spick from Milkable.

L-r: Mike and Michelle Wishart from Connect Source

L-r: Cassidy Bennett, Mick Daw, David Paton, Jenna Klemm and Tim Manning CBH

L-r: Ayla Smith and Scott Earley from RV Solutions

L-r: Michelle and Sal Petroccitto (NHVR), Niomi Hurley (TRANSAFE WA Chairperson) and Cam Dumesny (WRF)

Brendan Fowler from Fleetware

L-r: Roy and Anna Lombardi from Howard Porter

L-r: Dr Nick Mabbott, William Thiel, Simon Kisch and John McNaughton

Key transport and logistics trends we can expect in 2023 in a nutshell

Thank you to Daniel Antonello, General Manager for Australia/ NZ from HERE Technologies who has summarised what we might expect in logistics trends for 2023.

• Pushing towards Net Zero and Sustainable supply chains

o Australia now has a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and corporations are being forced to move towards carbon neutral supply chains.

• Increasing importance of electric vehicles

o Every state and territory in Australia has plans to increase their electric vehicle (EV) fleet and charging networks. On top of that, the government has also committed funding to expand the number of public chargers.

o Location tech enables us to not only visualise where EV chargers are located along a journey, but also knowing their precise locations and charging availability incorporate

more data and functionality in their systems to enable contingency planning for a more seamless driving experience.

• Sustainable fleet management

o Stakeholders in the T&L sector are working to identify how they can accurately track emissions of their fleets, which will help them understand their carbon footprint before implementing target reduction strategies.

o Location technology will play an important role in helping businesses improve their fleet management, including planning, operation and maintenance to reduce downtime at every point in the supply chain.

o We can expect businesses to be more engaged with policymakers as they strive to become sustainability enablers. Technology will play a bigger role in contributing to these data-led solutions.

• Supply chain resilience and increasing cyber threat

o We expect to see an improvement of supply chain visibility when it comes to operational resilience.

o As supply chains continue to experience freight issues, the push for visibility only gets stronger.

o Supply chain visibility will become more important in the face of increased cyber threat.

• Tech innovation will be crucial to business survival

o We expect digital innovation to drive changes to meet the evolving customer demands and expectations will be critical to business survival

o Innovative end-to-end digital solutions will be critical to supply chain visibility

o The push for Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) will also gather momentum

Mandatory minimum rates back on

According to the ALRTA, a leaked document has confirmed the Federal Labor Government is actively preparing to revive the powers of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), abolished in 2016.

Federal Labor has made no secret of its intention to re-establish an authority to set minimum rates and conditions for ownerdrivers. In 2021, it became formal policy at the Australian Labor Party National Conference. That same year, the LaborChaired Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee Report ‘Without Trucks Australia Stops: the development of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industry’ made the same recommendation. Ultimately, Federal Labor took the policy to the 2022 Federal Election and won.

The ALRTA says, “The leaked document indicates that additional powers will be given to the Fair Work Commission to do much the same job as the former RSRT.

ALRTA President Scott McDonald said it was important not to repeat the mistakes made by the RSRT.

“The RSRT was an absolute disaster for

rural trucking. It created a two-tiered freight market in which owner-drivers became uncompetitive and tied up in red tape,” he said.

“Shortly before the 2016 payments Order came into effect, our member owner-drivers began receiving letters from head contractors advising that their services would no longer be required. Almost immediately, people lost their work. Families lost their businesses. And sadly, some took their own lives.

“There were flow on effects along the entire supply chain. Truck and trailer orders were cancelled en masse. Small regional economies servicing owner-drivers with fuel, tyres, servicing, food and clothing were left reeling.

“While I understand some small operators are struggling, fixing rates is not the answer.

“Owner-drivers are small business people who need freedom to innovate, adapt and accept work on their own terms. Rather than being continuously located at ‘the end’ of a sub-contracting chain, rural carriers often share work amongst each other and constantly change positions in the contracting chain. It is this short-notice, low red-tape,

flexibility that enables the rural road transport sector to move seasonally unpredictable farm produce over vast geographic areas to domestic and international markets as efficiently as possible.

“Fixed minimum rates cannot take account of different business circumstances and practices such as backloading, partloading, multi-owner loading, empty running, vehicle modifications, business innovation, debt and complimentary business activities which are an important part of efficient freight movements in the rural sector. If someone can perform a task below the minimum rate because it suits their particular business circumstances, they should be allowed to do so.

“Instead, ALRTA would prefer greater focus on practical safety measures, financial education, elimination of sham contracting, maximum payment timeframes and accessible dispute resolution.

“With our deep understanding of the problems experienced under the RSRT, we expect that the Federal Government will listen to our concerns and work constructively to avoid a repeat of the previous debacle,” he finished.

Great Northern Highway reopens between Broome and Derby

BP WA Iron ore has celebrated 10 years of its remote operations centre in Perth

The Integrated Remote Operations Centre (IROC) began operating from BHP’s St Georges Terrace office at the end of 2012.

The IROC is responsible for operating most of BHP’s WA iron ore logistics and processes, connecting the four processing hubs and five mining hubs with more than 1000km of rail and port facilities in the Pilbara.

Great Northern Highway between Broome and Derby reopened to traffic for the first time on February 9th after the road was first closed on New Year's Eve when floodwaters began impacting the highway near Willare.

Around 10 kilometres of the highway was badly damaged by the floodwaters, including around three kilometres that were completely washed away.

A 40-person road reconstruction team worked solidly for weeks to clean up debris and build a single-lane gravel track that allowed the highway to be reconnected.

As part of the staged reopening, vehicles were escorted through in alternating east and west convoys, using the single lane gravel track under speed restrictions. Stage Two of the reopening will include escorted access to all vehicles from Monday 13 February one-way, twice daily:

• Derby side (east) convoys leaving at 7.30am and 4.30pm

• Broome side (west) convoys leaving at 8am and 5pm

It is anticipated the second stage of the reopening will be in place for up to two weeks or until crews can get the road widened to be able to operate safely under two-lane traffic flows. Limiting access during the second stage is required to allow road crews to add a second lane to the temporary gravel track.

Permanent repair works are to be undertaken in the dry season.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said, "Reopening this critical route has been an enormous challenge for Main Roads crews.

“The damage to this road is immense and the work has been done in often punishing conditions.

$16.5 million in grants to manufacture AdBlue

The Federal government is funding $16.15 million in grants to promote local manufacture of a diesel exhaust fluid additive (DEF), making trucking and distribution less reliant on imports.

The grants program, Maintaining Our Supply of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (MOSDEF), should encourage Australian industry to produce technical grade urea (TGU) or DEF additive without relying on imported TGU. DEF, also known widely by its trade name ‘AdBlue’, reduces harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines.

Last year, tight TGU supply led to concerns about Australia’s domestic supply and overreliance on imports. The MOSDEF grant program will reduce this vulnerability by supporting manufacture of DEF or TGU

which complies with ISO 222421.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the grant program which closed at the end of January was part of the Albanese Government’s approach to secure supply of TGU in Australia and make the Australian trucking industry more resilient.

“This funding will protect households, business and industry from further disruptions and bolster stock holdings of TGU. But most importantly, it will keep our transport and freight sectors moving.”

Collectively, grant recipients can receive up to $16.15 million under the four-year program, which will fund up to half a project’s costs from facilities central to existing DEF infrastructure and logistics.

DEF is made by blending TGU with

WAIO Asset President Brandon Craig said, “The remote operations centre runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and plays a vital role in ensuring we get our iron ore from pit to port in the safest, quickest and most efficient way possible.

“Our iron ore operations are safer, more sustainable and more cost efficient now than they were 10 years ago, and the remote operations centre has been critical to achieving that.

“The growth in the centre has supported technological advances, career opportunities and with that has come diversification of the team – nearly half of the workforce is female and 12 per cent identify as Indigenous.”

The centre operates a wide range of machinery, trains, trucks and drill rigs in the Pilbara and has recently begun the process of automating the company’s shiploaders in Port Hedland.

de-ionised water and is mostly consumed by the long-haul trucking fleet in Australia. Some passenger vehicles, including cars and large buses, and agricultural, mining and other off-road equipment also rely on DEF.

The Albanese Government is also making the local DEF market more secure by:

Creating a government-controlled stockpile of 7,500 tonnes of TGU for an additional five weeks of supply beyond industry stock levels in the event of a supply shortage, and Implementing a transparency system for collection and publication of data provided by industry.

The opening of the MOSDEF grant program is the latest in the suite of measures to restore security to the DEF market in Australia.

The Reg Blewett Memorial Annual Inspection Day

One of the HCVC Annual Events is now named in honour of one of our passed members - Reg Blewett.

Reg was a great bloke who always helped out with the inspections right up to the year before he passed away. This year the inspection was the day after what was this summer’s warmest day and I think a few people may have felt the after effects as our numbers were down a bit. We also had a few people missing due to what is now considered part of life, COVID-19. However, Peter Collins was there and that was important as he was in charge of the BBQ.

By Kevin Toovey

HCVC sponsor and member Kevin O’Connor of Kevin's Water Cartage has allowed us to use their workshop now for several years for this event and this is a real privilege for our club.

Thanks Kevin. We have access to a pit with lights were you can get under the trucks in a safe manner for a real good look. This year the inspections were carried out by Paul Tomas and Rod Boyd and we thank you both for a job well done.

Kevin O’Connor started Kevin’s Water Cartage 25 years ago after the purchase of truck number one, a Scania 8 wheeler from

Peter Callo. Now it’s mostly an all Volvo fleet of 22 trucks from six wheelers to road trains.

At the moment Kevin’s trucks are working from Karratha in the north to Beaufort River in the south and east to many wheatbelt areas.

Kevin carts water to anywhere you need it. A story goes along the lines that one of his trucks was parked outside a city hotel on a job nearby, one of the hotel patrons phoned Kevin and asked for water to be served to table 7. There you go - no job is too big or small for Kevin’s Water Cartage.

Phil Taylor's Ford in front of Kevin's trucks

Robert Hyde bringing the Inter in

Mel Taylor’s Chev ready for inspection

The old trucks in front of Kevin’s modern fleet

(Left) It all started with No 1 (Above) Kevin's Water Cartage (Below left) Members and friends relaxing in the shed (Below) Rod Boyd brought the Fiat along and helped with the inspecting

Peter Collins on the BBQ

(Above left) Jim Piercy’s Hearse with the back doors secured with fishing line as they sometimes come open when the lights turn green and he takes off too fast. Imagine how the motorists behind react, the hearse is of course empty. Did he lose the load at the last set of lights? Yes this inspection day picks up all kinds of problems

(Above) Paul Tomas inspecting Jim’s GMC hearse (Left) Kim Martin’s Dodge

History

The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry

WARTA was being heavily supported by the following sponsors: 10 Star — Commercial Union; 4 Star — BP Oil, Crown Equipment, Drake Low Loaders, Max Winkless Volvo, Motorola, Telstra, Western United Insurance Brokers; 2 Star — Caltex Oil, CJD Equipment, Fairport Technologies, Howard Porter, Modern Motor Trimmers, Western Transport; 2 Star — BOC Gases, Drive Straight Alignment Services, General Transport Equipment, Reflex Computer Systems, ROH Steel Wheel Co, Shell Company; 1 Star — HDTE, Westrac Equipment.

Association Executive Officer Brian Hanson attended a meeting in Pinjarra on March 22, involving five school bus members and John Bradshaw, MLA for Murray-Wellington. The members expressed their concern in three areas: 1. How transport is handling the renewal of temporary contracts; 2. The delay of the start of the negotiations into the standard rate, and 3. The status of the two reviews (Student Assistance/Access to Education) currently before Transport Minister Murray Criddle. Mr Bradshaw said he would take the concerns to the Minister.

Immediate Past President Howard Croxon was charged with assisting the National Road Transport Commission in its review of the Remote Areas Project Group, the industry-government group that overseas the reform agenda in outback Australia. Croxon Management Solutions was appointed to conduct the consultations and report to the commission.

School Bus Division Chairman Max O’Dea told the Annual General Meeting of April 16 that the role was demanding, meaning he had to be in Perth two-to-three days a week on members’ business. He made reference to the Omnibus Operators’ Standards Scheme and the fact that the Association had been given a clear undertaking at a Perry Lakes meeting that the bus operators wanted no part of the scheme. Other items raised at the meeting concerned the fitting of air conditioning with no recompense and the fitting of seatbelts, which reached no agreement. A committee of 21 was elected.

A meeting was staged on April 21 at the Cohn Street, Carlisle premises of the Road Transport Training Council on the upcoming introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.

The Association staged a successful gala day in April. About 200 big rigs participated and more than $20,000 was raised for the Make a Wish Foundation. Executive Councillor Steve Melville was praised for his efforts on the day.

The Road Transport Forum changed its name to the Australian Trucking Association, it was reported in the June Road Runner. For the first time Western Australia was represented on the Board with WARTA Vice-President Ian Thomson elected.

During May, Association President Viv Hall and staff member Alan Layton and Brian Hanson were in Bunbury spreading the message on Trucksafe and fatigue management, helped by

consultants Croxon Management Services. More than a dozen local operators attended. An evening meeting for local school bus operators was well attended, dealing with current concerns, including the Student Assistance Review.

During June, WARTA Marketing Manager Steven Nichols spoke to exhibitors of the Western Bus Expo about their future vision of the event. Plenty of suggestions came forward, including changing the date to January, making the event a truck and bus expo and having industry speakers in a forum style.

The Australian Trucking Association held its first meeting in Alice Springs on June 25 and WARTA Freight Division Chairman Ian Thomson and Executive Director Alan Layton attended.

WARTA Executive Officer Brian Hanson attended the Bus Association Victoria annual maintenance conference on June 28-29 and stayed on to visit the Coach Air/Air International factory in Port Melbourne and attend a an Australian Bus and Coach Association meeting.

It was decided at the Annual General Meeting of October 8 at the Sheraton Perth Hotel that the Wellington Street premises would be put up for sale and the monies reinvested elsewhere. Viv Hall stepped down as President after three years at the helm and installed Frank Marley as President and Chairman. Frank commented that “if the industry had a few more life Viv the industry wouldn’t be over-taxed and transport operators would be making some real money”.

The President’s main points were:

• Industrial relations;

• Executive Council activity;

• School Bus Division issues;

• Freight Division issues;

• Proposed relocation of Association offices.

Minister for Transport Murray Criddle spoke at the dinner, encouraging people to get involved with their industry organisations and for the industry to encompass technology, get on-line and be a part of e-commerce..

By Russell McKinnon

Cricket Australia – Australia win the 1999 World Cup Final

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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.