WA TRANSPORT MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2023 EDITION

THE TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY MAGAZINE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WA

TRANSPORT ISSN 2202-6193 100007516 November 2023 | price $6.95

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WHY DO DRIVERS GET BLAMED FOR LEVEL CROSSING CRASHES? An expert in the rail industry, Dr Brett Hughes examines why drivers experience ‘normal’ errors of judgement when it comes to level crossing crashes with trains.

This is compounded by the rail industries unwillingness to sufficiently illuminate trains with flashing beacon lights and side lights

Gordon, Alice and Matilda Homewood at the memorial sight opposite the Yarramony level crossing where their uncle Christian Jensen and his friends Hilary Smith and Jess Broad were killed on dark near Jennacubbine in 2000

IN THIS ISSUE: • Camp Quality Convoy beyond expectations • $19 million for WA Black Spots • iNSTRUCKTA! reaches 10,000 participants • Halving Australia’s freight emissions WATM • November 2023

Our Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk is available 7 days a week.

Talk to us about: Permits

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The Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk is open from: 7am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 3.30pm Saturday, Sunday and WA public holidays.

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Tel: 138 486 Fax: 9475 8455 Email: hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au www.mainroads.wa.gov.au 3 WATM • October 2021

Parliament will soon be voting on transport reform. After decades of campaigning from union members, this is our crucial moment to show that the whole transport industry is united, and that reform is urgent.

YOU’VE MADE YOUR VOICES HEARD Thanks to the massive campaign led by transport workers and our biggest ever convoys around the country recently, the Federal Government has tabled the Closing the Loopholes Bill, which, if passed, would introduce desperately-needed minimum standards in transport.

Now we need all of us to remind Parliament why we urgently need a fairer, safer and more sustainable transport industry.

25NOV NOW

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Be sure to join hundreds of other transport workers at the convoy for Transport Reform. Just scan the QR code or click here

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VOLUME 29 | NUMBER 10 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: 0430 153 273 Email: karen@angrychicken.com.au WRITERS Karen-Maree' Kaye, Russell McKinnon CONTRIBUTORS Jan Cooper, Cam Dumesny, Carol Messenger, Ray Pratt ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Angry Chicken Head Office T: 0430 153 273 E: karen@angrychicken.com.au DESIGN / PREPRESS Cally Browning | Bare Creative ACCOUNTS T: 0430 153 273 E: accounts@angrychicken.com.au

FROM THE PUBLISHER

T

hank you so much to everyone who supported the Camp Quality Convoy 2023.

The WA Transport industry ‘you’ went beyond Camp Quality’s expectations not only with the number of trucks entered but the money you raised for them. Over 130 trucks attended with $191,000 raised for kids facing cancer.

Thank you to each and every one of you and might I say, “What an impressive and professional line up of trucks on display”. I hope you will all attend each year and that new transport operators can join in so that it gets bigger and bigger.

In this edition we discover why it is not right that drivers get blamed for level crossing crashes plus the rail industries unwillingness to sufficiently illuminate trains – both front and side. Personally, I think this has gone on long enough and for the sake of future lives

Overseas subscribers: Airmail postage will be added to subscription rate.

Editorial Submissions: The Publisher welcomes 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.

Best,

Karen

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PRINTER Daniels Printing Craftsmen SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions available directly from the Publisher.

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and for those who have lost loves ones to be able to move ahead there needs to be some changes made.

Also in this edition, Fair go for the Owner Driver columnist Ray Pratt talks about sleeping compartments, we of course cover the Camp Quality Convoy, our WA transport safety initiative iNSTRUCKTA! has reached 10,000 participants, we look at the next WA Black Spots round, Cliff Graham (This is the Outback) questions curbing in Parking Bays and we meet the reluctant Truck Driver who has become the President of the LRTAWA – Darran Bairstow.

As always, thank you to everyone who supports the magazine.

3............................................... W hy do drivers get blamed for level crossing crashes?

4............................................... Rail industry looks set to put profit before lives 6............................................... T ransition to in-house maintenance continues at Main Roads 7................................................ $ 95 million lies dormant in Road Trauma Trust account 8............................................... C enturion adds central freight corridor to operations 9............................................... Main Roads News 12............................................ F irst Camp Quality Convoy Perth leaves fundraising target in the dust 14............................................ Facilitating safer trucks in Australia

West Australian Transport Magazine (WATM) is published by Angry Chicken Publishing Pty Ltd 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.

15............................................ W RF – The Transport Industry has a lot of solutions to offset rising costs ore than $19 million allocated to fix next WA Black Spots round 16............................................ M

18............................................ 1 0,000th participants learns how to safely interact with trucks in WA 20.......................................... L RTAWA – Reluctant Truck Driver becomes LRTAWA President 21............................................ R ecord investment into local road projects under new agreement 22.......................................... D ecarbonising short-haul road freight could halve Australia’s freight emissions

Every Month 10............................................ A fair go for the Owner Driver 17............................................. This is ‘the Outback’ 23.......................................... HCVC 24.......................................... WA Road Transport History

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October 2023 WATM • November 2023

Endorsed by

Focus

Why do drivers get blamed for level crossing crashes?

Trucking business owner/operator Harvey Betts was killed on 19th April 2020 when the truck he was driving collided with a freight train in broad daylight at a level crossing

By Dr Brett Hughes | Principal P7Safety, Adjunct Professor, Curtin University, BEng, MEngSc, PostGradDipBus, PhD

About the author: Dr Hughes has worked on a wide variety of rail issues for more than two decades at state and national level. He saw the inception and implementation of the National Rail Safety Law and led the first national level crossing safety strategy and subsequently chaired its implementation committee.

Previously, Dr Hughes held senior executive and management positions in government, university, the Australasian Railway Association and the CRC for Rail innovation, and has worked as a principal consultant.

D

riving across a railway level crossing sounds simple, but it’s more difficult than it might first appear. Each crossing is subtlety different. Weather and lighting changes every day. Some trains travel fast, and others slow. If the crossing has lights it requires a different identification and response than if it has a Give Way sign, and Stop signs are different again. And it’s harder for trucks or drivers towing, or those with difficult loads.

The issue is compounded by tricky perceptions. We mostly overestimate the distance to large moving objects and underestimate their speed. For instance, large planes appear to move so slow that they look like they should fall out of the sky. Drivers develop considerable experience crossing roads, with different types of traffic control and in different circumstances, but many drivers encounter level crossings only rarely. Many passive crossings, without lights or boom gates, only have trains occasionally or at certain times of the year for a few weeks. So it’s hard for many drivers to develop much

experience and be prepared for a train.

All this results in scenarios that are potentially deadly. Deliberate risk taking can never be condoned, but errors of judgement and lapses, as researchers call them, are normal. None of us are perfect.

We should be doing everything we can to help drivers make safe decisions. We should stop vainly hoping that people are going to do the right thing all the time simply because the law says they should.

It’s not just road drivers who are impacted by level crossing crashes either. I talked to a train driver who had 14 collisions with road vehicles over his career. Train drivers, emergency responders, medical teams, families, clean up crews and many others suffer the traumatic consequences of level crossing crashes. And safety is commercially logical too. One series of crashes was reported to cost $8.3m - for each individual crash.

So, how should we respond to such complicated hazards? Industries like aviation and offshore petroleum manage safety by looking at the whole system. And complex systems resist simple solutions.

WATM • November 2023

3

Focus Telling people to “work safe” or “drive safe” is unlikely to work. After all, we’re all good drivers, aren’t we? It’s all the other nuts on the road who are the problem. It’s not us who are tired, distracted or make an occasional mistake. Is it?

Everyone who can contribute to road safety needs to bring their best game.

For more than 20 years, that hasn’t been happening with level crossings in Australia.

More has probably happened in the last two years, than the previous 20. But it’s mainly due to a persistent group of families with support from the media who have realised that fewer people need to die at level crossings. More than 20 regional and transport organisations have joined the call for safer level crossings, including the Western Roads Federation and the WA Livestock and Rural Transport Association.

Despite that, one area has been able to avoid improvement completely - train visibility.

We still see dark dirty, dark coloured trains with poor lights. Train headlights are bright enough but a pinpoint of light doesn’t tell drivers much about distance or speed, or if the train is stopped at a station

Railways claim that they can’t put flashing lights or side lights on trains. Silently, they’re saying that they’re too costly or siding. The flashing lights point down and out and not towards road drivers.

Wagons can be simply invisible at night with dirty, second-rate or missing reflectors, as if they would be sufficient for drivers anyway. If drivers see a light in the distance that perhaps barely moves, is it a train, or a car, or a tractor or a farmhouse?

Recently, the railways’ own Rail Industry Standards and Safety Board released a new draft standard for train lighting visibility inviting four weeks of public consultation.

No transport operator organisation was on the development group.

The draft Standard included some useful but fairly straightforward improvements,

like requiring lights and reflectors to be clean, maintained or replaced. There are improvements to livery colours and reflectors too. But there are two glaring omissions - flashing beacon lights and side lights on trains.

Flashing lights are the universal sign of a workplace or transport hazard. Everything from aircraft, small boats and oversize trucks to antenna towers and cyclists use them. So surely a 6,000 tonne vehicle travelling at 100km/h that can’t swerve or stop quickly should be treated as a major hazard? Large road vehicles, caravans and trailers all legally require side and outline lights or the vehicle can immediately be put off the road. But trains aren’t required to, and don’t have any of these.

Railways claim that they can’t put flashing lights or side lights on trains.

Silently, they’re saying that they’re too costly. They’ve certainly been far too slow in investigating them seriously. So they’re protecting commercial profits at the expense of public safety. They have the power to control the standards that affect public safety, and they do. They

Rail industry looks set to put profit before lives

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epeated calls for change look like being ignored by the RISSB, which is dominated by rail industry representatives. After agreeing in 2022 to examine the Standard AS 7531 on train lighting, the RISSB released a draft of the new standard late September this year with a call out for four weeks of public consultation.

The draft of the new AS 7531 Standard dealt a bitter blow to families of rail crash victims as it did not support the adoption of rotating beacons or flashing lights on locomotives or ‘side lighting’ on locomotives or wagons.

It’s only offering for increased train visibility was a focus on brighter colours for the front of locomotives.

This is in direct contradiction of multiple industries from aviation to mining and road transport where flashing lights are the accepted indicator of a hazard and goes against coroner reports and multiple trials which all indicate the need for more succinct visibility on trains in order to save lives.

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WATM • November 2023

The Monash Institute of Rail Technology (IRT) report into train lighting was released in March followed on from the Freight Train Visibility Review that was carried out by the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation and released in 2022.

Both reports made it clear that lighting on the front and side of trains can be improved.

Lara Jensen spokesperson for the Improve Train Lighting and Level Crossing Safety Group said the findings of the MIRT report again reinforced the importance of auxiliary lighting on locomotives for improved visibility in line with coronial recommendations made by WA State Coroner Alastair Hope in 2001.

“Anyone who has driven in the country will have seen road trains coming in the distance with lights around their cabs and along their trailers. Trains on the other hand, hurtle through the country with little more than a headlight and ditch lights and wagons that are completely dark,” says Ms Jensen.

“Coroners, transport safety investigators and countless committees have for decades pointed to a glaring problem with train

illumination, yet the rail industry continues to present excuses why they can’t and won’t comply with the same mandatory safety lighting standards that have long been in place in all hazardous and high-risk industries.

The massive disparity between mandatory lighting requirements for road transport compared to rail transport is an outstanding example of different standards,” Ms Jensen said.

“I believe that the re-drafted AS7531 is completely skewed towards the commercial interests of the rail industry who have the power to control the standard. The standard is supposed to protect the safety of road users, train drivers and track workers but instead it looks like its objective is to protect the financial interests of rail companies.”

More than 20 organisations nationally, including peak farming and road transport bodies and the RAC in Western Australia, are supporting the push for better lighting on trains.

Focus can put lights on trains for worker access, emergency lighting and for workers around trains. They’re all in the standard. A new locomotive costs around $6m yet they apparently can’t design and install lights to ensure their visibility.

Recently, I drove just 100km to Northam and lost count of the number of flashing lights I saw. At traffic lights, on a mobile crane, on cars, on oversize trucks, on advance warning signs, an emergency vehicle, variable message signs and advertising signs. But not on the train.

I’m very thankful that I’ve only had one scare at a level crossing. A train was parked across a level crossing as I approached around a sharp curve. The wagons were black and I literally thought, “Why is there a wall in the middle of the road? Yet I live with a constant fear. I expect that one day I’ll read about a train colliding with a school bus or a high speed passenger train that’s hit a fully loaded truck.

While level crossing safety isn’t simple, if every simple thing is done, then everyone can be safer. So, mandatory better lighting on trains is a clear way to start.

Harvey Betts (left), his son Daniel holding granddaughter Charlotte

H

arvey Betts, aged 62, a much-loved grandfather, father and trucking business owner/operator, from Meningie in South Australia was killed on 19th April 2020 when the truck he was driving collided with a freight train in broad daylight at a level crossing just off the

Ethan Hunter with his fiancé Maddie Bott

W

eeks before 26 year old farmer Ethan Hunter was due to marry his fiancé Maddie Bott, he and his work colleague were killed in a road train carting gypsum at an occupational passive level crossing on dark at Bribbaree, near the farming community of Grenfell in NSW on

23rd February, 2021.

Ethan was a much loved son, brother, nephew, uncle and cousin and a friend to countless people who never got the opportunity to be a husband and a father himself.

The train involved in the accident was

Dukes Highway at Culburra, near Coonalpyn.

The train driver testified in his statement that Harvey had come to a complete stop at the crossing but didn’t see the Pacific National train and proceeded to cross when he was killed instantly. The impact was so severe the prime mover was torn off its trailer and ended up 50 meters down the track.

The level crossing where Harvey lost his life was notorious in the area with locals citing poor visibility on approach to the crossing that was badly overgrown with trees at the time of the accident.

The operator, Pacific National, insisted Harvey’s insurance pay to fix the damage to the locomotive.

dirty and the livery dark, with only two small headlights and ditch lights. It had less lighting than tractors in the surrounding paddocks.

In the train driver's statement it was reported that the truck Ethan and his work mate were travelling in slowed to a stop but they didn't see the train and proceeded to cross when they were struck and killed.

The truck burst into flames following the crash. The level crossing that claimed Ethan and his work colleague's lives was on a dusty rural gravel road that was obstructed by trees and vegetation and the crossing was situated on a deadly incline.

Ethan's family found in a report conducted

by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) only a month prior, that the rail top at the crossing was not satisfactory but nothing was done about it and nor was there any plan in place to do so.

WATM • November 2023

5

News

Transition to in-house maintenance continues at Main Roads

M

ore than 100 new and transitioning employees have made the move to Main Roads as the Agency continues returning maintenance and some minor capital works back in-house.

The staff will be responsible for the delivery of routine maintenance operations across the Perth Metropolitan Area.

Announced in April 2022, the policy to return maintenance and some minor capital works back in-house will see a total of 660 new and transitioned Main Roads jobs filled across Western Australia,

helping to increase capability, capacity and economic sustainability.

Two positions have been newly recruited as part of the process, while 109 employees have joined the agency from existing contractors. The workers will be based at Main Roads’ existing depots in Jandakot and Neerabup, along with the agency’s head office in East Perth.

They join 48 employees who were welcomed to the Wheatbelt Region in October last year, 50 employees welcomed to the Mid-West Gascoyne Region in

November last year, and 26 employees who joined Main Roads in the Goldfields Esperance Region recently.

The transition process is being supported by the purchase, lease and upgrade of new and existing maintenance depots across WA. This includes a new location in Welshpool which will become the base for the Perth Metropolitan Incident Response Service and Bridge Maintenance Crew.

The Pilbara Region will be next to transition to Main Roads on 1 November 2023, followed by the South West and Great Southern Regions, with the Incident Response Service in February 2024. The Kimberley Region will be the final to transition in November 2024.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, “Our Government recognises the significant benefits of bringing maintenance back to Main Roads, and to see the metropolitan region transitioning back in-house is an important milestone.

"Road maintenance work was outsourced several decades ago, but the in-house delivery model helps us to increase the capability, capacity and sustainability of our road maintenance workforce, particularly in regional areas.

“Not only will these employees enjoy increased pay and improved conditions, it will mean we can respond more quickly and minimise impacts and disruption on our road network.”

Pass the Closing Loopholes bill says ATA

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arliament should pass the closing loopholes bill with amendments, ATA Chair David Smith told the Senate Education and Employment Committee.

David Smith and ATA CEO Mathew Munro were representing the ATA at a hearing on the bill.

David said the ATA’s goals in its work on the bill were to— • avoid the mistakes of the Road Safety Remuneration Act • deliver fairness for large and small transport businesses, and to • avoid inconsistency and overlap with existing safety regulation.

“We believe that the bill meets these goals and should be passed subject to the amendments in our submission,” David said.

Mathew said several ATA member

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WATM • November 2023

associations remained concerned that any move to set minimum freight rates would have unavoidable negative consequences for some parts of the industry.

“Highly competitive markets typically

avoided, this can result in higher costs for business relying on freight services and less incentive for trucking businesses to innovate.

“The ATA has suggested that an alternative would be for the commission

Several ATA member associations remained concerned that any move to set minimum freight rates would have unavoidable negative consequences for some parts of the industry react by shifting freight away from higher cost providers or making alternative arrangements such as bringing freight services in-house,” Mathew said.

“In these circumstances, those who should benefit from improved freight rates can be disadvantaged or lose their work altogether.

“If increased freight rates cannot be

to order some costs to be billed separately and paid separately. This would deliver a basic safety net for trucking businesses with fewer potential market and productivity impacts than a minimum rates order.

“But, more fundamentally, whether the commission is going to set minimum rates or provide for cost recovery, it must do it for everyone,” he said.

News

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$95 million lies dormant in Road Trauma Trust Account

ccording to the WA State Opposition, $95 million currently lies dormant in the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) while a report from the Auditor General has revealed the critical fund is not being used to effectively curb WA’s road death toll.

Shadow Minister for Road Safety Martin Aldridge MLC said the Auditor General’s Management of the Road Trauma Trust Account report was a wake-up call for the State Government.

“The report found the RTTA – one of the most significant mechanisms the State Government has to invest in road safety – is not effectively channelling funds into projects that could save lives on WA roads,” Mr Aldridge said.

“Disturbingly, the report uncovered a lack of strategic direction within the Road Safety Council and the Road Safety Commission, which jointly administer this funding.

“This has resulted in an annual expenditure of around $100 million on road safety projects without any significant reduction to WA’s road death toll in the past decade.”

The RTTA is funded through revenue generated from red light cameras and speeding tickets. Figures disclosed in the WA Police annual report indicate the trust account currently holds an alltime high of $95 million.

Mr Aldridge said the Road Safety Minister needed to take responsibility for the failures outlined in the report and ensure funding was getting out the door to projects that will have a positive road safety impact.

“It is unacceptable for the Minister to hoard almost $100

million in a year which has seen tragedy after tragedy on our roads. This funding must be urgently directed to priority projects to make our roads safer instead of languishing in the Treasury coffers,” he said.

There have been 122 deaths on WA roads in 2023 to date, including 61 in the metropolitan region – making it the worst year on Perth roads in a decade.

Mr Aldridge said given the record funding in the account, the Minister needed to explain his refusal to use the surplus to purchase an additional rescue helicopter for regional WA as recommended by the government’s own aeromedical inquiry report.

“The deployment of a rescue helicopter can significantly enhance survival rates after a severe accident by saving crucial time – potentially making the difference between life and death.

“Instead, the State Government appropriated more than $10 million from the RTTA to purchase an additional police helicopter for Perth, despite a clear recommendation from the Road Safety Council against this.

“The Council found no evidence an additional police helicopter would improve road safety or reduce deaths or injuries.”

Mr Aldridge said the Minister had also failed to respond to a briefing request into WA’s Road Safety Camera Strategy made in November 2022. The Strategy will oversee the roll-out of new mobile point-to-point cameras anticipated to raise a further $69 million annually for the RTTA.

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Main Roads News

Heavy Vehicle Pilot Licence Reference Group

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ver the past 18 months the Heavy Vehicle Pilot Licence Reference Group, comprising a variety of experienced stakeholders, has met to provide feedback on key matters affecting the sector to improve the professionalism and standards within the industry. Strong progress has been made on matters including, but not limited to, training and competency assessment, the Heavy Vehicle Pilot Code of Conduct, standards and licensing.

The meeting on 18 August 2023 will be the last for some time while HVS undertakes a review, particularly relating to pilot training standards, based on the feedback from the group. When HVS has finalised this, HVS will re-convene the Group to discuss the outcomes. Beyond this, the group may be retained as an ad

hoc assembly for future instances of HVS liaison with the pilot industry.

At the August 2023 meeting the Group discussed the following issues, among related matters: • Pilot training and experience: There was further dialogue about the need for improvement across all areas of training, with an understanding that not everything needs to be taught by the training organisations as there is too much detailed information to include in the course and it is available online. It was recognised that there is a responsibility on the individual pilot to gain further training, mentoring and experience; • Pilot fatigue management: WorkSafe advised that it is looking at both

the Code of Practice for Fatigue Management for Commercial Vehicle Drivers and the Code of Practice for Working Hours. Of interest are the sleeping arrangements for pilots which impact their sleep quality. The Group discussed that managing fatigue is a requirement under the Work Health and Safety legislation and is a responsibility of businesses, agencies, employers, employees and contractor pilots, including individuals who have a duty of care to themselves.

The Group also considered items such as: • Bollards at Military Road; • Issues at Calingiri Truck Bay; and • Hale Road contraflow.

Further information will be provided by Main Roads in due course.

Centurion adds central corridor to Australian operations News

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enturion Transport has further expanded its national footprint, announcing its purchase of South Australiabased refrigerated and general linehaul freight transport business, ABC Transport Holdings Pty Ltd trading as ABC Transport.

For more than 22 years, ABC Transport has served customers up and down central Australia, from Adelaide, Darwin, Katherine and Kununurra, establishing strong relationships with customers. In 2021, ABC Transport acquired Gilberts Transport.

ABC Transport business will be transitioned to become part of Centurion’s operations, further building out the company’s existing national presence

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WATM • November 2023

throughout South Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.

Centurion also purchased Rockhampton-based logistics business, Rocky’s Own Transport, earlier this year.

Centurion CEO Justin Cardaci said the ABC Transport acquisition was part of Centurion’s broader strategy to expand the company’s operational footprint and continuing to provide logistics solutions throughout the resource rich areas of Australia.

“This acquisition adds an important and central corridor into our national presence, providing further opportunities to leverage our existing operations in Australia’s West,

East and North,” Mr Cardaci said.

“Our vision is for a seamless national footprint and this acquisition, with its Adelaide to Darwin focus, is a key part of that. We will continue looking for ways to grow our trusted service and build on our commitment to service the regional communities of Australia.

“Centurion has a strong presence with service to the mining and energy sectors, and we believe this is an area of future opportunity for the combined business in South Australia and Northern Territory.”

Acquiring ABC Transport means Centurion now employs more than 2400 people across 35 sites, deploying more than 900 prime movers and over 3000 trailers on key transport routes throughout Australia.

“Centurion welcomes the teams from ABC Transport and Gilberts Transport into our operations. Their people will become our people and we’re looking forward to having them part of the Centurion family” Mr Cardaci said.

ABC Transport CEO Andrew Cogan said he was proud that the business he founded in 1998 would become part of Centurion.

“Our 260-plus employees will have a great future at Centurion, which has an industryleading approach to safety and deploying advanced technology both on the road and in the warehouse,” he said.

Mr Cogan and his leadership team will remain with the business post settlement.

MOVES – online customer portal MOVES is the HVS online portal providing registered users the ability to undertake a range of heavy vehicle self service functions.

Its benefits for operators include: • Make multiple permit fee payments in a single (credit card) transaction; • Submit supporting documentation for permits (i.e. Transport Management Plans, Route Plans, etc); • Make payments for Accreditation fees and Traffic Escort Services bookings; • Register new vehicles and maintain a fleet list; • View and download permits and receipts; and • Nominate additional users of your MOVES account.

Its benefits for pilots include: • Make payments for Heavy Vehicle Pilot License (HVPL) fees and obtain receipts; • Submit supporting documentation for HVPLs (e.g. medical certificates and training records); • Pay for replacement HVPL cards; and • Nominate additional users of your MOVES account.

You can switch between different accounts you are registered against – that could be switching between several Fig 1:

It’s Show Time operator accounts, or switching between your operator and pilot accounts if you are a licenced pilot.

Currently the permit types listed here are available for self-service though MOVES. (See fig 1 below).

The Single Trip Permits require Main Roads assessment prior to being issued.

To register head to www.mainroads. wa.gov.au/heavy-vehicles/moves/ and watch the free tutorial videos and follow the online instructions.

S

pring is traditionally the season for community events and agricultural shows. Main Roads HVS and Wheatbelt Region recently attended the Dowerin Field Days where we met with 170 visitors to answer questions about heavy vehicle operations and upcoming road projects in the Wheatbelt. Visitors also got an opportunity to speak to regional representatives about issues on the road network. The Department of Transport was also represented. The staff handled enquiries about road conditions and maintenance, road projects and timeframes, caravans, the RAV Mapping Tool and agricultural equipment.

Enquiries were also fielded at the Perth Boat Show regarding towing Over Size vessels on the road.

If you see us at an event or expo, come over to our stand and say hello.

Northam Road Train Assembly Area (RTAA) Main Roads is working on a design to expand the Northam RTAA. We will be looking for your feedback shortly via the My Say Transport website.

WATM • November 2023

9

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

Would you not like a decent sized sleeper compartment?

I

’ve always said that the truck driving in Australia is a hard and demanding occupation. We have long distances to cover and the opportunity to spend many hours behind the wheel. With rigorous timetables and schedules to keep it becomes necessary to combat fatigue with a good night’s sleep.

While this may sound easy I can tell you it is very difficult to find a suitable truck bay where it is quiet and sleeping in most small sleepers of a truck is hardly the place for quality sleep.

In all my time as a long distance truck driver I always thought sleeping compartments were a poor compromise for a bedroom and surely there had to be a better alternative.

Older truck drivers often tell stories of trucks with no sleeping facilities and it was a case of rolling out a swag beside the truck or if the weather dictated otherwise it was necessary to sleep in the truck seat propped up with a couple of pillows. It is hardly a way for fatigued drivers to get good quality sleep after a long day on the road.

Magnifying this scenario with one or two week trip, you soon become very tired, grumpy and a risk on the road; to yourself and any other motorists.

It must of been heaven for these truck drivers when they got there first sleeping

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WATM • November 2023

compartments even though they were only about two feet wide and consisted of a foam mattress and if you’re lucky a couple of windows for ventilation.

It’s a shame that in Australia we are strenuously regulated with our truck lengths that we cannot have bigger sleeper bunks to make life on the road more

The ideal truck for long distance transport that gives good comfort is one with a long bonnet and a decent size sleeper compartment comfortable for the driver.

Most of our trucks are lucky to be able to have a fifty inch bunk and still try and stay within the legal length laws. Fifty inch bunks do not give you much room and it becomes worse if you are a two up driver and have to share it with someone else.

The ideal truck for long distance transport that gives good comfort is one with a long bonnet and a decent size sleeper compartment. It’s much better and

more comfortable for the driver being able to drive while sitting in the middle of the prime mover than sitting over the front wheels like you have to with a cab over prime mover.

In many states in America trucks are able to legally have much larger sleeper bunks and it’s quite common for many truck manufacturers to offer huge sleepers that they nearly look like they have a small caravan behind the driving compartment.

The benefits are enormous for the drivers to manage their fatigue and still have room to have meals and look after their ablutions etc. It becomes a home away from home and makes life on the road much more pleasant.

Australia is a big country and I cannot see why we could not have similar size trucks with bigger sleepers. Would an extra couple of metres to an already large truck combination really make much difference that it would be a problem. I certainly don’t think so.

It would certainly make a big difference with two up driving and for drivers who wish to take their partners. I know that this question of bigger sleepers has been suggested many times but until our rule makers drive a truck and live life on the road I can’t believe that we will see any changes. ~ Keep it safe, Ray Pratt

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www.khitch.com.au WATM • November 2023

11

Focus

First Camp Quality Convoy Perth leaves fundraising target in the dust

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erth transport operators proved they have big hearts when they lined the streets for the city’s first Camp Quality Convoy Perth, raising over $190,000 for kids facing cancer.

Held on Sunday, 8 October, over 130 trucks converged on Perth Hockey Stadium before travelling the 50km route through Bentley, Welshpool, Morley, Osbourne Park and Perth City.

A family festival was then held with kids’ rides and live entertainment for the community to cheer on the trucks as they arrived back, all with the aim of having fun and raising money.

“We are so grateful to the Perth community for the huge turnout and generous support for the inaugural Convoy Perth,” said Camp Quality CEO Deborah Thomas.

“Perth community and the WA Transport industry have really come together in a huge show of support for kids and their families facing the trauma of a cancer diagnosis. Together, they raised an amazing $191,000, more than triple our fundraising target.”

“Funds raised at Convoy Perth will provide WA families with vital support in their darkest days through recreations programs, hospital support, family respite and a supportive community at every step

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WATM • November 2023

of the cancer journey. It will go towards the Cancer Education Program that visits schools across the state, educating kids about cancer and creating an inclusive community for children going through their own diagnosis or that of a parent.”

“We can't wait to be back next year for the next Convoy Perth.”

Perth transport operator’s impressive fundraising outcome came from their dedicated hard work rallying family, friends, their networks and the local community.

They got creative, hosting a range of initiatives to raise money and approaching local businesses.

Crystal Cooling and her son, Jacob, who was diagnosed with leukemia as an infant, joined the fun of Convoy Perth. They have received a range of life-changing support from Camp Quality over the years.

“They’ve been able to do not only days where Jacob gets to go and do things, but they do a lot of family days,” Crystal said.

Crystal expressed appreciation for those involved in the success of Convoy Perth.

“If it wasn’t for people like this, we wouldn’t be able to go and do the things that we can do, which is outside of hospital.”

While some drivers joined Convoy Perth in memory of a loved one, others took part

simply to enjoy the experience with friends.

Perth Convoy truck driver Peter Rowling said, “We’re all here to be able to help kids out, and that’s what it’s all about; just helping kids out,” After the hugely successful inaugural event– which had the highest total ever raised through a Camp Quality Convoy fundraising event – plans are already underway to bring the Perth Convoy back again in 2024.

CAMP QUALITY is an Australian children’s cancer charity that has been improving the quality of life for kids facing cancer for 40 years. They help kids and families from the heartbreaking news of a cancer diagnosis through every step of their cancer experience. Find out more: www.campquality.org.au/

WATM • November 2023

13

Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO

The transport industry has a lot of solutions to offset rising costs

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any transport companies are struggling to pass on the costs associated with rising fuel costs. Yes some of fuel levies, but others lack the market leverage to obtain the levy.

The basic reality facing Australia is that we import 85% of our fuel. Therefore, we are at the mercy of world events that impact global oil prices. Add to this that fact the Australian dollar is forecast to continue to fall, and the result is that we are going to simply pay more.

Yes, fuel prices are volatile we accept that. But since Oct 2020, the average price of diesel in Perth has risen 86% based on the trend line for the period.

News

Facilitating safer trucks in Australia

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he Australian Government has made changes to the national road vehicle standards to facilitate the supply of safer trucks in Australia, to help reduce road trauma while bolstering freight productivity.

It is estimated the changes will provide a net benefit of over $500 million to the Australian economy.

The Safer Freight Vehicles package includes an increase to the overall width limit from 2.50 to 2.55 metres for new trucks that are fitted with a number of safety features.

These safety features include devices to reduce blind spots, electronic stability control, advanced emergency braking, a lane departure warning system, better reflective markings, and side guards to stop pedestrians and cyclists from being caught

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WATM • November 2023

up under the rear wheels of trucks.

Trucks fitted with these safety features will save lives and prevent serious injuries to vehicle occupants, cyclists and pedestrians.

Allowing wider trucks on our roads will also reduce the number of road freight trips businesses will need to take, saving them money and lowering their environmental impact.

Additionally, a number of safety devices and sensors will be able to be fitted to trucks without counting towards the width and length measurements.

This includes front and kerb view mirrors to better see around the frontleft corner of the vehicle, external parts of camera monitor systems for improved indirect vision, blind spot sensors, and cross-view mirrors to see in front of bonneted vehicles.

This will ensure manufacturers and owners are not disadvantaged by fitting trucks with these road safety technologies.

The overall width limit for buses and trailers won’t change, however they will also benefit from more safety devices being excluded from width and length

measurements.

While this change will allow manufactures to design and supply these safer trucks in Australia, operators should continue to engage with their registration authority to determine whether road access permits are required.

Changes under the Safer Freight Vehicles package will begin to come into effect from 1 October 2023.

Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said, “This Safer Freight Vehicles package responds to direct calls from industry to increase the width limit of trucks and follows extensive public consultation and feedback.

“These changes will be a real game changer for industry, businesses and other road users, as they will save lives by adopting technology to reduce the likelihood of crashes, while also lowering freight costs and supporting better environmental outcomes.

“Our truckies play a vital role in the Australian economy and our day to day lives, ensuring we can access the food, medicines and other goods we need.”

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

There are 92,000 (approx.) registered Light Trucks and above in Western Australia.

That doesn't include the 460,000 light commercial vehicles registered in the state.

Currently there is a handful of alternative energy, mainly Battery Electric being trialled in State by transport operators. The reports back on the success of the trials are mixed. Regardless they are not a short to medium term solution for the issues facing our industry and communities we serve. That is not to mention that WA is forecast to a severe electricity generation shortage which will limit the uptake of Battery Electric vehicles. (WA Today 17 Aug 23).

The Transport Industry has the Solutions

The Transport industry has a lot of solutions to help improve productivity to offset the costs of rising fuel. Solutions that are not about screwing down rates or pushing drivers, they are practical solutions that knock out the waste and inefficiency in the system. Just some include: • Streamlining processes between

Government and Industry • Allowing efficient combinations such as that proposed to allow 30m A-Doubles off the port. A solution that increases efficiency, reduces truck movements, and emissions.

• Remove blockages in the freight routes they allow efficient combinations to get closer to their destination or loading point • Allow access to international skilled drivers subject to pre-agreed standards • Remove curfews and other Local Government constraints that an AI company we engaged has shown decrease freight efficiency by as much as 20%.

• Fix the Local Government restrictions impacting construction materials delivery into suburbs.

• The list goes on and on and on

It's not just a Road Transport Problem

Manufacturing: During September, I attended trade shows in Europe with leading WA manufacturers. After the skills

shortage, their single biggest issue was the cost of getting freight out of Western Australia. It's so bad, that a number of them are looking to move manufacturing off shore, at a time when the rest of the Western world is bringing manufacturing back on-shore. We have other examples of Transport problems making it harder for WA manufacturers to stay in business.

Social Justice: The ABC reports of aboriginal communities' not being able to afford fresh food due to sky rocketing freight costs. Again listen to our industry and they may find solutions.

Retailers: The West Australian earlier this week reported Retailers struggling as freight and courier costs were rising. Again productivity measures can help address these concerns.

The ‘expertise' in Freight lies in our industry.

I met with the new Assistant Transport Minister David Michael and was really encouraged by his attitude. I feel confident that we can move forward on these issues.

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

WATM • November 2023

15

News

All projects have been thoroughly assessed using crash records to identify problems at these known hazardous locations

More than $19 million allocated to fix next WA Black Spots round

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ransport Minister Rita Saffioti has announced that more than $19 million has been allocated through the 2023/24 State Black Spot Program to fund upgrades and safety improvements for 73 projects across Western Australia.

A total of $19.34 million has been allocated by the State Government, with local governments committing more than $4 million to the next round of State Black Spots.

Since its inception, the WA Black Spot Program has delivered nearly half a billion dollars in safety initiatives on the WA road network.

All projects have been thoroughly assessed using crash records to identify problems at these known hazardous locations in order to determine the most appropriate solution.

These projects support existing road infrastructure as well as major road projects helping to improve road safety and create jobs.

A total of $11 million will be spent on upgrades to metropolitan roads, including: • $2 million to extend the westbound left slip lane on Dixon Road and construct southbound acceleration lane on Ennis Avenue in the City of Rockingham; • $700,000 to extend northbound right turn pocket on West Coast Highway, modify traffic signals and pedestrian facilities in the Town of Cambridge; • $1 million towards the installation of median safety barriers at various locations between Maddington Road and Mills Road on Tonkin Highway in the City of Gosnells; • $1.7 million to widen and seal shoulders, install raised median and upgrade street lighting on Mandurah Road in the City of Rockingham; • $1.2 million to install a dual lane roundabout at the

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WATM • November 2023

Marangaroo Drive and Girrawheen Avenue intersection in the City of Wanneroo; • $173,000 for planning and development of a future roundabout at Cleopatra Street and Justinian Street in the City of Melville; and • $200,000 for planning and development of a future roundabout at Baldivis Road and Rivergums Boulevard in the City of Rockingham.

A total of $8.34 million will be spent on upgrades to regional roads, including: • $2 million to widen and seal shoulders on Northampton Kalbarri Road in the Shire of Northampton; • $175,000 towards the future widening and modifying the Lamey Avenue (Bayulu Access Road) approach to Great Northern Highway intersection in the Shire of Derby West Kimberley; • $263,000 to install series of slow points on Wanjeep Street in the City of Mandurah; • $82,000 for planning and development works to widen and realign Speedway Road to improve sight distance at turn-off to a waste facility in the Shire of Carnarvon; • $15,000 for planning and development of a future roundabout at MacDonald Street and Wilson Street intersection in the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder; • $33,000 towards the future sealing of York-Williams Road northern approach to intersection with Wandering-Pingelly Road in the Shire of Wandering; and • $30,000 for planning and development works to replace the painted roundabout with a constructed roundabout at Wellington Street East and Gordon Street intersection in the Shire of Northam.

The funding for regional black spots comes on top of the $825 million that has been invested towards the Regional Road Safety Program since 2020.

To date, the Regional Road Safety Program has seen more than 7000 kilometres of the State regional road network upgraded with safety treatments like audible edge lines and sealed shoulders, with 8500 kilometres expected to be complete by mid-2024.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, “Our Government understands the challenge of road safety requires ongoing effort and investments, which is why we continue to fund important projects through the State Black Spot Program.

“Since its inception, the State Black Spot Program has delivered around $500 million in safety upgrades on our road network, ensuring known risks are addressed.

“The program aims to further improve road safety across the State, reducing the significant trauma and suffering of crash victims and their loved ones by targeting sites with a proven crash history or those with a high risk.”

A full list of the projects funded in the 2023/24 State Black Spot Program can be found at www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/technicalcommercial/local-government-funding/road-safety-programs/

This is ‘The Outback’

Paint lines instead of putting curbing in Parking Bays

By Cliff Graham

T

his month around the campfire is a continuation from the last edition concerning fatigue and parking bays.

As mentioned, the government pointed out the dangers of micro-sleeps and fatigue in general highlighting the continuing importance of parking bays. What they seem to forget is parking bays are also needed for other reasons such as dropping a trailer in a safe location or sometimes the lady in the GPS gives you the wrong instruction and you have to turn around.

There are a couple of welcomed new parking bays on the North West Coastal Highway that I’m referring to in this column. As I’ve mentioned before, “I’m not anti-government. Just anti-stupid, clueless engineers, law makers and regulators who have zero experience in the transport industry”.

Yet such bureaucrats are designing and constructing things that are not even useful – they actually cause damage and are dangerous. This one parking bay I am highlighting is a great big wide sealed bay off the roadway. There’s plenty of room – so why would somebody put this curbing on the approach to the road to steer traffic in ‘one direction?

This makes it extremely difficult to do a U-turn without screwing the guts out of your gear or running your wheels over this curb.

Remembering triple cattle transport is legally allowed on this road – so if the driver overshoots a driveway – the safest place to turn around is the next parking bay that has been designed to accommodate triple road trains.

If a triple turned right out of this parking bay they would have no choice but to run

their tyres over this curbing. Are the people that put this curbing in are going to put their hand up and take responsibility for the damage caused to tyres or suspension on any of the vehicle’s components?

What about if a truck drives over this curb and later down the road whilst they are beside a car with a family with kids they blow a tyre off, the car runs off the road resulting in severe injury to occupants. Who would put their hand up for what initially caused the accident – a stupidly placed curb in a truck bay?

So my point is why go to all that trouble at tax payers expense to build a curb just to steer traffic in the one direction. I strongly suggest ‘simply paint the lines’ which would be just as effective without the potential for structural damage to our equipment.

So if a transport operator pulling a triple Road train could do a U-turn out of a parking bay without causing any damage whatsoever to their tyres, suspension and nothing is excessively stressed when driving back out onto the highway – that is a great outcome for road safety.

How can these engineers 100% guarantee that running over these concrete

barriers won’t cause unnecessary stress.

It’s definitely creating another pointless contributing factor to tyre wear.

Another bizarre invention is the straight stretch of road with a parking bay on the opposite side with arrows showing you are not allowed to enter from your side of the road.

Well, what if you have to? You need a sleep, you need to use amenities, or are due for your regulated break and you simply don't know how far to the next parking bay.

Don’t drive tired is drummed into us, but if you are not supposed to cross a lane on a straight stretch of road to enter a parking bay – what hope is there?

I think it boils down to the bureaucrats involved in designing these ridiculous arrows. Will they put their hand up and say that’s my fault if someone falls asleep whilst looking for the next parking bay on their side of the road?

What a bizarre set of double standards regarding road safety and fatigue management. This isn’t even touching on the lack of toilet facilities at parking bays. Then again, politicians and local government officials don’t have to walk out into the bush to go to the toilet.

WATM • November 2023

17

Focus

10,000th participant learns how to safely interact with trucks in WA

Newdegate Field Days with event sponsor support from Great Southern Fuel Supplies

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RANSAFE WA’s dedicated Western Australian safety truck iNSTRUCKTA! reached a milestone of its 10,000th participant during the Perth Royal Show week in September. Since launching in January 2023, iNSTRUCKTA! has now attended 32 events and has recorded over 15,000 participants to the end of October 2023.

Participants are immersed into the trucks cabin via virtual reality and shown trucks blind spots, overtaking trucks safely, giving more space for turning trucks and the dangers of cutting in front of trucks, all whilst sitting on one of ten real truck seats inside iNSTRUCKTA!’s custom built double expanding trailer.

There are also ten wall mounted touch screens that offer interactive road safety quiz learnings and a projector that plays various road safety messages about driver distractions, roundabouts, merging and more inside iNSTRUCKTA! There is also an opportunity to climb up into the prime mover that tows the trailer.

TRANSAFE WA’s Diamond Safety Partner, Sitrak Australia has generously donated the use of the Sitrak C7H prime mover for this road transport safety initiative. Sitrak Australia has also provided a set of stairs that make access to the trucks cabin safer and more inclusive for all ages.

“We are getting really positive feedback

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WATM • November 2023

from all of our participants who have visited iNSTRUCKTA!,” says TRANSAFE WA Executive Officer Rob Sharpe.

“It it’s really pleasing to hear that they have learnt something during the experience. Most will comment that they didn’t realise that trucks had so many blind spots and that they now understand the context of what the ‘do not overtake turning vehicle’ signs actually mean.

“Our future road users who have or are close to obtaining their learners permits are an important target audience for iNSTRUCKTA! We want to arm these future drivers with the knowledge so that they can safely interact with heavy vehicles

when they hit the road. Many of our new road users are keen to set off on a road trip as soon as they get their licence and some of the routes that lead to the most popular destinations are shared with road trains.

“I encourage every road user to take regular breaks from driving, avoid distractions and to have patience when interacting with heavy vehicles and only overtake when it’s safe,” finishes Rob. TRANSAFE WA is a not-for-profit organisation and they are working hard to secure additional funding from industry and government so that school visits can become a regular occurrence on their schedule for iNSTRUCKTA!

School children completing the activity trail at the 2023 Mingenew Midwest Expo

Focus

Most will comment that they didn’t realise that trucks had so many blind spots iNSTRUCKTA! Reflecting after a busy day at the Perejori Show 2023

Students from the Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin visited iNSTRUCKTA! at the Dowerin Field Days

A couple of locals brushing up on their knowledge

TRANSAFE WA Road Safety Education Officer and Driver of iNSTRUCKTA! Darren Ward

iNSTRUCKTA! at the 2023 Camp Quality Perth Convoy

Stairs to provide safer access to the SITRAK C7H prime movers cabin area

iNSTRUCKTA! supporting the Camp Quality Perth Convoy for Kids 2023

WATM • November 2023

19

LRTAWA 43rd Annual Conference Review LRTAWA by Jan Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia (Inc) Darran and Carmen Bairstow

Reluctant Truck Driver Becomes LRTAWA President

I

didn’t plan to drive trucks” said Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia President Darran Bairstow. ‘Dad asked me to drive for one harvest.’ Thirty-two years later he and wife Carmen are at the helm of Flexitrans, a thriving rural transport

business based in Dumbleyung and specialising in transporting fertiliser, grain, hay, wool and general bulk.

The die was probably cast long before that fateful paternal request with his transport pedigree being well established as the son of Terry (Chubby) and Maree

News

Cook Government has signed a Record newThefive-year State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement with investment the WA Local Government(SRFLGA) Association into local (WALGA).

The agreement guarantees councils 20 cent of the revenue collected from the road projects per State's vehicle licence fee collections to be under new allocated to local roads.

The agreement, first negotiated in 1995, agreement reinforces the partnership between the

State and local governments, providing a vital funding source towards the improvement and maintenance of the local government road network.

Overall funding for this latest agreement has been built on the previous five agreements and will equate to an estimated record investment amount of $1.38 billion to be allocated over the next five years.

Under the new agreement,

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WATM • November 2023

Bairstow, who started Bairstow Transport in Wagin. In 2021 Terry was inducted into the Transport Hall of Fame and is still regularly driving his Volvo Globetrotter at 81 years of age.

One of five children, Darran is not the only one to retain links to the transport industry with sister Susannah running McGuffie Transport with her husband Grant. Another sister Jodie is the talent behind the lens of popular Facebook group, ‘Truckies Driving Australia’ which documents life in rural transport. Brother Todd is driving for Terry.

Darran attended school at Wagin Primary and spent two years at Narrogin Senior High School. He left school at 15 and completed a boiler maker welder apprenticeship at Pederick Engineering in Wagin. On completing his apprenticeship, he did a range of jobs including a stint as a lumber jack. Little did he know that when his father asked him to drive that harvest, he would continue working for the family business for the next 12 years before he and Carmen decided to strike out on their own.

Initially sub-contracting to his father with a prime mover for around six months, the opportunity then arose to buy out friend and mentor Brian “Bracky” Bracknell’s business Bracknell Transport.

As time went on Bracky used to join Darran in the truck. Bracky, ever the storyteller, kept Darran entertained with stories about his escapades on the road.

commitments have been agreed between Main Roads and WALGA to address road safety objectives, increase Aboriginal employment and improve the use of recycled materials in road construction.

The local government-managed programs will receive 67 per cent of annual funding in direct grants, road project grants, State Black Spot allocations and remote Aboriginal access roads.

The remaining 33 per cent of funding goes to Main Roads managed programs, which include State initiatives on local roads, bridgeworks and bridge inspections, and traffic management, signs and pavement markings.

In total, the agreement will see nearly $253 million invested in local government roads this financial year.

WA Premier Roger Cook said, “This is a great example of State and local

In one anecdote Darran remembers well, Bracky was doing his best to avoid being seen carting wool to Fremantle when regulations prohibited it. The trips were usually made late at night and as he rounded the corner, Bracky spotted a transport inspector asleep in his car, waiting at the gate. Bracky quickly backed up into some nearby sand dunes and waited through the night for the inspector to leave. Darran says the story indicates how far we have come in terms of deregulation but said we still have some way to go.

As LRTAWA president Darran says he will continue to push for better and safer last-mile access and connectivity of the network, as well as on-road facilities for drivers, highlighting the impact of the live sheep trade ban on transporters and improving regional roads.

‘I hope to collaborate with the regulators to get good outcomes for the industry,’ he said.

‘There is nothing to be gained from us butting heads. It is much better if we can respect each other’s position and move forward collectively towards the common goal which has to be a safe and productive freight system.’

Like so many family transport businesses Darran and Carmen are a formidable team who have raised three children, Daneé, Orson and Eden. In his limited spare time Darran pursues his

hobby of collecting classic Ford Motor cars, running a hobby farm and supports Carmen in her dedication to the 10th Light Horse Albany Troop. Carmen represented the Troop in Canberra at the unveiling of the statue dedicated to Sandy the warhorse.

Darran himself is also a former army reservist. Their patriotism and respect for our armed services is stunningly depicted on two of their prime movers (pictured).

It is much better if we can respect each other’s position and move forward collectively towards the common goal which has to be a safe and productive freight system

government working together to deliver road safety improvements across the State.

“My Government is proud to deliver this record funding agreement to ensure we are meeting the challenges of maintaining and improving the State's vast road network."

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, “Our Government is committed to working collaboratively with local governments to ensure our road network is maintained and continues to be improved.

“This agreement will ensure we continue to maintain and improve Western Australia's road network with a record amount of funding for local roads.

“The new Agreement has a strengthened focus on road safety objectives to align with the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, and to deliver outcomes aligned with the State's priorities of increasing Aboriginal employment and use of recycled

materials in road construction.

“The agreement also brings a renewed focus to access roads for remote Aboriginal communities with $2.5 million allocated this financial year and further investments in the years ahead.”

WALGA President Karen Chappel said, “WALGA and local government welcome the commitment by the State Government to enter in to the sixth State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement.

“The agreement is a vital source of funding providing certainty for local government and the communities they represent, for the term of the Agreement.

“The new State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement strengthens the partnership between the two tiers of Government and the shared effort to improve and maintain the State's local road network.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN BY REGION FOR 2023/24 REGION

2023/24 INVESTMENT

Great Southern

$13.1 million

Wheatbelt

$35.9 million

Kimberley

$8.8 million

Pilbara

$7.4 million

Mid West/Gascoyne

$22.4 million

Goldfields-Esperance

$20.8 million

South West

$30.5 million

Metropolitan

$92.5 million

*Note: Additional funding is also allocated to a number of non-region-specific programs and initiatives.

WATM • November 2023

21

News

Decarbonising short-haul road freight could halve Australia’s freight emissions

A

ATA call for trains to be fitted with beacon lights

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he Australian Government should require all railway

locomotives to be fitted with flashing beacon lights, the ATA has said – joining the multitude of industry associations and the transport industry who have got behind this important campaign.

ATA CEO Mathew Munro said the proposal would help save the lives of truck drivers at level crossings without boom gates or flashing lights.

“Trucks are longer than cars and take longer to get over level crossings. Truck drivers need to be able to spot trains as early as possible, which means we need to upgrade train lighting,” Mathew said.

“CBH Group has already announced that it will install beacon lights on all their trains in regional Western Australia to enhance visibility. It’s a welcome commitment, but we need to see it country-wide.

“The ATA has also urged the Government to press ahead with implementing the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy, and particularly low-cost, highimpact initiatives at passive level crossings,” Mathew finished.

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new report from Climateworks Centre finds that Australia would be on track to cut more than half of freight emissions by implementing already available solutions in short-haul road freight.

International trends, technology shifts and national momentum show that it is time to move past thinking of freight as ‘hard to abate’. Solutions are available now to decarbonise short-haul freight and technology solutions for long-haul freight are not far away.

The report, ‘Delivering freight decarbonisation: Strategies for reducing Australia’s transport emissions’, shows that road freight is responsible for the vast majority of Australia’s freight emissions.

And decarbonising road freight would

small-medium businesses, drivers and operators in the freight and logistics business,” said Dechen Dolker, a Project Manager on the Climateworks Cities team and the report’s lead author.

The report also highlights ways government can support industry through a period of short-term technological uncertainty and adoption.

This is needed to decarbonise long-haul road freight where technology is not market-ready. Government can conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis across different fuels, technologies and modes to find the solutions that work best in the Australian context.

This report surveys the landscape of freight policy in Australia and globally amongst similar economies;

The report also highlights ways government can support industry through a period of short-term technological uncertainty and adoption go a long way in helping Australia achieve its current climate targets.

Given current trends, road freight is likely to pick up much of the freight growth in coming years. If there is no change to the way road freight is carried across the country, growing freight activity will lead to an absolute increase in emissions. This would likely pose a major challenge to Australia achieving its climate targets.

Climateworks recommends a twopronged approach to cut emissions in road freight. First, implement the opportunities and solutions that are already available in short-haul freight.

And second, take actions now that enable a smoother transition towards emerging solutions and scale existing solutions in long-haul freight.

“By implementing the solutions for short haul now and planning for long haul decarbonisation, it is possible to not only make a significant headway on reducing transport emissions but also make the transition more just and equitable for the thousands of

it identifies policies and opportunities to decarbonise the sector. The report puts forward eight recommendations for government with solutions that go well beyond zero-emissions trucks.

There have been efforts to decarbonise freight in Australia for some time. Now, given global momentum, there is an opportunity to build on past efforts and to develop a coordinated, national approach to freight decarbonisation.

“Freight will be an important component of Australia’s overall transport decarbonisation strategy and implementing solutions, many of them available now, will help companies and industries that rely on freight operate more efficiently; and it will help Australia meet its climate targets and commitments,” said Helen Rowe who leads Climateworks’ transport program.

“Putting decarbonisation at the heart of national and state transport strategies would kick-start emissions reduction in freight and provide greater certainty across the freight sector,” said Helen.

Over to you

Outback Graves

By TREVOR & SUE TROUGH

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e are home safely after our epic Outback Graves trip of 7,500 kilometres and placing 238 plaques across 45 properties. We went up as far as Pardoo Station, which is north of Port Hedland, where we marked the grave of Andrew Feely, a foreman on the job of building the rabbit proof fence. He died in 1906.

The grave is isolated and about 20 kilometres in from the main highway.

We have now marked more than 2,700 graves across Western Australia -many are in lonely places, like this one.

Along the way, we found lots of old trucks and spent time exploring the vehicle graveyards on the stations.

Plenty of treasures to be found.

The three Fodens are at Yanrey Station, near Onslow. Gascoyne Trading and plenty of earthmovers used these Fodens, racing across the landscape at 38 mph. The Mercedes is parked at Mundiwindi, an old Telecom installation, now abandoned on Weelarrana Station, south east of Newman. A tree had time to grow up between the cab and the bulbar and eventually just gave up the struggle.

WATM • November 2023

23

History

The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry

By Russell McKinnon

sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

T

he May 5 Board of Management Meeting heard a request to employ a Business Development Manager in a further effort to expand the training as the main source of revenue for the Forum.

There was also a need to hire a receptionist so that other staff could be freed to backfill training courses.

A Centre of Excellence paper was produced by the Training Committee at the June 16 Board of Management Meeting.

The idea was to sell 37 Cohn Street, use the money to construct new various buildings with the Government fronting up with the land. The issue of the Government matching dollar for dollar was an attractive proposition. Chairman Derek Nathan noted it was crucial to have a vision to sell to the various governments and departments. A sum of $10,000 was allocated in the budget to source a vision for the proposal. At the July 29 Board of Management Meeting, it was reported that there was to be a meeting with architects the following day regarding a visual concept for the centre.

Liberal Party Leader Colin Barnett attended the School Bus Division Annual General Meeting at the Ascot Inn on July 13

24

WATM • November 2023

and spoke to the assembly. When elected to Government, he said Liberal would: • Provide flexibility and encourage input of community regarding routes and spur lines; • Provide an option for a five-year rolling contract; • Strike out punitive provisions on the contract; • Appoint an independent arbiter.

Minister for Transport Alannah MacTiernan followed and she offered: • Some contractors are still angry and do not accept the Government’s position; • Contractors are providing safe, firstclass service and the Government is committed to that service; • Her Government had committed an extra $11 million to the service since the 2002-03 financial year; • Perpetuity was no longer acceptable to the Government in this day and age; • CRM gives substantial increases to operators; • Minister happy to bring the R & M review forward 12 months to 2005; She could in no way match some of

the offers made by the Leader of the Opposition.

Chairman Max O’Dea made his last (and eighth) report to the meeting, and was scathing in his comments about politicians.

He urged if members wished a change then to attend polling booths in their droves.

He said he would help the new Chairman settle in and continue to work with Wally Gargano “to continue negotiations with the Coalition to strike those elements of the contract we see as punitive, not benefiting school bus transport” and that he was prepared to work as the coordinator for the push towards being an effective lobby group for the next elections if that is what the Division wants. This elicited a standing ovation and cries of “When was he standing for Parliament!”

Lloyd Shepherdson took over the Chairmanship with Ian Harrower slipping into the Vice-Chairman seat.

Eric Schmidt was retiring from the industry and Max O’Dea made a presentation to him for his 29 years and four months of service, including a long stint as zone representative on the committee. Max, in turn, was presented with gifts from Forum Chairman Derek Nathan and outgoing School Bus Division Vice-Chairman Phil Spencer on behalf of past and present members.

The July 29 Board of Management Meeting was told, “only members could drive through the entry gate (unless it is closed)”. Much of that meeting was taken up with the Forum’s stance ahead of the forthcoming State election.

Navinder Singh joined the Forum in mid July as the Business Development Manager.

His task was to increase membership and promote training and new courses.

Board of Management member Glen Sterle was elected to the Federal Senate, it was advised at the November 4 meeting.

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WATM • November 2023