Big Rigs 15 April 2022 by Prime Creative Media

FRIDAY, April 15, 2022

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2 BUDGET 2022-23 CONTACT US Address: 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Phone: 03 9690 8766 Email: editor@bigrigs.com.au Web: bigrigs.com.au Accounts: 03 9690 8766 Subscriptions: 03 9690 8766 Classifieds: 0403 626 353 Circulation and distribution queries: 03 9690 8766 info@bigrigs.com.au EDITOR James Graham: 0478 546 462 james.graham@primecreative.com.au REPORTER Danielle Gullaci danielle.gullaci@primecreative.com.au GENERAL MANAGER Peter Hockings: 0410 334 371 peter.hockings@primecreative.com.au MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT Marie O’Reilly: 0403 626 353 marie.oreilly@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS Katharine Causer: 0423 055 787 katharine.causer@primecreative. com.au CONTRIBUTORS Truckin in the Topics/Spy on the Road: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 Brent Davison; David Vile; David Meredith; Mike Williams; Jon Wallis Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. It is the largest circulated fortnightly truck publication in Australia with 26,023* copies per fortnight. *12 month average, publisher’s claim November 2018

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Warning to truckies

BY JAMES GRAHAM

IT was one of the toughest phone calls truckie bookkeeper Jackie McPherson can recall making in recent years. McPherson had to explain to an owner-operator that although Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was boasting on budget night of a 22.1c per litre fuel saving in fuel excise for the next six months, there was nothing for truckies to celebrate. That’s because the reduction wipes out truckies’ ability to claim any Fuel Tax Credits (FTCs) for the same period. The FTC is the difference between the usual excise rate of 44.2 cents per litre (cpl) and the road user charge (RUC) for heavy vehicles of 26.4 cents per litre. Like truckies and operators all around Australia, McPherson’s client used to rely on that rebate of 17.8 cents to pay his quarterly Business Activity Statements (BAS), and was gobsmacked to discover that option now off the table. “He’s one of my guys who had been contemplating parking up for a while and when I told him that, he said, ‘Nah, I’m pretty much done. This is becoming all too hard, and all too expensive’,” said Mel-

The federal government says the industry is still ahead after the excise cut. Graphic: QTA

bourne-based McPherson. “He did a job recently in which he had to go to Victoria and by the time he paid fuel and sat there and looked at the rate versus what it cost him to work that day, he made $150 after working nine hours. “If he was just working locally it’s not so bad, he’d make more money, but that rate of pay isn’t worth getting out of bed for.” McPherson fears for truckies’ futures, and doesn’t buy the budget night line that drivers now have a net gain of 4 cents per litre – 26.4 cpl (RUC) less 22.1 (current

excise). “Even if I save my 22 cents at the bowser, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to take it home and pocket it and put it aside for my BAS.” “You’re already out of pocket buying fuel because diesel is so damn expensive now.” McPherson is just grateful that her truckie husband Tyne McPherson no longer runs more than one truck as a subbie for McColl’s. “Even now, we’re starting to look at getting rid of the last truck and getting him into paid work and make it someone else’s headache, be-

cause it is just a headache, and no one seems to be listening.” Another experienced husband-and-wife team from Queensland, Steve and Cathy, told Big Rigs that the news that FTCs will be on hold for the next six months is “close to the last straw” for their two-truck operation they’ve run for the last 16 years. “The federal government until now has done a good job getting small business through the pandemic but ScoMo has really hurt us with this one,” said Cathy, who was hoping to hand over the business reins one day to her 22-yearold truckie son.

“The funny thing is, that it was probably a very smart move on his part to reduce the FTC – 80 per cent of people don’t even know about it (they only see the bottom line at the petrol stations). “But if the federal government doesn’t reverse this decision, they will have no trucks left on the road. “No FTC, no money to repair and maintain the trucks! This will create more pressure and stress on the small (and even larger) truck businesses of Australia. “All we ask for is a bit of support and understanding. Don’t crucify us – we work damn hard to put food on the table for all Australians.” Steve Shearer, executive director of South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA), said the association had been ringing warning bells for years when it became apparent that the gap between the RUC and fuel excise would keep shrinking. “We said to charge more for your freight and put money aside to cover your BAS because one day you’re not going to have the diesel fuel credit,” said Shearer. “But people tend not to heed these things until they’re standing on the cliff ’s edge. “The reason we’re making so much noise now is that

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BUDGET 2022-23 3

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

after fuel excise cut

NatRoad CEO Warren Clark.

we’d prefer the government to listen to us and act before we’ve got the calamity of hundreds of truck companies going broke.” Shearer said that unless the government reduces the RUC by the same amount as fuel excise, thereby preserving the tax credits. He doesn’t think many operators have much hope of staring down customers and passing on increased fuel costs that way. “The only thing that’s certain is that companies can’t just absorb this money [the loss of FTCs]. “That money has to be replaced or companies will go broke: it’s simple arithmetic.” Shearer said SARTA is now lobbying hard at a federal level alongside the Australian Trucking Association for a

solution. “In my 30 years, the most united I’ve seen the trucking industry was when the RSRT debacle came to a head in 2016: that will be matched by this. “A lot of people in the industry haven’t woken up yet. But the industry will very quickly wake up and it will be the number one issue Australia-wide, and they will be united. “This will affect every single truck operator to the same degree. The dollar amount for the guy with two trucks might be a lot less than the dollar amount for the guy with 30 trucks, but the impact and proportion within their business is exactly the same.” Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon believes it would be a fair call to reduce the RUC for the road freight industry by 50 per cent, the same that Treasurer Josh Frydenberg did for the general motorist at the pumps. That would take the RUC down to 13.2 cents per litre, which would then reintroduce FTC of 8.9 cents per litre for the next six months. “There’s a 50 per cent reduction for the general motorist, why not a 50 per cent reduction for road freight? said Mahon.

“That way, I think it simplifies the understanding.” Warren Clark, CEO of the National Road Transport Association, said his members had flooded his office with complaints since the association raised concerns about the industry ramifications the day after the Budget was brought down. “It is the strong view of NatRoad that the Morrison government has erred significantly in its removal of the Fuel Tax Rebate,” Clark said. “Most truck operators are small businesses and they can’t afford this. “If the Budget measure proceeds in its current form, it will have devastating outcomes for road freight operators who are already reeling under the weight of issues like driver shortages, supply chain difficulties and cost pressures. “Removing the rebate is invisible to a customer and there is already significant pushback when an operator tries to pass on its loss. “The Government must remember that transport costs are a significant driver of increases in the cost of living and that this impacts on thousands of businesses.” Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) candidate for Herbert, Clynton Hawks, a truckie

himself, described the budget’s failure to scale back road user charges in line with cuts in fuel excise as a kick in the guts to an industry already on its knees. With fuel prices falling as

a result of the excise cut, customers will assume the fuel levy will fall as well. “And heaven help us if the oil companies decide to pocket that 20 cents a litre instead of passing it along to vehicle

operators,” said Hawks. “The bottom line is that the excise cut brings no relief to trucking operators, and if anything has made making a buck in that business even harder.”

Truckies say the savings at the bowser won’t flow through to their bottom line.

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4 BUDGET 2022-23

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

$17.9 billion for rail

THE latest Federal Budget has seen a $17.9 billion commitment towards priority rail and road projects across the country. It forms part of a $120 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline. Major projects included in the latest funding announcement are $3.1 billion for the Melbourne Intermodal Terminals and related infrastructure, and $3.7 billion for faster rail projects in NSW and Queensland. An additional $880 million will go towards the Roads of

Strategic Importance initiative, $385.4 million for the Northern Australia Roads Program and $150 million for the Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program. A pot of over $500 million will also go to local councils to maintain and deliver priority road and community infrastructure projects. Here’s how each state and territory fared.

New South Wales The state has received a further $3.6 billion for infrastructure

in this budget, with the lion’s share of $1 billion going towards the Sydney to Newcastle – (Tuggerah to Wyong) faster rail upgrade. On the roads, the Pacific Highway in Wyong will receive $336 million from the Federal Government, with extra funding from NSW bringing that figure up to a total of $420 million. The upgrades will include two lanes in each direction between Johnson Road at Tuggerah and Cutler Drive at Wyong, and the Wyong River road bridge will be replaced

with two new road bridges.

Other key new projects include: • $264 million for the Newell Highway Upgrade – Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrades – North Moree. • $232.5 million for Mulgoa Road Stage 2 – Glenmore Parkway to Jeanette Street, Stage 5A Blaikie Road to Jamison Road and Stage 5B Jamison Road to Union Road. • $100 million for the Southern Connector Road, Jind-

$2.3 billion has been dedicated to the North-South Corridor, from Darlington to Anzac Highway in SA. Photo: SA Government

abyne. • $95.6 million for the Picton Bypass and Picton Road – Planning. • $77.5 million for a business case for Stage 2 of the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line. Additional funding has also been allocated to the following existing projects: • $352 million for the Milton Ulladulla Bypass. • $300 million for the Grade Separating Road Interfaces. • $65 million for the M5 Motorway – Moorebank Avenue – Hume Highway Intersection Upgrade.

Hume Highway’s Sheahan Bridge at Gundagai has also been given funding, though at this stage it’s just for planning purposes, rather than action. In the budget, $16 million was committed and a further $4 million has been chipped in by the NSW Government. The major bridge between Sydney and Melbourne was built in 1977 and high productivity vehicles over 30 metres can’t cross northbound without a permit. Though Road Freight NSW CEO Simon O’Hara welcomed funding for the bridge along this key freight route, he says much more is needed.

“Forty per cent of Australia’s freight transits over this bridge. “The $20 million for Sheahan Bridge for planning is a well-funded step in the right direction,” he said. “But more needs to be done in terms of concrete action in terms of actual upgrades to ensure that productivity can be increased for operators and the supply chain.” Victoria In Victoria, $3.5 billion has been allocated. Among this is $3.1 billion in new commitments to deliver the $3.6 billion Melbourne Intermodal Terminal Package, which includes: • $1.2 billion for the Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal in Beveridge, taking the total investment to $1.62 billion. • $280 million for Road Connections, including Camerons Lane Interchange, to the Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal. • $740 million for the Western Interstate Freight Terminal in Truganina. • $920 million for the Outer Metropolitan Ring - South Rail connection to the Western Interstate Freight Terminal. • $109.5 million for the Mickleham Road Upgrade.

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and road projects

The Budget also includes additional funding for existing projects that include: • $45 million for the Ballarat to Ouyen – Future Priorities. • $23.1 million for the Canterbury Road Upgrade.

Queensland Queensland has pocketed $4.4 billion towards infrastructure projects in this Budget. Among the new projects being funded are: • $396 million for the South East Queensland City Deal. • $27.2 million for three business cases for upgrades on the Bruce Highway between Anzac Avenue and Caboolture Bribie Island Road. • $22.5 million for Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032 business case development. • $20 million for safety upgrades on the Brisbane Valley Highway. Additional funding for existing projects and Roads of Strategic Importance corridors are: • $68.5 million for the Cooktown to Weipa Corridor Upgrade (total Australian Government funding $258.5 million). • $11.5 million for the Tennant Creek to Townsville Corridor Upgrade (total Australian Government funding $211.5

million). Western Australia Western Australia will receive $2.3 billion for infrastructure projects, including $320 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (Stages 2 and 3), $200 million for the Tonkin Highway Stage 3 Extension and $178 million for the Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation (Stages 1 and 2).

Among the key new projects receiving funding are: • 145 million for the Thomas Road Dual Carriageway – South Western Highway to Tonkin Highway and interchange at Tonkin Highway. • $140 million for Regional Road Safety Upgrades. • $50 million for the Tonkin Highway – North Ellenbrook Interchange. • $48 million for the Moorine Rock to Mt Holland Road Upgrades. • $40 million for the Newman to Katherine Corridor Upgrade - Great Northern Highway Upgrade – Newman to Port Hedland Overtaking Lanes. Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny said the investment in the state’s transport infrastructure was welcomed, particularly works

• $40 million in additional funding for the Horrocks Highway Corridor. • $20 million in additional funding for the Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive Intersection Upgrade. • $16 million for the Main South Road Productivity Package.

An additional $400m will be allocated to seal the Outback Way.

to the Bunbury Outer Ring Road and the commitment to regional road safety. “The $140 million for regional road safety is primarily about sealing shoulders and putting audible markers on the fog line,” he said. “We also particularly welcomed the $400 million to seal the WA side of the Tanami Road, subject to the business case. “But whilst infrastructure is welcomed we remain concerned at the lack of focus on productivity improvements unrelated to infrastructure.” An additional $400 million has also been allocated to seal

Outback Way. Known as ‘Australia’s longest short-cut’, the 2720 kilometre key freight route will be fully sealed as part of a major $678 million project. Outback Way links Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia by road. The Australian Government has committed the $400 million spend to complete the 872km seal through Western Australia, with the WA Government committing a further $100 million towards the project. South Australia A total of $2.9 billion will go towards infrastructure projects

in SA, with a massive chunk of that ($2.3 billion) dedicated to the North-South Corridor, from Darlington to Anzac Highway. Other key spend includes: • $200 million for Marion Road – Anzac Highway to Cross Road. • $120 million for the Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package. • $60 million for the South East Freeway Managed Motorways – Stage 2. • $60 million for the Targeted Investments to Improve National Supply Chain Resilience.

On the budget announcements, Steve Shearer, executive director of South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA), said, “We’re not jumping up and down with joy but we’re not running around screaming in anger either. I think the fundamentals that we anticipated are there. Finishing the North-South Corridor is critical. “We’re sitting down with the new Minister for Transport Tom Koutsantonis and are also in close contact with the new SA Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, who was the most recent Labor Minister for Transport here, plus new Premier Peter Malinauskas, so we’ll be having some serious talks with them once they’ve got their head around the budgetary position in South Australia,” he added. Continued page 6

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Big boost for NT industry From page 5 “Everybody wants to get us off the South-East Freeway and on to a road behind the hills, and that will only happen if we’ve got a really good road that enables the extra 115km involved to be travelled at a decent speed in high gear, otherwise we’ll suck up so much fuel it just won’t be worth it.” Tasmania The Budget reveals a commitment of $662.2 million towards Tasmanian infrastructure projects. Among the key new projects are: • $336 million for the Tasma-

nian Roads Package – Northern Roads Package (Stage 2). • $100 million for the Great Eastern Drive Tourism Support – additional packages. • $56 million for the Tasmanian Roads Package – Tasman Highway Sideling Upgrade (Stage 2). • $24 million for the Bell Bay Line – Reconnection to the Bell Bay Wharf. • $13.5 million for the Hobart - Northern Transit Corridor Solution.

NT The Northern Territory will receive $538.7 million towards infrastructure projects, among them are two new projects:

$132 million for Central Australian Tourism Roads and $55 million for the Tiger Brennan Drive/Berrimah Road Intersection Upgrade. Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said this investment would support sustainable growth across the NT. “Our government has a strong track record in delivering infrastructure that improves connections, reduces congestion and helps keep Australians moving, particularly across our fast-growing urban centres,” he said. Additional money has also

been committed to these existing projects: • An extra $50 million for the Alice Springs to Halls Creek Corridor Upgrade. • An extra $124 million for Outback Way. Other NT projects to be funded include: • Arnhem Highway — Adelaide River Floodplain Upgrade $62 million. • Buntine Highway Road upgrading project $39 million. • Mango Industry Roads Upgrade $15 million.

ACT A total of $59.5 million towards ACT infrastructure projects. Key new projects

to be funded in the 2022–23 Budget are: • $46.7 million for the Athllon Drive Duplication. • $2.8 million for the Kent Street and Novar Street Intersection Upgrades. • $1.5 million for the Inner Canberra Corridor Planning Package.

“By enhancing transport connectivity, we’re strengthening our supply chains against challenges such as Covid-related disruptions and the impact of natural disasters. This gives businesses and consumers the confidence and certainty they need in uncertain times,” said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Athllon Drive receives 14,000 vehicle movements per day. Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said, “This funding comes on top of more than $2.1 billion in infrastructure commitments by the Liberal-National Government in the ACT in recent years – the largest investment in Canberra in a generation. “This includes the $115 million Monaro Highway upgrades, $51 million for the Tuggeranong Parkway, $26.5 million for the duplication of William-Hovell Drive, the $500 million redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial, and $137 million for upgrades to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.”

$268 million for bypass on major NSW freight route

AIMING to slash travel times for truckies using the route, the Australian Government has committed $268.8 million for the Muswellbrook bypass on the New England Highway. Construction is due to start in early 2023 and it should be completed by late 2027. Between 11,000 and 20,000 vehicles pass through Muswellbrook every day, with about 13 per cent of this traffic being heavy vehicles. “The Hunter region is home to some of our most

valuable commodities. Building the Muswellbrook bypass will ensure these products continue flowing smoothly and safely to our ports,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce. “The sooner our valuable commodities are loaded onto boats and sent overseas, the sooner we get paid and the stronger we become. That is why we are investing in this critical transport route.” NSW Minister for Re-

gional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway explained what the works will entail. “We will upgrade the currently predominately two-lane road, improving trip times and safety by avoiding numerous intersections, varying speed limits and nearby buildings with minimal setback from the road,” he said. “The Muswellbrook bypass will lower costs for business and bolster our supply chains by improving travel times for long-haul freight movements thanks

to a free-flowing, 100-kilometre-per-hour alternative route.” Australian Government funding for the bypass is part of the new Energy Security and Regional Development Plan, which will see the Government invest $750 million in the Hunter to transform the region into a next generation export hub. The NSW Government will contribute a further $67.2 million towards the project in an 80:20 funding split.

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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Labor commits $80 million for rest areas if in power

A Labor government will invest $80 million to build new and upgraded rest areas for truckies if it wins the federal election next month. In the first industry-specific policy announcement from the opposition, Labor said the rest areas would be built and designed after close consultation with truckies, rather than relying on associations and government agencies for input. “I want the truckies to tell us where they want the trucks bays and what they expect in the bays,” said WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle, also the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety. “I can’t think of any way better to deliver the outcomes that we want to achieve than by talking to the men and women who use them. “With the greatest of respect of our mates who represent the associations, they’re not truck drivers so wholly and solely, this is the domain of truck drivers and truck drivers only.” Sterle, a former truckie himself, said the rest area issue was one of the main discussion points to come out of his wide-sweeping Senate inquiry. “It was one of those ones that

was loud and clear, in fact to the point that others are starting to jump on board to the bandwagon talking about rest areas, but sadly there is nothing in the budget for them.” Sterle also told Big Rigs that the $80m will be delivered “straight up”, not over three or four years and be part of Labor’s first budget expected to be announced in November, should they win next month’s federal election. Sterle said early costings reveal that it would take $5m to deliver new road train assembly areas, with toilets and showers. “If the state-of-the-art is $5m, this will still build 16 state-of-the-art rest areas we don’t have, strategically placed on freight routes where we have the traffic.” In a joint statement with Sterle, Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, said she had nothing but total respect for Australia’s truck drivers. “Day in, day out they travel across our continent to keep our economy moving,” said King. “Providing quality rest areas is the least we can do to support

[l-r] Former truckie Glenn Sterle is joined by fellow WA Senator Zaneta Mascarenhas and Shadow Transport Minister Catherine King at the rest area announcement. Photo: Glenn Sterle/Facebook

this essential workforce. “A well-rested truck driver is a safe truck driver. That’s why an Albanese Labor government will work with the industry to deliver truckies the facilities they need.” The National Road Transport Association says the $80m Labor pledge is welcome, but more needs to be done by all levels of government to alleviate driver fatigue.

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NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says his organisation agrees with the industry view that existing funding programs for rest areas are “woefully insufficient”. “The Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) is one of the Australian government’s main programs for funding rest areas and an industry analysis shows it is running at an an-

nual spend of about only $5.5 million,” Clark said. “The whole national network needs to be thoroughly audited. “You can’t have a world class road freight system unless you have strategically placed, world class rest areas.” Clark said any commitment over and above current funding was welcome. “It’s NatRoad’s strong view

that federal road grants to the states and territories need to be tied to upgrading and building truck rest areas,” Clark said. “All current and proposed rest areas should all be graded in accordance with the 2019 Austroads’ Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Facilities and a plan put in place by governments for upgrading amenities and facilities.”

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8 EVENT PREVIEW

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckies ditch work diary under new law proposal

WORK diaries would be abolished if the Australia Trucking Association’s draft Road Transport Act policy becomes law. Under the draft paper, expected to be the one of the hottest topics of discussion at the Trucking Australia 2022 conference on the Gold Coast next month, the ATA is instead proposing that every business operating trucks would need to address driver fatigue in its safety management system (SMS). It’s just one of several radical new ideas being put forward as the ATA pushes to “break the stalemate” in the National Transport Commission’s long-winded review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). ATA chair David Smith says the NTC’s increasingly disappointing HVNL review has been a circus. “Since 2018, there have been endless papers, meetings, submissions and consultancies: everything except trapeze artists and clowns,”

Truckies can say goodbye to the logbook under the new law proposal.

said Smith. “And it has achieved nothing. “Our draft Road Transport Act sets out positive changes. It would be a Commonwealth Act, not a co operative national scheme, so the law would be the same for all the states and territories that agreed

to participate.” Although every business would need a SMS, the ATA says only some would need to be certified. The ATA’s fatigue management regulations would set out maximum work hours for non-certified businesses. Certified businesses could

exceed that level with appropriate risk controls. Businesses would be required to keep records of driver work hours. They would not need to use official work diaries. Minor fatigue/ work diary offences would be eliminated. Long-term fitness for duty

would be handled through the licensing system. All heavy vehicle drivers would be required to have regular medicals against fit for purpose medical standards. Smith said the new Road Transport Act would also dramatically boost the industry’s productivity. It would define vehicle access on the National Land Transport Network to include combinations up to 53.5 metres. The act would also replace the permit system. “Off the national network, access would be managed through an automated notice system based on the successful Tasmanian model. “Operators would be able to check their access 24/7. The system would match each vehicle’s configuration to the network assets on the vehicle’s possible routes. Operators would generally be able to use an available route without needing a permit. “PBS vehicles would be handled the same way. The

number of access permits would be reduced by at least 95 per cent.” Under the proposed national law revamp, the Act would have generic provisions enabling the national regulator – renamed as the Australian Heavy Vehicle Regulator – to issue type approvals for certified technology and data systems. Evidence from a certified system would be deemed accurate. Transitioning from the HVNL to a Commonwealth law would also enable heavy vehicle plates to become truly national, says the ATA. “The inconsistencies in the current scheme would be eliminated, and heavy vehicle registrations would be exempt from stamp duty.” Other changes include transferring the development of heavy vehicle policy and legislation from the NTC to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

How to stay on top of the fuel tax credit changes FUEL TAX EXPERT ANTHONY HARMER Ryan Tax Services Senior Director

AS fuel prices continue to rise the federal government, in its FY23 Budget, responded by temporarily reducing fuel excise from 44.2 to 22.1 cents per litre. The big winner from these measures is the public who, as long as the fuel companies pass

on the full reduction, will save the full 22.1 cents per litre on the price they pay at the pump. This is not surprising given that the federal government would have been looking to appease voters in the run up to the federal election. One of the, perhaps, unintended consequences of the change is its impact on the road transport industry and the way operators claim Fuel Tax Credits (FTCs). Since 2006, when the fuel tax regime in its current form was enacted, the way transport operators claim FTCs hasn’t changed. Although the rate changes

periodically, broadly speaking around 44 cents of excise or ‘fuel tax’ per litre is paid at the pump and a FTC of around 17 cents per litre is claimed through the Business Activity Statement (BAS). The difference between the 44 cent tax and the 17 cent credit is the Road User Charge (RUC), which is a cost borne by heavy vehicles for the increased wear and tear on public roads. The Budget changes reduce the excise on every litre of fuel from 44.2 cents to 22.1 cents per litre. Transport operators are still entitled to this credit. However, because the RUC is currently 26.4 cents per litre

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and fuel tax paid has been reduced to 22.1 cents per litre, the amount claimed in the BAS is reduced to nil. This is still a boon to the industry as the RUC is effectively reduced by 4.3 cents per litre, which should make its way back to the bottom-line. Fuel used in your heavy vehicles whilst ‘off-road’ and to power ‘auxiliary equipment’ (think ice packs, fridge vans and anything powered by a PTO) is still entitled to a full FTC. However, this is reduced to the amount of the fuel tax, being 22.1 cents per litre, while the temporary measures are in place.

There are a number of practical challenges to navigate in respect of your FTCs in the coming weeks. Operators with bulk tanks should exercise caution when completing their March and April 2022 claims, due to the fuel already in those tanks being eligible to the full FTC rate to the extent it was purchased prior to midnight on March 31. Operators who purchase fuel from bowsers will be worse off in the first few weeks of the measures where the reduced fuel tax has not yet made its way to the pumps, but the fuel tax credit has to be claimed at the lower rate.

Now is a good time to get on top of all of your FTCs and ensure you’re claiming your full entitlements.

This could cost operators up to $100 per vehicle per week short term. We have raised this issue with the ATO and will

EVENT PREVIEW 9

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

How will the transition to zero emissions impact you? ATA CHAIR DAVID SMITH Australian Trucking Association

AS we head towards a federal election, both sides of politics have a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. While this is important for climate and environmental reasons, what does this commitment mean for trucking and what does it mean for your business? What you won’t hear from politicians in this election campaign is it means we need a plan to get to 100 per cent of truck sales being zero emissions by 2040. Politicians trying to avoid admitting this won’t make it go away and it will leave industry unprepared for the future. Do you know how the transition away from diesel will impact your business? The global memorandum provide an update should any measures be taken. These Budget changes come at a time when many road transport operators feel that the FTC regime is getting too complex and becoming more hassle than it should. The ATO continues to challenge the validity of calculations in respect of off-road usage, certain auxiliary equipment and calculations in general. We understand the frustration. However, the FTC regime remains a valuable mechanism to reduce costs for road transport and regular reviews of the FTC calculation process can help avoid any unexpected surprises with the ATO. With these new temporary changes, now is a good time to

of understanding on zero emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles sets out an ambition of 100 per cent zero emission new truck and bus sales by 2040, with an interim goal of 30 per cent by 2030. The ATA has endorsed this ambition, because we need to drive the policy changes to enable trucking businesses to move to zero emissions without going out of business. If we don’t get to work on enabling operators to make the zero emissions transition in a way that works for their business, we risk having it forced on industry as governments realise their climate goals won’t be achieved. Forced change risks higher taxes, and higher taxes risks putting operators out of business instead of enabling a zero emissions transition. This transition will not be uniform – both electrification and green hydrogen will play critical roles. Electricity is already cheaper than diesel to power trucks and is likely to play a significant role for urban

get on top of all of your FTCs and ensure you’re claiming your full entitlements, and no more. We also understand that these changes are complex, and are always happy for industry members to get in touch with any questions they may have. Feel free to contact me via this publication, LinkedIn, or directly. Anthony.Harmer@ryan. com 0423 166 829 Session: Fuel Tax: Get your Full Entitlement! When: May 5, 2:303.15pm Speakers: Anthony Harmer and Christ Sant, Ryan Tax Services

freight. Hydrogen has significant potential for longer haul and heavier haulage transport tasks. Do you know which technology will better suit your operations? Industry will drive the transition, but operators need to begin planning now for how they will position their business to take advantage of the opportunities from the transition. What happens if your trucking competitor is no longer reliant on diesel prices, but it is still making up a large slice of your cost base? Zero emission trucks can end the reliance of trucking on the volatile price of diesel, which never seem to stop from going up and up. Over the next 18 years the trucking industry will undergo the transition to zero emissions, with far-reaching impacts that go beyond not just the energy source that powers our trucks. Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks hold significant potential for lower energy costs, lower maintenance costs,

improved fuel security and the end of urban truck curfews. But how will the transition to zero emissions impact you? At Trucking Australia 2022, our plenary session on the transition to zero emissions will feature industry leaders Volvo, Toll Group and BP on how the transition will occur and what it will look like. They’ll discuss when zero emission trucks will be available, when they will likely be

Other key sessions:

places, in our regions and in our cities, is key to enabling a more productive trucking industry and ensuring Australians are connected to jobs, services and goods. In this interactive discussion industry leaders will discuss how we can build road infrastructure for the 21st century.

skills leaders, the focus will be on short- and longterm solutions. Truck driver apprenticeships, training of existing license holders to create a truckie reserve army solution and cutting red-tape visa requirements for refugees are all solutions to help plug the skills gaps across the industry.

Solving the Skills Shortage When: May 5, 2.30-3.15pm Speakers: Cam Dumesny, Paul Walsh, Gary Mahon, Julie Russell In this session with industry

Better Access When: May 6, 11.15am-12.15pm Speakers: Michelle Harwood, Mark Crossling, Angela Welsh, Bob Woodward

Road infrastructure for the 21st Century When: May 5, 11.45am-12.30pm Speakers: Priscilla Radice, Liz Schmidt, Gary Mahon, Jillian Whiting, David Smith Roads are the arteries and bridges are the fuses in the network which keep Australia and the trucking industry moving. But industry experience – and countless reports – show that we need a better road network. Building the right infrastructure, in the right

trucking operators. We’ll have a closer look at the ground-breaking joint report from the ATA and Electric Vehicle Council on electric trucks. If your business plans to be around for the future, the time to start planning for the zero emissions transition has arrived. At Trucking Australia 2022 you can begin that planning as we hear from industry leaders on how the transition to zero emissions will occur.

Electricity is already cheaper than diesel to power trucks and is likely to play a significant role for urban freight.

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cost-competitive, what zero emission trucks can do and the potential application of alternative energy sources across sectors and over time. These are the key questions about how this transition will impact your business. Because this issue is so critical to the future of our industry, a second concurrent session will dig further into how we enable the transition, including key barriers and opportunities for

The heavy vehicle road access approval system is broken. Trucking operators are being forced to lodge multiple applications for freight routes which have been repeatedly assessed as suitable. The productivity outcomes from better access have been talked about for a decade – but with limited gains actually being delivered. In this session, delegates will have the opportunity to hear about past successful access reforms in Tasmania and SA and have your say on what needs fixing.

10 OPINION

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckies snubbed again

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

IF the budget botch-up doesn’t convince you it might be time to give a new government a go next month, I don’t know what will. After this industry literally carried the country through the pandemic, what did we get in return? An absolute kick in the guts, that’s what. While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was winning over motorists by halving the excise for six months, he conveniently buried the fact he was effectively killing off fuel tax credits (FTCs) for the same period. Many operators around the country, big and small, won’t even be aware of just how serious an impact that decision will have until they come to file their BAS and find the FTCs they have counted on for so long to balance the books are no longer there. With leadership like this, it’s no wonder guys are parking up.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Drivers should be able to control fatigue under self-regulating plan The latest Australian Trucking Association attempt to have transport companies control industry is ludicrous and inane and must be ignored [see page 8]. The first thing companies would do is demand every one work on 17-hour days. Below are some points I made in a submission to the

Senate enquiry and if removed from national heavy vehicle law (NHVL) would assist in keeping experienced drivers on the road. Drivers and operators should be able to submit to the NHVR the following self-regulating plan under standard hours: • AFM hour law should be re-

scinded • W ork on a 12-hour driving in 24hrs of time starting work. That leaves 12 hours of rest. • Grass root drivers are of the view that the mandatory minimum rest time should be no more than 4 hours, with a further 2 hours minimum at the driver’s discretion after

any 4 hours of driving time. • T he remaining 6 hours of rest be at the driver’s discretion for that 24-hour period. The 72 hours a week rule doesn’t change. Drivers are consistent in the view that all work time should not exceed 6 days per week and 12-hour days.

Some drivers say that 2 hours extra each on alternate days are needed to work time (not driving time). Would this be under BFM? Seven hours of continuous rest per day is the prescriptive time that most drivers are objecting to as it’s hard to comply with, and that this is the current pro-

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vision causing truck accidents and driver deaths. NHVL 2.0 states by inference: if industry want changes it will need to adopt electronics. This is blackmail and not in the interests of driver safety. [Ed’s note: This letter has been edited to fit space] Jerry Brown-Sarre

NEWS 11

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Inland hwy, bridges and training top QTA priorities

QTA CEO Gary Mahon.

FOUR key pillars should be the focus for whichever party wins the federal election next month, says the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA). In a detailed election blueprint summary titled The Future of Road Freight, the QTA argues that Australian government priorities must be infrastructure investment, industry-led skills training, workplace relations reform and business and payroll tax reforms. A further push to advance the Queensland Inland Freight

Route (IFR) as a viable, safe alternative to the flood-prone Bruce Highway remains a key message. Identified highways that would form the 1200km route from Mungindi to Charters Towers include the Castlereagh, Carnarvon, Dawson, Gregory, and Flinders, with the Gregory Development Road also part of the plan. The QTA says the IFR could help promote more use of more high productivity vehicles, reducing congestion on the Bruce and help shave more than 10 per cent off driving times from Far North Queensland to Sydney and Melbourne. Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce recently announced a further $400 million commitment to the IFR, in addition to the $400m allocated in the previous federal budget. In other infrastructure priorities, the QTA’s blueprint also calls for more investment in state bridges and has highlighted 11 it says must be replaced or upgraded in the next five years. They are: Rifle Creek, Spear Creek, McLeod River,

Bungil Creek Bridge Roma, Gilbert River, Norman River, Georgetown Bridge-Etheridge River Bridge, Splinter Creek crossings, Bremer River, Bee Creek Peak Downs Hwy, and Grosvenor Creek and Cherwell Creek. The QTA singled out the replacement of the Bremer River Bridge on the busy Port of Brisbane corridor as an urgent priority. Because of current restrictions, A-double combinations, which are considered the gold standard for carrying two 40foot shipping containers, are unable to use the bridge at present. “The Bremer River Bridge restrictions on the Warrego Highway are a significant constraint on this corridor and will continue to add to costs and impede freight efficiency holding this potentially productive corridor in the State to ransom for as long as it takes to replace it,” said the QTA blueprint. It also urges the next federal government to invest in the state’s Jobs Ready Program which it says will support employers and “proactively shape

QTA singled out the Gilbert River crossing amongst its short-list of bridges that need urgent funding by the next federal government.

industry-led job training initiatives to future proof the industry by improving workforce growth, counteract the ageing workforce in the sector and attract new entrants to the road freight industry”. The QTA is proposing a pilot program that will cost $1.5m to train 150 heavy vehicle drivers with a forward plan to allocate an additional $5m to extend the training for 600 positions.

QTA CEO Gary Mahon said the opportunity must be taken to improve road freight efficiencies for the benefit of the economy and international competitiveness. “The time is now to make investments to increase the connectivity to export markets and ports and supply our communities in all weather,” said Mahon. “To achieve this, funding must be directed towards the Inland Freight Route and con-

necting bridges to strengthen the freight network. Unlocking access for high productivity vehicles will have far-reaching benefits across the entire supply chain and drive industry confidence to safely invest for the future.” He also said that a major barrier to investment in more high productivity vehicles and zero emissions vehicles is the burden on business of complex of Commonwealth and state taxes. “The next Australian government must lead national payroll and stamp duty tax reform to reduce the tax burden on business to support business activity, jobs and wages growth that will drive the economic recovery,” he said. “We strongly urge the next Australian government to direct more economic stimulus monies to unlock and connect key freight routes, train more heavy vehicle drivers and lead reform on workplace relations, business and payroll tax to drive the future of industry. “Our clear vision for the future of the road freight industry will feed into the nation’s economy.”

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12 FEATURE

Future truckie loves learning the ropes

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

At just 12 years old, truck-loving Charlotte Radeski knows her way around a gearbox and is already poised to one day take over her family’s successful earthmoving business. BY DANIELLE GULLACI AS her parents Mark and Emilia Radeski will tell you, Charlotte’s not your average 12-year-old. Her truck driving skills are already well beyond her years (offroad of course). She helps with servicing, greasing, hooking up and unhooking, unchaining, dropping landing legs and more. “Charlotte’s very determined and thinks she can drive better than me,” said 41-year-old Mark. “She’s been interested

since day dot and knows everything about the trucks. She always wants to come with me in the truck too. “I started teaching her to drive when she was about 10 – once she was tall enough to do what she needs to and see over the windscreen. She started off learning in an old SAR, now she practices in a 2008 Kenworth T908. One day she’d like a T509 she says.” As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Mark grew up on a cattle sta-

tion in Alice Springs, before his family moved to a property in Wanganella, NSW. “And the older fellas would teach me to drive the trucks,” he said. The family is now based in Hay, NSW. Mark started his business Radeski Earthmoving in 2002, at the age of 20. “I had just one piece of earthmoving gear, now I have loader buckets, compacters, tractor scrapers, rollers, graders, excavators, water scrapers and the trucks.” Emilia added, “From one little tractor, we’ve grown the

Charlotte with her family.

business through blood, sweat and tears. Charlotte is definitely taking after Mark – she’s just a beautiful kid. Her father is her idol, and she wants to be just like her dad. “Charlotte has been driving tractors since she was around about seven-years-old – with someone of course. There’s still a hell of a lot for her to learn but she loves it. It’s second nature for her. She helps in our business every second she can and drives and tries everything. She’s a natural and isn’t afraid of hard work,” Emilia continued. “Charlotte has two siblings with disabilities – her 22-yearold sister is legally blind and her 28-year-old brother has cerebral palsy. She has the most caring and kindest soul and even wanted to teach her sister to drive – she’s amazing.” Radeski Earthmoving transports its earthmoving gear Australia-wide, towed by a fleet of five Kenworths: a T909, T908, T609, K200 and SAR. The company services the civil, agricultural, mining and commercial construction industries, and employs around 25 staff, including four drivers, with Mark often behind the wheel too. “We move all our own equipment. I transport a lot of the equipment myself and Charlotte comes with me every chance we get. We do a

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Charlotte’s dad has been teaching her the ropes for years.

lot of work into WA and have been bringing a lot of equipment into Kununurra recently. Our trucks don’t stop,” explained Mark. “Charlotte’s a very enthusiastic person who loves what she does. She gets extremely upset when she can’t come in the truck with me. I think it’s pretty certain she’ll follow this path – she says that to me every day. “When we’re unloading, she’ll have everything all unchained by the time I get around to the back of the truck. She’s very determined.” Emilia says one of Charlotte’s favourite times of year is harvest time; and she gets super excited to jump in the tractor for Gargaro Ag, which is located just across the road from the family’s property. It’s fairly certain that Charlotte’s eagerness to learn, cando attitude and passion will place her in good stead for a future career in the industry she loves most. “One day she wants to

Charlotte Radeski has been learning to drive a truck since she was tall enough to see over the windscreen.

take over the business – and she will,” said Emilia. “We could’ve sold our business a little while ago, but we won’t because we know Charlotte will one day carry it on.” But for now, Charlotte’s happy being able to be involved in her family’s business and can’t wait until she’s old enough to get her truck licence.

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14 COVER STORY

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Heavy-duty newcomer slays test drive

Australia and New Zealand are the only two markets where the Shogun 510 is sold.

We put the most powerful Euro 6 Japanese truck in its class through its paces on a spin around regional Victoria. BY GRAHAM HARSANT DRIVE down any suburban road in Australia and I’ll give you 10 to 1 on passing a Japanese truck. Our friends from the Land of the Rising Sun have carved out a substantial foothold in this segment of the market – that being local, with a bit of intrastate transport thrown in, here and there. There is obviously a lot of faith from the trucking consumer in the job these vehicles do. Conversely, you don’t see too many out on the major highways even though three of the four Japanese manufacturers produce a prime mover. Why is it so? Power and torque would be the obvious answer. Until now there was a choice of 455 (2200Nm), 460 (2200Nm), 480 (2157Nm) or 512Hp (2255Nm). Those 512

horses may sound great until you find out it comes from 15.7 litres of old and lumpy – and that company does not make a prime mover. Another possibility is that where a Japanese truck manufacturer is tied in with a European who produces big bangers, those Euros don’t want their market share eroded. Indeed, this was what occurred with one Japanese brand who deleted a more powerful motor from its option list a while back. Fuso is owned by Daimler, along with Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner and there is the suggestion that they had similar concerns. Enter Daimler Australia boss, Daniel Whitehead, who felt that a more powerful donk in the already successful Shogun would only enhance its market share without cannibalising the mothership’s other products.

“We pushed hard to get the 13-litre engine into the Shogun for our market because our customers made it clear they wanted a Japanese heavy-duty truck with serious performance,” he said. It took time to overcome resistance from Germany but young Mr Whitehead is nothing if not persistent and eventually won the day. It is a reflection of the influence this relatively small part of the Daimler Empire has, that the powers that be listened. It is worth mentioning that Australia and New Zealand are the only two markets where the 510 is sold and other Shogun owners will notice the blacked out grill and larger air intakes. The 12.8-litre in-line six was plucked from the Mercedes-Benz range to give those 510 horses together with all 2500Nm of twist coming in at 1100rpm through to 1500rpm. In fact you will

Daimler boss Daniel Whitehead felt a more powerful engine would only enhance Shogun’s status.

The Shogun interior is largely unchanged from the 2020 test model.

get over 2200Nm at a mere 700rpm. Meanwhile, the available horsepower at that 1100rpm is over 400, climbing in a beautifully linear line to its 510 peak at 1600 revs and there is where it pretty well stays right up to that 1900rpm mark. Long story short: The two work superbly together. The Shogun 510 was unveiled last October but a certain bug running around delayed testing until now. Back in June of 2020 I hopped behind the wheel of a test-bed Shogun 460 with the 455Hp (2200Nm) donk. It may now be a couple of years since I drove that first Shogun but I do remember being impressed with the way it pulled at the time (you can still opt for that motor if you wish). This is a big step up! Put the brilliant 12 speed in auto, press the pedal down and let the 510 do its thing. ‘Its Thing’ is to pull, pull and pull some more. The OM471 six-cylinder engine features an asymmetric turbocharger and the latest generation common rail system with variable pressure boosting for the best possible

fuel efficiency. The 12-speed ‘box has the clever EcoRoll, allowing the truck to free-wheel in the right situations, further aiding fuel consumption. The Japanese like their indicators on the right-hand side (sensible people) so they did a swifty in simply rotating the Actros’ indicator and opposing gearshift stalks through 180 degrees around the steering column. Simples! The only mistake I made was to try and pull the three-stage retarder back, instead of pushing it forwards. Everything falls to hand and it is a terrific set-up, and it saved Fuso re-inventing the wheel. Shoguns now have daytime running lights, missing from that first test model, along with LED headlights, auto wipers and all the safety goodies you could ask for – emergency braking, lane departure warning, pedestrian sensing, adaptive cruise, ESP, Hill Start Assist and so on. I can vouch for the auto wipers on this test day of light drizzle through to heavy showers. I should have known

that heading to Ballarat was a silly idea. Also new to the range is the Intelligent Headlight Control which automatically turns on and off the high beam in response to traffic. The interior is largely unchanged from that test model and that’s no bad thing as controls are ergonomically laid out with everything in easy reach. Two cup holders will take anything from a coffee cup to a 1.25 litre bottle. The logbook sits snugly in the door pocket. The passenger door feature a secondary window set down low which is always handy to check on traffic – or to give Fido his own view of the world. There are also a couple of decent sized storage bins. The bug-eye (bus type) side mirrors on the test mule, which I personally loved at the time, gave way to standard truck mirrors on production vehicles. These are well placed as far forward as possible on the doors however, with little eyesight intrusion when coming to intersections or roundabouts. Continued page 16

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16 COVER STORY

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Steering back on track

From page 14 BEHIND the seats is a bunk which, although narrow is very well padded. You could take a comfortable kip on it if needed. The rest of the cabin carries faux carbon fibre and glossy silver highlights. It even carries a couple of ashtrays in the doors – something I’ve noticed in other Japanese brands. A good place to store loose change perhaps. Lol. Outside changes include a blacked out grill to let others know that you’re in the Top Gun Shogun. And now to the biggest change from that test truck I drove – the steering. Back in 2020 I was less than enamoured with the way that test mule steered. I hit a pothole and had no idea of which way the steer wheels were pointing. The steering was vague and frankly disconcerting. It was an issue that I bought up at the time with the company and they told me a short while later that they had addressed the problem before the truck was released to the public. Whatever they did worked. The steering felt well weighted and confidence-inspiring from the outset. I looked for a depression in the road and steered straight for it. In, down and out; this truck steers straight and smooth with little input (read: wheel twirling) required for safe and assured progress. I like it when companies

The bunk is tight but comfortable enough if you need to stretch out for a break.

take criticism on board and act upon it. Good one Fuso. On the open highway the Shogun drives straight and true with good seat comfort and great vision, climbing hills with ease. If the 460 version was capable of pulling B-dou-

The Shogun also manages to pack in plenty of storage.

bles – and it was if absolutely needed – then the 510 does it easily. If you have to haul doubles around town or intrastate, or even interstate on the odd occasion, then it will do the job. Easily. Around the burbs it is a breeze navigating narrower roads. Given this is part of the design brief and intended job for this vehicle it is pleasing that it does it so well. Daimler has plenty of other choices for interstate work, with cabins that you can live in for an extended period, but if needed the Shogun will shift your load to wherever you need it to go. And it will get you there just as quickly as most other big rigs, the only difference being that you’ll have to top up the 400-litre tank more often. The Shogun is now the Top Gun of Japanese prime movers.

If you do have to haul doubles intrastate, or interstate, it will do the job easily.

BevChain adds first all-electric trucks to its Lion fleet

SYDNEY’S first electric beer truck has been added to the BevChain Lion fleet, in the form of a Fuso eCanter that will be used to deliver kegs

and packaged beer to pubs, bars and clubs across the metro area. Based on anticipated usage, BevChain claims at least

60 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2-e) can be avoided annually compared to the same size Euro 6 diesel powered truck.

BevChain says at least 60 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2-e) can be avoided annually using the eCanter.

“BevChain is excited to introduce the first electric truck for Lion. This truck will be powered by clean energy from our automated distribution centre, which is situated strategically next to the Lion brewery in Auburn, NSW. As Lion’s logistics partner, we’re committed to working with Lion to reduce carbon emissions and meet our shared sustainability targets,” said BevChain president, Misha Shliapnikoff. The company says the electric truck supports Lion’s sustainability goals, which in 2020 became Australia’s first Climate Active accredited carbon neutral brewer and has committed to achieving a net zero value chain by 2050. “From the farm to the brewery to the road and then the pub or bottle shop, we are looking at all the ways we can minimise our carbon footprint

The eCanter is powered by clean energy at the DC in Auburn.

and meet our 2050 goal,” said Lion Australia managing director, David Smith. Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific president and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, added that he was thrilled to see the Fuso eCanter going to work for Linfox and Lion. “The Fuso eCanter is a pi-

oneering electric truck but it is more than a statement, it is a real workhorse that can get the job done in near silence while producing zero emissions,” he said. Linfox and BevChain now operate six electric vehicles for major customers across Victoria and NSW.

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18 FEATURE

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

250 reasons to celebrate at Rocky’s Own Transport

A focus on its culture and purpose has seen Rocky’s Own grow and flourish, with the Rockhampton-based outfit recently celebrating the delivery of its 250th Kenworth. BY DANIELLE GULLACI

Rocky’s Own runs a fleet of 164 trucks, which are predominantly Kenworths.

WHAT started as a small general freight business in 1985 has grown into a major player in the mining services space. Nowadays, the delivery of high consequence dangerous goods is the main gig for the Rockhampton based outfit. For CEO and director of Rocky’s Own, Bryan Smith, the company’s success all comes down to process. “Revenue, size and the number of trucks has never been a driving factor, it’s all focussed on process, safety and culture. And from that everything else just happens,” he said. “I suppose it’s a simple philosophy: if you treat your suppliers fairly, your customers fairly and your staff fairly, you’ll generally go alright.” Smith, 60, is originally from Merbein, Victoria. He moved

up north to Rockhampton and started hang-gliding, eventually becoming an instructor. “I did that for a few years – I was having too much fun. But I needed a real job and that’s when Wally, who started Rocky’s Own, took me on.” Smith already had previous experience working in logistics and had spent several years as a truckie in his younger years too. “When Wally asked me to join the business, I thought I’d have a go at it and it all went from there.” Smith joined the company in 1996 as sales manager and worked his way up to the role of CEO in 2000. He is also the current vice president of the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA). Smith and national operations/fleet manager Rod Carige, 50, took ownership of the busi-

ness around 10 years ago. “Rod started as operations manager and myself in sales. We started just a few months apart. There were about four trucks back then.” Fast forward to today and the business now operates an impressive fleet of 164 trucks sporting the company’s green, white and gold livery (predominantly Kenworths with a few Volvo rigids in the mix too) and 287 trailers. It’s purchased 16 new Kenworths in the last year alone, including the 250th truck – a blinged-up Kenworth K200. Based at the Rockhampton branch, the special milestone K200 is used to transport high consequence dangerous goods to mine sites across Queensland and NSW. Rocky’s Own currently employs close to 300 staff across its eight depots, which are lo-

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FEATURE 19

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 cated throughout Queensland and NSW, as well as one in Kalgoorlie. Some employees have been there since Smith and Carige started with the business, while there are others who have been there for 15 or 20 years. In his three decades in the industry, Smith has seen a great deal of change. “Regulatory controls and compliance are the biggest ones. Safety is really important in our industry, which has some poor statistics stacked against it. It has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry. We’ve worked on our processes and managing safety standards and everything grows from that,” he said. “The industry is highly regulated now and a lot of good has come from that regulation, but I think sometimes it’s getting to a tipping point where it’s getting to be over regulated.” Rocky’s Own services a whopping 276 mine sites across Australia in every state and territory, with the exception of Tasmania. “Mining services represents about 70 per cent of our business, but we do general, heavy haulage and refrigerated freight as well,” Smith explained. “In the last four to five years, the business has also branched out into licenced major hazard facilities, which is the warehousing of high consequence dangerous goods. We have a major hazard warehousing facility at Helidon.” As with any transport operation, safety is paramount – but when you’re transport-

Kenworth drives record first quarter of truck sales

Dealer principal at Brown and Hurley Rockhampton, Simon Graham, Rocky’s Own national operations/fleet manager, Rod Carige, CEO and director of Rocky’s Own, Bryan Smith, and Brown and Hurley Group Sales Manager, Tony Hurley.

ing dangerous goods, it’s even more pivotal. That’s why all freight movements carried out by the Rocky’s Own team are performed to the highest possible transport safety and security standards. Its equipment also has to live up to its high standards too. Rocky’s Own maintains an impressive fleet of modern trucks, which wear the Kenworth badge. “We also have a longstanding relationship with Ken-

worth dealer Brown and Hurley – and business is all about relationships. It’s the people and the back-up service that are critical,” said Smith. “Kenworths are built in Australia, for Australian conditions, and they have one of the better networks of servicing in the country. And that’s important because you can have the best truck in the world, but if it’s on the side of the road broken down, it’s not much good to you,” explained Smith.

THE first three months of 2022 saw record, or near record, new truck sales that have come together to produce a new first quarter heavy vehicle mark in Australia. The year-to-date (YTD) total of 8817 trucks and vans delivered in Australia, is an increase of 492 units over this time last year, up 5.9 per cent. It also eclipses the previous all-time first quarter sales record set in 2018 when 8675 trucks were sold in January through to March, by 142 vehicles, a 1.6 percent increase. Looking just at the month of March in isolation, 3797 heavy vehicles were delivered to customers, an increase of 239 trucks (6.7 per cent) over March 2021. The leader of this growth continues to be driven by the heavy-duty sector which was up again last month with a total of 1245 units delivered, a spike of 20.3 percent, or 210 trucks, on March 2021. The first quarter result was even better, with 3012 heavy sales year-to-date, representing the 23.6 per cent figure mentioned above. That was a 575 heavy truck increase over quarter one 2021. Kenworth once again came out on top in March with 271 units, with Isuzu next best on 186 sales to complete its thirdstraight runner-up position in the category for 2022.

Bull Bros Earthmoving recently took delivery of this day cab Kenworth T610SAR. Photo: Kenworth Australia/Facebook

Volvo cemented its topthree status with an encouraging 177 units but is still nine shy of Isuzu which has had an outstanding start to the year, given it doesn’t compete with an interstate model. Mack was the big mover in March among the heavies with a massive 90 units sold, and catapulted up the latter to now sit in fourth overall with a YTD total of 200. In the medium duty segment posted solid sales again in March with a total of 686 trucks delivered, up 14.0 per cent, or 84 units, over March 2021. To the end of the first quarter a total of 1651 medium duty trucks have been delivered, up by 12.9 per cent (189 trucks) over 2021 first quarter sales.

“I am happy to see that the heavy-duty segment continues to lead the market’s sales growth at the end of March,” said Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council, the peak industry body for truck manufacturers and importers in Australia. “This level of sales growth across all truck segments will likely stem the ageing of our truck fleet, however more needs to be done to ensure that the significant level of safety, environmental and productivity features available in newer trucks permeates through our nation’s fleet. “In this regard the federal government’s inaction in implementing ADR80/04, Euro VI and alternatives, is disappointing.”

20 FEATURE

Tones truckin’ in new direction

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Fulton and Puppies are enjoying the change of pace off the road.

BY JAMES GRAHAM LOOKING back, Tony Fulton saw the signs he was ready for a change long before the much-publicised Pacific Motorway blockade in protest of mandated vaccinations last August. Fulton, who still boasts the largest social media following in the industry on his popular Facebook page Tones Truckin’ Stories, said the pressures of driving had been starting to take a toll for months. After two weeks of reflection off the road while figuring out his next move, Fulton said the decision to step away

from driving was an easy one in the end. “I had been checking myself for at least 12-18 months prior because as we know the transport industry is a very difficult job to begin with,” said Fulton. “A lot of people don’t realise the sacrifices that truck drivers make for weeks, and even decades on end, being away from home for 6-7 days and a fortnight at a time and what they miss out on with families and that sort of stuff. “So, what I came to the conclusion in the end was they went and made a hard job too hard, in a sense, and I think a lot of people

were like that.” “For the previous 12 months I probably wasn’t the man I once was. I was probably a lot angrier, and had a lot of anxiety while doing the job over what was happening with the country. “Every man has a breaking point and by the time the final [vax] mandate came in, I knew I didn’t want to be part of that anymore.” Today, a far more relaxed Fulton and his famous fourlegged sidekick Puppies have handed over the keys to the K200 they called home for so many years, for new adventures based on an idyllic acre of a family farm in Victoria.

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Fulton’s learning to grow his own vegetables, wheat, and grass, and working on all those other little things he never had the chance to do while living out of a truck cab. Just don’t call him a farmer, not yet anyway. He reserves that honour for the many men and women he’s helping in a new role as a volunteer ambassador for BEEFitUP Australia, a grassroots charity organisation that promotes products and services in farming communities. “It’s very fulfilling and I really enjoy going around to the farming communities and helping them try and get more business through the door.” “Through my hand being forced, it’s become one of the best decisions I’ve made for my personal life.” Fulton’s recent pandemic treechange also means he has more time to help grow TruckWiz, the popular truckies’ navigational app he co-founded with truckie mate

The TruckWiz app is helping truckies stay on track.

Arana McDonald. Built by Australian truck drivers specifically for truckies, already TruckWiz stands out from its rivals on almost every level. Just key in your truck profile – be it a rigid, semi, or B-double [test version] – and away you go. Bridge strikes and U-turns are banished forever, as is wasted fuel for taking longer than you need to get to a job. “It’s definitely got me out of the crapper a fair bit, and come up with routes that made me think, ‘Oh shit, that’s a lot easier and quicker than the way I’d been going for the last 10 years’. “We had one driver come back and say that after just a week of using it, the savings in diesel it gave him had paid for the annual subscription.” One of the most exciting

new features for Fulton is the app’s ability to overlay job information and maps specific to your needs. Customised map-markers can contain all manner of relevant information relevant to a truckie’s day, which also takes a lot of pressure off those back at the fleet’s office. “People in the industry have been going out of their way to give us feedback, which is just so important – it’s been overwhelming at times. “There are a lot of good people in the industry and that’s why we’ve done it, to make it easier for the truck drivers out there because we know how bloody hard it is.” To give TruckWiz a try, use coupon code BIUA at truckwiz. co to reduce the price from $129 to $100, with $10 of that saving being donated to the BEEFitUP Australia charity.

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22 NEWS

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

ANZAC Day convoy to help flood-affected farmers

BY DANIELLE GULLACI

SHOWING the true Aussie spirit, this ANZAC Day long weekend, over 40 trucks will take part in a hay run into the NSW Northern Rivers region to deliver hay and other essentials to some of the farmers and families who need it most. Since the devasting floods hit many parts of northern NSW and southern Queensland, Need For Feed was quick to offer help, coordinating numerous hay runs into these areas.

“We’ve been doing these hay runs for over 15 years and these are the worst floods we’ve ever seen,” said Need For Feed founder, Graham Cockerell. “The water was 2-3 metres higher than previous records and much higher than what was predicted. There are homes in low-lying areas that were built on stilts to cope with floods, but the water has gone through second stories.” The ANZAC Day Hay Run will depart from Victoria at around lunchtime on Friday April 22, arriving at the Nar-

Need For Feed has been sending truckloads of hay and other important items into flood-ravaged areas of NSW and Queensland since the flood crisis began.

randera Showground that evening, where more trucks will join the convoy. There are trucks and drivers from Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, South Australia and even Queensland who will volunteer their time. Need For Feed’s ANZAC Day Hay Run has become an annual occurrence since the first one took place in 2019, with trucks going into Broken Hill to assist those affected by drought. “For a lot of people, if you support that whole idea of Aussie mateship, it’s a bit like doing the Australia Day run,” said Cockerell. On ANZAC Day, the volunteers are hoping to take part in the Dawn Service at Casino, NSW. Need For Feed has also set up a semi-permanent fodder depot in the town, at the site that is used for the annual Primex Field Days. Most hay deliveries will be made directly onto farms, together with care packs, hampers and food for working dogs, however hay will also need to be stored at the Casino site. “We’ve chose that site because it’s central to the whole Northern Rivers area. Lismore at the moment is like a war-

Elaine Trustum was among the farmers in the Lismore area who received a delivery recently, which she says saved her cattle.

zone, so we didn’t think it was appropriate to set up there. “We receive plenty of women’s products, but are usually short of men’s care products such as razors, shaving cream, deodorant and work socks. Coffee is another thing that we include in the hampers but are usually short of,” Cockerell said. To add, Need For Feed is also collecting donations of horse products too including horse feed, lead ropes, halters and rugs. “In Casino, we’ll be inviting some of the recipient farmers in for a meal and a couple of drinks too. We’ll also invite some of the business owners and will have mental health speakers there,” added Cockerell. “On our first trip up there, the clean-up had barely started. There’s tyre shops with their whole stock washed down the street, car yards with cars down the street. It’s a nightmare to even know where to start. I’m in business myself and I really can’t imagine losing both my home and business. I don’t know where they start to pick themselves up. We are really worried about their mental health too.”

Need For Feed founder Graham Cockerell.

Along with hay and donated items, the not-for-profit organisation has taken its assistance efforts another step further by launching its own grants program for those who have lost both their homes and their businesses. Need For Feed has kicked off the pot with $250,000, which it is hoping can be matched by a large corporate business. “The first part of the criteria for those needing assistance is that they are a small business owner. These grants are for the family run businesses who have

lost everything,” explained Cockerell. “There’s no red tape, we will have someone on the ground to check that applicants meet the criteria for a grant, which will be provided in the form of a voucher, which can be spent at another local business, so it will help other businesses too.” For more information about Need For Feed, including how to donate, please visit needforfeed.org. If you would like to donate any of the items mentioned, please email contact@ needforfeed.org.

This family near Gympie had no hay left when Need For Feed arrived in flood impacted areas of Queensland in late March.

New effluent disposal pit at Warrnambool saleyards THE Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has partnered with Warrnambool City Council to establish a new effluent disposal pit at Warrnambool’s South-West Victoria Livestock Exchange (SWVLX). Preliminary works on the facility started in December 2021 with operational testing now underway. The new effluent disposal facility will complement similar sites built in cooperation with Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange and Mount Gambier and District Saleyards. “The newly installed pit provides an opportunity for transporters to dispose of accumulated livestock effluent either at the end of their journey to the saleyards, or on their way to deliver a con-

signment further afield,” said saleyards manager Paul White. “Evidently there are too few locations for transporters to properly dispose of effluent along the road network. The ALRTA offered $50,000 in funding to support planning and construction of an effluent disposal bay. “Council will deliver this project to effectively provide an opportunity for livestock transporters to dispose of effluent in southwest Victoria.” ALRTA president Scott McDonald said managing effluent in transit is a significant challenge for members. “Effluent capture tanks installed on purpose-built livestock trailers do a reasonable job of containment, however, there is a consequential need for transporters to access suitable facilities for effluent

disposal when tanks become full in transit and at ‘end of journey’ facilities,” said McDonald. “Livestock effluent disposal facilities benefit the livestock supply chain and the community. They improve safety by ensuring cleaner roads and improved animal welfare outcomes and help to reduce the risk of non-compliance with biosecurity, environment and load restraint laws. “Our association greatly appreciates the support of the livestock transport industry demonstrated by Warrnambool City Council by building an effluent disposal pit in their saleyards.” The project is funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).

Preliminary works on the site started in December, with operational testing now underway.

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24 FEATURE

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Home base is Australia

With a hard-working C508 shouldering the load, this young Avenel couple will go wherever the heavy haulage work takes them. BY DAVID VILE IN most cases when a truck is sign written with the owner’s name, their hometown is also featured, but in the case of Jye Savage, who operates under the banner of JS Haulage, his address is simply ‘Australia’. “Wherever I need to go, I will go,” he said as the sun shone down on his 2008 Kenworth C508 at the Castlemaine Truck Show late last year. Along with partner Sam, the owner-driver operates the big C508 on heavy haulage, with the couple taking the plunge into running their own operation in 2020. With his father Noel Savage having been a truck driver for 44 years, Jye followed in his footsteps, first hitting the roads in an R-Model Mack with a 320 Coolpower and a 12-speed gearbox. Upon gaining his semi licence he soon found himself behind the controls of Kenworth C508 day cab - the very same truck he owns today.

“It’s also the first truck I ever took to a truck show at Heywood. Five years later down the track I bought it. It has got about 850,000ks on the clock - a lot of hard kays. “The last owner had it sitting around a fair bit, but it was always well looked after.” Having worked as a driver for a few years on a variety of hauling assignments, Jye and Sam had a helping hand as they set up their own operation culminating with the purchase of the Kenworth, which had started its working life as a log truck. “Lyndon Joslin, a fella I had known for a while, had been pushing me and pushing me to buy my own and we came up with a plan to help us both, and he helped get me going. “I wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for him. I wanted something no-one else has got, I wanted a day cab C5. She’s a bit different and we made it happen.” Rated at 115 tonnes, the C509 has 600 horsepower under the long bonnet and a six-

rod suspension under the rear end, and upon purchasing the Kenworth, Jye was soon adding his own touches to make the Kenworth stand out. “The engine had recently been rebuilt, and it was blue with an orange chassis initially. We painted her up and fitted it out with a new bulbar, chrome rims, deck plates, lights, and a big set of pipes,” he said with a smile. Completing the outfit is a Drake 4 x 4 float and dolly which Jye purchased brand new last year, which saw him make the trip up to Brisbane to collect his custom-built trailer. “It’s a pretty unique trailer, the first one Drake built with all 4 axles steering. It has all the bells and whistles on it -matched up with the truck she looks pretty cool going down the road when she’s clean but in this industry it’s hard to keep them clean!” Despite the ‘Australia’ reference on the door, Jye and the C508 are based just off the Hume Highway at Avenel

A proud Jye and Sam with their Kenworth. Photos: David Vile

north of Melbourne with his work schedule seeing a mix of both urban and country hauling assignments. “I do a lot for Turf One Australia; I move all their gear. It is a lot of suburban stuff, but I am starting to do a bit more country work, which is what I want to get into - more off road with logging gear and tractors, that sort of stuff. “Where we are at Avenel, it’s nice and central - just an hour to Melbourne or an hour up the bush, so we can just run anywhere from there.” Having come out of the various Covid lockdowns in Victoria, the Castlemaine event was the first opportunity Jye had to take the Kenworth to a truck show, with

The JS Haulage C508 shines under the Castlemaine sun.

the truck being a popular choice for visitors on the day. “It’s the first show I have taken it to, it’s a good day out, we won’t win anything prizewise but it’s good to get out and about and catch up with people that you only pass on the road or see them in a truck stop.” As the business grows, Jye reckons he has a good backstop with Sam taking on a larger role in the administration side of things. “(I’m a) typical truck driver! I can drive and find the work. Sam is starting to get involved a lot more with the paperwork side of things now, and teamwork makes the dream work.” And building on the dream

is what the young couple are doing. At this stage Jye reckons he won’t be expanding the fleet anytime soon, but it would be fair to say that the 14-year-old C508 will be the mainstay of the JS operation for some time yet. “Everyone says it’s just an old Kenworth, but I would rather sit in my old Kenworth than a new Volvo – one headache is enough. “But we will see what happens, you never know what’s around the corner. It’s always been a dream, and the dream has come true. “We do our best and sign off with the best service we can, and we will see where we go from here.”

Teerman’s Transport closes its doors with emotional farewell THE Teerman’s Transport fleet has made its final run, in a convoy through the town of Leeton, NSW, as its owners shut shop to step into retirement. For many years, the dark green and white trucks from the family owned and operated Teerman’s Transport were a familiar sight around Leeton and Griffith, as they set off for their daily runs into Sydney and Melbourne. It was an emotional scene last month as Teerman’s drivers made their way through the town of Leeton, honking their horns and bidding the

company farewell. Many of Teerman’s Transport’s long-term customers have taken to social media to sing their praises of the business for its service and contribution to the industry. Fresh produce company Rinaland, from the Riverina in NSW, wrote on Facebook, “Teermans Transport have helped carry our produce wherever and whenever we’ve needed them to. “Nothing was ever too difficult and there was always a way to make it work. So with much sadness this loyal and enduring partnership has

come to an end.” Pacific Fresh said: “What an emotional day yesterday seeing Teerman’s Transport PTY LTD do their last run through Leeton and out at Pacific Fresh. Thank you to all of Teermans Transport Family, drivers and staff for looking after our produce over the last 20 years. We wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.” The entire Teerman’s Transport fleet will now go under the hammer at an auction hosted by Pickles on April 22 at the Pickles Wagga Wagga Branch.

Drivers and staff gather for a farewell photo. Photo: Facebook

HEAVY HAULAGE IS IN OUR DNA Designed, tested and manufactured in Australia, Kenworth’s range of heavy duty trucks offer you the strength and durability required to handle the most demanding operating conditions. Reliable on and off the highway and purpose-built for high GCM applications, the Kenworth K200, T659, T909 and C509 give you flexibility of design with a range of heavy duty axles and suspensions to suit the task at hand.

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For your heavy duty needs speak to your local Kenworth dealer or visit KENWORTH.COM.AU Images for illustrative purposes only.

26 READER RIGS

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

Robbie Bell snapped this 2021 Kenworth T909 at the Port Of Brisbane after taking delivery from Inland Trucks at Wagga.

Filip Schubert chases the clouds to get the perfect shot of his impressive red rig.

Share your truck pics to win with Shell Rimula

SHELL Rimula has partnered with Big Rigs in a big way – so now there’s even more reasons to send in your best truck shots. Each month, the Big Rigs team will choose a #PicOfTheMonth, with the lucky winner receiving a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card. Keep an eye out for our regular posts on the Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper Facebook page, calling

for your best truck photos and add yours in the comments, or email them to editor@bigrigs. com.au. Don’t forget to include a brief note about the truck and where the photo was taken. We’ll feature some of the best photos in each edition of Big Rigs Newspaper, with one winner announced each month. Keep those amazing truck pics coming! Shaun Wood snapped this shot of two Kenworths parked up for a break at Pinnaroo, SA.

Dean Hill snapped this Booth tanker set up at Growers Wine Group in Waikerie, SA.

Nicholas Dolan heads southbound towards Melbourne on the Kidman Way in this Kenworth T610.

Mark Nelson shared this great snap of a SEQ Transport triple road train at Yalata, SA.

Jacob Elliott snapped this pic of a couple of road trains heading back to Toowoomba, from Mackay.

READER RIGS 27

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

Tyson Parison snapped this photo just after a delivery in Giru, Queensland, as the sun was rising over the paddocks his family used to own.

Matthew Montague snapped this photo of D.A Campbell Transport’s Kenworth T909 with ANZAC tribute trailers at the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show late last year.

Chevy Hawkins shared a snap from the first trip in a new Kenworth T909.

Chris ‘Junior’ Mattsen loads at Lissadell Station, WA, bound for Barkly Tableland, NT.

Nathan Curtis cruises along in this Fraser Transport Kenworth C509.

Corina Rina Oldenmenger shared this shot, taken during corn harvest at Narrandera, NSW.

Jakob Batchelor and this Kenworth haul a triple road train through the Australian outback.

28 DRIVER PROFILES

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckin’ In The Outback

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY WHERE TRANSPORT DOES BUSINESS

Matt Langley VETERAN outback truckie Matt Langley, 53, originally moved to Darwin to pursue a desire to drive road trains. Langley grew up in Kyabram, Victoria, where his father drove milk tankers. “When I was a young fella I would get in the trucks with Dad. I was always fascinated by trucks and machines,” he said. After working in the mines in Kalgoorlie, Langley moved to Darwin in 1990, when he was 21. “I already had a truck licence and I wanted to drive

the bigger trucks, so I moved up north and fell in love with it. Trucking was something I really wanted to do and at that age it was hard to get into.” Initially it was local work, but he moved into long distance pretty quickly. “I was thrown straight in the deep end and have driven road trains ever since. It’s usually triples, but sometimes I do quad work too,” Langley said. And despite a six-year stint in Queensland, where he worked for Emerald Carrying Company, the lure of the NT

drove him back. “I moved to the east but I missed the Territory too much. Once you’ve been in the Territory, it’s hard to leave. Everyone always comes back. “I’ve driven down south and over the east coast and I hate the traffic. I love going remote.” Langley has worked for Direct Haul for the past five and a half years, delivering fuel to some of the most remote locations in the NT and WA, from behind the wheel of a 2019 Mack Titan.

He delivers diesel, avgas and petrol to remote communities, cattle stations, power stations and roadhouses.

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Originally from Victoria, Matt Langley moved to Darwin to pursue his passion.

“It’s a lot of bush work, a lot of dirt roads. I deliver diesel, avgas and petrol to remote communities, cattle stations, power stations and roadhouses. Being off-road so much really knocks the truck about but the Mack is pretty comfortable and goes pretty well,” he said. It’s not uncommon for Langley to be on a 5000km round trip, travelling on some of the most unforgiving roads. He rates the Tanami and Sandover Highway as some of the toughest to get along. “They’re very rough and corrugated. On many of these roads, you’re

only doing 20km/h,” added Langley. Though the roads and the heat can pose quite the challenge, Langley says he enjoys the solitude the job brings. “It’s a good gig and you don’t have to deal with anyone. Most of the time I’m completely on my own. The company I work for doesn’t put any pressure on you. We’re on pretty tough runs, so you get home when you get home. Direct Haul is great to work for, they really look after their drivers and have very well maintained equipment – it’s got to be when you’re

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doing remote work. “There’s a lot of times we’re working in mid 40s heat. You’ve just got to know your limitations. I got pretty badly heat struck last year. It was hot and really humid so I just had to sit in the air con for a few hours to cool down. “I’ve also broken down in the middle of nowhere and that can be a two or three day affair. Usually though you can get going and fix it yourself. The Direct Haul trucks are pretty well set up for that sort of thing. We’ve got mandown alarms and are always contactable.”

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DRIVER PROFILES 29

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Truckin’ In The Outback Natalie Kascak

“I WAS never destined to be a truck driver. I came from an academic family that expected me to do medicine or law,” said Kascak, while driving a quad road train down the Great Northern Highway in WA. She was bound for the Wonmunna Mine, to pick up 110 tonne of iron ore. Following her family’s hopes, Kascak went to university to study Medical Science. “I took two years off and bought a truck with an ex-partner and we did the V8 Supercars circuit, then I went back to uni,” said the 33-yearold South Australian. Kascak also got her truck licence when she was 18 and her MC licence five years later. She completed her degree and spent six months working as a paramedic in Townsville, but soon the road came calling.

“When my grandmother got sick, I came back home to help look after her and fell back into trucking in 2015,” she recalled. Around 14 months ago, Kascak and her partner Nathan Tucker made the move out west to drive quads, fulltime, out of Port Hedland. “My partner and I share a 2018 Mack Titan, carting iron ore from the mines to the ports. I go to work for 12 hours, then we’ll see each other at the depot and he does his 12-hour shift. It’s 12 days on and two days off,” she explained. “The truck is very comfortable and has decent air con in the bush. We look after it. We’ve both owned our own trucks before so we’re very pedantic about maintenance. “Nathan and I moved here for the job and I go back to Adelaide whenever I can. I

was employed by a fuel company in Adelaide so when I go back, I drive the fuel tankers for them and I love that. Fuel tankers is my niche. “We moved to Port Hedland for a bit of a lifestyle change. We both like the remote outback sort of stuff and enjoy going fishing on our time off.” The Munjina Range is among Kascak’s favourite places to travel to. “There are very high cliffs and when it rains, the water runs down the rocks and the sun changes the colours of the rocks,” she said. When asked what she enjoys most about the job, Kascak was quick to reply. “The freedom. There’s a boss in the yard but once you leave the yard, you need to rely on your tools, your knowledge and your common sense, and you’re your own boss. The scenery up here is amazing

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY WHERE TRANSPORT DOES BUSINESS

Her and partner Nathan Tucker made the move out west to drive quads out of Port Hedland.

Natalie Kascak had already begun a career as a paramedic when she made the switch to trucking.

and it always changes.” While parts of the outback are undeniably beautiful, others leave a lot to be desired. Kascak rates the Roy Hill Road as one of the worst she gets along. “It’s a very narrow bitumen road that drops off into bits of dirt. There’s so many potholes and the road changes with the weather. If a truck comes the other way, you really need to be on the ball.” Along with trucking and medicine, Kascak has added driver training to her resume too. She is currently studying her Certificate IIII in Training and Assessment. “I love learning,” she confessed. “I’ve done other medical jobs along the way too so I can keep a finger in the pie. I might go back to being a paramedic one day. Now I’m looking to go back to uni to do more study too. But I think I’ll always be driving trucks.” And if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Kascak is also the chair of Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA). “I try and network with other females to get more drivers into the industry. I’m pretty passionate about that.”

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30 DRIVER PROFILES

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckin’ In The Tropics Pat Allery VETERAN driver Pat Allery, 68, was waiting near his Kenworth T909 at a rest area off the Bruce Highway at Kuttabul, north of Mackay, as it was being repaired. So Big Rigs pulled up for a chat. Allery works for Tenkate

Transport based at Caloundra. He explained: “Something was wrong with the alarm system so a fellow is fixing it.” Allery has been a driver for more than 40 years and was transporting a huge tractor, heading north.

Veteran truckie Pat Allery was transporting a large tractor up north when he stopped to chat.

“It is going to a cattle station near Ingham,” he said. Ingham is around 110 kilometres north of Townsville, on the way to Cairns. A loyal worker, Allery has been employed by Tenkate for 30 years and loves the job, although he said some roads could use work. “The section of the Bruce Highway south of Mackay is bad in places,” he said. It is not often I come across a driver who has worked for the same company for three decades. Not surprisingly, Allery possesses a wealth of knowledge about the road transport industry and has seen many changes over the years. This long-time driver likes stopping at the BP Mackay Roadhouse and feels more rest areas for truckies would be good. “In between the places where they are now,” he said. Kuttabul, where Allery was stopped, is a small Queensland rural town about 30km north of Mackay. It was very hot when we caught up, but the only redeeming factor was that there were some shady trees at the busy rest area. I asked Allery the strangest load he had hauled during his long career.

with Alf Wilson

Work being done on Allery’s truck at the Kuttabul rest area.

“It would have to be a helicopter for the RSL,” he said. Still super fit, Allery maintains a great enthusiasm for his job, despite the odd setback like today’s breakdown. I asked Allery about whether or not he had any plans to

retire. “When the time does come I want to retire gracefully,” he said. Allery was glowing in his praise of Tenkate which operates a diverse fleet of modern on highway trucks, providing flexibility in meeting the

challenges and difficulties frequently encountered in the transport of over-dimensional loads. I hope that Allery will continue his already long innings as a truck driver for many more years to come.

DRIVER PROFILES 31

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Truckin’ In The Tropics

with Alf Wilson

Stuart Abbott

Campbell McCallum

Stuart Abbott has worked for Milthorpe Transport for the past decade.

FOR the past 10 years, Stuart Abbott has driven for Milthorpe Transport. The 54-year-old has been a truckie for 24 years. When he chatted with Big Rigs, he was tending to his trailers near Townsville. Abbott is based at Corowa in NSW and was driving a 2018 Western Star. “I have general goods from Melbourne and am heading for Cairns,” he said. When asked if there were enough rest areas for drivers, Abbott said there was. “One positive thing is

that there are blue signs beside highways advising where the next rest areas are and that helps us plan where we will stop on trips,” he said. Experienced Abbott rates the Gregory Development Road between Clermont and Charters Towers as amongst the worst he travels on. “The speed limit on some parts is 80km/h,” he said. Between 1990 and 1995 Abbott served in the Australian Army, where he drove many vehicles and acquired the necessary licenses.

I asked him what the best part of his job was, to which he replied, “I get to see so much of this big country. Two days ago I was in Melbourne and now I am in Townsville.” As we yarned I noticed thousands of dead insects on the front of his truck. “There were so many insects on the Newell Highway at West Wyalong because of all the water,” he said. Abbott barracks for the St Kilda Saints in the AFL and the struggling West Tigers in the rival NRL.

Campbell McCallum at the Golden Nugget Roadhouse parking area.

ENTHUSIASTIC truckie Campbell McCallum was parked at Gympie’s Golden Nugget Roadhouse when Big Rigs saw him. McCallum, 35, was driving a Mack Superliner for Barmond Investments and travelling in tandem with his then boss who was driving a Mack Titan. “We are carrying bitumen between Gympie and Brisbane,” he said. McCallum said he had

been a truckie for about six years and liked stopping at the Bush Tucker Inn Roadhouse at Barringun. “The lady who runs it is great and makes you feel welcome,” he said. It has good clean facilities and a homely dining area with comfortable chairs and a television. It is a pet friendly roadhouse – with resident emus, kangaroos, pigs, donkeys, sheep and goats. McCallum had his own

gas cooker in the truck as well as a microwave and small fridge to prepare his own meals when travelling. A sports follower, McCallum barracks for North Queensland in the NRL. I tried to contact McCallum last week for an update after his former boss told me he had left and was now an owner-operator. However I couldn’t get on to him and wish him the best of luck in his new venture.

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32 SPY ON THE ROAD

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Could these be among the country’s worst roads? SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON

Two of the worst roads The Tanami Track in the NT and the Ootann Road in Queensland are often nominated by truckies when asked which are the worst roads they travel on. Road transport companies and drivers are sure to welcome news that funding is being provided to upgrade the Ootann Road, which links the Burke Developmental Road and the Kennedy Highway via the Atherton Tablelands and shaves a lot of time off a journey for truck drivers. For years, freight companies and truckies have made an excellent argument for major upgrades to politicians. Rest area sign praise The majority of truckies Spy

randomly speaks to around the ridges reckon there are not enough rest areas for heavy vehicles. But in recent months a percentage have been singing the praises of those blue signs along the highways which indicate where the rest areas are situated. Many new or updated signs have sprung up in recent times, much to the approval of drivers. Especially the ones which indicate the closest rest area and another further up the highway. “To know how far up the highway a rest area is located is a good thing and we can plan a stop even if it is for a short time,” one truckie said. During a recent trip around Queensland I noticed a lot more of these strategically placed signs. As a bonus, most have signs to advise what facilities the rest area has such as toilets, seats, shaded area, etc. Grey nomads invade NT Caravans are also appearing in large numbers recently on NT roads, according to

One of our readers sent this pic to Spy, taken at the Donnybrook Service Centre.

truckies who have contacted Spy. “The grey nomad numbers have picked up, especially on the Stuart Highway, so most have come from Victoria or South Australia,” a driver said. One other reason is that the roads are open after closures due to flooding. And the rising fuel costs

The blue rest area signs are getting the thumbs up from many truckies.

don’t seem to have had such an effect on the van numbers. “They just stay longer if they can find a suitable rest area and take up space trucks usually park at,” he said. He reckons the grey nomads can expect plenty of chats on their radios with truckies.

Roadhouse trucks Some drivers love snapping pics of trucks they see as they get around the country and sending them onto Spy. One lad was at the Donnybrook Service Centre parking area in Victoria when he came across a flashy truck which he liked. It was a Leocata’s Transport family business Western Star

and Spy contacted the company which is based at Tatura to get some info. I found it was heading back to Shepparton with bottles on. “This is one of our local trucks that runs Tatura to Melbourne and return daily. The 2016 Western Star has been owned from new and is powered by a Detroit DD15 motor and towing 34 pallet

BP at Darwin’s Truck Central.

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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

no financial worries. “I was going to be living on the Gold Coast in a pad which millionaires would relish,” he said. But then came the bad news. The caller was from a different art union trying to sell tickets. His disappointment was apparent.

An Australian Army Manitou Forklift is used to unload supplies from the trailer of a truck during Operation Flood Assist 2022.

Vawdrey trailers which are approximately two years old. The driver Curtis loves his Western Star,” one of the Leocata family members said. The truckie who sent the pic in said the Shell Coles Express at Donnybrook is located on the corner of the Hume Highway and Donnybrook Road. It is often used by people travelling to Melbourne Airport from the north, using the old Kalkallo Pub (est 1856) on the righthand side as a landmark and then stopping at the Donnybrook Shell for a fuel up and coffee before heading down Mickleham Road to Tullamarine. Truckies coming out of Melbourne often use it for a first stop after getting out of the city or their last stop before entering Melbourne’s road network. They have a separate area for truck drivers with showers. NT Trucks Another driver wanted to share with readers a pic of two Western Star 6900 trucks parked at the BP Truck Central in Darwin. “They are both owned by the company I work for and I was driving one. There is plenty of parking for road trains here and the food is good,” he said. It is located at the corner of Wishart Road and Tiger Brennan Drive in Berrimah and is popular with truckies, being at the crossroads of the region’s

major heavy vehicle transport routes. Fuel prices In the past week I have spoken to numerous truck drivers employed by road transport companies about their thoughts on rising fuel prices. The company owners pay for the fuel and I asked what advice they had been given by their bosses regarding trying to save fuel. “As an employed driver, it just means we have to minimise fuel consumption and buy at the company’s preferred suppliers,” one told me. That was a fairly common answer. Believe it or not There is a south Oz driver who has been suffering discomfort after breaking three ribs. Mates have been asking him how he managed to break the ribs and his reply would have to rate in the “Believe or Not” category. “I was out camping and sleeping in a hammock and fell from it and landed on the ground,” he said. Army help During the New South Wales and Queensland floods, Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade rapidly deployed over 500 soldiers, 136 vehicles and vital equipment including dump trucks, bobcats and excavators. The Townsville troops joined flood relief efforts in

South East Queensland and Northern NSW during Operation Flood Assist. After experiencing the 2019 Townsville floods first hard, 3rd Brigade Commander Brigadier Kahlil Fegan said the north Queensland troops were delighted to help. The soldiers and vehicles were on the ground in Evans Head, NSW, helping the local community and emergency services. All tasking was co-ordinated and prioritised through State Emergency Operations Centres. Defence significantly increased its support to Operation Flood Assist 2022 in the flood aftermath, with more than 7000 personnel on task or available for tasking. Their work included aerial search and rescue, medical evacuation and reconnaissance, clearing routes in flood-affected areas, supporting communities in clean-up and the delivery of essential supplies to isolated areas. Popular with the wife There is a WA driver who like many enjoys a modest flutter on the poker machines when he manages to get time off. In his own words he doesn’t win a decent amount often but will cruise in to the local with $50 to “donate” from time to time. However on one occasion in mid March his luck changed – big time. In the space of an hour

this punter managed to win $2300, which he certainly welcomed. As is the case with many of those who enjoy a pokie flutter, this bloke doesn’t tell his wife. His reasoning which is quite understandable is that she whinges if he loses some of his hard earned. On the flip side, in the past cases of when he has won, she has claimed most of his windfall. In what his mates said was normally unpredictable behaviour, the truckie phoned his wife and soon after she arrived at the pub in the gaming area. He handed over $2300 and explained that it was not something he wouldn’t normally have done. “But I was concerned I would sit here for a while and lose it all. This way it is still there,” he said. The final outcome was that the wife accepted a gift of $500 from the two grand and our man now has newfound willpower. Winners are grinners? “Do you want the good luck news first or the bad luck news?” came the words from the mouth of a well-known truckie. He started by telling me that he took a ticket in a lottery for which the first prize was a luxury beachside house worth millions. Being one who keeps an

eye on when such things are drawn, he decided to stay home hoping to receive the phone call to say he was the winner. He knew the odds were long about his number being drawn but around the advised time he did receive a call on his mobile and placed it on loud speaker for the wife to hear. “I am from the Art Union,” were the first words muttered by the friendly caller. Could this be the good news? I’ll let old mate continue to let readers know about the excitement he felt and his anticipation for a bright future with

Lookalikes popular Over the years Spy has come across those involved in the road transport industry and offshoots who are genuine lookalikes of famous people. Those who come to mind include southern Tasmanian driver Greg Cunliffe whose nickname is Lurch. Huon Valley based Lurch is happy with that and told Spy it is because he looks like Lurch from the Addams Family. Some others have been clones of US President Joe Biden, Shrek and actor Richard Gere to name a few. The latest one to come to the attention of Spy is chef Michael Fernihough who works at the Caiguna Roadhouse in WA. Many consider him to be a lookalike of Chumlee – a star of the television series Pawn Stars. With all the doom and gloom in the world and the challenges facing the road transport industry, conversations with these lookalikes are often humorous. “Michael is a character, not as stupid as Chumlee but just as funny,” one of the Caiguna Roadhouse bosses told me.

WA Roadhouse chef Michael Fernihough is a lookalike of Chumlee from the TV show Pawn Stars.

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New dashcams empower truckies to improve safety

TRUCK drivers are the backbone of our economy – they keep Australia moving, yet it’s a job fraught with danger. From fatigue and wild weather to unforeseen hazards, navigating the roads day in and day out is a difficult job. A recent study found that over 70 per cent of truckies had a near miss once per week on average. Given these statistics, the industry can’t afford to put safety on the back-burner: improving truck driver safety must be a priority, and advanced technology like the Smart Dashcam is making that a whole lot easier. The AI-powered devices are more than just a camera. They offer drivers a unique opportunity: the ability to take their safety, and ultimately their lives, into their own hands. Here’s how Smart Dashcams empower truckies to improve their own safety. Real-time alerts Smart Dashcams combine the power of AI technology with telematics data and advanced onboard sensors to detect issues from both inside and outside the vehicle and alert drivers in real-time. These alerts

Risky driving behaviours such as harsh braking and cornering, speeding, following distance, and traffic violations are caught early before becoming an issue. The device instantly provides audible warnings to drivers, giving them the chance to correct their driving immediately to improve safety without the need for outside intervention.

Smart Dashcams combine the power of AI technology with telematics data and advanced onboard sensors to detect issues from both inside and outside the vehicle.

are invaluable; truck drivers often travel long distances, making it more likely that they’ll miss or respond slowly to hazards as fatigue sets in. It essentially gives truckies a second pair of eyes. Though,

unlike a human, the Smart Dashcam never blinks and never sleeps. It records and analyses 100 per cent of driving time, meaning drivers are never left to fend for themselves on the road. Its wide

angle and low-light sensors capture the road surrounding the vehicle and any noteworthy activity inside the vehicle, such as distracted driving, excessive yawning, and other key metrics.

Driver coaching The Smart Dashcam comes equipped with built-in scorecard and coaching features to create long-term, safe driving habits and build on an organisational culture of wellbeing. All events are recorded, including positive events where the driver has performed admirably, and they’re displayed on a visual dashboard. The board gives clear insight into how drivers are performing and improving based on safety and performance metrics. Through an app on their phone, truckies can view their events and watch their footage, along with their metrics. The app provides virtual feedback that drivers can review and use to improve their onroad habits. This system im-

proves safe driving habits and gives truckies fair insight into their performance. If drivers need extra training to address key issues, companies can use the analytics and footage to invest in personalised individual training rather than relying on a generalised approach. As the Smart Dashcam can detect positive events and track improvements via the scorecard feature, it creates an opportunity for businesses to reward drivers with incentives for reaching safety targets. It’s a win-win for everyone; drivers can reduce their risk and give their families the peace of mind they deserve while being rewarded. More than just a camera The Smart Dashcam is designed to be transparent and constructive: it’s a positive tool to create a culture of safety, and rather than just recording footage, it detects, analyses, and reports to deliver optimum value for drivers. It’s the helping hand truck drivers need when out on the road, and it has the very real ability to reduce incidents – and save truckie lives.

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Woolies trials new eco trailers in Australian first

WOOLWORTHS Group is trialling an innovative new ‘e-axle trailer’ which uses kinetic energy from its own axle and wheels to generate electricity. In an Australian first, it has been deployed in Queensland and is being trialled by Woolworths’ supply chain and logistics arm, Primary Connect The electricity generated through the axle feeds a battery, which can run the refrigeration system and reduce the diesel consumption. According to Woolworths, the trailer significantly reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate emissions through the removal of both diesel generators and 200L fuel tanks. Trailers throughout the Primary Connect fleet normally consume two litres of fuel per hour, with each trailer refrigeration system being used for an average of eight hours per day. Given the minimum life of a trailer is 10 years, the new e-axle trailer would save over 5000 litres of fuel, equating to 13.2 tonnes of CO2 over that period. The new trailer was created in partnership with Carrier Transicold (fridge and battery solution), SAF Holland (e-axle) and MaxiTRANS (trailer manufacturer). Ben Newton, Primary Connect’s general manager strategy and partnerships says he’s pleased company has had the opportunity to put the first e-axle trailer on the road in Australia. “At Woolworths, we want to build a better tomorrow for generations to come, and this is an important step in our path towards reducing emissions in our road transport operations,” he said. Phillip Farrugia, Primary Connect’s national fleet manager added, “The trial not only helps reduce emissions, but also runs more quietly, meaning less disruption through residential community areas. “We’ll keep a close eye on the impact of this technology on our emissions profile and look at its potential for broader

The new ‘e-axle trailer’ is being trialled in Queensland by Woolworths’ supply chain and logistics arm, Primary Connect.

AT WOOLWORTHS, WE WANT TO BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN OUR PATH TOWARDS REDUCING EMISSIONS IN OUR ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS.” BEN NEWTON

deployment across the fleet.” Stephen Elford, Carrier Transicold Australia-New Zealand’s managing director commented, “When it comes to innovation, our ultimate goal is to develop solutions that matter for people and the planet, a value we share with Woolworths Group’s

Primary Connect. “We believe the Vector eCool represents the future of refrigerated trailer technology. This fully electric trailer refrigeration unit operates autonomously without the need for a diesel engine. “It’s one of the most exciting new products we have ever brought to market and we are delighted to have partnered with Woolworths Group to deliver the first unit of its kind in Australia.” If proved successful, Woolworths Group and Primary Connect hope to scale the new technology across its fleet of over 800 refrigerated trailers. The e-axle trailer is one of a number of sustainability initiatives across the group, that aims to support the delivery of a 63 per cent reduction in Scope 1 emissions by 2030.

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Good maintenance starts with Eaton lubricants

Eaton FE 75W-90 synthetic gear lubricant is an API GL-5 extreme pressure lubricant designed to promote longer gear life and better operating economy.

Eaton’s PS-386 synthetic transmission lubricant is designed for fuel efficiency, extended drain intervals, and severe service in heavy-duty commercial vehicle transmissions.

IN promoting transmission component reliability and longevity, proper lubrication is the key to a sound and effective maintenance program. Without effective lubricants at proper levels and temperatures, remaining maintenance procedures will not keep components functional. Synthetic lubricants have proven to be superior to petroleum products and represent opportunities to promote superior maintenance and bottom line operating performance while significantly extending component service life and reliability.

lubricants and suppliers can be found at Roadranger. com in the approved Lubricant Supplier Manual, TCMT0020.

It is important to perform a daily pre-trip inspection of drivetrain components for lubricant leaks. Leaks should be brought to the attention of maintenance and immediate corrective action should be taken. Extended drain synthetic lubricants offer superior thermal and oxidative stability for extended product performance and reliability. The superior performance characteristics of these lubricants enable component manufacturers to offer extended drain intervals and extended warranties. Added benefits include a

more efficient drivetrain that translates into proven fuel economy savings over mineral based lubricants. It is important to use the lubricants that are approved for the current specifications set forth by each component manufacturer. Look for the appropriate approval code on the container. To identify approved lubricants – look for the ‘Eaton Approved Lubricant’ label on the container. Note: Use of Eaton Approved Lubricant logo is now mandatory. The full list of approved

Benefits of using approved lubricants Lubricants must meet rigorous test criteria set by the component manufacturer to ensure performance and long life. Approved lubricants are designed to work with the specific component. When improper or unapproved lubricant is used, several problems can occur. Benefits of using approved

GET THE EATON LUBE INTO YOUR AXLES! Eaton 80W-140 synthetic gear lubricant is an API GL-5 extreme pressure lubricant designed to promote longer gear life and better operating economy, thus improving fuel economy in heavy, mid and light-duty applications. It is formulated using synthetic base stock, which has a high viscosity index and an exceptionally low pour point.

lubricants: • Oil formulation is tested per component manufacturer’s specifications • Reduced wear on components such as gears and bearings • Longer life by reducing operating temperatures • P revention of corrosion, especially when copper coolers are used • E xcellent cold temperature performance • M aintain extended warranty coverage Risks from not using approved lubricants are: • S hortened bearing life • Seal leakage

WITHOUT EFFECTIVE LUBRICANTS AT PROPER LEVELS AND TEMPERATURES, REMAINING MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES WILL NOT KEEP COMPONENTS FUNCTIONAL.” • Reduced fuel economy • Shortened copper cooler life • Loss of warranty coverage For more information contact Eaton on 1300 432 866, or visit roadranger.com.

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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Direct Couriers move ahead with 10 new UD Quons

TRANSPORT giant Direct Couriers has expanded its fleet with an order for 10 Quon prime movers from UD Trucks. With five Quons already delivered and the remaining five arriving soon, Direct Couriers is stepping up to the challenge of an ever-increasing demand for delivery of goods by road all over Australia. “Our expansion over the past couple of years has been dramatic,” said managing di-

rector Barry Reichman. “And to maintain our high level of service we urgently needed more vehicles on the road. We were in the market for ten new prime movers and UD Trucks made it easy for us to choose the Quon.” When the company started back in 1983, Direct Couriers consisted of a few vans and cars that serviced advertising agencies around Sydney. Today the company has a fleet of more than 1200 driv-

The Quon is the ideal truck for Direct Couriers’ diverse demands.

ers and vehicles, with more than 250 office staff in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland in New Zealand. This astonishing growth looks set to continue and has resulted in the company diversifying as it expanded. “We use everything from one-tonne vans right up to prime movers and that’s because we’re across a broad range of tasks: same-day metropolitan courier and taxi truck hire, e-commerce home delivery services, refrigerated transport and contract logistics,” said Reichman. “We also run a linehaul service between Sydney and Melbourne.” Such a diverse range of delivery tasks demands flexibility from the fleet, and the Quon is the ideal truck for many of these jobs. “The Quon is very adaptable to multiple tasks which was a major requirement for us,” added Reichman. “It also met our emission standards requirements and demonstrated excellent fuel efficiency, so it’s ticking all the boxes.” With service reliability as

Direct Couriers is well placed to continue expansion, with UD Trucks along for the ride.

their main objective, Direct Couriers also took advantage of a UD Trucks Service Agreement to ensure the vehicles would always be ready for action. “The service agreement means we don’t have to worry about maintenance and reliability, because UD Trucks handle everything,” said Reichman. “The agreement gives us

zero downtime and predictable servicing costs, and best of all we can be certain that these Quons will be with us for many years to come and give us maximum value for money.” With customers ranging from all the major players in the international freight forwarding industry, healthcare and medical industries along with major e-com-

merce players in the market place, Direct Couriers is well placed to continue its expansion, and Reichman expects UD Trucks to be along for the ride. “UD Trucks were able to provide these vehicles when we needed them and have been great to work with, and we’re looking forward to buying many more vehicles from UD Trucks into the future.”

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44 COLUMN contributors@bigrigs.com.au

TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE contributors@bigrigs.com.au

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

It’s a federal government betrayal of our workers EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

james.graham@bigrigs.com.au

TWU NEWS

TWU NEWS RICHARDOLSEN OLSEN RICHARD TWU NSW State Secretary TWU NSW/QLD State Secretary

THE federal government has proved once again it is not on the side of those who work in transport. Drivers should be aware that the federal government has rejected suggested reforms in a landmark Senate report that calls for reform of Australia’s deadliest industry is a shocking betrayal of the people who drive business forward. Their rejection report was quietly snuck out during the chaos of the federal budget period. What’s been rejected? A two-year consultation of the industry, drivers and operators. The Without Trucks, Australia Stops report from the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry headed by Senator Glenn Sterle, made recommendations that lifted standards, made the

TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS contributors@bigrigs.com.au

industry safer, and supported the long-term future of Transport in Australia. Truck drivers and operators supported the recommendations made in the report. LEGAL EAGLE We cannot ROWAN KING now forget what Principal is in Lawyer effectRK Law a betrayal of you and the work you do by this government. There were 10 recommendations in the report, widely supported by industry. Zero will be implemented by the federal government. Four have been outright rejected which includes the means to independently set enforceable standards in road transport, and a standing Transport Advisory Group consisting of drivers, operators, and unions to help inform government decision-making. The federal government has arrogantly walked away from its responsibility to our industry. Greater transparency on investigations into truck accidents, and upgrades to truck facilities and rest stops have simply been ‘noted’. No action, no response to the many calls from right across this industry to help manage fatigue properly, so

It’s clear to the TWU that the PM is missing in action again when it comes to ending the crippling pressures truck drivers and operators face every day. Photo: Facebook

that truck drivers get home safely to their families. Reform is a national priority for Australia’s deadliest industry. The crippling pressures transport workers face every day are not addressed by this level of inaction. Mr Morrison and his ministers owe you a response that shows they care about the job you do. They owe you a duty of care on the financial costs

like Transurban toll roads, fuel bills and more and the personal costs like the hours you have to put in to run a sustainable business, the road trauma and the pressures you face to do the job. It’s clear to the TWU that the Prime Minister is missing in action again when it comes to ending the crippling pressures truck drivers and operators face every single day.

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It is well known that road transport is Australia’s deadliest industry, with low-cost contracts demanded by wealthy supermarkets, retailers, manufacturers and oil companies at the top of supply chains squeezing those supply chains. Compounded by gig companies like Amazon undercutting traditional transport operators, the result is an industry rife with underpayments,

pressure to overload, skip rest breaks and drive fatigued. The pressure this industry faces is fatal, around 37 drivers have died at work since the Sterle report was released. Supply chain chaos will continue until there is reform. Mr Morrison, will you look into the eyes of a grieving partner of a truck driver who has died for lack of reform in our industry?

COLUMN 45

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Federal budget hits and misses efficiency on our road, rail, sea and air freight networks. It’s not – or shouldn’t be – about one mode or jurisdiction getting more or less investment; it’s about allocating transport infrastructure funding towards new and existing projects, and repairs and maintenance, to enable seamless freight connections between planes and ships, and trucks and trains, and ultimately to the customer. On this measure we welcome Victorian transport infrastructure investments that will get us closer to better intermodal connectivity, particularly funding for intermodal freight terminals in the north and west of Melbourne. While there may be some conjecture between the Victorian and Commonwealth governments about how these projects should be prioritised, what’s important is that these terminals become operational as quickly as possible to create the better connections we need between the Port of Melbourne and interstate rail and road infrastructure servicing the rest of Australia. These and other transport infrastructure investments in

VTA COMMENT PETER ANDERSON CEO, Victorian Transport Association

WHILE the recent federal budget contained some welcome investments in transport infrastructure and funding for skills and apprenticeships, the allocation of funds throughout our national federation represented something of a missed opportunity to better support resiliency in our supply chains. Questions being asked about whether some jurisdictions have missed out or haven’t received their fair share of investments on a per capita basis, miss the bigger point about how best transport infrastructure investments should be allocated. From purely a freight and logistics perspective, what we need are investments that will propel us further towards the ultimate goal of better intermodal connectivity to be able to maximise productivity and

the budget are critical for attaining the intermodal connectivity our freight networks need, which will ultimately benefit operators of every mode of transport. With positive steps being taken towards transport infrastructure, the next priority needs to be getting legislative and regulatory conditions right to support the free and seamless movement of freight, and in a way that creates productivity gains for operators and safer conditions for every transport worker. This extends to improving local access rules and regulations and removing the red tape and bureaucracy that leads to confusion for drivers about where and when they can travel on certain roads. Eased travel restrictions on heavy vehicles servicing supermarkets and other essential retailers during Covid proved the freight industry can safely undertake this work at night, and in the process ease congestion on the roads for other motorists during the day. These are the kind of common-sense learnings we should be taking from the pandemic and retaining going forward,

The VTA says the government’s ‘solution’ to rising fuel prices provides a disproportionate benefit to motorists compared to the freight industry.

rather than going back to the old status quo way of doing things. In fact, with public transport usage still well down on pre-pandemic levels, road congestion is worse than ever in most major cities – especially Melbourne where latest figures report only a 15 per cent occupancy of CBD offices, with most people still working from home. Elsewhere in the budget, the VTA is deeply disappointed in the reduction of the fuel excise at the pump. The government’s response provided a disproportionate benefit to motorists compared to the freight industry. After factoring in the Road User Charge (RUC) and loss of

the Fuel Tax Credit, operators only get 4.3 cents per litre of fuel excise relief, underscoring why the VTA had advocated for the RUC to be adjusted as a lever for reducing transport costs. Our customers are expecting the full 22.1 cents reduction in cost calculations, however the road freight industry has not and will not get to this level of cost reduction. Consumers well may have a lower fuel bill because of the temporary halving of the excise, but they shouldn’t expect a dramatic reduction in the costs of food, groceries and medicines because freight operators have little – if any – fuel savings to pass on. As we have consistently said,

operators need to continue passing on these higher business costs through the supply chain to avoid exposing themselves to undue risk of financial ruin. Looking at budget investments in skills and apprenticeships, the VTA will be advocating very strongly for heavy vehicle drivers to be included in an eligibility priority list given the labour shortages that are rife across the industry. The pathway to professionalising the heavy vehicle driver is through apprenticeships and training, highlighting the importance of the government recognising freight drivers as a priority skill, and allocating funding to help with their training.

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FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Time to tame the Bureaucratic Monster BUSINESS GURU GRAHAM COTTER Author of Don’t Suck the Pencils

WE have created a Bureaucratic Monster in our endeavours to make the road transport industry the perfect and safest industry sector. We haven’t thrown the baby out with the bathwater in these endeavours, we have thrown the baby into the bathtub and by sheer weight of numbers and with compliance and regulations we are drowning it. Step back for a moment and think about the bureaucracy involved in regulating, enforcing and supporting this critically industry sector. • F ederal transport ministers and the supporting public servants. • N ational Heavy Vehicle Regulator with all of the

supporting public servants. • F ive state governments ministers with all of the trappings and departments with all of the public servants. • Two Commonwealth Territories and departments with all of the public servants. • Over 200 industry organisations representing different transport industry sectors with all of the people these organisations employ. • C ountless government and private groups who provide the training and all of the ancillary needs to satisfy the endless amount of compliance and other regulatory requirements. • Probably missed a few so add them to your count. The list above is a giant Bureaucratic Monster that needs to be paid for and by who. Firstly, it is the road transport industry with the Australian taxpayer picking up the balance. Massive amounts of hard earned money that could be spent smarter to benefit the road transport industry and

more importantly Australia as a nation. In order to ensure the road transport sector pays more than their fair share, the Bureaucratic Monster has invented some of the most insane (words genuinely fail me) fines and monetary beaches that beggar belief. A very brief example of these:

Monetary penalties for clerical errors I can vouch for this as I do drive a truck on an irregular basis. I was pulled over by the Queensland Police on my way in the body truck doing a delivery to Mt Isa. An inspection of my work diary revealed that I had neglected to fill out in the front portion of my book registering where I had travelled from, penalty $800. It was very clear from the relevant page of my current diary. Further to this I hadn’t added up the driving and rest hours on the previous 30 or so

Step back for a moment and think about the bureaucracy involved in regulating, enforcing and supporting this critical industry sector.

This list of nonsense revenue raising which impacts directly on the driver is almost endless.

pages, penalty 30 x $172, or $5160, plus $17,200 possible fine for the company. Fortunately, the officer involved didn’t feel like doing the paperwork as each of the 30 instance had to be document separately. So, I got away with a very stern reprimand. Are these clerical error putting people’s lives at risk or are we making criminals out of good honest hard-working individuals? This list of nonsense revenue raising which impacts directly on the driver is almost endless and the reason good driver are leaving the industry. In my small to medium business management book, Don’t Suck the Pencils, I encourage business operators to step outside of their business and look at through the eyes of the key stakeholders. I would encourage the keys

people driving the Bureaucratic Monster to step out of their current world and revisit the world through the eye of the key stakeholder, the people who actually drive the trucks and keep this great nation moving. I would suggest without exaggeration that the ratio of people employed by the Bureaucratic Monster would be not less than four to one. Meaning that every time a long-distance transport operator steps into his truck, he has four or more people, who have never driven a truck, already in there telling him how to do his job. This Bureaucratic Monster is gobbling up valuable human resources and millions of hard earnt dollars but contributing very little if any productive wealth or benefit for the road transport industry or Australia

as a nation. Time to step back and look at this Bureaucratic Monster and ask ourselves how we can do this better and more importantly what really needs to be done to keep this critical industry sector running safely and efficiently as it possibly can. About the author: Graham Cotter’s passion is for small business, especially the road transport sector, and the significant role it plays in the Australian economy. Having both managed and owned a small-fleet operation for a number of years, Townsville-based Cotter has witnessed first-hand the difficulties small-business operators face in the day-to-day aspect of running a transport business and has now dedicated his life to assisting other business owners.

COLUMN 47

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

How to save money on your transport insurance INSURANCE GURU MARK BROWN Manager, TBI Insurance Services

FIRST and foremost, if you are serious about saving money, find a broker that specialises in transport insurance and one that makes an effort to get to know you and your business well. A good broker will explain the pitfalls of shopping for the cheapest price and hopefully prevent you from making one of the biggest and most common mistakes in business you could ever make - and that is taking out an insurance policy based on the price, rather than the amount of cover. The most effective way to manage the cost of your insurance is to minimise any potential claims and by implementing and advising your insurer of some of the following suggestions may result in lowering your premium. Risk management You need to actively manage the risk in your business by conducting regular toolbox meetings; these can be a very productive and cost-effective way of identifying certain routes that other drivers may not be aware of and also of any safety or potential incidents they may lead to a claim. Also discuss any recent accidents or potential incidents with the drivers to gauge their thoughts and input as to how it had happened and possible ways to prevent it. Remember the best solutions to any prob-

lems will more often than not come from those out there doing it. Allocate work/trips to each driver according to their knowledge, familiarity and experience for each specific job. Keep the new or inexperienced drivers on the easier routes until you feel confident with their road craft attitude, driving ability, familiarity with the routes and the clients’ location and accessibility. If possible, minimise the need to drive through the night and early hours around sunrise, or if not possible, at least allow for more rest stops more often. Some other initiatives that may assist in your premium reduction would be to provide your insurer with an accurate description of the radius in which you operate, what percentage of your vehicles operate within each radius (city versus country) and what activities each vehicle conducts within that radius (types of freight carried). Then there’s the old chestnut ‘driver monitoring cameras’. Love them or hate them, they are here to stay and no, we are not going to get into the privacy issue that revolves around them, or whether or not they help prevent fatigue. However, they do assist in helping lower your insurance premiums. Once again, you need to let your insurer know if you do utilise them in your vehicles.

Increased excess By increasing your excess amount you are essentially ‘sharing’ the cost of any claim with the insurer, which could reduce your premium. However, beware, it may prove costly to you in the event of a claim for example; if your excess is $5000 per unit and you roll a B-dou-

A truck dashcam can provide valuable feedback when a claim may arise.

ble, then your accumulated excess would be $15,000 that you would be required to pay out of your own pocket at the worst possible time (when your truck is off the road and no income). Keep in mind that one of the biggest mistakes you can make whilst shopping for insurance is to base your decision on the price alone. Cost recovery Whilst a dashcam may not help reduce your initial premium, it may assist to keep your premium from increasing. A dashcam can provide valuable feedback when a claim may arise and if it can help prove the other party is at fault in a claim, it may help the insurer recover some cost of the claim, therefore reducing the total cost of all claims on your claims history, of which all insurers take into

account when calculating your premiums. Some smaller versions on telematics can also provide feedback on how drivers are driving eg: harsh braking, speeding, what routes and the G-force when cornering and some may also assist to claim fuel credits via geo mapping. Insurers are generally most interested in clients who can demonstrate they fully understand their business, their exposure to risk and how they actively try to manage / control / reduce their risk. The more favourable premium will be provided to the clients that can demonstrate that they are actively trying to reduce their risk. Pitfalls to avoid Avoid being tempted to underinsure the value of your trucks or trailers, as underinsurance

can cost you significantly should you be unlucky enough to have a claim. You must always report any incident large or small to your insurer, however, if it is only minor damage to your own vehicle and no other third party has been involved, you can submit the claim as a ‘report only’ and pay for the damage yourself, an example of this may be minor damage from hitting a kangaroo. If you make multiple small claims you are demonstrating to any potential insurer that you are more than likely to make a claim on them for anything and everything. It’s not just the dollar amount of claims that insurers look at when calculating your premium, but also the number and frequency of claims. Just like you, an insurance

company is a business. So, before you start banging on about getting a cheaper premium ask yourself this question: “What would you insure ‘you’, if you were the insurance company?” Important: All information contained within this article should be considered as General Advice Only. This advice should only be considered as General in Nature and its intent is only to prompt the readers to investigate their own individual insurances. It has been prepared without taking into account the readers own individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of that, before acting on the above advice, the client or any persons should consider its appropriateness (having regard to their objectives, needs and financial situation) and seek further independent advice from their own financial advisor.

COLUMNS 87

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JUNE 26 2020

48 PUZZLES

Sad day for all in transport

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 3

7 8 9 10 11

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

SUDOKU

THIS article is the ending of an era for the transport industry with the demise of this magazine the restruc14 15 under 16 ture and rationalisation of News Corp. It is a sad day for all of us in the 19 industry as Big Rigs maga20 zine has been a part of our lives for almost 30 years. For some, their entire careers so far. 22 It will leave huge gap as the editors and staff have supported the industry, provided fair and rational debate and given everyone a fair say in industry doings to all, as well as stories, pictures and news of our peoEASY ple, our trucks and our unsung heroes. Our lives will be the poorer for its demise; being a columnist for Big Rigs for the past year and half has allowed me to fulfil yet another childhood dream, to write, and it has given me great pleasure and I hope it has at least been enjoyed by some. While so many are focused on the negatives of the industry, I have tried to focus on the

positives aspects or those issues about which I am most passionate and have a chance of making a contribution to change. I began writing column when I was returned as Transport Women Australia Limited chair in 12 November 2017. In the interim, TWAL has had many successes and achievements. It has expanded 17 the relationship with Girl Guides Australia 18 and been involved with several successful projects with them, the Victorian Snoozefest in April 2018, the “Great Bag Migration” for the Interna21 tional Jamboree in Sydney in October 2018 and other interactions that are expanding the knowledge of the transport in23 dustry. We launched the Women Driving Transport Careers initiative with our partners Wodonga TAFE and Volvo Group at the 2018 TWAL Creating Connections conference. This initiative has been in hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic but all partners are excited to move forward to expand the program as soon as possible. We held a well attended and exciting conference in May 2018 and we have plans in place with the date saved and venue booked for our Driving the Difference 2021 conference

6 What are open spaces in cities (6) 12 Name the master of an inn, etc (8) 13 What is an alternative term for briskness (8) 15 Name a Roman statesman, orator and writer, Marcus ... (6) 16 Which term implies “three times” (6) 17 Who is responsible for the activities of a newspaper (6) 20 What is an authoritative decree, sanction or order (4)

Across

1 Name a kind of celestial being (6) 7 Bib and brace refers to which item of clothing (8) 8 What is a superior grade of morocco, used for book binding (6) 9 To thaw out, is to do what (8) 10 To be insane is to be what (6) 11 Which term describes inactivity (8) 14 A native of Edinburgh is a what (8) 18 What is the given name of Mr Moore, the associate of Peter Cook (6) 19 To be derisive, is to be what (8) 21 Which term describes blunt in form (6) 22 Name a reclining type of seat (8) 23 What are funeral songs (6)

Down

1 Who is commonly regarded as the first European to discover America (8) 2 What are baked dinners called (6) 3 Name a disease of the nervous system -often fatal (8) 4 What is money or riches known as (4) 5 In which establishment are food and drink served (6)

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Across: 1 Cherub, 7 Overalls, 8 Levant, 9 Unfreeze, 10 Mental, 11 Idleness, 14 Scotsman, 18 Dudley, 19 Scornful, 21 Obtuse, 22 Armchair, 23 Dirges.

Down: 1 Columbus, 2 Roasts, 3 Botulism, 4 Pelf, 5 Tavern, 6 Plazas, 12 Landlord, 13 Spryness, 15 Cicero, 16 Thrice, 17 Editor, 20 Fiat.

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS: Jacquelene Brotherton (far right) enjoys a night of celebration at a Transport Women Limited event with (from left) Rachel Hesse, Paul Fleiszig and Coralie Chapman. Picture: Contributed

in Melbourne. 1 2 In November 2019 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the organisation (TWAL) with a fabulous gala dinner at The Windsor Melbourne where we also presented our first four winners 8 of the Driving the Difference scholarships with our amazing sponsor, Daimler Truck and Bus Asia Pacific.12 We also presented the inaugural Trish Pickering Mem-

orial Award, 3 sponsored 4 by the wonderful Wes Pickering. This was awarded for longterm outstanding contribution by a female7to the road transport industry, the inaugural winner was Pam McMillan the 9 longest serving director and chair of Transport Women Australia Limited. This is an annual award and the recipient of the 2020 Trish Pickering Memorial Award

will 5 be announced later this 6 year at an event still to be determined. We have also launched our Learning Initiatives Breakfast Series with several partners so far, including NTI, MOVE BANK 10and rt health. 11 In early 2020 the Creating Connections Mentoring program was finally ready to commence with both mentors and mentees signing up to the pro-

Across gram. 1 I would Blamelike to thank the 5 Explode fantastic teammildly at Big Rigs 7 Heathen newspaper for their incredible support and wish them on8 Dwellings going success. 10 Lair that Ion get the oppor12I hope Depend tunity to continue to work with 13 Insect some of them and so work to14 Frozen shower wards making the trucking in16 Saintly dustry a better appreciated, 17 a School of whales and safer place for our peo18 Airtight grain store ple. 20 23 24 25 26

Greyish brown Musical dramas Myth Domestic animal Effaces

Fighting to end the inequality: Big Rigs and TWU played their parts 17 16 HARD

U S P D E E L N T Y S O B L E

P I P E R E A S Y

P O P G A N D E N I A I L D O A R A S N P A S E S

H O L E

HARD

18 23

industry as dry as they can. They want operators to meet their unrealistic deadlines and take on more freight for less or they face the risk of

MOORE TRAILERS

PITTSWORTH PHONE (07) 4693 1088 Fax (07) 4693 1545 email: sales@mooretrailers.com.au www.mooretrailers.com.au V1 - IBRE01Z01MA

losing their contracts and the ability to support their 19 families. It appears the government does not care. There are unsafe vehicles, dodgy licences, poor payment times, wage and superannuation theft – just a few of the many things we have called for to be stopped. A reminder to governments and the transport industry clients: the industry that has kept Australia moving during the pandemic is facing an uphill battle. Employer groups should be standing alongside transport workers to unite for a safer and fairer industry.

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Accuse, 5 Pop, 7 Pagan, 8 Abodes, 10 Den, 12 Rely, 13 Ant, 14 Hail, 16 Holy, 17 Pod, 18 Silo, 20 Dun, 23 Operas, 24 Fable, 25 Dog, 26 Erases.

A C C H J A B O R R A H O L O D U N F A D O G

EASY

policy that should be keeping safe one of the most dangerous industries in Australia. To quote one truck driver turned Australian senator, 20 “a death 21 at work 22 Glenn Sterle, or on the road should not be the price of doing business”. The TWU puts24 it to governments that we must stop the inequality that exists between truck drivers and clients. 25must be paid proper Drivers rates, owner-drivers must be able to trust they will be paid properly for the work they do and on time. Families depend on this. Many of the ongoing problems that occur are down to the big clients squeezing our

Down: 1 Ajar, 2 Choral, 3 Spelt, 4 Easy, 5 Pad, 6 One, 9 Deny, 11 Nil, 14 Hole, 15 Adorns, 16 Hod, 17 Piper, 18 Sole, 19 Asps, 21 Ufo, 22 Nag.

THIS is the end of an era, the last TWU column in the trusted transport industry publication Big Rigs. Over the years the TWU and Big Rigs have played their parts in the role of keeping the top end of town accountable and doing our bit to look out for the rights of the little guy. It’s still about the voice that speaks out for the truck driver,

the owner and the employee. It’s been the voice that calls out for fair pay for the work you do, for safety in the drivers’ cab and on the road, the voice that seeks to relieve the pressure on the driver pushed by clients’ incessant cries for increased productivity for the same rates and conditions. It is obvious we still have a long way to go – we have been through countless road, freight and transport ministers and nothing changes. Truck drivers are still dying at work. It’s a pretty safe bet to say this is due to the lack of strong government policy in place,

A final reminder to all Big Down Rigs readers: now is the time to 1 Partly open unite, now is the time to ensure 2 Ofina this choirindustry. equality 3 Together Kind ofwe wheat can stand on 4 Not ground difficult working to common 5 Cushion ensure the government continues support transport work6 toUnited ers the industry they 9 and Refuse support. 11 No score TWU will continue to 14TheCavity voice the needs of transport 15 Embellishes workers to the employers, 16 Bricks trough their industry bodies and the 17 Scottish musician clients. 18Better Partstandards of the footmean job 19 Serpents security and ultimately a safer 21 fairer Flying saucerfor all. and industry can lift horse the standards 22WeInferior (coll) we need together – our lives depend on it.

More Trailer For Your Money

ANZAC DAY PUZZLES 49

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

ALFAKODO ANZAC CROSSWORD 1

21 Outfit with 37 Old warhorse (7) Across A V×V N B+M weapons (3) 38 Travel on snow (3) 1 Temporary camp 24 Opposed to (4) (7) 39 Remembrance B S-Q 16 O B-O 25 Strike tents (6) flowers (7) 5 RAAF personnel (7) 10 27 Expiates (6) 40 ANZAC soldiers (7) 9 Where the Battle of C V×P P O-C 2 Britain took place 29 ANZAC Day (3) gambling game Down D F-M Q H÷V 14 15 (3-2) 10 Conflict where 1 Chamfers (6) ANZAC battalions 31 Member of AAMWS 2 Spectacles (5) 17 E M+W R O+P fought (7) (5) 3 Bone (4) 11 Self-propelled 32 New Zealand 4 Pitch tents (4) 20 F C×X 24 S A+K weapon (7) soldier (4) 5 Land fighting force 12 Spy (3) 33 Armed forces’ 22 (4) G R+X T G+O social and meal 14 “___ we forget” (4) 6 Peril (4) venue (4) 16 Bench (4) 7 Hold aloft (5) 34 Ardent (4) H Q×V U M+C 17 Main base at 8 Laid in ANZAC Day 35 Male deer (4) 25 26 Gallipoli (5,4) ceremony (6) 22 Activity done in 33 I Q×X V H-K 3 13 Sprint (4) 28 29 Down (7) 15 Armoured vehicle 23 Valour (7) J B+R W A+A crew (7) 26 Australian Army 16 Working in the Badge (6,3) K S-A X Z-H 36 military (7) 28 Tucks into (4) 18 Sectors (5) 30 Small pest (4) L A+P Y C-Q 19 Iris root powder (5) 33 Missing in action, 20 Prisoner of war, (abbr) (3) 39 S-Pin any direction, abbr (3) FindMtheseS÷V words in7the grid -Zthey run in (7)straight lines. 36 Worry © Denise Sutherland © Ken Egan - AK1251 The 22 leftover letters spell out an ANZAC Day symbol. Across ANZAC WORDFIND SPOT THE 10 DIFFERENCES

11 12

16 18

21 23 24 27 30 32

N V P O R L E R A R E N U R S E S W E O A

K LN S O M P I J A T S L A M K N M O F P R E O A N C T E L K I E N E E P R I L N S G C

U A+P R C S÷V N E S M C U A G M E P L B F R I A R V T E A R H Y H S C S U P O O L O S R E T

2 P 6 C

5 Q

10 21 22 13 R

3 V

18 W

4 X

1 Y

17 25 24 14 15 20 26 12 11 D

ALFAKODO

B I V O U AYC E I L A 7 Z V I E T N A M E W A P L E S T S A N Z A P N O C O O K I N G W E E D R I S I E A T S C W K M A G O N I S E M U W S P O P P I E S

AC-Q I R C R E I R I A S-P M I S S I L © Ken Egan - AK1251 R Y K S A S E A C C O V E E R R A B R A V E R A I I M N G S U N T G N A I A S U V E T E R A K I A S D I G G E R

19 Z 7 M

A T O N E S Y W R E A T H

F C×X 24 S A+K G R+X T G+O H Q×V U M+C I Q×X V H-K 3 J B+R W A+A The answer is : ROSEMARY FOR REMEMBRANCE ANZAC WORDFIND Rosemary for rememberance K S-A ANZAC Z-H CROSSWORD ANZAC DayXCrossword Answer

1. Sun in the sky, 2. Shoulder strap missing, 3. Nose line missing, 4. Button missing, 5. Pants lower down towards boots, 6. Soldier in background moved, 7. Explosion missing, 8. Extra part of barbed wire, 9. Donkey missing leg, 10. Anzac logo moved

SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES

1. (c) 1915; 2. Vietnam War; 3. Victoria; 4. Her (His) Majesty’s Australian Ship; 5. Iraq; 6. Johnny Young; 7. Afghanistan; 8. Joseph Cook, Andrew Fisher, Billy Hughes; 9. Poppy (red); 10. Returned Services League of Australia; 11. Korean War; 12. John Simpson Kirkpatrick, Duffy.

ANZAC DAY QUIZ

O I O R A I D R K R I S E T A M R C U I L

Solutions

W C P G L P A E W N M A R C H A I S T T L

SLOUCH HAT STAND-TO THE LAST POST

1. In what year was the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps formed? (a) 1913 (b) 1914 (c) 1915 (d) 1916 2. General Peter Cosgrove received a Military Cross for his service in which war? 3. The Puckapunyal Military Area is located in which Australian state or territory? 4. What does the acronym, HMAS, stand for?

N T D E I O L G R D I W L E N F M E E A I

MEDAL MEMORIAL SERVICES MESS

ANZAC DAY QUIZ

S O E N A L N I E A R T A S I A E R N R E

DAWN SERVICE DEFENCE DIGGER

Down

1. Temporary camp (7) 1. Chamfers (6) 5. RAAF personnel (7) 2. Spectacles (5) 9. Where the Battle of Britain 3. Bone (4) took place (3) 4. Pitch tents (4) 10. Conflict where ANZAC battalions 5. Land fighting force (4) fought (7) 6. Peril (4) 11. Self-propelled weapon (7) 7. Hold aloft (5) 12. Spy (3) 8. Laid in ANZAC Day ceremony (6) 14. "___ we forget" (4) 13. Sprint (4) 16. Bench (4) 15. Armoured vehicle crew (7) 17. Main base at Gallipoli (5,4) 16. Working in the military (7) 22. Activity done in 33 Down (7) 18. Sectors (5) 23. Valour (7) 19. Iris root powder (5) 26. Australian Army Badge (6,3) 20. Prisoner of war, abbr (3) 28. Tucks into (4) 21. Outfit with weapons (3) 30. Small pest (4) 24. Opposed to (4) 33. Missing in action, abbr (3) 25. Strike tents (6) 36. Worry (7) 27. Expiates (6) 37. Old warhorse (7) 29. ANZAC Day gambling game (3-2) Travelthe onwithdrawal snow (3) of Australia’s 31. Member of AAMWS (5) 9. Which flower is the symbol of 5.38. In 2009, remembrance of Zealand soldiers who have(4) combat contingent flowers from which 39. Remembrance (7) 32. New soldier died during wartime? country wassoldiers completed? 40. ANZAC (7) 33. Armed forces' social and meal venue 10. In September 2009,(4) Rear-Admiral 6. Who wrote the war-related song, 34. Ardent Ken Doolan became the President of Smiley, which was a hit for Ronnie 35. Male deer (4) which organisation? Burns in 1970? 11. The Battle of Kapyong was fought 7. Operation Slipper was the Australian during which war? Defence Force’s contribution to the war in which country? 12. Who was the most famous stretcher bearer from WWI, and what was the 8. Who were Australia’s three Prime name of his donkey? Minister’s during WWI? O R R E I I M M G W N M T R E D V P A N D

Find these words in the grid - they run in any direction, in straight lines. The 22 leftover letters spell out an ANZAC Day symbol. Allied forces Emu plume Lone charger Slouch hat RED POPPIES KNITTING SOCKSParade ALLIED FORCES Anzac Cove Front line Major general Peacekeeping Stand-to REGIMENT LAYING ANZAC COVE Army Gallipoli MarchWREATHSRAAF The Last Ppost Australia Graves Mates Rank Troops REVEILLE LEGACY ARMY Bravery Ground staff Medal Red poppies Two-up AUSTRALIA Honours LIEUTENANT Camp Memorial services Regiment RIFLEUnknown soldier Cannons Victoria Cross CHARGER Reveille RITUALS BRAVERY Iron rations LONEMess Command Jeep Missing in action Rifle War artists RSL WRANs MAJOR CAMP Dawn service Knitting socks NavyGENERALRituals Defence wreaths NCOS RSL Ypres SACRIFICE MARCH CANNONS Laying Digger Legacy New Zealand Sacrifice SERVE COMMAND Lieutenant MATES Drill Nurses Serve

L I O R Y S D E R N O E C I A R P Y N O F

R N S C A M P B R A V E R Y S S P O O R T

D A D A E S N N A S R A W R N R V E T R O

U C E M U G E L F I R T A H H C U O L S E

I C L L V E A T H E S A A Z E G T I E I R

N O I A S A K M F R O N T L I N E R L S C

E R S L O M M A C R F P A V E C S I C J C

K S P J T L M N O P E A C E K E E P I N G

R O C H C S M P E V Y E R F S A N O S E E

I D L O S N W O N C A I R O T C I V L D O R E D P O P L A R E N E G R O V E Y I A I L A R E S S I L O P I L A N D M N L A D E T N E M I G E R R H A R G E R W K A E S N W A D N R R S R O N R I M I E E F G H I J K L M A A E M T W A S N 25 11 E 7 U A 24W 14C15T20 A26 L12 R Z R I R S E C T R E N A E I N H A S R S T U V W X Y Z G R R D A F A M E 10 21 22 13 3 18 4 1 19 T V P V E M I R S © KenE EganS - AK1251 I E Y P R C W E T N A N E T U E I R O N R A T I O R O F D E I L L A

R S A O C T O U N I R E V E I L L E C T S

E R S L O M M A C R F D P 17 A V E Q C 5 S I C J C

E S N N A A C O O C S E V A R G A A F K S

R O C H C S M P E V Y C E R6 F S P A 2 N O S E E

G A N O Z N E W L E M U L P U M E U N E S

E R S S N A N O A C A T C O O U O N C I S R EA EB V9 V16 A E RN IO G L 23 8 A L A E F C K T S S

G R O U N D S T A F F R Y C A G E L T D D

G A N O Z N E W L E M U L P U M E U N E S

I M N R A T N O I T C A N I G N I S S I M

G R O U N D S T A F F R Y C A G E L T D D

I M N R A T N O I T C A N I G N I S S I M

Lest we forget D Y S S S O T S O P T S A L E H T B A N R

D Y S S S O T S O P T S A L E H T B A N R

Letters A to Z have a number value Some are shown in the right hand cells ALFAKODO Create remaining values using clues in centre cells

50 CAREERS AND TRAINING

FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truck salesman celebrates 40-year milestone

STARTING out as a truck detailer back in 1982, Russell Behan worked his way into truck sales, and has now celebrated his 40th anniversary with Crokers Truck

Centre in Mackay. Inspired by a love of trucks, a young Behan first started with Crokers on February 24, 1982. From truck detailer, he quickly moved

Crokers Truck Centre celebrated Behan’s 40-year milestone with a small celebration.

into the spare parts area. “Soon after this, the team noticed that Russ was always the first to move and drive the trucks for the sales staff, so he was asked if he would be interested in becoming a salesman – which he jumped at,” said Crokers Truck Centre. With his great memory, Russell was considered one of Crokers’ best ever parts staff – and though he’s been in truck sales for the past 28 years, he still remembers many of the parts today. From 1994 to 2013, Russell sold Volvo, Mack and Isuzu trucks. Now, as the company’s dedicated Isuzu salesman, Crokers says Russell is very knowledgeable. “He knows everything about every Isuzu truck,” the company said. “He has always been the Crokers ‘driving trainer’ – anyone in the business who has needed or wanted a truck licence, Russ was the one who taught them.” Crokers Truck Centre was started in 1977 and acquired by Western Truck Group (WTG) in mid 2021. WTG joined the Crokers team in congratulating Rus-

Russell Behan has been in truck sales for the past 28 years.

sell on achieving his work milestone. “WTG would like to say a huge congratulations to our Mackay Isuzu salesman Russell Behan on his 40th work anniversary.” Staff at the Mackay deal-

ership celebrated Russell’s achievements with a special presentation and morning tea, where sales manager Steve Knight presented him with a certificate and some well-deserved gifts.

“The team at Crokers Truck Centre, and the wider Western Truck Group staff, wish to say thank you to Russ for his hard work, dedication and service,” the company said.

TANKER MC Grain Tipper Truck Driver Wagga Wagga & Riverina T & A Transport is a family owned business running modern Kenworth B-double & Road Train tippers in Southern NSW & Victoria. Due to growth and business development we are looking for a professional, courteous, reliable and energetic driver to join our team. The successful applicant will be required to work both individually and as part of a team, be punctual and reliable, well presented as well as motivated to work in a rapidly growing business. You will be required to work away from home in the truck during the week and on weekends rarely outside of harvest time. An excellent work home life balanced is promised. Our work ranges from upcountry feedlots and feed mills to delivery into Southern shipping ports and container packers. The opportunity to work the East Coast harvest period from October to January is also available for the right candidate if desired.

An MC licence and ability to drive a Road Ranger gearbox is essential. Tipper and mass management experience will be looked on favourably. Above award wages pending experience to be paid as well as all full time job benefits. Your truck will be a 2021 model T610SAR with all trailers and dollies less than 5 years old. This position suits someone who lives in the Riverina or Murray area but not essential.

DRIVERS WANTED

Busy Transport company based in Oaklands, NSW is looking for Tanker Drivers. MC licence essential, previous experience an advantage.

We are a f rate of pay, good working conditions for well presented team players.

Please contact Tom on 0455 982 255 if you feel you fit the job criteria or wish to discuss further. Must be able to provide RMS printout of no more than 3 months of age as well as contactable referees.

Email a copy of your resume to admin@daysoak.com Or alternatively call Peter on 02 60354 354 or 0408 477 661

CAREERS AND TRAINING 51

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY APRIL 15 2022

Top Isuzu sales consultant takes seventh awards title

IAL national sales manager Les Spaltman congratulates Shane Hilder on his seventh win.

THREE leading sales competitors from across the Isuzu Trucks dealer network have gone head-to-head to compete for top honours in the company’s National Champion Sales Consultant competition. Three leading sales competitors are chosen to take part each year. Out of a pool of over 70 dealers, Simon Mariani of Gilbert & Roach (NSW), Shane Hilder of Webster Trucks (Tasmania) and Sedat Ciftci of North East Isuzu Shepparton (Victoria) were selected.

The National Champion Sales Consultant competition forms part of Isuzu’s Team Elite awards for 2021, which was recently held at the IAL Head Office in Truganina, Melbourne. National Champion Sales Consultant competition finalists are tested on their product knowledge, brand knowledge and truck model-specific knowledge. This includes completing a series of written and practical examinations, including simulated sales scenarios. Isuzu Australia Limited

(IAL) national sales manager, Les Spaltman, says the results were a close call, with Shane Hilder of Webster Trucks accumulating the highest points overall. It’s the seventh time Hilder has been crowned National Champion Sales Consultant. “Our hearty congratulations to Shane, who continues to be a credit to both his team and the Isuzu Trucks name,” said Spaltman. “Well done on an incredible achievement and for putting your knowledge into practice not only in the competition, but for the benefit of Isuzu’s customers over many years. “It’s a proud moment for me and I am grateful as always to call the passionate and committed people at Webster Trucks my team.“Most have been around for over 20 years, and with them there’s great rapport, product knowledge, and group spirit, which all contributes to our success.” Spaltman also congratulated the runners up. “Well done to Simon and Sedat who performed remarkably. Although falling just short of the top spot in second and third place, their hard work is appreciated, and

we hope to see them challenging their skills again in future Team Elite programs.” Isuzu’s Team Elite Awards has been running for 20 years, using a points-based competition format with generous incentives. Along with sales, awards are also presented to service and parts specialists. In the service category, Suresh Millar (North East Isuzu, SA), Dean Pollard (South West Isuzu, WA) and John Tsacos (Wagga Motors, NSW) accumulated the highest Team Elite points, taking out the top three spots for Service Manager excellence. When asked about the secret to his success, North East Isuzu service manager, Suresh Millar, said, “In three words: drive, vison and a ‘can-do’ work ethic. “This is more of a win for North East Isuzu as a whole, as the team have over the years pooled our individual efforts as a collective towards one desired goal – customer service excellence. Its mirrored is this award.” In the parts arena, David Canny (Major Motors, WA) Grant Davey (Wagga Motors, NSW) and Adrian Speck (Peel Valley Isuzu, NSW) emerged

as Team Elite’s top three parts managers across the country. “At Major Motors we always try to do our utmost for our customers, from the owner drivers right up to the global mining companies,” said Major Motors Group parts manager, David Canny. “Regardless of fleet size, it is always our aim to have the correct parts supplied in a timely manner. “I’d like to thank our customers for their continued support and our parts teams at all our branches. We are very fortunate to have great people who are loyal, dedicated and a

pleasure to work with.” Spaltman praised the efforts of all those taking part in this year’s awards. “In regard to all our 2021 Team Elite competitors, their performance is a great testament to their respective dealerships, proving their dedication in the field and a desire for continuous improvement. “It gives me great pleasure personally to recognise Shane, our 2021 sales champion, along with the winners in service and parts on behalf of my Isuzu colleagues,” he continued. “We are very proud to have such outstanding staff representing the Isuzu brand.”

(L-R): Les Spaltman (IAL), Sedat Ciftci (North East Isuzu Shepparton), Shane Hilder (Webster Trucks), Simon Mariani (Gilbert & Roach), Ben Madden (IAL) and Greg Moses (IAL).

Bitumen Sub Contractor TheTanker Opportunity

Fulton Hogan Transport currently have a vacancy for a tanker owner driver to join our transport teams based out of Dry Creek in South Australia, and Hazelmere in Western Australia. Reporting to the WA/SA Transport Manager, your primary duty   will be the transportation of bitumen products to our plants and customers.

The Opportunity

Fulton Hogan Transport currently have a vacancy for a tanker owner driver to join our transport team based out of Dry Creek in South Australia. Reporting to the WA/SA Transport Manager, your primary duty will be the transportation of bitumen products to our plants and customers. You will be Responsible for

Adhering to all Safety procedures to operate the Tanker Ability to work efficiently and effectively to deadlines

   

Accurate completion of all trip paperwork Work in accordance with all Fatigue Laws

You will be Responsible for • Adhering to all Safety procedures to operate the Tanker   • Ability to work efficiently and effectively   to deadlines  • Accurate completion of all trip paperwork • Work in accordance with all Fatigue Laws • Ability to work as part of a small team • Delivering hot bitumen to required sites and ensuring all safety regulations are adhered to during transportation Ability to work as part of a small team

Delivering hot bitumen to required sites and ensuring all safety regulations are adhered to during transportation

What we need from you?

Dangerous Goods License MC Driver License

Experience in the Asphalt industry an advantage

Willingness to travel and work away when required

White Prime Mover (Late Model) capable of towing a B-Double or Double Road Train

We Offer     

Continuous work Fulton Hogan Transport will provide training and all specialised PPE. Remuneration is paid twice monthly. If you are willing to work the opportunity is there to develop a very profitable and sustainable business for yourself. Fixed term cartage contract

Fulton Hogan Philosophy

We build and maintain critical infrastructure that connects and enhances communities across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Everything from roads and bridges, to airports and utilities. We're committed to ensuring the Good Work we do will make a positive difference to the quality of life for our people, our customers and the communities we all call home. Our continued success relies on generating new and diverse ideas, which is why our 'Good Work' culture encourages ownership and empowerment, while never forgetting the importance of balancing life's priorities.

What we need from you? • Dangerous Goods License • MC Driver License • Experience in the Asphalt industry an advantage, but not essential • Willingness to travel and work away when required • White Prime Mover (Late Model) capable of towing a Double Road Train

We Offer • Continuous work • Fulton Hogan Transport will provide training and all specialised PPE. • Remuneration is paid twice monthly. • If you are willing to work the opportunity is there to develop a very profitable and sustainable business for yourself. • Fixed term cartage contract

Sound like you?

If this sounds like and you would like to help build on our Good Work culture, then we would like to hear from you. In the First instance please contact Peter.Hug@fultonhogan.com.au WA/SA Transport Manager

Fulton Hogan Philosophy We build and maintain critical infrastructure that connects and enhances communities across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Everything from roads and bridges, to airports and utilities. We’re committed to ensuring the Good Work we do will make a positive difference to the quality of life for our people, our customers and the communities we all call home. Our continued success relies on generating new and diverse ideas, which is why our ‘Good Work’ culture encourages ownership and empowerment, while never forgetting the importance of balancing life’s priorities. Sound like you? If this sounds like and you would like to help build on our Good Work culture, then we would like to hear from you. In the First instance please contact Peter.Hug@fultonhogan.com.au WA/SA Transport Manager

Looking for a new career in the Heavy Vehicle Industry? West Orange Motors have a range of positions available across the dealership within Sales, Service & Parts. You will get the chance to work with industry leading brands such as Hino, Fuso, Freightliner & Mercedes–Benz Trucks. If you are thinking about a change, give us a call today: 02 6363 9900 & ask for Blair!

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