Big Rigs Oct 2, 2020

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

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02 NEWS 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 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 Tassie Truckin: Jon Wallis, 0414 797 513 Truckin in the Topics: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 David Meredith; Brent Davison; David Vile; Ian Lee. Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. All material is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or means. The opinions expressed in Big Rigs are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Award winners for 2020 named at online event VETERAN Darwin-based truckie Russell Lee was named National Professional Driver of the Year at the National Trucking Awards, which were held online for the first time due to coronavirus restrictions.

Lee has been a road train driver with Directhaul in the NT for more than 30 years and in that time driven an estimated 11 million kilometres while delivering more than 509 million litres of fuel.

In accepting his award during the ATA Live event, Lee paid tribute to all those who helped him along the way.

A finalist in the same category last year, Lee is described by his colleagues and management as safe, dependable, professional, trustworthy and hardwork-

ing. He is well-known for his extremely positive influence on Directhaul’s workplace culture.

Roslyn Anderson, CFO at Wales Truck Repairs, was named National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year.

Also a category finalist in 2019, Anderson grew up around trucks and has a long-standing passion for the industry.

Demonstrating a proven commitment to her business and relevant industry matters, Anderson is a member of the Transport Women Australia and Women in Transport Australia networks.

In 2018, Anderson also became a Transport Women Australia board member and was named winner of the Road

Rutherford-based SRH Milk Haulage won the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial prize at the National Trucking Awards.

Roslyn Anderson, National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year.

Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Trucking Industry, Robert Cavanagh.

Russell Lee, a popular winner of the National Professional Driver of the Year

Freight NSW Woman of the Year Award.

In the other individual award category announced during ATA Live – the online version of the annual Trucking Australia Conference – Robert Cavanagh, from Stockmaster Livestock Transport and Cavanagh’s Transport, won the coveted Outstanding Contribution to the Trucking Industry gong.

Cavanagh has more than 35 years’ experience in the industry and is an active and committed member of state and national rural road freight transport associations. He is a strong advocate for safety, technology and animal welfare

and is often recognised for his future thinking, ability to adapt to change, and an early adopter of technology and modern business practices.

He has served as President of the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, and has also held the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association. In 2018 he was awarded an ALRTA life membership in recognition of his significant contribution to the organisation and to the promotion of rural transport as a sustainable, responsible and safe contributor to Australia.

The two other award win-

ners were Truganina-based Chemtrans which picked up the National Training Excellence prize, and SRH Milk Haulage, which won the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award.

SRH Milk Haulage is a family-owned business from Rutherford, NSW, that began with one truck and tanker in 1996 and has grown to a business with 63 trucks and 110 tankers, servicing areas in NSW, Western Australia and Victoria.

SRH Milk Haulage has been a member of TruckSafe since 1998 and believe that their accreditation has helped shaped the business they are today.

NEWS NEWS05 3

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JUNE 26 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

Project focuses Caravanners canon befatigue fined $266 for taking your space

11 operators sign on for monitoring tech ELEVEN transport companies across a diverse range of freight sectors and fleet sizes have signed on to take part in the operational phase of a groundbreaking safety study.

Their trucks will be fitted with Gen 2 Guardian Seeing Machines and inform research from data collected over the next 24 months.

The joint Eyes on Fatigue project between the Queensland Trucking Association in

underway and start gathering data from fleets driving on the freight networks around the country,” said Gary Mahon, QTA CEO. “We are pleased to be involved in a project that is proactive about the major causal factors contributing to heavy vehicles accidents being fatigue, driver distraction/inattention.”

Neil Singleton, Insurance Commissioner at MAIC said his organisation was pleased to QTA CEO Gary Mahon, centre, was joined by drivers from Nolan’s be able to fund this trial and and J.R Stephens to shoot an educational video for caravanners. evaluation of driver monitorIT’S GREAT TO HAVE technology in the TOUGHER new PHASE laws are ingWhen Big Rigs askedheavy for THE OPERATIONAL vehicle industry. now in play in Queensland clarification on what the fines OF THE PROJECT “Webe, arewe keen support reaimed at stopping motorists would gottothis emailed search which the inciUNDERWAY STARTheavy response from using AND dedicated fromreduces a Transport and denceRoads and severity of motor vehicle rest areas.

Main spokesperson.

GATHERING DATA FROM vehicle crashes.

Wefine areisparThe amendments clarify “The maximum 20 FLEETS. ticularly units encouraged that the the rules for rest area use and penalty or $2669, or GARY MAHON, CEO QTA heavy for on-the-spot vehicle industry, camping and provide a stron- $266 fines isthrough QTA is taking the ger, simpler enforcement sued by the authorised officers,” leadstatement on such asaid. significant propartnership with theDepartMotor the mechanisms for the We are also be Accident Insuranceand Commisment of Transport Main ject.“However ourpleased focus istoon able to fundand the improved project evalusion aims to measure the effecRoads, said a statement from education beation to rather be undertaken

by Dr tiveness of driver monitoring Transport Minister Mark haviour than financial Darren Wishart from Griffith technology in reducing the in- penalties.

Bailey. who has expertise cidence driverthat distraction, Baileyofadded the ap- University “The amendments clarify in rest Organisational Driving inattention, and fatigue proach to enforcement willepiin- that area use and camping Safety he sodes.education, awareness and is volve only Systems permittedAnalysis” for fatigue said.

“It’s great to have thefines operaformal warnings, with as management purposes. They compliance phase of the project alsoAthol ational last resort. clarifyCarter, the specific require-

ments for these activities. including at community cab- taken in these dedicated rest phens to shoot an awareness The spokesperson added inet events. Rest areas are not area locations. video about heavy vehicle rest that new signs will be pro- a source of accommodation, “Heavy vehicle rest stops areas in collaboration with gressively rolled out where with long-term camping pro- that are for the exclusive use of Caravanning Australia and non-compliance is, or be- hibited on the state-controlled truck drivers are an extremely Caravanning Queensland. comes, an issue. road network.” important part of managing faA Queensland truckie we “The signs will be clearer Mr Bailey said that to en- tigue and driver wellness,” said spoke to welcomed the news of on which rest areas, or parts sure awareness of the clarified Mahon. the rest area crackdown, which of shared rest areas, are exclu- rules around use of rest areas “Well-spaced rest areas with he said was especially importsively for heavy vehicles and and camping, his office will suitable amenities that are ded- ant for those drivers on the the applicable hours of oper- launch an awareness and edu- icated to heavy vehicle drivers tourist-heavy stretches. ation and/or time limits for cation campaign. are a vital step toward the de“With the Covid situation motorists.

Queensland Trucking Asso- velopment of an integrated going on we have caravanners An education campaign ciation CEO Gary Mahon is road safety system that is as safe here going round and round in targeting different road user pleased to see these new laws as we can make it.” circles,” he said. groups to increase awareness come into effect as truck drivMahon was recently joined “I went to Mackay from of the new provisions will start ers will have greater confidence by drivers from Nolan’s Inter- Brisbane the other day and the soon, the statement added. that scheduled breaks can be state Transport and JR Ste- road was saturated with them.”

Minister Mark Bailey said congestion at rest areas was an ongoing issue that had been raised by the heavy vehicle industry.

ON“The ROADroad STUDY: trucks in the study will be fitted with Gen 2 Guardian Seeing Machines and inform research from data collected is theThe heavy vehiover the next 24 months.

Picture: Contributed cle driver’s workplace – they get vital freight to our supermarket manager, operations, at drivers to individually manage the future will definitely have a the Eyes on Fatigue pilot. shelves andfleet homes – and driver “So far, the team have been one of the fatigue is a participants, critical safetyFrasers issue,” fatigue using technology and machine installed,” said Mr very happy with the results.”

Livestock Bailey said. Transport, said move away from counting Mahon.

The other operators taking Joe Joseph, Director of JD Seeing “WeMachines need to provides ensure him rest hours on paper,” he said.

Michael Mahon, Director, Refrigerated Transport said part in the pilot study are: the are opportunity to manhave areas used for fatigue conversations with drivers agement, providing a placethat for MJ Mahon Transport, said the “Safety is the highest priority Beggs Bulk, Cannon Logistics, encourage behavioural heavy vehicles to stop and rest results since installing Guard- for the team, and we are always CHS Broadbent, DTC Easters, ian Seeing Eye Machines are looking at ways to improve in Emerald Carrying Co, JBS change. safely. this area and the timing was Carriers, Lindsay Transport, “We project will impressive.

“Thishope issue this has consistently Authorised officers now have the power to issue $266 on-the-spot fines to caravanners taking up a “All vehicles purchased in right for us to be involved in and Russell Transport. lead to having allow truckie’s been raised withlaws me that by locals, spot.

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4 NEWS

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Bridge upgrade needed to bolster supply chains: ATA THE NSW and Australian governments should upgrade the Sheahan Bridge near Gundagai to improve the productivity and safety of Sydney’s supply chains.

That was the message from outgoing Australian Trucking Association (ATA) chief executive officer Ben Maguire in response to the NSW Government announcement of a new permit for High Productivity Freight Vehicles on the Hume Highway, to supply Sydney supermarkets with fewer truck trips.

“The ATA congratulates the NSW Government and Minister Paul Toole for recognising that High Productivity Freight Vehicles on the Hume Highway will keep freight flowing, keep supermarket shelves stocked and reduce the number of truck trips required to move the freight task,” Mr Maguire said.

“The new permit, allowing Ron Finemore Transport to supply the Woolworths distribution centre in western Sydney utilising modern High Productivity Freight Vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies, illustrates how

The use of advanced telematics fitted to Ron Finemore trucks ensures they stay 60 metres from other trucks while on Sheahan Bridge.

the trucking industry keeps our community supplied.”

But Maguire said the new permit also highlights the need to upgrade the Sheahan Bridge at Gundagai on the Hume Highway to allow for heavier loads to deliver productive supply chains for Sydney and reduce the number of truck trips.

“The ATA has been calling for the Sheahan Bridge to be upgraded, to allow wider use of more productive trucks on Australia’s busiest road freight corridor,” Mr Maguire said.

“The Hume Highway carries 40 per cent of Australia’s road freight task and supplies our two largest cities.

“The new permit shows

what should be possible, moving freight to Sydney with fewer truck trips.

“A High Productivity Freight Vehicle 30 metre A-double can move a 1,000 tonne freight task in 21 truck trips, compared to 26 trips for a 26 metre B-double or 42 trips for a standard 19 metre semi-trailer.

Maguire said that Austroads, a government research body, has concluded that High Productivity Freight Vehicles are safer, use less fuel and offer significant economic benefits to a range of industries.

“These benefits to NSW and Sydney should be available widely, by upgrading the Sheahan Bridge and making

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the Hume Highway accessible to High Productivity Freight Vehicles for all supply chains,” he said.

Ron Finemore, owner of Ron Finemore Transport, said his 30-metre Higher Productivity Vehicles were fitted with the most advanced technologies in the world which has enabled his vehicles to obtain the permit to carry more freight.

“Just like the latest cars on the road, our trucks have state-of-the-art technology,” Mr Finemore said.

“The use of advanced telematics fitted to the vehicles ensures they stay 60 metres from other trucks while on Sheahan Bridge and comply with a 90 km/h speed limit.

“The technology also monitors the vehicle’s load and movements which is able to be tracked remotely.”

Transport for NSW has also recently granted permits to Linfox and GTS Freight for 35 metre Higher Productivity Vehicles to access key distribution centres for Coles and Woolworths in western Sydney and Goulburn.

NEWS 5

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

Chronic WA driver shortage impacts all trucking sectors

BY JAMES GRAHAM

WESTERN Roads Federation is lobbying its state government to open the borders to truckies from the east to fill a chronic driver shortage across a multitude of sectors.

WRF CEO Cam Dumesny said there was already a major shortage before the coronavirus hit but the issue has been exacerbated by the state’s hard-line border stand.

“We’re in a whole world of hurt to be honest,” he told Big Rigs.

“We’re now working with the mining and agriculture sectors to get a more co-ordinated response from government but when the premier has a 91% approval rating, it’s a hard argument to win.”

Dumesny knows of one mining member in Kalgoorlie who has half his fleet parked up.

“If the borders were open [without the need for drivers to isolate for two weeks] I’m quite confident we could get drivers here from the east because WA pays well, particularly in mining.”

The situation is no better in the grain sector, which is due to hit its peak harvest season this month.

State-wide, some 500 driver jobs are estimated to be going begging, with hundreds

parked up with no one to drive them.

WA Livestock and Rural Transport Association president David Fyfe believed if the state government refused to allow truck drivers from outside WA in, farmers would have to store their grain onfarm because the State’s fleet would not be able to keep up with the demand.

“If you’ve got farmers really geared highly taking off a

State-wide, some 500 driver jobs are estimated to be going begging, with hundreds of trucks parked up with no one to drive them.

lot of crop daily and used to transport coming in and keeping headers moving, those farmers are going to have to make a plan,” he told the Countryman.

“My suggestion is to bag it and give your contractor time to shift it later on.

“That will spread the work out so contractors — especially country contractors that rely hugely on farmers for yearly income — can manage it.”

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the state government expected to be able to announce details of a program proposal addressing the issue in the near future.

“The McGowan Government is working in partnership with the Western Roads Federation and other industry stakeholders to develop a program proposal to address a current shortage of heavy haulage drivers as a result of COVID-19,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dumesny and the WRF is taking steps to bridge the long-term skills shortage across all of the transport sectors.

WRF has appointed Barry

Davis, the highly regarded and recently retired HR Manager for Road Trains Australia to project manage the skills and training solution.

“Having Barry gives us someone with the knowledge and passion to just focus on driving the training solution through,” said Dumesny.

“WRF is developing and driving forward a complete restructured approach to training and development in the industry, how we recruit, how we train, how we upskill etc right through to how we enable the experienced operators approaching the end of their career to share their knowledge to the next generation.”

Saffioti said the state government had also developed a new, free heavy haulage course to encourage more people into the industry which launched in Collie last month.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with industry and the training sector to ensure drivers have the opportunity to learn necessary skills and people looking to re-skill and work in the trucking industry have the opportunity to do so,” she said.

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6 COVER STORY

Max celebrates 90th milestone with three new T409SAR trucks

Swan Hill icon is still going strong at the wheel of his family-run haulage company

BY JAMES GRAHAM YOU couldn’t wipe the grin from Max Parsons’ face as he put his gleaming new Kenworths through their paces at the local Swan Hill quarry in Victoria.

While most blokes his age might feel fortunate to celebrate their 90th with a slice of cake and a singalong at their aged-care facility, Max was more at home behind the wheel of a Kenworth SAR, not missing a beat.

It’s one of three T409SAR Day Cabs he bought for the family-run Swan Hill-based company Parsons Bulk Haulage, partly because it made good business sense, but after 67 years behind the wheel, Max also couldn’t think of a better birthday treat.

Max has been driving since the mid-1950s, but his love affair with the Kenworth badge didn’t start until 1995 when he bought his first, a modest second-hand T480.

Before then, G88 Volvos and Ford Louisvilles had been the mainstay of the fleet, particularly through the 70s and 80s when he was chasing light tare weights with maximum muscle.

Five years later he splashed out on his first new model – Max always pays cash, never buys on tick – and the mighty KW has been the backbone of the Parsons’ operation ever since.

“Weight-wise and performance-wise, looks and everything, Kenworth ticks the box,” reckons Max. Max recalls having three T401s, and four T404s immediately after the T480, with today’s fleet also boasting a 2015 T403 and 2018 Kenworth T610, alongside the shiny new trio bought from Anthony Tregenza at The Truck Specialists in Swan Hill.

In a lot of ways the trucks are a lot like Max himself: they work hard all day, are tough enough to stand the test of time, and never know when to quit.

Although Max hasn’t driven for a living for the last eight or so years, he’s still at the Swan Hill depot every

day – Monday to Friday – keeping a wary eye on the empire he built from scratch alongside his beloved, wife Jessie, who sadly passed in 2017.

The baby of eight siblings at 49, daughter Nicole Stanley has been working shoulder-to-shoulder with Dad since 2003 and smiles at the memory of walking in to piles of paperwork, not a computer in site.

“It was all done by handwriting with an invoice book and ledgers until I came along,” said Nicole.

“But even today he can nut it all down [to the last cent]. When it comes to money and figures, he’s on to it. He takes everything into consideration.

“We’ll quote for a job and then the following week he’ll be sitting in the office chair and say, ‘look at this, and this’, and he’ll hand you a sheet.

“It’ll have the truck, the tonnages and the wear and tear on the tyres, insurances and registration charges taken out of it, and he’ll say, ‘That’s the profit you have left on the job you’ve just done’.”

Out in the yard, sons Greg, Shane, Tony and Nicole’s husband Troy are also kept on their toes, said Nicole.

“The boys can be fixing stuff in the shed – when there are any repairs to be done, we do it ourselves – and he’ll turn around and tell them they’re doing it all wrong, and they need to do it this way.

“Nine times out of 10, he’s right.”

Max admits he gets a big kick out of seeing his family so closely involved today. The four boys – Greg, Shane, Tony and Gary – all grew up in the business from the mid-70s, driving as soon they could get a licence, maybe a bit before then too, recalls Max. Youngest Gary has been the only one to leave the family business, and that wasn’t until 2016.

Greg was especially indispensable in those early years with his engineering and

Max with the mainstay of his fleet during the 70s and 80s, the Ford Louisville.

I’VE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND OUR ACHIEVEMENTS...

EACH FAMILY MEMBER HAS THEIR OWN TALENT, OR ABILITY THEY BRING TO THE BUSINESS THAT MAKES IT RUN EFFICIENTLY. MAX PARSONS

workshop skills, even building the majority of Parsons’ trailers.

Max says his daughters Joy, Sheryl, Julie and Nicole

also played a part in helping out where they could as youngsters. Joy also married Robert who drove for the company until he was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 1997.

“He was one hell of a truckie and a great worker,” recalls Max. Julie’s husband Peter also drove for the business for four years, while Nicole’s husband Troy has been driving for Parsons for the last 30, which included a stint helming the hugely successful wood-carting operation for 12 years.

More recently, Tony’s two boys Kye and Jonathan also got their truckie stripes

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Max doesn’t drive much today, but couldn’t wait to take his birthday treat for a spin.

driving at Parsons, before branching out on their own, while Shane’s son Terry is still there today, driving the Parsons’ busy B-double.

“I’ve very proud of what we have accomplished and our achievements,” said Max. “Each family member has their own talent, or ability they bring to the business that makes it run efficiently.

“Sometimes there are a few swear words or two, but we soon get over it and it’s business as usual.”

Family – and a lifelong love of trucking – are what keeps Max going. It wasn’t easy after Jessie passed for any of them. At one stage, Max admits he and the children weren’t sure how they would go on.

“But I had to remember we started this business and it’s what we both loved – family being together.”

When Max and Jessie first met as teens, Max was working as a shearer and in road gangs, and they started their married life together living in caravans in roadside camps while raising their eldest.

When Max caught the trucking bug at 23, thanks to a break with Ray Hampton, and branched out on his own just a year later with a 44 International K5, Jessie was

right there beside him.

“Life wasn’t easy, but true to form Jessie was of tough character. She wasn’t a truck driver at first but was keen to get her licence and have a go,” recalled Max fondly.

“Jessie used to drive a C1800 International carting quarry material with the young children in tow.

“She was a hard worker, that’s for sure – probably my best.”

In a career littered with highlights, Max is hardpressed to single out one but is especially proud of his relationship with local quarry giants, Mawsons Concrete and Quarries, arguably one of the longest-running partnerships in the industry today.

Max started working with the company, then called EB Mawson & Sons at the Lake Boga Quarry, in 1955 carting quarry material, and the contract is still going strong, with Max, Greg and Shane inducted in to the company’s prestigious 25 Year Club.

In 1982, the Parsons clan also branched out into grain storage for the first time, with Max buying land on Cygnet Lane in Murray Downs, NSW and with his sons’ help they built two 4000 tonne grain sheds for harvest storage.

Working with family means everything to Max. (l-r) Max Parsons, Gregory Parsons, Shane Parsons, Tony Parsons, Gary Parsons, Troy Stanley, Terry Parsons and Nicole Stanley.

COVER STORY 7

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

That’s how you celebrate a 90th birthday.

Since that early experiment, Parsons’ grain storage capacity has gone ahead in leaps and bounds with the company since adding an 18,000t shed in Woorinen, a 10,000t facility on another block, along with silo and shed storage, and another space for 2 x 10,000t bunker storages during the good seasons.

That success and knowledge of the grain industry led the Parsons to start another new adventure in 2015, de-

signing and building their own export packing facility at their Bulga Road site.

Although quarry work accounts for the bulk of Parsons Bulk Haulage business today, Max is proud of the fact that his company still has all three grain facilities in operation.

“I don’t like sitting down,” he says when asked what drives him to stay so involved when few would begrudge him the chance to put his feet up, or indulge a

little more of his passion for lawn bowls.

“There’s always a challenge out there and if you like doing what you’re doing, you’re happy doing it, otherwise you might as well not be there.”

Of course, there’s also a belated 90th birthday celebration of barefoot bowls to look forward to as well at the Swan Hill Racecourse Bowls Club.

The large Parsons family were hoping to gather on mighty Max’s big day, August 19, but those celebrations were put on hold because of Covid-19 restrictions.

When you factor in 22 grandkids, and 32 great-grandkids – another two are on their way this year – Nicole estimates the brood to be in excess of 70, even before you invite Max’s close friends.

“Hopefully this thing [Covid-19] will be gone soon, for everyone’s benefit,” said Max. “I’m still fit enough to get around and do the things I enjoy – and family is everything.”

Max at 22 and the love of his life Jessie at 18, on their wedding day, June 23, 1953.

Max is proud of the fact that his company still has all three grain facilities in operation.

Family matriarch Jessie stood side-by-side with Max in the business right from the beginning.

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08 OPINION

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Help revamp next HVNL

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

AFTER just three weeks, our Voice of the Driver campaign with the ATA is going great guns.

We’ve had hundreds of responses to the online survey around proposed changes to the fatigue laws.

Your anonymous feedback will be used to support the ATA submission to a national truck law consultation paper.

Just enter surveymonkey. com/r/LB9L6F6 into your browser and have your say today.

For many of you, this will be a once in a lifetime chance to reshape the Heavy Vehicle National Law, so please get involved.

There are no catches, no one is going to try and upsell you in any way, shape, or form.

We just want to make sure you finally get the laws you deserve.

Every day I hear about what you think is wrong. This is your chance to fix it.

HOT WEB TOPICS The amendments clarify the rules for rest area use, and provide stronger, simpler enforcement mechanisms.

New rest area laws to help you take a break

QUEENSLAND has introduced tough new laws designed to prevent motorists from using dedicated heavy vehicle rest areas.

“The road is the heavy vehicle driver’s workplace – they get vital freight to our supermarket shelves and homes – and driver fatigue is a critical safety issue,” says Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey.

Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon welcomes the new laws. “Heavy vehicle rest stops that are for the exclusive use of truck drivers are an extremely important part of managing fatigue and driver wellness,” he says.

“Well-spaced rest areas with suitable amenities that are dedicated to heavy vehicle drivers are a vital step toward the development of an integrated road safety system that is as safe as we can make it.”

On Facebook, Rod Delriego says, “About time, trucks have strict regulations on hours and routes. While cars and caravans continue to ignore the parking bays dedicated to trucks. Remember truckies are earning a living providing everyone’s goods.”

Kerry-Anne Kilner adds, “Should have been prosecuting them years ago, our truckies need their rest areas.”

Though some readers were sceptical on our well the new laws will actually be enforced.

“They won’t police it. It’s just chest beating and knuckle dragging before elections,” comments Brian Gray.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO READER CORNER? EMAIL US AT EDITOR@BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Is in-cab monitoring an invasion of privacy?

Truckies rally against NorthConnex tolls

TRUCKIES recently came together in protest of the $23.73 toll Transurban plans to charge them every time they use the new NorthConnex tunnel.

The protest took place in mid-September, opposite the NorthConnex site.

Transurban says that what truckies lose in tolls they’ll more than make up for in time savings by using the 9km motorway, Australia’s longest and deepest tunnel, which is expected to open later this year.

On the Big Rigs Facebook page, Graeme Nicholson writes, “I think we all understand that it cannot be free, but it needs to be more affordable. Who comes up with the magic figure? I would like to see the formula used to come up with that number.”

Though Ben Gunn believes there should be no toll at all, “Commercial trucks shouldn’t have to pay a toll, period. After this year I think we have shown that without the humble truck we would all be hungry including the men and women that have to guide these trucks over the so-called roads in Australia.”

Matthew Phillips agrees, “Tolls should be removed for commercial transport.

It’s the best way to get heavy vehicles off the smaller roads.”

When the controversial NorthConnex tunnel opens later this year, it will cost truckies $23.73 for each trip.

Recent footage of a prang that aired on 7News in NSW led Senator Sterle to take the issue of truck accident reporting further.

Making a stand against biased truck accident reporting on TV FED up with media reports of truck accidents implicating innocent drivers when they are involved in a crash, former truckie-turned Labor Senator for WA Glenn Sterle believes enough is enough.

He received a call from a distraught interstate Victorian driver who was the innocent victim of a prang with a car in Sydney that resulted in graphic chopper footage being broadcast later that night on 7News in NSW. At no stage did the report attempt to exonerate the distressed truckie.

Sterle wrote to Bridget Fair, the CEO of Free TV Australia, which polices industry standards, asking her to review the report.

On the Big Rigs Facebook page, many of our readers agreed with Sterle’s stance. “The biggest problem is the idiots reporting not knowing what they are talking about. 90% of accidents they say are B-doubles when they are rigid trucks. Inexperienced operators are the cause of many accidents or car drivers not paying attention,” writes Clint Hanlon.

“Didn’t you know us truck drivers are always at fault if you went by everything the media says,” adds Stephen McCool.

IN-CAB surveillance cameras are becoming more commonplace, with many large and medium fleets now using the technology.

Touted as a solution to combat driver fatigue and distraction, they are often installed without driver consultation or consent, bringing issues surrounding privacy to the fore.

After an article was published in the last edition of Big Rigs, numerous readers shared their views on in-cab surveillance, with many arguing that it is more of a problem than a solution.

“Our company has a few trucks with them.

I find them more distracting than anything to do with safety. As the other guys say, you find yourself being like a robot staring straight at the road. Look at gauges or speed too long, it goes off. Look in mirrors, it goes off. I don’t wear sunnies so when the sun hits me I squint, it goes off. Everyone’s different so how can they set the parameters for everyone. It’s just a money making scam I reckon,” writes Paul Felgate.

Dubby Kop agrees, “The bloody things create fatigue cause the driver is on eggshells hoping the stupid thing doesn’t go off.”

With more fleets turning to new in-cab surveillance technology, is it a solution or a bigger problem?

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10 NEWS

IN BRIEF New online campaign to help with safer transportation of shipping containers The container transport and logistics industry has stepped up to support heavy vehicle safety, releasing a coordinated campaign to raise awareness and good practice in safely packing shipping containers.

Six supporting online training and information modules have been produced

by WiseTech Academy covering the impact of unsafe container loading practices, international conventions, heavy vehicle laws, Chain of Responsibility, packing to minimise risk and truck rollover prevention.

The campaign is being delivered by Container Transport Association of Australia, Freight & Trade Alliance, and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), with support from ICHCA Australia.

MaxiTRANS raises money for ‘R U OK? Day’ MaxiTRANS has raised a further $15,000 for ‘R U OK? Day. The trailer business joined forces with its dealer partners Mildura Truck Centre & G&A Lombardi, donating 1% of the purchase price from all new trailers, truck bodies ordered, and parts purchased from participating outlets.

‘R U OK? Day’ is held every September and encourages people to trust the signs and ask friends, colleagues and family members ‘R U OK?’ The funds raised by MaxiTRANS in 2020, brings the company’s total donations to almost $60,000, since it began raising money for ‘R U OK? Day in 2017.

Pacific Highway upgrade nears completion The opening of a 34-kilometre section of new dual carriage motorway is one of the last major components of the Pacific Highway upgrade.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack says this will be the largest section of motorway to open to traffic before the duplication of the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border is completed later this year.

The 34-kilometre stretch will allow traffic to bypass the northern New South Wales towns of Woodburn, Broadwater and Wardell. $18.3 million upgrade for important WA to NT link The WA Government is investing $18.3 million to upgrade a stretch of unsealed road that connects the East Kimberley to NT. Moonamang Road is seen as a vital link between WA and the NT. The upgrade aims to provide the transport infrastructure required to boost agricultural growth in the area.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckie lobby group to begin industry consultation

Roxanne Mysko grew up in a family transport business, and began driving road trains from a young age.

LAUNCHED in early September, the United Transport Group (UTG) has hit the ground running, with consultations and discussions due to take place shortly with each and every member.

Created by long-time truckie and compliance expert, Roxanne Mysko, UTG is a lobby group that aims to help give truckies a greater voice by working closely with government organisations to try and minimise the red tape.

Open to all truck drivers, owner operators and fleet owners, UTG has now launched industry specific groups which will each focus on the real issues within their sector. Representatives from each group will provide the board with accurate industry consultation information.

“UTG members will certainly be given every opportunity to finally have a strong united voice influencing the changes they feel suit how they

operate There are so many complexities in the industry and all of these require a united front to lobby to government with real data and knowledge,” says Mysko.

“Our members can now work with the board members, in their industry specific groups, as one model does not fit all sectors – they all have different pressure points for regulations and compliance. We are almost ready to roll up our sleeves for consultations and

discussions with every one of our members.”

Mysko expects to see various overarching issues come out of these consultations including those centred around fatigue, routes and the increasing costs of heavy vehicle registrations.

“When the big players in the transport industry get a route approved for higher mass and longer combinations on a road, surely everyone should then be able to have the same bigger combinations operat-

ing on these routes, without it costing a fortune. If it’s good enough for one, it should be good enough for all. It’s not a level playing field for all small and medium businesses,” she says.

UTG also plans to investigate the number of fines dished out to the industry over the past five years. “We will be conducting our own Royal Commission with 80 per cent of industry joining us and our members. This research will help to actually understand the real collective costs the industry has paid in fines. This has never happened before nationally. It will serve to back up National Transport Inquiry data to support Senator Glenn Sterle’s massive undertaking,” explains Mysko.

“All of our members will absolutely get the opportunity to contribute to this data and research. It’s time we had a clear understanding of what industry has put up with as a highly regulated sector. And it’s time for the facts so we can improve how we attract younger workers into the industry, as many are put off when they hear stories of the sorts of fines truck drivers are receiving.”

NHVR survey says industry NRFA and TWU has eye firmly on safety unite in fight for better industry standards

The survey was conducted in March 2020 and involved a wide cross section of industry employees, including drivers, managers and operators.

A recent survey conducted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) shows that the heavy vehicle industry remains firmly focused on safety.

According to the 2020 NHVR Industry Safety Survey, involving almost 4000 participants, nearly twothirds of heavy vehicle businesses (62 per cent) have a safety system in their operation. A total of 78 per cent of managers said they had an ongoing program of safety promo communication in their business, compared to 52 per cent of drivers and 71 per cent of loaders; while 76 per cent agreed that relevant safety training was occurring on an ongoing basis.

Owner-drivers indicated that the most common safety practice they undertook was a vehicle inspection (97 per

cent), compared to a regular personal health check-up (71 per cent), a safe driving plan (62 per cent), or keeping informed of safety issues and information (62 per cent).

Sal Petroccitto, NHVR Chief Executive Officer, says the survey results demonstrate the ongoing commitment from the majority of industry to keep pursuing improved safety outcomes.

“We know industry has increasingly adopted and invested in improved safety practices over the last 10 years and the significant take up of Safety Management Systems continues to support better safety results,” he says.

“Importantly, safety systems focus on a whole-ofbusiness approach to safety including the important pretrip check, which ensures vehicles are safe to operate on

the road and that drivers are fit for duty before getting behind the wheel.”

Petroccitto says the 2020 NHVR Industry Safety Survey provides a baseline result of the current safety environment that can be collectively monitored to understand trends and changes across safety practices.

“This information is critical as a regulator to ensure we are providing the relevant and effective information and guidance industry needs to keep doing their job safely,” he says.

“The survey results, coupled with the recent results from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics showing a reduction in truck fatalities by close to 18 per cent compared to the last financial year, is pleasing to see.”

THE National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) have joined forces to focus their efforts on achieving an industry that is safe and sustainable.

An agreement has been signed by both parties so they can work together on issues that are of interest, while still remaining independent and representing their own members.

According to TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine and NFRA President Gordon MacKinlay, the memorandum of understanding to co-operate was based on a lack of action towards the difficulties drivers and operators face in getting a fair rate.

“For far too long our industry has had to endure a dog-eat-dog way of doing business where all the pressure of compliance is pushed right down to the driver, subcontractor and operator at the bottom and most of the profit goes to the major retailers and manufacturers at the top which contract out transport work at continually lower rates,” says Kane.

“This is neither safe nor sustainable and the TWU is happy to join forces with the NRFA to change this.”

MacKinlay adds that transport businesses want to be paid what they are worth, not what people feel like paying them.

“The financial pressure on our trucking companies is real and is making it very difficult for businesses to survive in a safe and long-term way.

“We want to see change and we want standards to be lifted,” he says.

“Working with the TWU means co-operating on issues that matter to us and using our collective voices to tell those in positions of power that now is the time for reform.”

The TWU and NRFA recently demonstrated their unified position, following an ACCC attack on an owner driver, threatened with jail for an opinion article about low rates.

They wrote a joint letter to the ACCC outlining the problems with low rates and requesting a response on the regulator’s over-reach.

However, the ACCC failed to provide an adequate response, says the TWU.

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12 NEWS

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Pioneering transport entrepreneur passes away

Ivan Vodanovich was a much-loved figure in transport circles.

THE Australian commercial road transport industry is mourning the sudden loss of Ivan Vodanovich.

The Founder and Managing Director of Daysworth International passed away on Father’s Day, September 6, 2020.

A much-loved figure in transport circles around Australia, New Zealand and the wider Pacific region, Vodanovich was, among other achievements, instrumental in introducing Terminal Tractors into Australia and revolutionising the Australian transport and port industries.

Originally from Croatia, he was born in 1946 in the coastal village of Kremena, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. He immigrated to Australia to escape communism in 1967 and served on the assembly line for British Motor Corporation (BMC) in Sydney, before moving to Western

Australia where he worked in construction.

After a stint in Port Hedland, Vodanovich returned east, working for a period in the Hunter Valley.

Following time as a technician for Scania in Sydney, he moved to Melbourne where he later marketed the brand and worked as a senior service engineer. He then moved to Rockwell Meritor as a senior engineer before taking the leap and setting out on his own.

In 1978 he founded Daysworth International, the company with which he is most synonymous, specialising in power steering, differential and tailshaft component remanufacturing, initially working out of his humble garage at home, prior to constructing and moving onto a site in West Footscray, where the company still stands today, its spiritual home.

The business model diver-

Vodanovich and son Ivan Jr. at the Brisbane Truck Show last year where they received a lot of interest in the new Diamond Reo.

sified in the 1980s when Kansas-based American Terminal Tractor manufacturer Ottawa approached Daysworth International to distribute its products in Australia. Despite terminal tractors being a largely unknown field at the time in Australia, Vodanovich was able to envisage the impact they would have on the Australian transport industry.

Daysworth’s subsequent commencement of Ottawa Terminal Tractor distribution and manufacturing signalled a revolutionary change in the way operators in the Australian road transport and port

sectors operated.

Under Vodanovich’s leadership and with his vision, Daysworth achieved great success, selling over 3000 Terminal Tractors and cementing itself as a vital player in Australia’s transport industry.

Vodanovich’s engineering expertise combined with his singular vision and entrepreneurial drive, saw Daysworth International introduce new industry standards, and expanded Terminal Tractor usage to the construction, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

“I admired Ivan’s entrepre-

neurial spirit and was inspired by his ability to back his own judgement and prove the nay-sayers wrong time and time again,” says John Murphy, Prime Creative Media CEO. “A big thinker who was not afraid to go against convention, he combined a relentless work ethic with a strong but humble belief in his own abilities. We will miss him.”

Vodanovich leaves behind a wonderful legacy, both as a dedicated and tenacious visionary of our industry, but more importantly a man of uncompromising integrity,

a family man and a generous spirit who was above all, a gentleman.

Vodanovich’s family tells of his favourite quote from Michelangelo, a philosophy that has guided him through his life and is reflective of his unrelenting pursuit of self-improvement and growth, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, but that we aim too low and we reach it.”

He is survived by his adoring wife Eki, proud sons Ivan Jr. and Domagoj and extended Vodanovich family in both Australia and Croatia.

End of the road for ProStar in Australia IVECO Trucks Australia has been advised by Navistar, manufacturer of International Trucks, that it will cease global production of the ProStar range from December this year.

While left hand drive model replacements are in development, IVECO was told that the extensive validation and engineering investment necessary to make these vehicles available in right hand drive, for what is a limited number of lower volume markets, means that these replacement vehicles will not become available in Australia.

According to the latest

Truck Industry Council’s data, just three Internationals were sold here in August.

While IVECO Trucks Australia’s position as distributor of new International trucks will cease at the end of the ProStar’s production, the company said it remains committed to supporting all existing ProStar customers through its dealerships by offering ongoing servicing and parts support and, of course, honouring all existing warranties.

IVECO Trucks Australia Managing Director, Michael May, said that whilst disappointed with Navistar Inc’s

decision, he understood the rationale for the move.

“We are obviously disappointed that the Australian market will no longer have access to the iconic International truck brand and the ProStar range, which is providing operators with outstanding productivity and performance benefits,” May said.

“From a business perspective, however, we recognise the substantial investment required for right hand drive markets which does not prove to be viable for Navistar.

“The priority now, for IVECO Trucks Australia, is to continue to provide operators

with a level of on-going support that ensures ownership of a ProStar remains productive, cost-effective and hassle-free.”

The ProStar will remain available to purchase in the short term from existing local stock and through final orders placed in this year’s production.

Despite the loss of the ProStar model, IVECO continues to provide the Australian truck market with an extensive model range that spans passenger car licence vans and cab chassis light trucks, through to B-Double capable prime movers with up to 90 tonnes GCM.

The ProStar will remain available to purchase in the short term from existing local stock.

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14 OPINION

Why would we not that helps prevent FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Robert Bell’s op-ed in the last issue about in-cab safety tech and its link with insurance companies sparked plenty of heated debate online. In this edition we give high-profile driver Mike Williams a chance to argue the other side of the coin.

Any tech that helps keep drivers alert and safer on our roads is worth considering, argues Mike.

WHAT’S the best way to annoy a truck driver?

I can tell you the answer: It’s change something. That’s the best way. Roll out some new technology before doing some education on it. That will kick it all off properly.

Back in the day when I was an owner-driver I had full control over what happened with my truck or at least I thought I did.

Then they started with speed limiters. It’s grown since then. Now it’s safety cam, point to point cameras, dash cameras, mirror mounted cameras facing to the back, cameras looking at drivers, speed cameras, red light cameras, traffic cameras, telephone cameras, cameras, cameras, cameras, everywhere cameras!

So now we have something on the market called Guardian, from a company called Seeing Machines.

This is cutting edge fatigue warning technology. It’s designed to capture that little

area right before you have a micro-sleep that runs you off the road and takes your life or someone else’s.

It’s also designed to catch those moments when you’re distracted and warn you that you’re distracted. They’re being installed all over the place.

Many fleets now have them in trial, some have taken it even further and had them installed permanently.

Full disclosure. I recently started a new industry podcast called On The Road.

For the time being, Guardian by Seeing Machines sponsors that show. It’s also important to know that when these things were rolled out in my workplace I damn near chucked the best job I’ve ever had or heard about because of it. I was not happy!

There were plenty of emails flying backwards and forwards, more than a few four-letter words and a general feeling of discontent, believe me that’s an understatement.

So now you’ve got to be asking why didn’t I quit, why did I stay even after these things started? Why did I do a U-turn and end up doing what I’m now doing?

How did I end up in a relationship with Seeing Machines? I’ll tell you. I decided that before I chucked in the

best job ever, I better get educated. I better find out exactly what this thing does, how it works and get some answers and some actual truth rather than emotion. This is the journey I went on.

There are plenty of halftruths, spin and outright untruths being circulated. So it’s

The area of the cab the camera sees is quite small, from about midchest to just above your head and either side of your shoulders.

time for some truth.

There are legitimate questions to be asked about any new technology. Asking questions isn’t the problem.

Remember that game we used to play as kids where one would start a story and tell it to the next kid who would pass it on etc, etc. The story

pretty soon became distorted.

It’s the same here.

My concerns were the same as those expressed by many drivers. Like a lot of you I spend the majority of my week in the cab.

I work there, I often eat there, I get changed and sleep there. If this camera is looking

As far as Mike is aware there is no microphone or even provision for one in the unit.

look at tech accidents?

OPINION 15

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

at me, it must be looking at the whole cab interior.

I felt that this must be an invasion of my privacy. Then what happens to the data?

Where does it go and who can see it? The boss might as well be in the cab with me, watching every move I make! I’ve already got a logbook and GPS tracking, why do we now need this? Now the big one, what of the insurance companies?

They just want to blame me if it goes wrong! They will get the data and use that to come after me.

Have I missed any? Let’s deal with all of these.

The area of the cab that the camera sees is quite small, from about mid-chest to just above your head and either side of your shoulders.

It can’t see into the back of the cab or into the passenger seat. It focuses on your face.

It’s looking at your eyes and your mouth and how your head is moving. It has an algorithm that compares your eyes, mouth and facial position to known fatigue positions or distracted positions and gives you an audible warning.

If you don’t respond to that the Guardian vibrates the driver’s seat, records the event and transmits the data to the monitoring centre. I’ve seen the video and the reports of my own in cab experiences because that’s right folks I’ve set it off! I’ve seen what it sees and the report my boss gets to see.

It’s not active all the time.

When I turn the key off, the Guardian is off. It’s not seeing me get changed or sitting at the wheel eating my sandwich. It’s also not an audio-visual recorder either. It does not record audio. As far as I’m aware there is no microphone or even provision for one in the unit.

It’s also not recording and continuously transmitting the data. It rolls the data over. Recordings are event-driven with only a few seconds of the data being stored on board to be sent when an event occurs.

I’ve already got a logbook, according to the boffins my fatigue is sorted. We all know that’s just not true. Hands up if you’ve ever been in the situation where the logbook says go and the body says no.

Who can say, honestly, they’ve never sat up in the seat and it’s dawned on them they can’t remember the last 20 kilometres? Anyone? I know it’s happened to me.

What happens to the data?

It gets sent via the telephone network to the monitoring centres. There’s one in Canberra and another in the US. The data is reviewed and classified by the monitoring centre and appropriate mes-

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18

A veteran truckie debathave a driver ’s best interests at heart taking hold really does

term for in cab entitled, a proprietary much like Goopublished a paper in surveillance, This is Serious Invasions of Privacy gle is to search engines. the Digital Era in 2014.report, in no small part attributable to In this extensive a the massive publicity/marketThe Commission makes s ing campaign, that is driven number of recommendationto in part by the major insurance a vested that encourage lawmakers companies that have uptake. strengthen the laws surroundand interest in their ask, how do ing surveillance devices that One might overreach or the reach, have a vested interest? parttheir implemen- they Seeing Machines has cameras comes with SURVEILLANCE becom- tation. insurance for that nered with NTI now offers noted be inside truck cabins are should It which in is poten- instance, discounts on heavy ing increasingly common today. Seeing Machines private substantial premiums the transport industry are tially able to record in a vehicle insurance install these Electronic work diaries that telephone conversations, a reasonable to operators hardly mentioned anymore, To be fair, NTI insuris workplace where of privacy could devices. and the industry narrative heavily invested in Seeing expectation distance ance is also all about the Guardian be presumed. Long live in promoting a safety culture in Machine. as truck drivers virtually road transport sector.

They are being touted all their truck cabins when they theHowever, once you strip for proand a panacea, the solution runs that are away working, and they marketing are the away BFM to complete expect drivers on that ails the industry. medium are not only a workplace, but motion, what are you left that operations still home.

Most drivers will confirmas “tight but achievable”.

Most large and such they a home away fromget changed with?

Chinese Ma- described in terms fleets have them now, and any across China. The Drivers also The Guardian Seeing This is not readily disclosed, is used extensively in are often installed without the inside truck cabins, and they chines website, under the tax installed with Guardian, and only acts to feed the sus- model social credits regime, when they tab, list consultative process with opera- become bedrooms and insurance benefits Insurance is their besettlement can be Market drivers affected by theirplay the sleep. In some states, there is some of the benefits to commax- picion that NTIinstallation of and it is used to monitorwith Value plus 20% to a interactions encouraging the tion. This brings into consent. an absolute prohibition on op- panies that install the technolreasons haviour and imum of the sum insured) devices in the the Seeing Machine forfinancial a view to grading citizens matter of privacy and have tical surveillance It The • Reinstatement of Guardian A number of states Acts workplace when they could ogy.These benefits include: dam- other than safety. that are on according to compliance.this by (caused hardware that Benbenefits to operators Surveillance Deviceswith the be described as such. Simply a re- is no coincidence NTI Insurance Policy age in the event of a loss) offer are substantial, andwould technology is being adapted which deal explicitly implied telling a driver to cover the efits in And this one: changed that investment matter of express and to monitor truck driversIn a camera when getting to hav- • No driver experience rewaived for turn on fee feed insurer. penalties any Data by exexpected same fashion. consent. Criminal breaches would be tantamount strictions (All driver are individual data feed from be And as we all know, insur- much the on the Australia can be applied for they are ing a camera fitted in their article perience requirementswith Seeing Machines to NTI do not give 2017 author of this legislation, yet It can manager’s bedroom and sayUnlimited website, for vehicles to be a di- ance companies removed business appears goes Their There “only” away. it prosecuted.

Niesche apcover rarely ever insur- money Christopher Guardian installed – GPS, ing they could rect data feed to NTI is very simple in fact. into some depth to explain be argued that not even Ma- when absolutely necessary. you plies to NTI Fleet policy- ance should operators take model and more money in than let alone these Seeingin the the technology behind, Seeing Machines is widely This materialises Get out. holders only) deal.

Seethis tool the installed up of be can uses ultimate pay (Excess the chines the practical express regarded as instances of fa- • Excess reduction reduced to indicate that NTI insurThese seeing eye machines ing Machine. This quote workplace without the to the data/ in- for detecting for any accidents with ance have access able to store employ facial recognition article, consent of each and every op- tigue and distraction by drivers are on vehicles fitted similar to from the on page 14) and their by very images narrative affected technology, industry dividual today. The out (Continued Guardian by $2,500) the and use them for their own the type that is rolled eration. is punctuated with constant Market value plus (In The Australian Govern- references to this product, • event of a total loss of a unit purposes. ment, through the Australian and they have almost become Law Reform Commission,

DRIVER ADVOCATE Robert Bell

of dash cameras, all sorts of other traffic monitoring cameras and GPS systems there is no end of information getting about.

I’ve even been reliably informed that some drivers have admitted in their claim report that they caused or were responsible for an accident.

Insurance investigators don’t seem to have too much trouble working out how a lot of accidents happen. Where is the evidence of an insurance company deciding to “go af-

ter” a driver personally for a loss?

The only time insurance companies will “go after” someone is in the event of a wilful or criminal act. As an agent of an employer they are vicariously liable for your actions and you are indemnified unless the act was wilful or criminal in nature. It’s as simple as that. We are humans.

We make mistakes. Mistakes sometimes result in accidents.

That’s what automotive insurance is for.

PARTSCENTRAL

(Continued from page 12) “The technolog ical goal is to understan FRIDAY SEPTEMBE ing on in the d what is goR 18 2020 BIGRIGS.C mind of a person,” says Timothy OM.AU Co-founder and Edwards, Chief Technology Officer SEP–OC Machines. “So, of Seeing T 2020 a machine can derive a derstanding high-level unof somebody intent, emotional ’s state, level of fatigue or distraction.”

Those words in their dystopianare chilling go far beyond effect and drivers would what most lieve of such expect or bea device. You can be CALL sure that this was not explained at 557 the inevitable 1800 033toolbox meeting or memorandum that TO FIND YOUR NEAREST took DEALER their installationplace bePARTICIPATINGfore .

Seeing Eye Machines cord audio visual reclips, and these files stored in are saved and which driversdatabases over have no control. The database aged by Amazon, is manestablished their who have data operations HQ at The AustralianVirginia, USA. that would be equivalent of Rechargeable siting it next to A number of states have COB Pine Gap. NON-MEMB Surveillanc LED Work e Devices Acts ER Light At the time es of fatigue, which deal explicitly with the driver is 60 - 600 Lumen this article, The of writing a point the matter at of express chines website Seeing Ma- should where legally he/she deflect that assertion? and implied 4 Hours consent.

As an employed include but are boasting that was proudly often not be driving. How not limited to driver, Battery Life ed 7,047,080it had detect- tell theis the decision made to you are not generally liable gross or wilful miscondu sets as a result.

150Kg for damages or driver distraction events and 170,394 claims that oc- and/or unlawful conduct ct, could range intoThese claims modern mediately andto pull over im- cur as KWMAGPR0 awards.

Weight a result rest for at least fatigue seven These cameras interventions and bankruptc the millions, These factors hours?

For example, of an accident. build y proceedings 12 months. in the previous Rating a portfolio of could are very aggressive you are driving with the legislativecombined In the days These a truck blame, and statistics and before in under the civil speak volumes, their ments accidentally pursuance of extensive workplace Self Levellin assets. in some statesrequireburden surveillance a car in another lane, or clip of the balance of would suggest and evidence was the g Drivers that you ties, back into someone probabilinorm, when are subject to for a powerful argument.make that they Suspension are collated there was a etc. The task it will be a relatively easy this technology are About the author: often for an experience for purposes and matched dent, thesingle vehicle acci- employer generally has what a 230mm in Bell, is a position of Robert not readily diinsurance company is known as vicarious d legal with disadvanta 35-year industry practitioner vulged. would have to low union membershge, eran who has representing vetrespon- insurer Fore/Aft an pay out on a sibility for the reasonable now turned his NEW Transport companies ip attention claim, ac- to find to persuade a court and a general lack of advocato fulltime advocaAdjustment that other and there would be no tions of employees. use this technolog cy in all areas. in their favour. party that they Unfortunately, There is also cy for the Transport Industry.

After widespread y appear to have been Charcoal there have all, the law says it is illegal He is now working lulled in a false pursue for their loss. could been many examples drive if you are to both meaningsignorance, in Defender, sense of fatigue with These are known as fatigued. of inof the word, which provides Fine a no-fault acci- surance companies So, bearing all A89110 -01 and responsibl management dent. throughout pursuing onInsurance companies this drivers when this sector and line legal services in e scheduling Often these Seeing employers deny the previous no fault mind, companies regularly .

Victoria and NSW. They , liability accident Machines for obvious reasons, are are installed are currentfans of these not When in the first instance. may look completely differ- surveillance technologimpose ly in the process type ent this occurs, the y upon out of branching ing and the yet schedulFast forward of claims. insurer ity from an insurance liabil- employees, despite nationally and like remain unAtego 2, Econic to the pres- routinely pursues the 3, Actros 1, consulchanged. tative creating Suits: Actros ent day, and provisions driver mayperspective, and A007151490183 drivers •within there is a vast- which often results Axor contained low-cost model for defendinga lose their houses Most drivers ly different scenario Heavy Vehicle relative industrial fault Suits: Actros 2-3,in a 1-3 deand as- struments drivers who are A9434210412 •judgemen that operations will confirm Some inat t.

This play. impacted should such as EBA’s might even not occur and stillAtego 1-3, Unimog expect drivers Suits: call it an example and regimes by the enforcement is a glaring agenda of sorts. on • A0000901351 BFM in place today. to comof the unethical plete runs that There bein terms such are described discussion has been much haviour that insurance companies often as “tight but of achievable” display in their the industry, late around pursuance Scansuite™ or “it can of enforceme of claims. done, if you – Digital be nt However, with watch your only being interested Scanning Techno breaks” in the eras these camlow hanging now 5W 80 Channe logy There are driver rather fruit, that is the watching installed, they are than the owner/ SEEING MACHIN l you all the of this type many examples operator.

DIN size time ES: that occur everyof scheduling sponsibilitThe Chain of Re- and building up a dossier of driver state, files that show of POWERE in the form y does not panies that haveday, by com- to be TX4500S achieving its appear blinking your yawning, or (by Seeing D by AI, Guardian driver monitoring technologyof their fleets by providing this Seeing Machines’ technolog intended eyes excessive, surance Machines) moni- will soon become purpose, and intors a driver’s drivers increas- ly, or even taking your y mon- ingly mandato- financial policy benefits and itoring drivers. ry technology BONUS face and eyes feel eyes off in Responsib the incentives. the Europe determine road to brunt scheduling, within momentarily. and le Leatherman of alertness, drows- North America.

The data that A the proto- long arm of enforcement. the virtual conscience cols of fatigue is shared In fact, sitting on iness and attentiveness What REV Tool and mission, the European Com- between Guardian customserves to enhance is more of an management, were just if these cameras your shoulder as you drive ers and their focused on along. the encompas another safety of Valued insurer the way saving sing task than simply driver. lives and reducing to is done at $94.95 The current installing a another liability back onshift the global so willingly and under strict camera can mitigate. position in Guardian does not employ road toll from a shocking the driver, and to data sharing facial recognitio were disguis- the civil jurisdiction presents arrangeme 1.35 million per year, Often by the ing that n has already with controls in place to nts ing Machine time the See- whelmingfact with an over- some problems for drivers gy. It responds to technolo- passed legislation sure complianc endetects instanctoday, because eyelid publicity e with the position sure and head position clo- 2024, all new cars, and from and data keting campaign and mar- on liability protection privacy vans, trucks and intervenes in designed to does real-time when and buses, will be required Seeing Machines laws. exceptions. These have some set thresholds have to is proud some form of exceptions around these driver mon- to be protecting over factors are exceeded, itoring helping ogy. system (DMS) technol- commercial vehicles 23,000 drivers recognise around the world with potentially risky their own Seeing Machines ian technology our GuardMonroe Magnum behaviours as or dangerous oneer is aAxor and we look pi-1-3 1-3, they happen. A6864210512of• Suits: Shock absorb DMSActros technology forward to further expanding are enginee Guardian is ers not installed developed over 20 years , our footprint Axor 2-3 red and manufa Actros 1-3,for in Australia, the purpose A0003200317 • Suits: with proven ctured in Austral of remote Australia underpinned by in in partnership with monitoring durability deep R&D, facilitated Axor 1-3 NTI. ia or surveillanc to improve A6861800209 • Suits: by partnerIt cannot be accessed e. ships with your UPTIME NTI: universities and remoteT5489 $150 ly under any . govcircumstances. ernments around the world. $170 While the vehicle Neway AD246 Finally, we NTI is running, T5486 $209 the sensor is 8.5”/AD123 our associationare proud of a saferremains committed to powered up $229 T5417 EL21” KW and more sustainable with NTI, enable the capture to one of T5488 $179 AG400 9” $209 $ trucking Australia’s of footage truck and logistics $199 RH of unsafe driving leading try.

KW AG200/ indusinsurers.

Neway AD246/ which is available behaviour 40 T5487 $209 369 2005Together, we during the promotion We have availability for review $229 T5418 been specified. are subject to stock by the Fleet are conmodels supporting The offers presented tributing KW AG460 suit the majority of the promotion ed todustry Operator November 2020. period. inidentifi 30th to been $214 $2 to 2020 the have a safety during online safer driving if anPrices 10.5” RH for decades valid from 1st September Truck and will be VIN specific, parts advertised event that they will be available such Parts listed may beenvironme distributed by Daimler and our allruns good faith on the basis Stuttgart Germany, a participating dealer.

KW AG200/ as drowsiness your nearest dealership. have been included in nt of for and fitment costs from AG, and are on the board. by calling Daimlerheavy distraction to purchase. All itemsare registered 1800 033 557 oror GST, excluding labour 40 hicle trademarks veTruck dealership prior operators, is detected. selling prices including Participation can be determined by calling

by Mercedes-Benz only.

TruckParts participating Mercedes-Benz as well as NTI is fully compliant are recommended maximum SeeingandMachines contact your nearest the people in participating dealerships errors. Mercedes-Benz Prices within this promotion with privacy For assistance, please at Mercedes-Benz Truck to correct all printing right suitability. available the takes are ensure legislation the to and reserve VIN We period privacy of its the towns cities and be checked against the and may not represent actual products.

Part numbers should The data we . purposes only their employeescustomers and drive. through which they 282.

Photographs are for illustrative receive from Ltd. ABN 86 618 413 NTI’s endorseme driver monitorin very seriously.

Bus Australia Pacific Pty Outlined g technology nt of Guardian pany’s websiteon the com- leadership demonstrates their does not identify drivers.

It is disappoint In some states, which stipulatesis our Policy ture and in changing culing that there is an they could * absolute prohibition measures designeda range of proved contributing to im- non-factual misinformation be described QUALITY PARTS on optical is being used as such. conditions for to surveillanc protect the all to Prices herein personal road and e devices in users.

TECHNICAL the workplace are recomme mistrust in create fear anyone using information of and there when lifesaving This partnershi EXPERTISE its is no obligation nded selling prices, p has en- technology, and to diminish inclusive of Instantaneous technology. items have abled more EX GST. Recomme been included for Dealers to comply detection implemen companies to the work NTI is doing promotion with these nded selling to invest in, and s are available in good faith on the recommendations. t Guardian prices are promote, safety basis that across initiatives. at participat a Freight charges goods will ing Dealers

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The opinion piece by Robert Bell in our last issue sparked heated online debate about the virtues of this technology.

Right now fatigue contributes to around 10% of overall heavy vehicle accidents, while distracted driving accounts for around 14%.

dents involving heavy vehicles fatigue is the single largest killer of truck drivers and that’s a fact. Why would we not look at technology that captures 90% of fatigue related incidents and provides an opportunity to prevent an accident?

Is it possible that a driver could lose their job as a result of something that gets captured on a camera? Of course it is.

If you’re a serial distracted driver and that’s exposed by technology then you, as a professional have two choices: You can modify your behaviour or risk losing your job.

Your employer has a right and a responsibility to ensure their operation is as safe as possible. The general public has a right to know that our industry is doing all it can to be as safe we can. When we’re sitting behind the wheel we’re at work. We all know that many people have cameras on them at work. The shop assistant at the takeaway, the bank teller, the list goes on. We’re not being singled out. It’s not an invasion of privacy to be monitored at work.

The technology isn’t perfect. The information that gets generated isn’t perfect.

The application and outcomes won’t be perfect either. So is it worth doing? On balance I say unreservedly that it is.

I also say this. If you’re concerned about this or any issue do some research. Get some answers from credible sources and make you own mind up.

I would invite anyone to contact me via my social media @ theoztrucker on twitter, On The Road Podcast on Facebook or go to www.ontheroadpodcast. com.au and leave a comment or email me directly mike@ontheroadpodcast.com.au.

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So what it comes to is this.

Right now we are losing 34 truck occupants (drivers and passengers) per year on a 10year average.

Last year there was a spike to 53. There are on average 205 car occupants and others losing their lives around us each year. Right now fatigue contributes to around 10% of overall heavy vehicle accidents, while distracted driving accounts for around 14%. But here’s the big one.

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After initial reservations about using the Guardian technology, Mike Williams is now an ardent supporter.

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There is always an email report detailing the classification with the snippet of the video. Your company does not have direct access to the data, neither does anyone else. They can’t sit in the office and gaze lovingly into your eyes as you work.

So now the insurance company furphy. With the advent

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18 NEWS EXTRA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckie shares how his life has changed after accident

of being held up at a loading dock.

“Then it would have been my fault and I’d be going to jail. These blokes running out there off their logbooks should really know that they’re jeopardising not only their livelihoods but their freedom.”

In a thorough cab search at the crash scene, police also focused on a bottle of Champix – tablets to help smokers quit – asking Castanelli if they might have affected his driving.

Emergency services were still on the scene as Castanelli snapped off this picture from the back of the police car.

Castanelli feared the worst for the driver who hit his Western Star square on.

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY

Media censured over cr ash coverage SEPTEMBER 18 2020

NEWS 05

BY JAMES GRAHAM tempt to say that the truck A call from a distraught inter- driver was not at fault,” writes Sterle. state Victorian driver was the “It may, to you and others final straw for former truckthe media, seem like this isn’tin ie-turned Labor Senator a for ‘big deal’. I hope I am wrong, WA Glenn Sterle. but to the owner and driver The driver, who did of want to be named, was the not the truck, to who many in the nocent victim of a prang in- industry know and recognise, with it is a huge deal.” a car in Sydney that resulted in At deadline for this issue, graphic chopper footage being Sterle tells Big Rigs that broadcast later that night on to get a response to his he’s still 7News in NSW. missive, but he won’t be letting the Fortunately, there were matfatalities, or life-threate no ter rest.

He says the truckie in the injuries as a result, but atning stage did the report attempt no incident is already paying a to heavy price from the exonerate the distressed truck crash.

He had to stump up for a hodriver.

The Senator, who is also the tel that night, hire a car to get back to Melbourne and Shadow Assistant Minister with for his prime mover written Road Safety, has now written off, his days as an interstate driver to Bridget Fair, the CEO Free TV Australia, which of are now behind him. po“I’ve seen this type of lices industry standards, asking porting too many times; reher to review the report. it always makes A wide-angled screenshot us look Sterle believes that this incilike from the 7News footage baddie,” says Sterle, who the at Bow Bowing. taken before the camera dent is yet another clear breach was zooms in for a close-up on the receiving end himself of the truck and crash of the Commercial Television support when he posted scene during his driving days when the Industry Code of Practice “Both Channel’s 7 & 9 were a letter to Free give it to the News Producer calls for media to present that motorist ploughed into one of his Facebook TV Australia on really bad for doing this nel 7 out on this particular facin with both barrels. page. his road train actrailers. tual material accurately Writes Robyn Cooper-Rad- Brisbane a few years ago, with “They made no attempt to cident footage.”

“I don’t think it hurts anyChannel 7 being the worst ensure viewpoints are not and ke: Adds Cameron Byrom: “How misI of hate block out the company name, one to say the truck driver major media the two. represented. with a passion who use and filming Emergency Work- “Good stuff mate! About time their “For “Not at any point did the wasn’t at fault.” those who know me, news journos own choppers to hover & zoom Sterle’s social media would instantly call newsroom,I ers attempting to extract de- count. Fear were held to acreport by 7News Sydney at- ers were quick to showfollow- in on any heavy vehicle acci- knowing mongering from ceased driver from wreckage. full well the conversatheir dent involving smaller “Thank you to Senator one sided reporting does nothvehicle. tion was being recorded, ing to help us or the general and Glenn Sterle for calling Chan- public.”

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THIS wasn’t the way truckie Glyn Castanelli’s 50th birthday week was supposed to pan out.

He’d just picked up a trailer load of ice cream and was heading back to Brisbane from Sydney when his life was turned upside down in a heartbeat.

Without warning, a motorist drifted into his lane on the quite city two-lane street in Bow Bowing and ploughed head-first into his

DRIVER GLYN CASTANELLI

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T1/4P-A4-2

BY JAMES GRAHAM

THESE BLOKES RUNNING OUT THERE OFF THEIR LOGBOOKS SHOULD REALLY KNOW THAT THEY’RE JEOPARDISING NOT ONLY THEIR LIVELIHOODS, BUT ALSO THEIR FREEDOM.

“I’d given up smoking but have taken it up again after all this.”

Minutes later he was technically under arrest, and bundled off to hospital for a mandatory blood test.

“When I saw coverage of accidents like this I always thought it was the truck driver I saw standing there on the side of the road, but that’s probably the driver behind him. The police have already whisked him off to the hospital.”

After hurriedly arranging a hotel stay in Sydney that night, it wasn’t until the next morning that Castanelli was able to retrieve his belongs from the truck at the towie’s yard.

Meanwhile, he also had to suffer the indignity of the incident being splashed all over 7News, with the report failing to exonerate him on any level. Senator Glenn Sterle was so incensed by the coverage that he’s now written to Bridget Fair, the CEO of Free TV Australia, asking her to investigate.

“I didn’t feel too bad about the whole thing until I saw that [the TV report],” said Castanelli.

“My first though was, ‘can I sue these bastards?’, that’s now how it happened. They say it was truck vs car, it certainly wasn’t truck vs. car, it was car vs truck and the truck was too big and slow to get out the bloody way.”

With his truck now a write-off, Castanelli is making ends meet by driving local for a friend in Melbourne.

Now qualified as an auditor – he’s already started doing audits here and there for the NHVR – he seriously doubts that he’ll go back to his interstate role.

“It’s such a hard job to make a livelihood out of it.

“Physically I’m ok, but my life has totally been changed because of that accident. I’m just lucky that I’m trying to brush myself off and do something positive about it.”

T1/4P-A4-2

Castanelli’s Western Star was a write-off after the smash.

Western Star.

Luckily, there were no fatalities, or life-threatening injuries as a result, but a shaken Castanelli was left gobsmacked by what happened next, and now wants to share his story as a cautionary tale to other truckies.

“I’ve driven four million interstate kilometres and never had an accident,” said Castanelli, who is also the secretary of the National Road Freighters’ Association.

“You don’t realise what actually happens at an accident like that, and it was 200% not my fault.”

Firstly, no one asked him if he was okay as he stood there shaken on the side of the road wearing nothing but his t-shirt, shorts and clutching his mobile phone for support.

Then, when the police arrived, he was questioned, and had every inch of his logbook combed through.

At that moment he was thanking his lucky stars that his book was up to date and he wasn’t in the middle of a seven-hour break as a result

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Our story in the last issue of Big Rigs about the 7News coverage of the accident.

Veteran truckie calls it quits after border treatment

BY JAMES GRAHAM

SO much for being a provider of essential services.

That’s the parting message from distraught veteran interstate truckie James Camrolakis who was so incensed by the treatment he got at the SA border recently that he’s calling it quits after 40 years behind the wheel.

After hurting his hip and wrist in a work-related accident, Camrolakis, 60, was making the long two-day car journey home to Berri, SA, from Toowoomba, Qld, to recover when he was turned away at the border.

Camrolakis had been un-

Camrolakis is now looking forward to spending more time with his grandson Jame ‘JC’ Camrolakis.

der the impression that he’d breeze through the checkpoint on two counts: one he holds a valid truckie ex-

emption pass, and secondly because he’d heard he would be okay, given he was coming direct from Queensland, via

Wentworth, NSW. “When I got to the SA/ NSW border, about 25km from home, I got pulled up and they got stuck into me,” said Their sticking point was the fact Camrolakis’s logbook showed he had been in Victoria a few days earlier for about four hours to do a quick delivery and pick-up, before heading straight back out.

The fact it was now 2am in the morning and Camrolakis had no food, water and was running low on fuel left at the time, also carried little weight with the authorities, said the distressed driver.

“They basically said not our

problem, turn around and piss off.”

All he could do was turn back to Wentworth, 90-minutes away and check himself into a local motel for 12-days of isolation at $145 a night, the two days in the car enroute making up the required two weeks.

“The funny thing about the whole situation is when I was right go on the 14th day when I went up to the checkpoint with a general pass there was no questions asked. He had a quick look at piece of paper, didn’t even ask me for my licence and said, ‘on your way, see you later’.”

“I’m pretty sure it was be-

cause I was a truck driver. I think they had a bit of an issue.”

“I’m just over it if that’s how they’re going to treat drivers.

“They’re screaming for drivers, yet we get treated like that.”

Camrolakis only hopes now that his story acts as a warning to other truckies travelling across borders outside of their trucks.

“If you are considering coming home during holidays, be prepared to have almost a month of isolation,” he warned.

“I don’t know what blokes are going to do. It means no holidays.”

20 NEWS EXTRA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Highway from hell gets a long overdue upgrade

A once notorious freight route for truckies in north Queensland is close to finally being sealed thanks to a three-way partnership

A sealed part of the highway between Hughenden and the Lynd Junction. Picture: Main Roads Department.

BY ALF WILSON IT was once described as the ‘Highway from Hell’ and amongst the most dangerous routes in Australian for heavy vehicles to travel on despite being a major inland route for truckies.

Most of the 255km section of the Kennedy Developmental Road (KDR) from Hughenden to the Lynd – known to truckies as the Hann Highway - was shifting red dirt.

To travel along the Hann you had to negotiate several elbow bends, a lot of dirt and the resultant dust, and a narrow and unstable surface.

There had been numerous truck rollovers and many accidents involving caravans and cars.

But ‘People Power’ has been largely responsible for lobbing government to upgrade the key road link which supports livestock, mining, tourism and freight in north Queensland.

The Hann Highway is also a major route for travel between Hughenden and the Atherton Tablelands and is used by the Army for travel to Darwin.

Work started in July 2020 on the final stretch of unsealed road considered to be the missing link on the alternative inland route between Cairns and Melbourne.

The upgrade is a partnership between the three levels of government; federal, state and the local Flinders and Etheridge Shire Councils.

“The highway has an average annual total of 96 vehicles per day, 23 of which are heavy vehicles (24%). This section of the KDR is 255.34km, of which about 59.07km remained unsealed following the completion of the $50 million Northern Australia Roads Programme (NARP)

funded works in 2020,” said a spokesperson from the Main Roads Department.

“The new $50 million Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) project, jointly funded by the Federal and State Government, will be delivered by the Flinders Shire Council and Etheridge Shire Council over eight packages in eight locations. The project will seal an additional 48.18 kilometres of the highway, with a sealed road of eight metres in width catering for heavy loads and freight vehicles as well as improved flood immunity for the length of the corridor.

“The upgrade will continue

the success of the previous progressive sealing project completed in March 2020, with an average of 42 direct jobs to be supported over the life of this project.”

Works are scheduled for completion by December 2023, with only a 10.89-kilometre section remaining unsealed.

The spokesperson also told Big Rigs the Lynd to Hughenden does not have any current restrictions for heavy vehicles, with Type 2 road trains allowed to travel along it.

I travelled the Hann Highway for the first time in 2004 when it was a dusty dangerous

Alison Murphy speaks at the People Power meeting at remote Clothes Peg Station in 2004.

There is only about 60km left unsealed, and funds have been promised to complete the sealing by 2023.

route with many bends and considered a nightmare to negotiate.

In November 2004, I attended a meeting of the Hann Highway Action Group at remote Clothes Peg Station which is about 120km from the Lynd Junction.

This ‘people power meeting’ included road transport representatives, several politicians, graziers and other interested people and resulted in strong lobbying to government for an urgent upgrade.

The audience was told that most of the Hann Highway was dirt with only a few short stretches of bitumen, most of which was laid during World War II in the early 1940’s, when authorities wanted to use it to evacuate residents in case of a Japanese invasion.

More than 90 people attended that initial meeting including representatives of the Flinders and Etheridge Shire and the Group lobbied Governments to upgrade the Hann.

Long-time group secretary, Alison Murphy, now aged 72, who retired a few years told Big Rigs that the work was a major victory for road transport and agricultural industries.

“In 2004 the Hann Highway was in a shocking state of repair, mainly due to ongoing drought, causing much bulldust which I saw was an enormous traffic hazard, so I called a public meeting.

“The response was almost overwhelming, with 90 people attending, including representatives from both the Cairns and Cloncurry Main Road Department and the mayors from both Etheridge and Flinders Shire Councils, local police and ambulance etc, and families from all properties along the route.

“We also had the backing

of both the local State and Federal MPs. A committee was formed on the day, and it was agreed that we would work through the Hughenden of Chamber Commerce, as we didn’t have anything (constitution etc) set up to go it alone.

“Fortunately for me, both the Councils were in total agreement, and the Flinders Council of the time really put their hand up and took on all the major work for us.

“They had a feasibility study completed, and this showed overwhelmingly that the road certainly had to be sealed.”

Now nearly 16 years later, Murphy said there is only about 60km left unsealed, and funds have been promised to complete the sealing by 2023.

“In the beginning most politicians did not know where the Hann Highway was, but they certainly did by the end of several delegations.

This has to be a tremendous boost to the local communities, transport of local cattle, and the tourist industry, just to name a few.”

Murphy said trucks now have much better times because it’s about 800km shorter to go from towns to Melbourne compared with travel along the coastal Bruce Highway.

“There were several sections of bull dust and the road trains coming through were having to unhook and take one trailer through at a time.

As well as being time-consuming and expensive, it was an animal welfare issue be-

cause the cattle in the back trailers were almost choking in dust,” Murphy said.

Flinders Shire Mayor Jane McNamara said Hughenden was perfectly positioned as a major transport hub for trucks passing through.

“It’s a fairly long section from The Lynd, 255km approximately without any towns. By the time people get to Hughenden they’ll be looking for a good coffee and a feed and fuel up and maybe some tyres,” Cr McNamara said.

The Hann is about 400km inland from Townsville and the sealing will improve productivity, resilience and safety on this regional road.

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz emphasised the positive impact of the upgrades on the local and national economies.

“The Hann Highway is a key road link supporting livestock, mining, tourism and freight in the North. The works have improved safety, reliability and efficiency of this important connection,” Buchholz said.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, who has recently checked out progress on the road, said beyond sealing gravel roads for the community and truck drivers, the program also provided a shot in the arm for local jobs.

“Investing in Queensland roads means supporting Queensland jobs, with average of 120 supported throughout the life of the project,” Bailey said.

Devil’s Elbow on the Hann Highway before the upgrade.

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22 OPERATOR PROFILE

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Story behind the picture: A husband and wife success

BY BRENT DAVISON

A WONDERFUL pic popped-up on our Facebook page a few days ago – a dramatic image instantly capturing the essence of Australia’s road transport industry.

A black Kenworth prime mover replete with massive bullbar, twin snorkels, tall exhaust stacks and long-range tanks. Behind it three long, black trailers and all around it the rich, red dirt and dust of the Australian outback.

‘TRIPLE THREAT: Robert Stein transports nitrate into the Marandoo Mine in WA in this impressive looking rig.’, the caption read and we knew there and then we had to know more about the story behind this truck.

It took a little bit of tracking but we eventually discovered the big, black Kenny belongs to Bunbury, Western Australia-based, T&M Road Haulage, a division of T&M Heavy Mechanical and Site Services, a business with a dynamic and interesting history.

The ‘T&M’ in the company name refers to husband and wife team Tim and Melissa Bowman who started the business a little over a decade ago.

The Facebook picture of the week from driver Robert Stein. We had to know more!

Tim grew-up in Tasmania and, with his extended family either owners or drivers of trucks and other heavy machinery, slipped easily into the heavy vehicle industry and his pathway into adulthood sorted from day one.

He trained as a heavy diesel mechanic after high school and when that was finished, he upped stumps and moved to Western Australia at the tender age of 19, some interesting ideas running around inside his head.

A T&M Road Haulage road train rolls into the Western Australian night.

Tim landed in Bunbury, a couple of hours south of Perth, and set-up shop but it did not take him long to look beyond fixing broken truck engines.

He and Melissa started diversifying their business interests, staying within the transport and heavy vehicle fields but taking a broader, more encompassing approach.

“You could call it a unique business”, Tim told Truckline’s inhouse publication last year. “You wouldn’t find a more diverse business over here.”

Diversification, in Tim’s terms, means maintaining and repairing heavy plant, highway equipment and machinery used by the mining and construction sectors, servicing and repairing engines, transmissions and air-conditioning units as well as offering auto electrical services.

“There’s not too many around like that and then there’s the variety of things we can haul based on the diversity of our fleet (with) walk-in floor trailers, tippers, bulk tippers and interlock trailers,” he said.

Looking northward, Tim

Striking new Mack Trident ticks all the right boxes SAFETY and local manufacturing go hand in hand at John West Logistics, and the recent delivery of a striking new Mack Trident ticks both boxes for the Brisbane based fleet.

With a fleet consisting of over 250 trucks, JWL employs approximately 420 employees in both Australia and New Zealand. A self-effacing transport veteran, John West has had a

The new Mack Trident takes pride of place in the JWL fleet.

long career in transport “I actually started out unpacking containers for Brisbane Carrying Company when I was 18 years old,” said West.

That career saw West progress from that humble start through most aspects of road transport, including forklift operation, truck driving and fleet management.

These days JWL specializes in the more challenging transport tasks, moving glass, steel and concrete, “We operate in the high skills end of the market.” “We don’t do simple stuff, West continued.”

and Melissa expanded into Port Hedland while maintaining their Bunbury headquarters. The move put them within striking distance of the vast Pilbara mining region and split the business equally between its mechanical and road transport disciplines.

T&M started out specialising in heavy vehicle mechanical repairs but has, over time, become involved in the road haulage sector, operating a fleet of 24 prime movers and more than 50 trailer

combinations that give the business scope to carry logs, wood chips, grain, lime and fertilisers.

That has also meant a gradual but steady increase in employee numbers and what started-out a little over 12 years ago as a two-person operation with Tim on the tools and Melissa managing the bookwork is now a thriving business with 35 employees, 16 of them drivers.

Mechanical repair clients are drawn from both the

road transport and mining sectors. Mobile technicians also service the state’s lower Southwest, the Goldfields and the WA wheat belt and T&M also supply contract mechanics to several mines in the Pilbara.

And the black Kenworth that appeared on the Big Rigs Facebook page? Still running nitrate into Rio Tinto’s Marandoo mine, some 375 kilometres south of Port Hedland, and still looking impressive.

T&M Road Haulage is a regular visitor to the Marandoo mine site, bringing in nitrate.

“We carry steel, we carry concrete, we carry glass, we carry all sorts of products that is hard to secure and requires highly skilled operators.”

“Half of our fleet is fitted with truck mounted cranes, it can be a very high risk environment, if the operators are not skilled and competent at their role.”

“We have a low incident rate in terms of injuries and accidents. I put a lot of this down to the induction program we have all employees undertake.”

This new Trident is fitted with the Bendix Wingman Fusion system, providing an active safety package with features such as blind spot alert, autonomous braking and roll stability.

Underneath the bulldog on the bonnet, a 13 litre 535hp MP8 engine and a 12-speed mDrive

transmission help this striking Aussie haul.

“This is our first Mack with the full safety package and I’m all for it, our company motto is think safe be safe, this truck aligns to where our thinking is.”

This is also the first Trident purchased by the company, which normally buys Mack Granites. While the green and gold Australian made livery makes the truck stand out from the crowd, John West also cites the Trident’s locally built credentials as an important part of the buying decision, “Australian made is important to me,” with a smile he continues, “and being a true Aussie born on Australia day, I thought I’d like to see a truck in Aussie colours with our company name and logo on it.

The day cab prime mover will be put into service in South

East Queensland undertaking a variety of freight tasks.

While safety may just be a word for some, JWL incorporates safety and compliance into all aspects of its business with a big emphasis on training. “We put a lot of effort into training our staff before they are allowed to go solo, and we are very proud of our safety record, even if we’ve had a couple of speed bumps over the years,” said West.

JWL has its own in-house driver apprenticeship program that takes applicants through basic key elements of transport with participants finishing the course with both a job and a medium rigid truck licence.

“We are fortunate to have so many very loyal people in the NZ and Aussie operations and great employee retention.”

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24 READER RIGS

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Nathan Venn’s AB Triple is loaded with grain in Sea Lake, in Victoria’s Mallee region.

Laddi Sangha captured this great shot of his rig at dusk.

Share your truck pics THE trucking game is as diverse as the terrain on which our truckies travel.

If there’s one thing we know many of you love, it’s a good looking rig – and sometimes life on the open road brings some golden photo opportunities.

The Big Rigs #PicOfTheDay competition is a chance

to share your best snaps through our Facebook page (@BigRigs). We’ll choose a weekly winning shot to feature as our Facebook cover photo and a selection of the best pics will be featured in the next edition of Big Rigs Newspaper.

So get snapping and keep those great pics coming!

On the way to pick up some lambs, Jeff Stuart came across some sheep in the form of this silo artwork at Thallon, Queensland.

Travelling through Cape Portland in Tassie’s north-east, Durk Diggler delivers bulls.

Nathan Brock’s Kenworth T904 pulls two B-double sets across Meekatharra, WA.

Geoff Lewis snapped his tankers ready to be loaded with sulphuric acid in Townsville.

With this 2019 Volvo Globetrotter, Michael Currie carts nitrate emulsion throughout WA and into SA.

John Mulder shared this shot transporting school building modules in Wagga Wagga.

Lee Hayter captured this amazing sunrise while carting compost in Red Cliffs, Victoria.

READER RIGS 25

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

Jakob Batchelor captured this beauty at Barrow Creek, NT, on his way to Darwin.

Matthew Wait snapped this gleaming B&K Bulk Haulage Kenworth in Port Adelaide.

Leigh Butcher’s Kenworth and road train set-up looks the goods, loaded with wire cable, on its way from Adelaide to Arnhem Land.

This Cat was snapped by Skeeta Vangeninden during the bushfire clean up in Tonimbuk, in south-eastern Victoria.

In the early hours of the morning, Allstone Quarries driver Ricky Jones got this great shot of his Volvo FH16 in Laanacoorie, Victoria.

Susannah Bairstow McGuffie snapped this Kenworth 909 tipping agricultural lime at a farm near Wagin, WA.

Shaun Kalajzic unloads urea at his farm, off the back of his 2004 Volvo.

Brad Jackson, who drives his father’s 2009 T658 Kenworth, was carting lentils into Minyip, Victoria.

Adam Mclachlan tows a set of Holmwood Highgate emulsion tankers for Toll.

26 FEATURE

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Wodonga couple celebrate first year out on their own

It was a tough choice to leave a secure job after 12 years, but this hard-working Victorian livestock carrier is glad he took the plunge.

BY DAVID VILE IT is no secret that transport is a tough gig and one of the toughest things to take on is making the move from being a company driver to an owner-driver.

Having made such a move in October 2019, Dale and Melany Grealy are steadily building their family livestock transport business up, working through the rich agricultural valleys of North-East Victoria.

The couple took the plunge into running their own truck after Dale had worked for Shanahan’s Livestock for 12 years, with Dominic Shanahan giving Dale a leg-up into the business of carting sheep and cattle all around Australia.

“Dom turned up at the old Wodonga saleyards there one day with a new 2x1 crate and I asked him what his plans were for it - he told me he didn’t have one but if I wanted a driving job he would help set me up and organised me to get my heavy combo licence and later my B-double licence,” recalled Dale.

With his licence sorted Dale took to the road in a Kenworth T601 towing the 2 x 1 crate (2 decks sheep/1 deck cattle) before moving into some 2-deck cattle work before gaining his B-Double accreditation.

Shortly after, Dale was thrown in at the deep end making his way across the country on sheep-carting job.

“I reckon I had my double licence for about a fortnight when Dom rang and said, ‘I have a bit of a project for you’.

“I loaded cattle out of Yea across to Balranald and he said, ‘The next part of the little project is for you to wash out at Jamestown [SA] because you’re going west’.

“He sent me over to Western Australia to bring a load of sheep back - that was my learning curve of driving a B-double, a fortnight of having a HC licence and I was into it!”

In the years following, Dale saw quite a bit of Australia through the windscreen of a Kenworth as the work sent him off the beaten track to all points of the compass from

Dale spent over a decade driving all over the country for Shanahan Livestock.

The Grealy Family Transport Isuzu at home base in Wodonga.

the Shanahan depot on the outskirts of Wodonga at Barnawartha North.

“When it was going flat out, I think I did around 18 or 19 trips west across to southern WA - Esperance, Katanning, Bunbury, it’s definitely a way to get the kilometres up.

“I also made it to Alice Springs, Muttaburra and a lot of Queensland and all across New South Wales….wherever you had to go you went.”

In 2019, the unfortunate sudden death of another north-east livestock carrier was the catalyst for Dale and Melany with their young daughter Annabelle to establish what today operates as Grealy Family Transport.

Robert and Rhonda Barton had operated an Isuzu truck-and dog unit based at Kergunyah in the Kiewa Valley for a number of years before Robert passed away suddenly in April, with the Grealy family purchasing the truck and striking out on their own.

“Rhonda is the pay-lady at Shanahan’s and I had spoken to her a couple of times after Rob had passed away, and she wanted to know if I would like to buy the truck - I told her I had never had a truck of my own,” said Dale.

“She said she needed to sell it and I needed to buy it as it would get me home more and I would watch my kids grow up and so forth. She wasn’t pushing me away from Shanahan’s but probably pushing me the way I needed to go. It’s definitely been a blessing.”

The Grealy Isuzu is a 2002 CXY with a 385 horsepower SiTec mother coupled to a Roadranger driveline, and despite having done 1.3 million kilometres still holds her own out on the road.

“Rob kept her moving pretty well but it has been well looked after, the crates are only

“In Memory of Barto”- L-R: Melany Grealy, Rhonda Barton, Dale Grealy and Annabelle Grealy.

three years old, they are 2 x 1’s so they are handy to have when a sheep job pops up,” Dale said.

The Isuzu has a 29 -foot long tray with the dog trailer coming in at 21 feet which is a handy size to have in the livestock haulage game, coming in with greater capacity than a regular single trailer.

“I have fifty feet of deck space which is just a little bit longer than some other outfits, it works well around here as you can split it if need be and run a few head back out to the dog if you’re in a tight spot, hook up again and away you go, it’s definitely a handy outfit with that bit of extra length on the truck,” he explained.

A number of Barton Transport’s customers are on board with Dale continuing their as-

sociation with the truck with the Isuzu a regular sight up and down the Kiewa Valley with Dale hauling livestock to the weekly market at the NVLX facility at Barnawartha along with abattoir and farm-tofarm work.

Along with the local work Dale been as far afield as Queensland, which saw one of his earliest trips pointing the Isuzu north to the Sunshine State.

“I went up to Roma for a load of bulls, a bloke at Young was a bit stuck and needed them back home so sent me up - it worked out quite well as I hadn’t yet built up my clientele in the Valley.”

The Grealy family name is well known around Wodonga, with Dale’s father Lionel running the long-established Grealy Motors and Towing operation, and as such Dale has some other equipment at close range to shift machinery or hay if needed.

“We have the option of using Dads Kenworth K104 and 48-foot tilt slide if we need to shift a bit of machinery or something, I would love to look at having a drop-deck to do a bit of hay to save whipping the crates off the Isuzu, we could just jump in the Kenworth and go and do that,” he said.

Dale and Melany certainly lead a busy life with Melany having operated the general store at Baranduda near Wodonga for a number of years, and along with Annabelle, Dale and Melany have two young foster girls in their care.

“It keeps everyone busy but it is enjoyable,” he reckoned.

As for the future, Dale reckons that Annabelle will no doubt be involved with keeping the wheels rolling at some point.

“I don’t think there’s much choice, Annabelle will be following in my footsteps somewhere along the line, she always wants to be in the truck with me, even if the Isuzu doesn’t have a TV like my Kenworth used to!” he said with a grin.

Despite all the goings-on around the place with the coronavirus, the cattle industry in 2020 has been strong and a good regular season in south eastern Australia has Dale optimistic of better times ahead.

“The saleyards prices have gone a bit silly, it’s been a good year with plenty of grass and people are looking for cattle so that’s keeping the prices high and keeping us moving, coming into spring now that should kick us along nicely.”

At the end of September, the Grealy Family Transport operation also celebrated the 12-month anniversary and Dale reckons that with his family and business the future is looking bright.

“I will have to upgrade the truck at some stage but I am very happy with how it going, we will see how we go, we will build it up and see how it plays out. I grew up with livestock, it’s always been my thing and stock was the way I wanted to go so I stuck with it and enjoy it.”

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28 FEATURE

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Sweet as: Mercedes-Benz gets thumbs-up in cane fields

AUSTRALIAN demand for sugar is still strong despite the attempts of many a diet guru to make it public enemy number one. That’s a good thing for Australia, and especially Queensland, where many a worker earns a living in our country’s sweetest industry.

Productivity is the key to making sugar worthwhile in a tough economic climate, which is why NDL Transport switched to Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks for a five-truck fleet based in Brandon, about 80km south of Townsville.

“We chose the Benzes because of their low tare weight, which gives us an additional 500kg payload for every single load,” says NDL Transport operations manager, Luke Zarb.

“With five trucks running all day every day, that extra 500kg on each run really adds up,” Zarb says.

The trucks, purchased from the locally-owned and operated RGM Maintenance in Townsville, haul sugar cane from pads at the edge of the cane fields to railway sidings.

Both ends of the special cane trailers tilt up and the cane drops down into the middle.

THE GUYS RECKON THEY ARE THE SMOOTHEST AND MOST COMFORTABLE TRUCKS THEY HAVE EVER DRIVEN AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 YEARS. LUKE ZARB

The trucks haul sugar cane from pads at the edge of local cane fields to railway sidings.

Both ends of the special cane trailers tilt up and the cane drops down into the middle before being pushed-out on a conveyer and into cane bins, delivering the cane to any of the 4 mills in the Burdekin region.

NDL chose the 2646 new generation Actros model, which run 455hp version of the 11-litre six-cylinder OM470 engine and is teamed with a 12 speed Automated Manual Transmission.

The new generation Benz AMT features a crawler function, which makes easing up to docks or bins easier than ever.

TRUCK WINDSCREEN SPECIALIST

The trucks haul sugar cane from pads at the edge of local cane fields to railway sidings.

It also has a new Multimedia Cockpit, which is Benz’s fancy way of describing two new tablet screens on the dashboard just like in their premium road cars.

One screen replaces the instrument cluster and shows things like speed and revs in crystal clear detail and another, which is a touch screen, replaces the centre unit to control a whole range of features including navigation, radio etc. It still has some hard buttons to control things you might need to change in a hurry, including climate controls and radio volume.

Zarb says the trucks, which have been on the road for three months, have been well

received by the drivers. They appreciate the spaciousness of the cabins and the comfort levels.

“They just love them,” Zarb says.

“The guys reckon they are the smoothest and most comfortable trucks they have ever driven and many of them have been driving for 30 years,” he adds.

Like all Mercedes-Benz truck engines, the 11-litre unit meets Euro 6 emission standards, which are far stricter than the existing Euro 5 standards that are mandated in Australia, delivering dramatic reductions in nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions.

“The fact that these engines

are Euro 6 rated is a really big plus for NDL Transport,” says Zarb.

“It is quite a simple way for us to reduce our impact on the environment.”

The Australian sugarcane industry has been working to reduce its environmental impact in recent years, so the Euro 6 Benzes are a good fit.

The cane harvest season started in the first week of June and will run through until the first week of December. Zarb says the workload has not dropped off at all despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

“Sugar is something that really is essential, so it really hasn’t been affected at all,” he says.

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NEWS 29

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

Fundraising adventure for tractor-driving truckie fan

A 17-year-old from the Sunshine Coast is making some big plans for the year ahead.

He and his Chamberlain 9G tractor are set to embark on a 13,500km journey across Australia in a mammoth fundraising effort for three charities: Lights on the Hill Trucking Memorial, the Royal Flying Doctors Service and Dolly’s Dream.

Currently in Year 12, Sam Hughes has been busy getting his tractor ready for the road.

“I’ve been tinkering around with it on the weekends,” explains Hughes.

“It’s just two more months

until I can get my licence.

I bought the tractor a few months ago. It belonged to an old fella who recently passed away. It was mostly in running order, but I had to do a fair bit of electrics to it, add indicators, horns, brake pipes and all of that to make it safe for the road. There are a few little modifications – I’ve updated the diff so it does 50km/h instead of 40km/h and I’ve added a turbo-charger so it goes a little better.”

Despite his young age, Hughes certainly has his finger on the pulse, with his own hobby business where

Sam Hughes has spent the last few months getting his tractor ready for his cross-country journey.

he buys and sells machinery and small trucks – a venture sparked after he made his first tractor purchase when he was just 13.

He bought it for $1000, but as his mother was worried about the dangers of the machine, he sold it shortly after for $3000. At that point, he knew he was onto something.

Now Hughes is hoping to give back to some of the charities he holds dear, with the Lights on the Hill Trucking Memorial among these.

It was set up to honour those who have made a significant contribution to the Australian transport industry and have sadly lost their lives before their time – whether it be a truck or work-related accident or by other means.

“My family uses a lot of trucks, so I know a lot of people who are truckies. A lot of my best mates are truckies and whenever I can, I’ll go on runs with them.

“I love the trucking industry and have a huge respect for those in the industry – the long hours they work and everything they do for us. A lot of people don’t fully understand the sacrifices they make. I knew a few truck drivers who have lost their lives on the road. I thought reaching out to the Lights on the Hill Trucking Memorial would be a great way to pay them back for all of the work they do.”

For the voyage, Hughes’ Chamberlain 9G tractor will be used to tow a 6.5 metre trailer, which is currently being built based on his own designs.

The trailer will carry a Suzuki Sierra (just in case

The trip aims to raise money for three charities, including the Lights on the Hill Trucking Memorial.

anything goes wrong) and a plane mounted on its roof, which will be painted in the Royal Flying Doctors Service colours. Hughes is currently also looking for sponsors to assist with the trip.

If all goes to plan, Hughes is hoping to depart from his hometown of Maleny in Feb-

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ruary, stopping in every major town along his way, including all major Royal Flying Doctor bases. To ensure he doesn’t get in the way of truck drivers’ day to day operations, his chosen route will avoid major highways and busy roads. He is hoping that the borders that have been closed due to

COVID-19 restrictions will be reopened by his scheduled departure “but if borders are still closed by then, I’ll have to change it to a Queensland run instead,” he says.

You can follow Hughes’ journey on his Facebook page, The Travelling Jackaroo.

s

30 INSURANCE COLUMN

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Working together to tackle issues that really matter

WA CAMPAIGNER CAM DUMESNY

COST CUTTER CHET CLINE

AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH

TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE

I SPY ON THE ROAD ISPY@BIGRIGS.COM.AU

WOMEN IN TRANSPORT JACQUELENE BROTHERTON

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS

Western Roads Federation CEO

AIR CTI founder/owner

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

Despite the costs of new trucks steadily increasing over the past 30 years, the cost of insurance has remained similar to what it was back then.

Insurance is too expensive – what a load of rubbish!

INSURANCE GURU. MANAGER, INSURANCE GURU TBI INSURANCE SERVICES MARK BROWN Mark Brown

Manager, TBI Insurance Services

INSURANCE is no more expensive these days than it was back in the early 1990s. Back in the 90s yours truly had his own truck insured for $100,000, five years claims free doing general freight and furniture and was paying around $8500 for the insurances on it.

Fast forward to 2020, we (TBI Insurance) have had cli-

TELEMATICS EXPERT SHANNON KYLE

as insurance) contributors@bigrigs.com.au is run by small operators and which could be detrimental. drivers like you. It’s called the Your concerns should be ad- National Road Freighters Asdressing freight rates, monop- sociation (NRFA), which has olies, driver training, safety, been chipping away since 2009 unfair contracts, fatigue laws, and has gained a seat at many ents with the same value equip- transport industry is that it has over regulation of the transport of the discussion tables with ment doing the same type been raped and pillaged over industry and so on. the crucial government agenof work and paying a similar the last 30-40 years to the point “Can’t be done,” you say. cies that rely on your input to amount as to what I was paying that there is no margin left to Well I say, “What a load of be able to make decisions that 30 years ago. make a decent dollar. We agree rubbish!” will be “fair to all concerned” The only difference with that the running costs have risen The answer and solution is not just the big players. insuring a truck back then is astronomically with things such a lot simpler than you all may All you need to do is get that the average was as rego, parts, maintenance, think when you understand LEGAL behind EAGLE organisations such as THE new OZ truck TRUCKER TWUfuel NEWS around $200,000, whereas (crikey we were paying 53 cents that there are an estimated NRFA and support them in MIKE WILLIAMS OLSEN nowadays you could pay up to a litre in 1990), fines,RICHARD etc, but 30,000 owner operators within ROWAN their fightKING for better conditions contributors@bigrigs.com.au TWU NSW State Secretary Principal Lawyer RK Law $400,000. we can assure you that the in- Australia. If you all work to- for you.

The rate your insurance is surance rates have not. gether, you would be one of the As for us at TBI Insurance calculated at has remained the Now that we’ve got that off most powerful lobby groups in Services, we do insurance. But same and is calculated in the our chest, let us look at how we the country, and that means if we believe in the transport insame way as it was 30 years can fix the real problem: your you move as one you will have dustry and the good people in ago. Insurance rate multiplied running costs and profit mar- the power to ask and if needed, it, so we would like to do our by the dollar value of your gins. demand change for the better. part to help. truck/trailer = Premium plus The real issues in the inMost of the industry associTBI Insurance will pay for any penalties for high $ value dustry are the things that have ations are dominated by the big the first year’s membership to or multiple claims – it really is reduced your profit margins to end of town, however you al- the NRFA for any owner operthat simple. the point that you are cutting ready have an owner operators ators who move their business The real problem in the costs in other areas of your and drivers lobby group that insurance to us before 1 De-

Safety solutions specialist, Teletrac Navman

Chair of Transport Women Australia

james.graham@bigrigs.com.au business (such

cember 2020. If not, you can join yourself and pay an NRFA membership of $120 per annum at www.nrfa.com.au.

There is no point complaining unless you are prepared to do your bit and help fight the fight – no excuses!

Important: All answers and 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.

“Truckies working for Truckies”

LOBBYIST STEVE SHEARER

SA Road Transport Association Executive Director

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Cool solutions ahead of the heat of summer

AS many truckies would attest, a properly working incab air conditioning system can make a world of difference while behind the wheel during the peak of summer.

Based in Queensland’s picturesque Lockyer Valley, Gatton Auto Electrical and Air Conditioning understands this very well, providing a full range of air conditioning services for all types of vehicles, including trucks.

A local family owned and operated business, Gatton Auto Electrical prides itself on its customer service and technical expertise. It has been servicing the Queensland transport industry since the late 1990s, with current owner Luke Rickuss taking over the business four years ago.

A Mack Trucks master technician, Rickuss says, “We’ve been in the industry and know how tough it can be.

We provide air conditioning services for trucks – along with offering repairs, installations, diagnostics and testing.”

When it comes to truck refrigeration, Gatton Auto Electrical understands the im-

portance of having it working smoothly before summer hits.

“Truck drivers rely on their air conditioning systems to keep them comfortable while our on the road. That’s why it’s important to get it serviced by a licensed specialist before the summer weather arrives. Our refrigeration mechanic has been in the game for over 30 years. With the weather starting to heat up at this time of year, now is definitely a good time to get air conditioning units in tip-top shape,” Rickuss says.

He adds that regular maintenance of air conditioning systems is really important as it equates to reduced repair costs and system longevity. “Proper maintenance of air conditioning systems has been proven to improve the lifespan of the unit and improve its performance.”

By securing regular maintenance from a team of professionals, it also allows issues to be identified and addressed early, before a small issue turns into a big one – and a costly one. Replacing faulty parts is far less

expensive than replacing a whole unit.

Gatton Auto Electrical uses only state-of-the-art equipment, helping to reduce downtime and get vehicles back on the road sooner.

Over the past two decades, the business has built a reputation for quality workmanship and expert services throughout the Lockyer Valley.

The Gatton Auto Electrical team offers a full installation service, whether it is a replacement part or a new addition to your vehicle.

Rickuss says his team has the experience to do it right the first time.

Recently, just 6km from the workshop, new road train unhooking facilities have also opened, so Gatton is perfectly positioned to cater to the Queensland truck community. The business also offers onsite services, travelling anywhere from Ipswich to Toowoomba.

To book in an air conditioning service or discuss your air conditioning requirements, call the workshop on 07 5462 4922.

Luke Rickuss is the owner of Gatton Auto Electrical, located in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland.

READ THE LATEST EDITION ONLINE NOW Keep up to date with the latest news and developments with

THE TRUSTED VOICE OF THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

Print edition available each fortnight from your local distributor

ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au

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ADFUSE bonds beat the heat and go the distance

ADRAD is constantly developing new and innovative manufacturing methods that deliver improved cooling performance for specialised applications. And its ADFUSE radiators are a prime example, boasting a superior strength industrial radiator design that is made to last.

Using welded bonds rather than soldered, ADFUSE bonds provide extra protection against extreme heat and stresses from thermal expansion, vibration and pressure. These stresses ordinarily cause soldered joints to fail over time, resulting in a reduced lifespan and unnec-

In an Adfuse welded core radiator, each tube is individually fused to the header using precision technology.

essary increased downtime.

ADFUSE uses sophisticated welding robot technology to individually fuse each tube to the header, producing a much stronger bond than soldering. Some radiator cores contain over 500 tubes with every tube welded at both ends. This means a single ADFUSE core can contain over 1000 individual welds.

For extreme precision, ADFUSE uses a computer-controlled robot that is able to perform welding with an accuracy of <0.1mm, while welding each tube in less than two seconds. In addition, ADFUSE uses solder backfill on each weld for added reinforcement. This allows the radiator to better withstand the demanding conditions in hard-working vehicles.

ADFUSE cores are available in 5/8” and Ultra-T configurations, providing maximum strength and durability in applications where high temperatures, stress and vibration occur.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Webasto keeps you cool with new rooftop a/c unit

The new Cool Top RTE 16 is now available Australia-wide through Webasto’s authorised Truck Sales and Service Dealer Network. As with all Webasto products, it is covered by a two-year warranty.

For more information, please visit www.webasto. com or call 1800 244 494.

Providing cooling without idling, the Cool Top RTE 16 saves on fuel, emissions and engine wear.

Webasto has just released its new Cool Top RTE 16 electric parking cooler.

NO matter what the weather conditions are outside of your vehicle, Webasto ensures you can control your cab temperature every step of the way.

Known throughout the world for its extensive range of sunroof systems and diesel fired air heaters, Webasto products are suitable for use in almost any application including trucks, caravans, motorhomes and marine vessels.

The brand has provided comfort solutions for the truck and bus market since 1965. In recent years, Webasto has increased its truck portfolio to include a wider range of high quality products that are perfect for the harsh Australian Summer.

Webasto’s existing truck market offerings include split air conditioning systems such as the Fresco 3000 and the Cool Split 20, both available

in rear or rooftop mounted variants, providing perfect cab climate control. Also on offer for the truck market are Webasto’s isotherm compressor fridges ranging in size and style from a 16L drawer fridge/freezer up to a 49L upright refrigerator.

With an impressive product range that includes something for nearly every situation, Webasto’s cabin cooling solutions are designed to

ensure a comfortable sleeper cab all year round no matter where you are, day or night.

This month Webasto introduces its all new Webasto Cool Top RTE 16, an effective, lightweight, 24-volt electric parking cooler. The powerful 1600-Watt rooftop air conditioning system is available with a wide choice of specific truck model mounting kits which allow easy installation via the vehicle’s roof hatch. The system is controlled using a digital display panel and/or a handy remote-control unit and offers automatic temperature control and individual temperature and fan speed ad-

justments.

Webasto’s Cool Top RTE 16 provides cooling without idling, saving fuel, engine wear and emissions. And with an adjustable low voltage cutoff, you can be assured that the engine will always start.

Pre-filled with refrigerant, the compressor driven system is connected to a 24 volt battery. Quality components combined with lightweight construction and a flat design provide a sleek, sophisticated look with the power and performance you expect from a Webasto product, effortlessly providing a refreshing temperature and comfortable environment in the truck cabin.

The Cool Top RTE 16 can be controlled via the digital display panel or via remote-control.

No matter where or when - Rest cool & easy with Webasto

Cool Top RTE 16 High performance, 1.6kW, lightweight, low profile, roof mounted 24v electric parking cooler. Cooling without engine idling.

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Natrad HDS: For cooling parts, repairs and advice

NATRAD Heavy Duty Specialist Group (HDS) is one of Australia’s largest national networks of heavy-transport, industrial and automotive heat-exchange specialists.

Natrad HDS is made up of leading cooling repair and service workshops across the country and its stores are staffed by highly experienced technicians with more than 350 years of combined industry experience.

The group is dedicated to servicing the cooling needs of on-highway and off-highway vehicles, earth-moving and mining applications,

large-transport vehicle fleets, agricultural machinery and large-scale power generators. Natrad HDS is the ideal choice when you want advice and access to one of Australia’s largest ranges of quality cooling products.

The range of services available from Natrad HDS includes radiator flushing, re-cores, radiator repairs, fabrication work and specialist cooling advice.

RADIATOR FLUSHING Large heavy-duty radiators are expensive, so maintenance is vital. Removing

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Regular inspection and cleanouts are a practical way to maximise service life and ensure you get the most out of your radiator.

RE-CORES Many industrial radiators are designed to be dismantled and re-cored. Natrad HDS has access to thousands of core options to suit any application or environment, as well as the expertise to advise which particular specification will deliver optimal cooling for you.

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RADIATOR REPAIRS Natrad HDS is a trusted Australian specialist when it comes to repairing radiators from a wide variety of vehicles and applications.

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Providing truckies with customised solutions

BASED in Bendigo, Victoria, Transair & Electrics is an auto electrical and air conditioning business specialising in sleeper cab air conditioning and the customisation of truck bunks. And the Transair team have been doing this for the past 15 years.

Steve started the business after recognising an opportunity in fitting sleeper cab air conditioning to trucks.

Since then it has grown in leaps and bounds, now fitting out around 300 trucks

a year, ranging from basic bunk cooling systems to full cabin fit outs.

Transair supplies and fits Icepack diesel-powered air conditioning systems, Fresco 3000 battery-powered refrigerated coolers and Webasto cabin heaters.

With driver comfort and fatigue management in mind, Transair has adapted to the requests of its customers and offers a whole range of options to cater to their day to day needs. Tran-

Transair & Electrics was established 15 years ago, in Bendigo, Victoria.

Transair can modify and customise cabin interiors to cater to customer requests.

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38 SPY ON THE ROAD

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Facilities at border town

All the hottest gossip from truckies travelling the busy roads around Australia.

SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING IT may not look five-star from the outside but a small green building at the township of Dirranbandi provides excellent multiple toilet and shower facilities for truck drivers.

Dirranbandi has a population of about 700 and is located in Balonne Shire in Queensland near the NSW border.

Truck drivers from around the country often tell me that there is a shortage of truckie friendly facilities at rest areas.

Those who haven’t been to Dirranbandi will be inter-

Exterior of the truckies’ showers and toilets at Dirranbandi Rest Area.

ested to hear about these.

Driver Andrew Sloss told Big Rigs about the Dirranbandi facility which is at a rest area popular with truckies.

He said the building has three rooms and each had a shower and a toilet which could be used for truckies.

Showers and toilets in three rooms inside the Dirranbandi Rest Area.

Dirranbandi Rest Area showing trucks and the shower/toilet building.

“I didn’t expect to find such facilities at a small town like Dirranbandi. There is a genuine shortage of these around Australia and us truck drivers are people and not animals. These are great for us,” he said.

Other truckies I have spoken to since have been glowing in their praise of the facility at a town with a population of around 800.

I contacted Balonne Shire Council to enquire about it.

“The stop is a Main Roads facility, but Council cleans them twice a week,” a Council spokesman told Big Rigs and emailed some pics of the exterior and interior.

More like them around Oz are required for our champion drivers.

Andrew had the last word.

“They are awesome, and I think that they should be at all major parking bays and maintained by the local council,” he said.

THEFT ANGERS DRIVERS THEFT from trailers and trucks is rampant around Australia according to several drivers Spy has spoken to recently.

One had his trailers parked at a designated pull off area to abide by local bylaws and had a tarpaulin

knocked off during the night.

“That is a pretty low act and other drivers have told me they have had gear stolen from trailers and even from their truck,” he said.

Often the offences are not reported to police because the victims feel there is not much hope of the culprits being identified.

To combat this a lot of truckies have installed security cameras which capture all activity around their vehicle.

Some will park at a roadhouse or rest area which have camera surveillance.

A couple of drivers also told Spy that they had been parked up just on dark not far from where a race meeting had been held.

They caught some drunken race goers piddling on their truck and were far from happy.

A MESSY SITUATION ROADHOUSE workers who maintain facilities such as showers, toilets and parking areas for truckies are often unsung champions.

After hearing a horror story from one woman who works at a big roadhouse patronised by many drivers I have even more respect for them.

In early September she had to clean up a terrible mess in a shower and toilet area normally used by truckies only.

“A person had diarrhoea and left his waste in two toilets all over the floor and walls and then washed his soiled clothes in a shower.

There was mess everywhere and I felt sick,” she said, The culprit was not a truckie but a tourist who was travelling in a van with others and who used the truckies’ facilities.

These poor workers have increased workloads due to Covid-19 and generally do a wonderful job.

LOAD SAVED AFTER CHANCE MEETING A CHANCE meeting between a truckie and a former schoolmate almost certainty saved him from losing part or all of his load.

The Isuzu driver was delivering food for Toll to a busy café which is part of an entertainment and food complex in a big country town.

He saw a friend who had been a classmate more than 20 years ago and after a short chat the lad exchanged mobile phone numbers with her.

They planned to catch up at a later date to reminisce about their school years.

As the lass was tucking into her delicious meal, she saw the Isuzu leaving the complex and about to enter a busy street near the CBD. But alas, the Isuzu’s back door was open and some of the load would certainly have fallen out after a short time.

She immediately phoned the truckie who pulled over and shut the door.

“You are a legend,” he told her.

A truckie accidentally brushed a wooden electric light post with his truck which damaged a mirror and stop sign attached to it.

FIRST DAY BLUES HAD to feel sorry for a driver who drove down a narrow alley to collect rubbish from a popular café in a big town.

He accidentally brushed a wooden electric light post with his truck which damaged a mirror and stop sign attached to it.

It took him some time to reverse out of the alley and several people had gathered around after hearing the noise from the collision.

“The driver said it was his first day on the job and I hope he doesn’t get into trouble,’’ one café worker said.

Spy hasn’t heard if there was any action taken against the driver and whilst the damage was minor, he would have had a very nervous day.

WILDLIFE ACTIVITY WHILST on the subject of wildlife, reports have come to Spy of some emus being killed when accidentally hit by a truck in country NSW. No fault whatsoever of the driver as the birds appear seemingly out of nowhere from beside a highway.

A driver who frequents the winding Kuranda Range near Cairns told of a giant cassowary which often crosses the road.

Indeed, traffic has been held up on occasions by such big birds which have even been known to stop on the highway.

Down Tasmania way a couple of truckies have reported dead wombats beside the road near the east coast.

Mostly between the scenic towns of Bicheno and St Helen’s which are both on the coast.

They seem to cross the roads looking for food.

Some time ago numerous truckies told Spy that they has seen Tasmanian Devils dead next to a highway.

A rare occurrence these days, however one Hobart driver said he did spot a live Tassie Devil during September.

SCHADENFREUDE CURIOSITY ALTHOUGH old Spy had good marks for English when at school a word mentioned by a truckie at a roadhouse parking area really sparked my curiosity buds.

The WA driver was far away interstate and was speaking to some other drivers who had parked up.

In conversation he mentioned that somebody he had met on his latest journey was a Schadenfreude.

Never having heard the word before Spy turned to Mr Google and after some spelling versions he came up with a description.

It is a complex emotion, where rather than feeling sympathy toward someone’s misfortune, Schadenfreude evokes joyful feelings that take pleasure from watching someone fail.

Adults who experience Schadenfreude, generally try and conceal it.

We live and learn even at roadhouses.

SPY ON THE ROAD 39

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

are a big hit with truckies BAND AID REPAIR AFTER ROO HIT CURIOSITY got the better of Spy when he spotted masking tape stuck on a panel just behind the passenger side of a 2010 model Kenworth 608 at a roadhouse parking area.

Spy managed to track down the friendly driver who didn’t want his pic taken but was happy to disclose what had happened to the panel.

“I was driving along at 1am in the dark recently about 10km north of Broken Hill in NSW when a giant Kangaroo hopped down an embankment and collided with the side of the Kenworth. I heard the thud and thought it may have hit the side of the bull bar,” he said.

It took the former Kiwi driver some time to find a suitable spot to pull over up the highway so he could inspect the damage.

There was a fair bit of mess left by the roo and he saw the damage to the panel.

“It had to have masking tape put on as the panel is a part specially made which we are waiting for after the insurance assessment,” he said.

In the meantime, the tape had provided a great band aid solution and the driver wants to warn other truckies who travel the area to be careful.

DISASTER DAMAGE WORKS RECONSTRUCTION work is underway on the Gregory Development Road between Charters Towers and the Lynd Junction will continue until Friday, October 23.

This work by the Department of Main Roads follows disaster events that damaged the state-controlled road network in 2019.

The work commenced on multiple sites on September 2 and involves speed restrictions and lane closures with traffic controllers present.

This route is used by many trucks to gain access from Charters Towers to the Atherton Tablelands and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

To minimise disruption works have been planned in stages with advanced warning signs in place to notify road users.

Drivers have been warned to factor additional travel time into their journey.

Traffic impacts may remain in place on days when construction isn’t occurring within the project dates.

Wide load restrictions will also be in place and heavy vehicle operators with loads three 3m wide or greater, must contact Wayne Bishop on 0448 017 042 at least 24 hours prior to advise of an

anticipated time of arrival to allow for heavy equipment and other infrastructure to be cleared.

Road users are asked to drive carefully through the roadwork’s zone, follow direction of traffic controllers and adhere to reduced speed limits.

BASS HIGHWAY UPGRADES FAST-TRACKED THE Bass Highway is one of the busiest routes for heavy vehicles in Tasmania and work will soon commence on upgrades of the most dangerous sections.

The total length is 285km from Tasmania’s second biggest city Launceston to Marrawah in the west.

The Tasmanian Government has announced the most aggressive construction program in Tasmania’s history on account of the coronavirus pandemic and a fast-tracked plan for the Bass Highway upgrade.

Work will be fast-forwarded on the Wynyard-Marrawah corridor upgrade and that has been welcomed by the RACT. A respected Tasmanian road transport identity told Spy the Burnie to Smithton section has the highest percentage of heavy vehicles on any major route within Tasmania.

A truck and van on a narrow section of the Bass Highway between Burnie and Smithton.

A sign on the Bass Highway, one of the busiest routes for heavy vehicles in Tasmania.

The damage caused after hitting a kangaroo and the tape holding it together.

“Yet it has the least overtaking lanes when compared to total traffic numbers,” he said.

Smithton is the most western major town on the route with industries such as dairy, produce, timber harvesting, fishing, and meat processing there and nearby.

The Wynyard to Smithton stretch has around 3000 vehicle movements per day, with about 22% of these being heavy vehicles.

However, this section has only a couple of overtaking lanes other than those on hilly sections.

“I believe work will start soon on an upgrade with a focus on Smithton to Marrawah, to cater for the trucks which number around 40% to 50% of the traffic being heavy vehicles on that poor condition 46 km section,” he said.

The 103km Devonport to Launceston section is very busy every day.

About three times a year there is a week-long 24-hour operation to transport gypsum from Burnie Port to Port Latta. Port Latta being the finishing plant of the iron ore pellets, the finished product

from Savage River Mines slurry piped 85km to Port Latta.

A large number of heavy vehicles run between Burnie and Launceston region due to the two busy ports at Burnie and Devonport.

The section between Devonport and Launceston has the highest count of heavy vehicles due to freight off three ships per day, and Coles and Woolworth distribution centres being in the Launceston area.

Grocery lines delivered to the Launceston region are then distributed around the state mainly on trucks.

40 TRUCKIN’ IN THE TROPICS

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Andrew Sloss

IT was extremely windy the morning Big Rigs saw driver Andrew Sloss attending to a trailer behind the Western Star 4800 he drives for Daryl Dickenson Transport.

The 41-year-old courteous truckie was parked beside the Townsville Port Access Rd. “I have brought up steel from Port Kembla to Cairns and have a backload of scrap to deliver in Brisbane,” he said.

The company is based at Yatala in southern Queensland and Andrew said he has Ger-

man, Hungarian and Scottish descent on his family tree.

Andrew said the highway between Rolleston and Springsure was the worst he has been along in recent times.

“It is an absolute disgrace,” he said.

As for rest area for truckies, Andrew feels there could be more on certain routes.

“We do need more between Sydney and Brisbane,” he said.

Andrew has been a truck

Daniel Schaepman

driver for 17 years and with Dickenson Transport for three months.

“I have a 16-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter whose birthday is in a few days’ time,” he said.

The first truck Andrew drove was a Kenworth K100e back in 2003.

When on the road Andrew likes stopping for a break at Townsville’s BP Cluden Roadhouse and barracks for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

OF Dutch descent, Daniel Schaepman drives a 2015 Caterpillar truck for Baxter’s Haulage and was hooking up trailers when Big Rigs saw him.

Daniel had transported cattle from Swan’s Lagoon in the Burdekin region to Julago where they would be prepared for live export to Asia.

Whilst the company is based at Charters Towers, Daniel lives at Barcaldine which was the home of the famous Tree of Knowledge until it was poisoned in 2006.

I asked Daniel what is his favourite roadhouse and received an unexpected answer.

“I don’t stop at many for food and would have to say my kitchen at home and my favourite dish is stir fry,” he said.

The worst road Daniel travels along is the 650km long Landsborough Highway in western Queensland between and Cloncurry and Morven.

An old International was the first truck Daniel drove.

When he gets time off work Daniel enjoys listening to mu-

Jonathon Friend

Mark Close

IT looks certain that 11-yearold Braxston Clay Friend will follow in the footsteps of his father Jonathon and become a truckie.

The 39-year-old Jonathon drives a Kenworth C509 for Charters Towers-based Footy’s Livestock Transport.

Jonathon had delivered cattle from the Burdekin region to Julago just south of Townsville and was hooking up trailers on a triple road train at the Port Access Road.

“The cattle will be live exported to Indonesia on the Ocean Drover vessel from Townsville Port,” he said.

Enthusiastic Jonathon has been with Footy’s for nine years and said live exports may have slowed down but not so much the beef industry.

“Everyone still wants to eat meat,” he said.

Young Braxston is a genuine chip off the old block and likes to travel in the truck with his proud dad.

BASED at Wagga Wagga in NSW, owner-operator Mark Close of Closey’s Transport was far away in Townsville when Big Rigs saw him at the BP Cluden.

“I have brought up mill run for the Atherton Tablelands and have a backload of spuds to pick up at Pentland for Sydney,” Mark said.

Mark drives a trusty 2000 model Freightliner Argosy which he has had for more than four years.

Three of his biggest fans are grandsons Hunter and Blake and granddaughter Mack who love trucks.

Not surprising, as their father and Mark’s son-in-law Lazz, who is married to his daughter Angela, is a truckie.

“One of the grandsons tells me to trade in the Argosy and buy a Kenworth,” Mark said.

Mark said that many parts of the Bruce Highway were challenging to travel on.

“There are so many roadworks on the coastal road,” he said.

“He just loves trucks and I am sure he will end up a driver,” Jonathon said.

Jonathon likes stopping at the Gold City Puma on the outskirts of Charters Towers and rates the Clermont to Rockhampton road as amongst the worst he gets along.

“Also the dirt roads in the Dalrymple Shire around Charters Towers are bad,” he said.

Outside work Jonathon enjoys

a game of cricket and lines up for the Balfes Creek Boozers at the annual Goldfield Ashes carnival held at Charters Towers each January.

Jonathon barracks for the Cowboys, who haven’t had a good NRL season in 2020.

“I still follow them though and went to school with one of their former stars Jacob Lillyman who now runs a family pub in Richmond,” he said.

The Gilgandra Shell is one of the favourite roadhouses Mark likes to stop at on his trips.

“They have good home style cooking and staff is friendly,” he said.

Hobbies for Mark when he jags time off are riding his Harley Davidson motorbike and going for a cruise in his speed boat.

“I go onto Lake Albert at Wagga,” he said.

The first truck Mark drove was

sic and his favourite performer is Australian Timmy Trumpet.

Timothy Jude Smith, better known by his stage name Timmy Trumpet, is an Australian DJ, musician, songwriter and record producer. He has become known internationally for playing the trumpet live and making use of jazz elements in the realm of global.

I have to thank Daniel for taking time to speak to Big Rigs as the day I saw him it was a very busy time.

a petrol fuelled AA60 International.

Mark said that the coronavirus pandemic did have an effect on his business.

“Things have slowed down a bit,” he said.

A passionate Canberra Raiders fan in the NRL, Mark hopes the side can go one better and win the premiership after losing last year’s decider to the Sydney Roosters.

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TASSIE TRUCKIN’ 41

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

Daniel White

“I’VE only had this truck for a couple of months, but so far you could say I am rapt in it.” our old and valued friend Daniel White from Cambridge told us the other day when he rolled in to Mood Food, the 24 hour Caltex Truckstop and Road house at Kempton for a refreshment break and a good bite to eat. He was driving his distinctive blue “Tas Road Express” 2020 T-610 with a 610 Cummins up front, a 1400 ml sleeper and “all mod cons”, and towing a seven-car carrier. He

Toey Pearton

was on his way from Hobart to Launceston at the time, and regretted we hadn’t caught him towing his matching tautliner.

“It’s got all the power you need for the work I do, and all the comfort you could ask for. Although I do a fair bit of local, I also do interstate, with runs to Queensland and also W.A. from time to time, and it’s a great rig out on the open roads, makes driving a real pleasure in fact.”

Daniel has been an owner driver for 12 years, but has been on the road for 14 years all up, and

he describes it as a great job, and one he has never regretted, even during a couple of very bumpy patches, mercifully now well in the past. “It’s still “all good”, he said, adding: “I was fortunate to have dinner with the legendary Johnny Kemp and Paula the other night at Cambridge, which he shouted me when he realised I couldn’t afford to have a steak. It was so nice to see him wearing a Hawthorn vest as he now lives up north and felt it only right to support the local team.”

Cameron and Chris

LEAVING Collinsvale the other beautiful Spring day, it was good to catch up with Cameron Fenton from Hobart (left in photo) and Chris Cowen from Brighton, when they pulled over for a quick refreshment break. Driving a classic red and white Hazell Brother’s 2010 Freightliner Columbia with a 500 Mercedes Benz up front, they were doing

some deliveries from Kingston in the ‘Space Vehicle’ (usually used as a stand-by truck for breakdowns etc.) at the time, and would be returning to Kingston on completion. Cameron tells us he has been with Hazell’s for a good 10 years now, and Cameron 15, and they agreed it is a top company to work for. “It’s a great Tasmanian family outfit, they not

STOPPING off at the Caltex at Sidmouth on the Batman Highway between Low Head/Bell Bay and Beauty Point, just after crossing the impressive Batman Bridge, we were fortunate, between showers, to catch up with Toey Pearton from Launceston when he stopped over for a bite to eat and a refreshment stop there. He was driving a Tasmanian Heavy Haulage 2019 T-659 at the time and towing a scrap bin on his way from

Ulverston to Bell Bay, and he told us this was one of his favoured stops as they serve great tucker and have friendly staff, so important when you are on the road. Toey told us he has been with Tasmanian Heavy Haulage for about seven years now, and he reckons they are a good crowd to work for, with top, well maintained gear. “I’ve been on the road for about 28 years now, and have never had any real regrets, and I still reckon this is a good

way to earn a living, and see a bit of this beautiful state at the same time! The Pandemic hasn’t really affected me much and they are keeping me busy enough at the moment. Oh, and I’d like to say it is great to see Big Rigs back again, and in the familiar format too as we all missed it!” Asked about how he spent his time off, he said he does a bit of this and that, but mainly enjoys firing up his Harley and getting back on the road.

Robbo Robertson

only run top gear and maintain everything really well, but they also really look after their drivers, and keep us all busy, and that’s why we are both still here, and with no intention of going anywhere else!” Both men told us they spend as much time off as possible with their families and friends, and felt life was currently pretty good.

PASSING through Kempton the other day it was great to catch up with Robbo Robertson from Forth when he rolled in for a cuppa and a bite to eat at the 24-hour Caltex Truckstop at Kempton. “Happily I am doing a spot of local now, as this Covid19 has certainly made me think about going to the big Island again under the current conditions” he told us. He was driving one of those eye-catch-

ing “Highland Haulage” rigs, this one a 2012 Western Star Constellation with an EGR Detroit up front and towing a flat deck tautliner from Hobart loaded for Adelaide on his way up to catch the ferry, and would then knock off for the day. “I’ve been with this outfit for a bit over 2 years now, mainly doing interstate, but fortunately they have let me do a bit of local for the time being until things blow

over, which suits me well. I’ve been running Interstate for 15 years now with different companies, and I’ve been on the road for altogether about 38 years all up, having done seasonal work previously. I reckon it’s still a great job, even though it has changed a lot in that time, and not always for the better as everyone knows. But it suits me well because I have always loved travelling.

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42 COLUMN

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Government must make safety a priority in spend AUSTRALIAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION CHAIR David Smith

AS industry standards and safety technologies evolve, we are making progress in reducing the number and rate of truck crashes, but there is still a long way to go before we achieve our ambition of ‘Vision Zero’.

The number of crashes involving trucks on our roads is still unacceptable and will continue to be unacceptable until every road user gets home safely, every day.

The Australian Trucking Association and our members have made countless submissions and appeared before many inquiries and committees, advocating for the hardworking businesses and people in our industry.

We have also worked closely with the regulator, safety experts and industry representatives as part of a community of organisations who want Australia to do better on road safety and who value evidence-based policy making.

Earlier this year, the ATA gave evidence before the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety, which is inquiring into, and reporting on, the impact of road trauma and how to support the Australian Parliament’s resolve to reduce incidents on our roads.

This committee has done an outstanding job in connecting with industry and hearing from witnesses with unquestioned expertise in road safety, including Sal Petroccitto from the NHVR, Andrew King from 3M, Peter Frazer and Dr John Crozier.

The level of expertise and knowledge shared by

this group, the ATA and our members is invaluable to the inquiry and the future of road safety in Australia.

We thank the committee for collaborating with industry in this process, but now call upon government to put practical measures into place.

There has been enough talk. Now is the time for action.

It is time for government to press on with the safe systems approach first adopted in the 2011 National Road Safety Strategy and prioritise safety in its approach to road spending.

We need safer roads, safer vehicles, better safety systems, and better information to link it all together.

We especially need more and better truck rest areas — and are making progress.

In the ATA’s submission to the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety, we noted that rest areas on Australia’s major highway were not eligible for funding under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program. However, under round seven of the program announced in March, those rest areas can now be funded.

But we still need consistent standards for building rest areas, including basic amenities like toilets, water and shade. The road is a truck driver’s workplace; they deserve to have reasonable access to facilities like any other worker.

To achieve the shared ambition of ‘Vision Zero’, we call on government to bring in proven safety technologies, with the ATA’s current focus in this area: advanced emergency braking for new trucks.

Data shows that if this were implemented with an extension of mandatory electronic stability control to new rigid trucks, the technology would save 102 lives and prevent 2,564 serious injuries.

Our members are working

Truck crash investigations by police are focused on legal blame, not making systemic safety recommendations.

now on how to roll out the technology: rigid trucks first and then prime movers later, given the concerns that have been raised about the performance of the technology on multi-combination trucks.

In its hearing on 20 July, the committee heard from witnesses who advocated for better road crash data and

no-blame safety investigations. The ATA has joined its voice to those calls.

Currently, road crashes are investigated through the police and the coronial system. These investigations are focused on legal blame, not making systemic safety recommendations.

In contrast, the Austra-

lian Transport Safety Bureau conducts independent, noblame safety investigations of crashes and other safety occurrences in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. Introducing ATSB investigations of road crashes involving trucks would supplement, existing police and coronial investigations and

provide valuable insights for improving safety.

To achieve our ambition of ‘Vision Zero’ we must explore every possible avenue and listen to the recommendations of safety experts.

Any truck crash or fatality is one too many. There is no time to waste – our country’s leaders must take action.

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We all need to sing the same song

COST CUTTER CHET CLINE AIR CTI founder/owner

WOMEN IN TRANSPORT JACQUELENE BROTHERTON JACQUELENE BROTHERTON Chair Transport Women Australia Chair of Transport Women Australia

WHILE cleaning out some old papers, reading past news articles of my own and others plus answers to various interview questions over time there was a recurring theme - industry image and how we can improve it.

This pandemic may be THE OZ TRUCKER the first and best chance we MIKE WILLIAMS have of making it happen. As contributors@bigrigs.com.au Truck Driver Appreciation Week ended (in the US), there were more signs than ever that just maybe trucking is being seen as an essential service. we capitalise on ATSo, THEcan WHEEL this as we have so many (too DAVID MEREDITH contributors@bigrigs.com.au many) industry associations representing the trucking,

AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH

TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE

freight, logistics, supply chain or whatever we want to call our sector, but we can’t seem to come together on this.

When I lived in the conEDITOR vent we had to be in the JAMES GRAHAM choir, sopranos altos, the james.graham@bigrigs.com.au good singers and the terrible (that would be me) but we were all on the same song sheet, singing the same song, some off-key, out of tune and others pitch perfect.

We were still coming together for the same purpose to make music and to praise God and also to try to escape TWU NEWS the cane of Mother Berkman RICHARD OLSEN whoNSWwas the choir mistress TWU State Secretary and who ruled with an iron fist and willow cane but she got things done.

I’m not suggesting we get someone to cane us to come together to form a national image campaign that surely TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER is something DAVID VILE we should be contributors@bigrigs.com.au trying to do together.

We don’t have to reinvent

the wheel we can rethink and rejig the ‘Baby’ campaign or revamp the ‘Truckies Carry This Country’ campaign.

We could look over to our American colleagues with TASSIE TRUCKIN’ the ‘If you bought it, we JON WALLIS brought it’ campaign or the contributors@bigrigs.com.au ‘Trucks Move America’ campaign.

We could have the sides of tautliners and fridge vans wrapped with what we carry on the sides; we could have information on the back of trailers, ad campaigns, TV campaigns and the role models of industry speaking LEGAL EAGLE about what we do and how ROWAN KING we do it RKand Principal Lawyer Law how essential it is to getting food on the supermarket shelves and the family table, how everything everyone eats and needs to live at some point came on the back of the truck. It’s not rocket science. We even cart the vegans and vegetarians’ vegetables.

We just need to come

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

COLUMNS 43

contributors@bigrigs.com.au

There were more signs than ever that just maybe trucking is being seen as an essential service.

together and sing the same song. This is our industry; we should be proud of it and we should be encouraging more people to join it.

Until we can come to-

gether on this most essential issue of making our image a positive one, we will be reading and talking about this in 10 years time.

I may not be any good in

the choir, as many can attest, but the image message is something I am happy to proclaim from the rooftops.

No, you won’t need earplugs; I promise not to sing.

Sharing the responsibility for our truck driver safety

LOBBYIST STEVE SHEARER

SA Road Transport Association Executive Director

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

james.graham@bigrigs.com.au

TWU NEWS

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

WE are getting closer to the opening of the NorthConnex, a Transurban toll road which transport workers are forced to use, there is no choice for them on how they get to manage their business expenses.

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

The transport industry protested, we ran a convoy down Pennant Hills Road in Sydney, the road from which they are to be banned from using. EAGLE LEGAL The TWU ROWAN KING also wrote to Principal Lawyer RK responsible, Law the man Andrew Constance, the NSW Transport Minister. I asked the Minister to commit to no new tolls, a cap on toll road costs and we sought government assurances they would legislate fairer payments, all of which enable a small business to run a truck

safely. There has been no response.

The NSW Government have made a cosy deal with Transurban, which puts our industry and our future in debt for forty plus years and all they can come back with is the Minister appearing in Transurban videos which blame truck drivers for accidents and noise on Pennant Hills Road.

The blatant disregard for transport workers who have kept economies moving through the pandemic is tell-

ing on how the NSW Government actually cares for the vital small businesses in the transport industry. Transport workers want to keep kids safe, but small business operators must not be forced to bolster the profits of a private company, Transurban, to enable us to do so.

In the meantime, as the demand for freight movement increases, the introduction of longer heavy vehicles onto our roads is inevitable.

The TWU understands that larger loads and longer vehi-

cles are part of the future.

I need to pose some questions to the Industry and Government who are seeking better productivity from these vehicles. Have you taken into account that these vehicles and their drivers will need adequate, fit for purpose, rest areas with proper road access in and out on our major roads?

Have you properly trained the drivers and have you put in place ongoing paid training programmes that ensure those who drive these vehi-

cles are increasing their professional skills? Are you paying these drivers properly for their new tasks?

To the NSW Government who say these vehicles are now safe for use on our roads. Have you properly introduced these vehicles to the public, to educate them on what to expect from these new truck and trailer combos only doing 90km/h?

Light vehicle drivers need to know what to expect when driving near them and overtaking them.

40 PUZZLES PUZZLES 44 1

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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 7

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SUDOKU

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Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 21 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

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QUICK 1

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23 11

24

ACROSS 1 If you are a collector of Clarice Cliff, what do you collect?

(7) 4 What Latin American dance is performed by several people in single file? (5) 7 What are lengthwise threads on a loom? (4) 8 What is the capital of Liberia? (8) 10 In 1982, who made the first televised 147 break in snooker?

(5,5) Across Which inventor (Thomas ____) took out more than a 1 12 Name the English poet, biographer, and thousand patents in his lifetime?

(6) 13 What is the last word of “Rule essayist, (Henry) Austin ... (6)Britannia”? (6) The Misfits in 1961 was the last film starring Marilyn 8 15 Which early English king was known as the Monroe and which other actor? (5,5) “Unready” (8) and South America, a tamandua is 18 Native to Central type of animal?

(8) on the ground by a body 9 what What is an image cast 19 What cloth is spread over a coffin? (4) intercepting light (6)word for “a very long time”? (5) 20 What is an informal What disease is also to known as East lockjaw?

(7) 10 21 Rwanda is adjacent which African

6/6 DOWN 1 Which chess pieces are most numerous? (5) 2 What bright yellow powder is used for flavouring in Asian cookery? (7) 3 In early England, what was a small landholder between gentry and labourers? (6) 4 What branch of medicine is concerned with diseases and abnormalities of the heart? (10) 5 A starMoor that suddenly brightens of Venice (7) then gradually fades is called what? (4) 3

What, in NZ, is a steep ridge (7) 6 Which film, 1984’s Best Picture Oscar winner, was 4 inName an (7) Australian TV entertainer and filmed Prague?

9 Wherecompere, Bert was Louis Armstrong ... (6) born? (3,7) 11 Which woman was married on 29 April 1945, and died 5 following Whichday? colourless, volatile, flammable liquid the (3,5) 12 Whathydrocarbon is the widening of a river where is channel obtained chiefly from saltwater coal tar (7) mixes with freshwater? (7) heraldry, Which what colour is tawny, with darker streaks (7) 146In is the colour silver?

(6) 167Millions of records which US immigration Name a term from describing “perfectly” (7)entry island are accessible on the internet? (5) 13 What is syntax also known as (7) 17 Which English college was founded by Henry VI in 1440?

14 (4) What salt is used in a fertiliser (7)

republic (8) 11 Which term describes a person with a pale, 15 What is an enactment made by a legislature, and milky skin, light hair and pink eyes (6) expressed in a formal document (7) 12 Name a part of speech (4) 17 Name a province in the south-western Republic 13 What are medals known as (coll) (5) of Ireland (7) DOUBLECROSS 16 Which board is used to file fingernails (5) CROSSWORD 18 Which term describes the wealthiest (7) 19 Name the track over which horseraces 3 4 5 6 7 are run (4) Find a finished crossword by deleting one of 20letters What, inintheeach USA, do they call asquare. mudguard of 21 Which man was formerly employed as a haremthe two divided 8 a motor vehicle (6) attendant (6) 10 22 What is a long-distance race (8) D O B S O N B B I 23 What are moral obligations (6) T I E T H E L R E D N I E S H A D O W 24 Which term describes the distance upwards (8) E L T A N Z A N I A 12 E D L A L B I N O 25 What is something unusual (6) L N N O U N L L 13

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

17

2 Which Shakespearean character was the 18

1

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3

23

24

Across 1. Uncertain (colloq) (4) 3. Absolved (8) 9. Associate (7) 10. From inside (5) 11. Over time (2,3,4,3) 14. Night bird (3) 16. Succulent plants (5) 17. Immeasurable period of time (3) 18. Arranged by rank (12) 21. Violent person (5) 22. Tearfully sentimental (7) 23. Poll (8) 24. Colony insects (4)

7

9

12 13

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16 5x5 R E E D S

ALPHAGRAMS: LEASE, MYRIAD, NEARING, ORGANIST, PATRONESS.

GK CROSSWORD Across; 1 Pottery, 4 Conga, 7 Warp, 8 Monrovia, 10 Steve Davis, 12 Edison, 13 Slaves, 15 Clark Gable, 18 Anteater, 19 Pall, 20 Yonks, 21 Tetanus.

Down: 1 Pawns, 2 Turmeric, 3 Yeoman, 4 Cardiology, 5 Nova, 6 Amadeus, 9 New Orleans, 11 Eva Braun, 12 Estuary, 14 Argent, 16 Ellis, 17 Eton.

R

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18 23

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TODAY: Good 13 Very Good 18 Excellent 24

Across 1 Painter 5 Excavate 7 Scottish musician 8 Impassive 10 Flytrap 12 Wee 10 11 13 First woman 14 Seeks charity ALPHAGRAMS 16 Conceal Solve the anagrams. Each solution is a one-word 17 Wrongdoing anagram of the letters beside it, and the five solutions 18 five-letter Petty quarrel are sequential. For example, if the solution starts with J, the six-letter solution with and so 20starts School of K, whales 14 15 on.

23 Less difficult 24 Solemnly promised EASEL 25 Droop DIM RAY 26 Make known GRANNIE Down ROASTING 1 Church recess 19 TRANSPOSE 2 Sounded car horn 3 the Backbone Insert missing letters to 5x5 make4ten words Neat — five reading across the grid and five reading A G R down.5 Early freshness 6 Anger Note: more than one solution I G Exist may 9 be possible.

11 Public transport S A E 14 Prejudice R E 15 Tempt 16 Jump one leg © Allon puzzles T S S The Puzzle 17 Garden tool Company 18 Prophet 19 Spoken 21 Eggs 22 Domestic animal

5

6

SOLUTION GENERAL KNOWLEDGE amir amrita aria arum atria atrium attar aura auric carat cart Across: 1 Artist, Dig, 7 Piper, 8 Stolid, 10 Web, 12 Tiny, 13 Eve, 14 Begs, 16 Hide, 17 Sin, cram curt marc maria mart raita rata rimu tarmac tart5tiara tract trait tram trauma TRAUMATIC18 trim Spat, 20 Pod, 23 Easier, 24 Vowed, 25 Sag, 26 Reveal.

Down: 1 Apse, 2 Tooted, 3 Spine, 4 Tidy, 5 Dew, 6 Ire, 9 Live, 11 Bus, 14 Bias, 15 Entice, 16 Hop, 17 Spade, 18 Seer, 19 Oral, 21 Ova, 22 Dog.

HARD

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Iffy 3. Forgiven 9. Partner 10. Inner 11. In the long run 14. Owl 16.

Cacti 17. Eon 18. Hierarchical 21. Brute 22. Maudlin 23. Election 24. Ants.

Down: 1. Imprison 2. First 4. Oar 5. Going without 6. Venture 7. Nark 8.

Undercurrent 12. Occur 13. Inclines 15. Leisure 19. Colon 20. Able 22. Moo.

C A

A T

E G R E T

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word.

No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb.

21

SUDOKU G E A R S

WORD GO ROUND

20

4

Down 1. Jail (8) 2. Initially (5) 4. Paddle (3) 5. Abstinence (5,7) 6. Dare (7) 7. Informant (colloq) (4) 8. Feeling, atmosphere (12) 12. Happen (5) 13. Leans (8) 15. Free time (7) 19. Punctuation mark (5) 20. Competent (4) 22. Low (3)

8

SOLUTIONS

EASY

2

N I T R E

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

20

HARD

Y H

19

A S S E T

SUDOKU

EASY

R I C H E S T

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: Across: 1 Dobson 8 Ethelred 9 Shadow 10 Tanzania 11 Albino 12 Noun 13 Gongs 16 Emery 19 Turf 21 Eunuch 22 Marathon 23 Duties 24 Altitude 25 Rarity Down: 2 Othello 3 Sidling 4 Newton 5 Benzene 6 Brindle 7 Ideally 13 Grammar 14 Nitrate 15 Statute 17 Fender 18 Munster 20 Richest

G E N E R 1A 2 L K 9N O W L 11 E D G 13E

FRIDAY JUNE 12 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

MOORE

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Sad day for all to in transport Buy Australian support national COVID recovery

THIS article is the ending of an era for the transport industry with the demise of this VTA COMMENT magazine under the restrucPETERand ANDERSON ture rationalisation of CEO, Victorian News Corp. Transport Association It is a sad day for all of us in the industry as Big magaAUSTRALIA hasRigs just rezine hasits been of ourreceslives corded firsta part technical for 30 years. sionalmost – marked by two consecusome,of their entire cativeFor periods negative growth reers sothe far. recession we had to – since It will leave huge gap as the have in the early 1990s. editors staff have Juneand quarter data supportshowed ed industry, provided fair thethenation experienced its and debate and given mostrational significant economic everyone a fair say the in industry contraction since 1930s, doings to all,byas awell as stories, evidenced collapse in pictures GDP of and 7 pernews cent.of our people,This our trucks andonly our unsung is bested by our heroes. worst annual economic conOur lives willoccurred be the poorer traction which at the for its demise; being a columheight of the Great Depression nist Rigs forshrank the past whenfortheBigeconomy by year and10half around per has cent.allowed me to fulfil another childhood The yet contraction appears dream, write, and driven it has to havetobeen mostly given great pleasure and I by a me collapse in household 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 consumption of 13 per cent when as TransduringI was the returned quarter, with disport Women spending Australia Limited cretionary down chair November by a in quarter and 2017. services on In the down interim, TWAL has spending by 18 per cent. hadOf many successesin and the reduction serachievements. vices spending, transport was It has expanded the relareportedly the hardest hit, tionship Girl86 Guides Ausdown a with massive per cent. tralia involved with With and this been category including several successful projects taxis, public transport andwith air them, Snoozefest travel,the it’s Victorian understandable how in Aprilimpacted 2018, themost “Great Bag it was during Migration” for theof COVID Internathe national height tional Jamboree in Sydney in restrictions.

October other interI offer2018 this and glum summary actions are expanding of our that economic situationthe to knowledge of the transport inprovide some context around dustry. where we all find ourselves, but We importantly launched the more theWomen opporDriving intunity itTransport presents ifCareers we adjust itiative with ouraspartners Woour behaviour consumers, donga TAFE and Volvo Group and how we spend our money at the 2018 and TWAL Creating as businesses individuals.

Connections And whileconference. the figures are Thisthere initiative in stark, is a has silverbeen lining hiatus during thewith COVID-19 in them, starting the fact pandemic butinall that they are thepartners past and are reexcited to move exflect a time whenforward – othertothan pand the– program as soon as Victoria COVID restrictions possible. were at a peak.

We held a income well attended Household during 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

the period in fact increased, fu- wherever they can to supelled by JobKeeper, JobSeeker port our economic recovery and other subsidised income, and help maintain and grow noting that notwithstanding Australian jobs. And if you widespread business contrac- look at the supply chain for tions, sectors like freight and many consumables, there are logistics have been busier than enormous opportunities to, ever. and reasons for, buying AusThis is income that will tralian. get injected back into the The quality of Austraeconomy, and while much of lian-made products is genit may be amassed in the big- erally second-to-none, so gest quarterly savings buffer that is no longer an excuse Australians have accumulated not to buy local. And it goes since the 70s, savings do even- without saying that when tually get spent. you buy local you are supTherein lies the oppor- porting dozens of parties in tunity: whether you support the supply chain from raw government intervention and materials and ingredients, subsidies or not, the stimulus manufacturing and mainteand savings created by the gov- nance equipment, packaging Those with discretionary post-COVID dollars to spend need to buy CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS: Brotherton (far right) enjoys a night of celebration a Transport Women Limited event Australian wherever theyat can. ernment provides a glimpse Jacquelene and associated consumables, with (from left) Rachel Fleiszig and Coralie of the pathway out Hesse, of thePaul and of course localChapman. transport tralia. To support the recov- be a boon forPicture: our Contributed industry COVID economic crisis, once operators that are represent- ery, and with interest rates at because of how vital transbe lows, announced laterlikely this gram. sponsored by the will in Melbourne. community health and safety orial ed inAward, every movement, from record it is more port is at every stage of infraI wouldconstruction. like to thank the an event still totier be deWes Pickering.

In November 2019 and we celemeasures are active our wonderful paddock to plate and from year thanatnot that every of structure Bigwill Rigs This was awarded for long- termined. brated the 20th of factory economy startsAnniversary to re-open, to franchise. government across all juris- fantastic We alsoteam expectatand be forstate theirand incredible We have launched our newspaper contribution the organisation witha term which Victoria (TWAL) is clearly It’soutstanding equally incumbent on dictions willalso initiate projects encouraging Comand governments wish them onInitiatives to theand roadfederal trans- Learning acritical fabulous partgala of. dinner at The by oura female local, state to stimulate jobs andBreakfast growth. support monwealth to success. several partners industry, tothegetinaugural Windsor where we port ThoseMelbourne with discretiongovernments behind Series Wewith are already hearing so of going develop and release policies I hope that I incentives get the opporincluding projects NTI, MOVE was Pam McMillanand the far, also presented our dollars first four ary post-COVID to winner Australian businesses infrastructure being that provides for to continue to work with and rt health.which will tunity director and BANK winners of the the Dif- longest spend need toDriving buy Australian support serving investment in Ausbrought forward, individuals and businesses to them and so work toIn early 2020 the Creating some ference scholarships with our chair of Transport Women spendofmoney locally. the trucking inConnections Mentoring pro- wards amazing sponsor, Daimler Australia Limited.

Themaking extension of the ina better appreciated, This is an annual award and gram was finally ready to com- dustry Truck and Bus Asia Pacific. stant asset write-off on capital a safer place our peoWe also presented the in- the recipient of the 2020 Trish mence with both mentors and and equipment up tofor$150,000 augural Trish Pickering Mem- Pickering Memorial Award mentees signing up to the pro- ple. until the end of the year is but one example of existing policy designed to stimulate growth, but it’s important that businesses taking up incentives like this to invest in Australian-made goods and A final reminder to all Big losing their contracts and services policy that should be keeping wherever possible. to the ability to support their RigsAsreaders: safe one of the most dangerous we now mapis the ourtime way unite, now is and the timeeventually to ensure families. industries in Australia. through, this industry.

It appears the government equality To quote one truck driver out of, in COVID, let’s do it werecognises can stand the on does not care. turned Australian senator, in Together a way that ground to There are unsafe vehicles, common Glenn Sterle, “a death at work quality and valueworking of prodthe government contindodgy licences, poor payment ensure or on the road should not be ucts made in Australia by to support transport worktimes, wage and superannu- ues the price of doing business”. businesses that are Austraand the industry they ation theft – just a few of the ers The TWU puts it to governlian-owned. many things we have called for support. ments that we must stop the Governments, businesswill continue to to be stopped. inequality that exists between es The and TWU individuals investing the needs transport A reminder to governments voice truck drivers and clients. in Australia by ofpurchasing to are the made employers, and the transport industry cli- workers Drivers must be paid proper goods that here industry bodieswill andgo thea ents: the industry that has kept their rates, owner-drivers must be instead of overseas, Australia moving during the clients. able to trust they will be paid long way towards inspiring Better standards job pandemic is facing an uphill confidence properly for the work they do in ourmean capacisecurity ultimately a safer battle. and on time. Families depend industry as dry as they can. ty as a and nation to produce fairerofindustry all. as Employer groups should be and on this.

They want operators to things great for quality, Weascan liftto theaccelerate standardsour we Many of the ongoing prob- meet their unrealistic dead- standing alongside transport well help together – our lives delems that occur are down to lines and take on more freight workers to unite for a safer and need COVID recovery.

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

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,

the big clients squeezing our

for less or they face the risk of

MOORE

We are already hearing of infrastructure projects being brought forward, which will be a boon for our industry.

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fairer industry.

pend on it.

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46 CAREERS AND TRAINING

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Industry celebrates women

QUEENSLAND-BASED Followmont Transport held an event last month promoting gender diversity and the significant contribution women make to Australian road transport.

Followmont CEO and managing director Mark Tobin said the day, held at Volvo Group Australia’s Wacol HQ, was created to allow networking opportunities for likeminded individuals and organisations, and to celebrate those driving change.

“It is about recognising the great people that make a difference and having a proactive and positive approach to embrace and encourage equality within our industry,” said Tobin.

“The transport industry is traditionally seen as a male dominant one and something which is close to my own heart is finding opportunities of growth for my people, despite gender, age or race.”

“Rather than seeing diversity as something to be feared, it should be something that we embrace. We should be looking for opportunities to break down barriers and create new possibilities for our nation,” Tobin continued.

Queensland transport industry stalwart Roz Shaw addressed attendees as the key note speaker. A panel dis-

(L-R) Mark Tobin CEO Followmont Transport, Lauren Downs, Vice President Sales UD Trucks, Roz Shaw National Head Of Transport Gallagher, Julie Russell Director Russell Transport, Martin Merrick President and CEO Volvo Group Australia.

cussion featuring Roz Shaw, Mark Tobin, Lauren Downs, VP UD Trucks and Julie Russell, Director Russell Transport, also took place fielding questions from attendees.

To ensure COVID compliance as well as maximise the coverage of the message the

event was also live streamed to other Followmont sites around Queensland and New South Wales, as well as selected media outlets.

During the forum, participants were asked about their mentors and pathways into the industry, with Julie

The GTS Group is a privately owned business & market leader specialising in freight movement & warehousing. Based in Mildura & employing nationally, we run a fleet of modern Prime Movers & B-double Taut-liner trailers servicing a range of blue chip customers.

Due to ongoing expansion in freight movements we have the following positions available for experienced & diligent applicants with an immediate start.

MC Interstate Drivers • Fatigue compliant.

• 5 weeks leave per year.

• Modern equipment & facilities.

• Responsible for deliveries & pick-ups.

• Large client base nationally.

• Full-time position for successful candidates.

A current MC Licence (non-synchro) is essential. An Apply Fatigue Management Strategies accreditation would be an advantage, although not essential.

Successful applicants are required to complete a Company Induction which also includes a Driver’s medical with alcohol & drug screen.

For further information please contact: Col Weeding on 03 5051 0152.

Web based applications for this position can be submitted by visiting gtsfreight.com.au and clicking on the employment tab.

Email: dmt@gtsfreight.com.au

Russell commenting that her grandmother was a major influence in her decision to join the family’s transport business.

“My grandmother believed in me from a very young age, always wanting the best for me, but also hoping this

would include me taking on her role in the business,” said Russell.

“There were also people in the business who didn’t let me forget that at the time I was still the receptionist, not the CEO, simply because of my last name. That was really

grounding for me and being treated the same as the other employees kept me in check and helped me learn to be respectful.”

Russell said a gender mix in the Russell Transport office has encouraged a more positive and cooperative working environment by changing the tone and energy.

“Introducing more women into our operations office created a calmer environment,” she said. “You still had robust conversations but at the end, I think, when women finish off a piece there’s a mutual respect that keeps things in balance.”

To raise awareness on the open road, Followmont Transport also took the opportunity to unveil ‘Pinky’, a distinctive pink-themed UD Quon 6×4 rigid dedicated to promoting diversity in the transport industry.

Volvo Group Australia President and CEO, Martin Merrick welcomed the event taking place in the company’s corporate headquarters.

“As a company we not only promote, we celebrate diversity in all its forms,” he said.

“And we are proud to take part in this event just as we are proud that it is one of our brands being used to further that messaging from a long term and valued customer.”

INTERSTATE DRIVERS Melbourne & Sydney Based We are seeking self-motivated, experienced and reliable MC Interstate Drivers, Melbourne and Sydney based, to join our team transporting general freight Australia wide. Reporting to the National Operations Manager and Depot Managers, to be successful in this role you will be energetic and goal oriented and possess the following skills: Our Ideal Applicant will have: • Current MC Licence • Road Ranger Experience preferred • 2 years previous interstate driving experience • Good Driving Record • Current DG Licence (or willing to obtain) • BFM (an advantage) • Forklift Licence (or willing to obtain) • Experience with General Freight and Load Restraint essential • Experience with various trailer combinations

What’s on Offer • One Truck, One Driver • Company Supplied Uniforms • Great Working Conditions • Safety Focused and well maintained late model equipment

If you can bring to our company a can do attitude and you have the flexibility to do whatever is needed to get the job done we look forward to having you on our team so get your application in now.

Email your application to: recruitment@landtransport.com.au or Phone 07 4659 1333 Only successful applicants will be contacted.

The application form will include these questions: Do you have experience driving multi combination (MC) vehicles?

Do you have a current Dangerous Goods drivers licence?

Do you have multi drop delivery experience?

Are you willing to provide a copy of your driving record history?

Are you willing to undergo pre-employment drug and alcohol screening?

CAREERS AND TRAINING 47

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY OCTOBER 2 2020

Former apprentice wins prize STARTING his career as an apprentice at Penske Australia 10 years ago, Bryce Bell has worked his way through the ranks. Last year, he was named a Master Technician at the brand’s annual awards.

Bell is a Field Service Technician, based at Penske Australia in Perth. His role takes him to places near and far.

“The best part of my job is getting out of the office and meeting new customers every day. When a truck is broken down on the side of the road, it’s very satisfying to be able to get them going again,” he says.

For Bell, every day is different. Some days he’ll be working in Perth, other times he’ll travel as far as Meekatharra, which is around 700km north of the city. His work has even taken him as far afield as Darwin, Brisbane, Singapore and the Cocos Islands off WA’s coast.

“Sometimes it’s a seven or eight hour drive, so I’ll put some music on and get cruising. There are times drivers will be stuck in the middle of nowhere with no reception, so the company will send a GPS location of roughly where the truck is. In a single day, I can be working on a boat in Fremantle and then on a truck two hours away. It’s not always the same product which is what I really enjoy too. I’ve

No two days are the same for Bryce Bell at Penske Australia where he has risen to the top in his field.

gone from working mainly on trucks to pretty much everything,” he adds.

“The transport industry holds up Australia – everything gets transported by trucks. Being part of that and able to help keep trucks moving is really rewarding.”

Working for Penske, Bell services all products within

the brand’s portfolio – Western Star, MAN, Dennis Eagle, Allison, Detroit and MTU. Though he started out in trucks, his services now extend to other sectors too, including mining, marine and farming equipment.

Bell’s interest in trucks was sparked from a very young age.

“My father was an owner truck

driver for about 25 years. Ever since I was a little kid, I was intrigued by trucks and I knew I wanted to be a diesel mechanic,” he says.

Though Bell revels in the fact that his days constantly bring new challenges, being named Penske Guild’s 2019 Master Technician has been his biggest highlight yet.

Open to all Penske Guild members, the Master Technician competition brings together top technicians from around Australia and New Zealand. In the 2019 final, six finalists were required to showcase their skills through a series of general procedural tasks and advanced diagnostics scenarios – and Bell came out on top.

“The Master Technician Award was the biggest highlight of my career. From that I was given a trip to the United States to visit the Detroit and Daimler Trucks North America manufacturing facilities and also had the opportunity to tour the Team Penske motorsport facility in North Carolina,” Bell explains.

Easter Group Pty Ltd Phone 07 3022 2800 • 73 Formation St, Wacol

Road Trains Australia (RTA) Pty Ltd are the largest privately owned livestock transporter in Australia and services the top half of Australia with its fleet of Kenworth, Western Star and Mack Titan Trucks hauling along most regional and remote roads. The Company’s long-haul work ranges from delivery of cattle to port for live export to fuel cartage.

RTA are seeking casual & fulltime experienced livestock transport drivers for its Geraldton and Muchea (Perth) depot operations.

Duties include, but are not limited to: • Completing daily pre-start checks.

• Driving to a safe and professional standard.

• Handling and managing sheep and cattle safely.

• Completing paperwork including logbooks and trip sheets satisfactorily.

• Complying with all company policies & procedures.

• Complying with the Chain of Responsibility.

Applicants must be able to provide: • A valid MC driver’s licence.

• Willingness to undertake and clear full Medical & drug & alcohol fitness assessment.

• Provide Rights to work in Australia.

• Willingness to undertake and clear Commercial Vehicle Drivers Fatigue Online Assessment & Commercial Driver Fitness Assessment.

To enquire and apply for these positions please contact the relevant person below. Applications must include a detailed cover letter outlining what position you would be interested in, your motivations for this position, and an updated resume: RTA encourages and values diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Muchea: Paul Ashworth livestock.coordinator@rta.net.au Geraldton: Paddy O’Brien paddy@hamptonlivestock.com.au

OPERATIONS ALLOCATORS (Brisbane based only)

You will be required to work on a rotating roster including Days-Nights-Weekends Previous Operations experience preferred.

MC LOCAL & LINEHAUL DRIVERS WANTED

(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based) Come and work for us as we are committed to: • Training and further education • Your safety • Maintaining an impressive Fleet On offer are permanent full timeand roster positions including paid leave entitlements and public holidays. Drivers will need to be available to be scheduled for work falling across the 7 days of the week.

The successful Applicant will: • Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years) • Have knowledge of theHVNL and Load Restraint • Be professional • Be reliable To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Leanne Braid (Operations Manager) or by emailing your resume to

WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED (Brisbane based only)

To apply for the Mechanic positions please contact Michael MacRae (Workshop Manager) on 07 3022 2888 or by emailing your resume to employment@kseaster.com.au

7180240aa

ROAD TRAIN LIVESTOCK DRIVERS

Easter Group, located in Wacol, provides time sensitive road transporting solutions to many companies throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria .

We are a family owned business, operatingsince 1976.

We currently have the following positions available:

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