FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020
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2 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 NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Truckies have voices heard in revamp of fatigue laws OVER 430 of Australia’s truck drivers have had their voices heard in the national truck law review, thanks to a strong campaign led by the Australian Trucking Association and Big Rigs. The Voice of the Driver campaign was launched in September, following the release of the Heavy Vehicle National Law review Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), and aimed to amplify the voice of Australia’s truck drivers. Focused on gathering feedback from truck drivers on the options in the RIS for changing the fatigue laws, the campaign gave drivers the opportunity to share their views in an easily accessible way, through an online survey and social media posts. “Throughout the six-week campaign we received 432 survey responses and a social media reach of more than 46,000,” said Acting CEO of the ATA Bill McKinley. Big Rigs editor James Graham said it was encouraging to see such a great response from truckies to the online campaign with the ATA.
Australia’s truck drivers support the proposed new fatigue laws, especially when it comes to simplifying record keeping.
“Without doubt there is no bigger issue for our readers on the eastern seaboard than the need to revamp the rules around work diaries and fatigue management,” he said. “I’m intrigued to see how this feedback is now taken on board. The drivers have spoken; let’s hope the authorities keep listening.” The survey results highlight that overall, Australia’s truck drivers support the proposed new laws, especial-
ly when it comes to simplifying record keeping. Said one survey respondent: “Current work diaries and rules are far too complicated. The pressure that is currently on drivers with all the paperwork they have to do is unbelievable, and anything to make their life easier so they can concentrate on the road and other things is a good thing.” Meanwhile, another respondent highlighted the importance of giving drivers
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increased autonomy in managing their own fatigue. “We need a system that encourages drivers to manage their fatigue in a flexible way. Fatigue issues can’t be solved through regulations,” the survey respondent said. The survey responses also highlighted the importance of stronger medical standards. “Current fitness to drive is basically a tick and flick. It must be more thorough to identify underlying health
problems such as sleep apnoea,” one respondent said. The ATA has already provided the feedback gathered through the survey to the NTC, NHVR and state governments. “We are accurately and fairly representing those who are dealing with these issues on a day-to-day basis,” McKinley said. • For more about the campaign, turn to page 29 to read the latest column by ATA CEO Bill McKinley.
NEWS 3
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
Transporters given chance to fix issues
BY JAMES GRAHAM
ALL three Melbourne-based transport companies issued with prohibition notices by the NHVR in recent days are working hard to rectify the associated fatigue management and safety issues, Big Rigs understands. Sidhu Investments (QLD) Pty Ltd, trading as Auswide Linehaul Services, was grounded first, followed soon after by Punjab Roadtrains Pty Ltd, trading as Auswide Transport Solutions. That same notice also applied to its associated company Southern Cross Freight Lines Pty Ltd. Neither of the impacted companies had issued statements at issue deadline, with Auswide Transport Solutions telling us it would be inappropriate to comment while there is an active investigation underway. But one source at Auswide Transport Solutions, which is advertising in this very issue for new drivers, told us he was surprised by the notice and there are no issues with the
The main issues with Auswide Transport Solutions involved fatigue management systems, rather than the condition of its trucks. Picture: Terry Verney.
equipment, a fact confirmed by the NHVR. A NHVR spokesperson also told us that the main issues with the operator had to do with shortcomings in its fatigue management systems, rather than the condition of its trucks and trailers.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said that the notice issued to Punjab Roadtrains and Southern Cross Freight Lines would restrict the ability of the companies to operate, direct or schedule heavy vehicles until they undertake specified corrective processes.
The notice, issued under s 576A of the HVNL, orders the company to cease operating until it has implemented controls for fatigue management and training, fitness for duty, and non-conformance management. The NHVR said it
Lindsay faces charges
was working with Punjab Roadtrains to ensure that perishable or other time-critical loads can be safely transported. NHVR investigators previously entered the company premises in September this year. Big Rigs also spoke to a senior driver who was helping Auswide Linehaul Services streamline its operation before the grounding order. He told us he was shocked by the news and expected the company to take immediate steps to get back on the road. The notice, issued under s 576A of the HVNL ordered the company to cease operating until it has implemented controls in fatigue management and training, fitness for duty, non-conformance management, incident management, vehicle safety and due diligence. This course of action comes following a number of incidents in recent months. These include a vehicle rollover on November 1, 2020 and a near-miss head-on collision on September 17.
THE National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has filed charges in Coffs Harbour Local Court following an investigation into an incident in Tanah Merah, Qld, in November 2018 that resulted in the death of a driver. Lindsay Australia informed the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) the proceedings are issued against Lindsay Transport Pty Ltd and Lindsay Brothers Management Pty Ltd. The two linked companies based in Brisbane, with a depot in Boambee, NSW, have each been charged with two Category 1 safety duties offences and one Category 2 safety duties offence under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). Category 1 offences carry a maximum penalty of $3,364,540 for a corporation, and Category 2 offences carry a maximum penalty of $1,682,260 for a corporation. NHVR executive director Ray Hassall said that the charges were a result of an extensive and complex investigation. “This was a tragic incident in which somebody lost their life,” said Hassall. In a statement to the ASX, Lindsay Australia said it had duly assisted and responded to all enquiries made by authorities.
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4 NEWS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Readers split on the benefits of electronic work diaries
BY JAMES GRAHAM AS we first reported on bigrigs. com.au earlier this month, two electronic work diary options – from Step Global and Teletrac Navman – have been officially approved for use from December 1. But judging by the early reaction to the news on our Facebook page, it may take a while yet before many of you ditch the paper option for the electronic alternatives. For Daniel Robards, it was the written work diary all the way: “Just wait till the system crashes, it actually doesn’t long to fill in your book or check the previous day’s work. “Seems that those who approve these things see us as idiots that can’t spell or add up basic maths. Maybe we should be given no fines for spelling errors cause it sounds more like the powers that be can’t use a log book,” he said. Danny Lewis shared that he wasn’t too impressed by the EWDs either. “They can shove their EWDs where the sun don’t shine. Any ‘driver’ who thinks that this is a good
idea needs their bloody head red,” he wrote. William David White shared a similar sentiment, though he kept it brief. “And the start of the end begins.” But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, with some recognising the potential benefits of an EWD and commenting in a far more positive light. Regular Big Rigs columnist Mike Williams, who is also the host of the popular On The Road podcast, commented: “I’ve written a few bits about the EWD. I use one. It works well for me. But that’s just me! There are a range of issues here. It’s a double-edged sword. In my view drivers should applaud this change. It will signal the end of k rates, trip money and hours spent working for free.” Matt Mclean said, “I know I’m going to cop it for my unpopular opinion, but an understood and properly used work diary is your best friend IF you’re paid correctly.” Jason Compton added that if the EWDs are minute by minute, “well then it’s going to be a good thing.”
NHVR chair Brian Gay at the official announcement in Canberra, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, back left, and Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said both Step Global and Teletrac Navman are technology partners with a number of heavy vehicle operators, which should see a broad rollout across industry. “This approval gives the
providers the green light to work with their partners to use their products as an approved fatigue management system,” said Buchholz. “We know both technology companies have a number of transport and logistics operators ready and eager to adopt the technology and
we should see a good uptake across the industry. “I congratulate Step Global and Teletrac Navman, this is a historic moment for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry and has the potential to make the work environments of our drivers safer and improve productivity for the industry.”
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NHVR chair Duncan Gay said a company’s investment in EWDs is an investment in industry safety and productivity. “Right now, industry is managing 60 million pages of work diary paper per year – this equates to 14 B-double loads of red tape,” he said.
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NEWS 5
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
Our contributor Mike Williams believes EWDs such as the Smart eDriver will signal the end of k rates, trip money and hours spent working for free.
“This announcement will enable companies and drivers to more effectively focus on managing their fatigue, rather than managing the book – which is an important step forward in delivering improved fatigue safety outcomes. “As well as reducing time checking written work records on the side of the road, it also delivers huge cost and time savings for heavy vehicle businesses with many operators spending multiple days every week reconciling the written work book with internal systems. “I look forward to welcoming other technology providers also submitting systems for approval.” Early adopters of the approved EWDs, however, should be aware there are some conditions attached for the use of Step Global’s
app, the Smart eDriver, and Teletrac Navman’s Sentinel device. For the Smart eDriver they include only being available for use on certain mobile phones, primarily Samsungs, while the Sentinel isn’t an option for two-up operations and the approval holder must inform all drivers using the EWD in writing that it’s currently unable to send and/ or receive records from other EWDs. “At a minimum the information must state: ‘This EWD is currently unable to receive records from other EWDs or send records to other EWDs. Drivers and record keepers must consider what impact this will have on their obligations to have a continuous 28-day record of work and rest available’,” said the NHVR. More details for each can be found at nhvr.gov.au/ewd.
Teletrac Navman said digitising processes will also help the industry tackle growing demand and a shrinking pool of drivers.
Industry reacts to December rollout
Senator Glenn Sterle still has some concerns.
FORMER truckie-turned Senator, Glenn Sterle, has mixed feelings about the introduction of the EWD alternative for truckies from December 1. On one hand he said the move will help stamp out heavy-handed penalties, citing the example of a truckie being fined $687 recently for abbreviating the spelling of Coffs Harbour in his manual work diary. “Personally, I am very happy to hear that under the new EWD system, drivers will no longer be fined ridiculous amounts of money for simple mistakes like incorrectly spelling the name of the town that they stopped at to take their legislated fatigue break,” said Sterle.
“Drivers now, can rest easy knowing that that isn’t going to happen anymore.” But Sterle said he still had some concerns about how EWDs are going to accommodate issues that drivers encounter that are not of their own making. “Such as if they run into an issue at a rest area and that cuts into their break time or similar examples, and how that impacts on their overall fatigue management, said Senator Sterle. “I look forward to continuing my discussions with the NHVR on this announcement and will watch the roll out with interest.” The Australian Logistics
Council applauded Step Global and Teletrac Navman for achieving the high standards required to get the NHVR tick of approval. “The ALC has been the principal long-term advocate for promoting this type of technology,” said Kirk Coningham, CEO at the ALC. “The safety benefits that the industry will now reap as a result of this announcement are cause for celebration. “Heavy vehicle drivers will now be able to focus on their primary role – driving. Minimising the time and energy spent recording driving hours on paper and reducing the stress of worrying about making a mistake will provide clarity and improve safety.” The Australian Trucking Association said the rollout of approved Electronic Work Diaries will reduce red tape and improve safety for transport operators. “It’s a big step forward for our industry,” said ATA chair David Smith. “It will reduce paperwork for our drivers and the unbelievable amount of record keeping that companies need to do to stay compliant. “Reducing the paperwork burden will save drivers time, allow them to achieve compliance and manage their work and rest hours.”
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6 NEWS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
NSW joins SA to support calls for EV road user fees
THE Australian Trucking Association has applauded the NSW Government’s support of electric vehicle road user charges, following the announcement of a similar scheme by South Australia. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has pledged to support a road user charge for electric vehicles and is expected to introduce a user-charge policy to cabinet within the next year. Acting CEO of the ATA Bill McKinley said the move was reassuring news. “The existing road user charging system is not fair. All road users must pay their fair share,” McKinley said. “Without reform, the burden of paying for roads would be forced onto the general public and impact funds allocated for other priorities such as schools and hospitals,” he said. Earlier this month, the ATA welcomed the South Australian Government’s planned introduction of a road user charge for electric vehicles, set to commence from July 1, 2021. “This is an important na-
The ATA said any electric vehicle road user charge should include heavy vehicles and be set within the existing national system for setting heavy vehicle charges.
tional issue. Electric trucks are a reality, with an all-electric light truck entering the market in 2021 and thousands of electric cars already on our roads,” said McKinley. “Opponents of an electric vehicle road user charge need
to explain what other taxes should be increased or what services will be cut in order to sustainable and fairly fund safe roads into the future. “The ATA supports the uptake of electric vehicles, although is calling on gov-
ernments to ensure road user charges for electric heavy vehicles are calculated fairly and transparently.” McKinley said any electric vehicle road user charge should include heavy vehicles and be set within the existing
national system for setting heavy vehicle charges. “Any road user charge must be set in a way which is nationally compatible and does not impose red tape on interstate operators,” he said. Kirk Coningham, chief
executive officer of ALC welcomed the establishment of the Electric Vehicle Action Plan by SA, adding that the ALC encourages investment in infrastructure that would assist in the staged transition of vehicles from fuel to electric powered vehicles. However, he warned that industry should be properly represented in the discussions designing any proposed user charge so that it is both nationally uniform and efficient. “Australia functions as a single national market. It is imperative that there is a consistent road user charge operating throughout the nation so that businesses who decide to make an early transition to electric vehicles can make appropriate purchasing decisions,” he said. “Designed correctly, the approach can be directly applied in other programs including the long-running Heavy Vehicle Road Reform process which is designed to modernise the way in which heavy vehicles are charged to access Australia’s roads.” • EV drivers must pay their fair share: VTA, page 27.
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Social media warning for truckies after TV airs clip
MELBOURNE truckie Craig Barlow thought a close shave with a bus in Craigieburn, Melbourne, was the end of his surprises for the week. So, imagine his horror then when mates started messaging him to say the clip of the incident he’d posted on a private Facebook group, Truck Dash-Cam Australia, was broadcast on 7News Melbourne’s 6pm bulletin without his permission. We’re still waiting for a response from 7News asking for explanation, but online readers weren’t shy in letting us know that this is far from an isolated case. Writes Danny Lewis: “They will most likely claim that it is under the “fair use” clause. I have had many of my clips used over the years from news organisations, there’s very little you can do about it. I don’t bother putting much online anymore.” Adds Steve Molloy: I’ve been through this a few times with different news mobs. Something like this is deemed to be “news” so therefore they can just use it. About the ONLY way you can stop
them , is to water mark “F..k Off ” right across it to make it un useable for them, and make them contact you, then you hit them up for money.” Fortunately, the short TV report didn’t vilify Barlow in any way when showing a heavily edited version of the video, but nor did it tell the whole story either. It didn’t say that the bus driver seemed to sit in the wrong lane with a bus load of passengers for an inordinate amount of time before confronted with a Western Star semi bearing down on him. It didn’t say that Barlow was doing everything right, checking his side mirrors to make sure the left lane was clear and his trailer wasn’t running over the gutter, and no other traffic were turning right from the opposite direction. It also didn’t say that when a shocked Barlow did come to a safe stop well clear of the bus, the bus driver started to gesture as if it was the truckie’s fault for being there. “He started to wave his hands around as if to say, ‘you get out of my way’,” said Barlow.
“Then when he finally realised he was on the wrong side of the road, he started to reverse back 50 metres but he was all over the road and nearly cleaned up a few cars
in process. “You should have seen the look on the passengers’ faces. How does this guy get a licence?” And for the record, yes,
A screenshot from the video taken just moments before truckie Craig Barlow comes to a stop.
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we did ask Barlow for permission to broadcast the dashcam footage – the most watched of 2020 on our website with more than 140,000 clicks at the time of writing
NEWS 7
– as we do with all material first posted in private Facebook groups. To view the contentious clip, visit bigrigs.com.au and search for 7News Melbourne.
08 OPINION
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
EWD debate heats up
EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM
CHANGE can be tough, I know, especially when you have a few miles under the belt like me. I started in publishing long before the internet age when this very paper you are now holding would warrant a fulltime staff of three writers, dedicated photographer, sub-editing bench and even a fact checker. Now we have just one fulltime member of the editorial team wearing multiple hats, yours truly. My point is if you want to survive, regardless of the field, you have to learn to adjust. It’s the same with the Electronic Work Diary, which is now a voluntary option to replace the age-old work diary as of December 1. I haven’t used one as a working truckie, but I do know that every single driver I’ve spoken to who was initially resistant to it has done a complete U-turn and wouldn’t be without one.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO READER CORNER? EMAIL US AT EDITOR@BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Driver shortage solution in WA
The objective of the project is to deliver a harmonised Australian licence training and assessment framework.
Austroads hits brakes on fixing licensing system
IT was recently announced that the final stage of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework review and revision would take an additional two years – on top of the two years Austroads already took on the first review of the licensing framework. To add, it will be led by academics, as opposed to well respected drivers and operators with real-world experience. When the story was shared on our Facebook page, here’s what some of our readers had to say. “There’s not enough of ‘getting on with it’ on all levels within the industry. Sometimes it seems that more money goes into ‘research & studies’ than what goes into fixing the problem in the first place. Very frustrating,” wrote the WAVE to A Truckie page. “If it wasn’t over regulated, there would be a line-up of drivers waiting,” wrote Timothy Malden. With Perry Weihoenig adding, “They wouldn’t have had most of the experienced drivers leave either.” Ashley Britton added, “How about making it cheaper to get a licence so the young Aussie up comer can afford to get in the industry and whilst there are some good ones left, let us train them up, an incentive to a company to train a young up coming driver would be better than what we are dealing with atm.”
IT’S no secret that the chronic driver shortage in Western Australia has been an ongoing headache for many transport businesses. And it’s been exacerbated by COVID-induced border restrictions. Now the Western Roads Federation (WRF) has announced its plans in a draft blueprint for a structured industry workforce development scheme. When we published this online, our readers named costs to upgrade licences, over-regulation of truck drivers, wages and difficulty in getting a foot in the door as some of the issues adding to the driver shortage problem in the west. “The single biggest reason there’s a lack of drivers, is the cost involved in upgrading. To upgrade from my HR to an HC or MC will cost me between $1500 to $2500 to the trainer, plus another $300 to $500 for an assessor. Bloody ridiculous considering I’ve been driving HR for nearly 40 years. I should be able to just get assessed, and be upgraded. The second reason is the stupidly low wages. No one gets out of bed for less than $45 an hour,” wrote Ian John Norris. “I have wanted to drive over there for yrs (roadtrains) but they won’t look at you unless you have experience. No wonder they have a shortage,” commented James Alexander. “Maybe if they stopped over-regulating and over-fining they would attract more and better operators to the industry,” added Michael Blythe.
The WRF has released a draft blueprint for a structured industry workforce development scheme.
Operators hit with fee hike at city markets
With the NorthConnex tunnel now open, the excessive tolls are still causing much contention.
Fight continues for toll relief
SYDNEY’S controversial new NorthConnex tunnel may have finally opened on 31 October, but that doesn’t mean the fight for toll relief for truckies is over. With its high tolls, it’s left many truckies looking for answers at how they can be expected to pay the $23.71 it’ll cost each time they use the new toll road. We recently spoke with one Sydney-based transport operator who estimates he’ll be out of pocket by as much as $50,000 a year after running just two bulk tankers from the Central Coast into metropolitan Sydney each night. On Facebook, our readers have continued to weigh in on the issue of NorthConnex tolls. “Friday arvo in their new tunnel is no difference to what PH (Pennant Hills) road was… but now it’s two lanes and an 80 km/h limit,” wrote Paul White. Stephen Brennan commented, “End of the day the tolls need to be set lower. As an owner driver we’re still trying to get the extra $24 each way. I can’t pay $120+ each day.” Bruce Skelton added, “No trucks use it, all go down Pennant Hills Road and refuse to pay the fines, go to court and make a stand. There must be a toll free route available or no toll payable.”
A 137 per cent increase in gate fee card charges to enter the Melbourne Markets this year has certainly ruffled the feathers of some transport operators. We ran a story in our last issue, following a chat with an operator who was so incensed by the jump from $32.20 to $76.20, inclusive of GST, per driver, that he instructed his truckies to park up their B-doubles at the gate to block access. Operators are being slugged the higher fees due to the Melbourne Markets’ new marketing program called A Better Choice, which its governing body is asking transport companies to help pay for via the new surcharge. Darren Nolan, director at Gatton-based Nolan’s Interstate Transport, labelled the fee hike as an “absolute price gouge”. “How is a 137 per cent increase justified, and how is that a reasonable cost increase in the current climate?” When we ran the piece online, readers weighed in. “Good on Blenners and Nolan’s. Entry for delivery vehicles should be free like it was at Footscray,” said Bruce Skelton. Ric Neumann added that it was free in Adelaide and Sydney, while Adrian Bates joked, “Must have been taken over by Transurban.” Stephen Fleming said, “I will just keep parking at the gate and going into office. F**kem.” The MMA gave operators until October 31 to pay the gate surcharge or their access card would be revoked. In lieu of paying the card fee, operators were given the option of advertising the market on their trucks.
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10 NEWS EXTRA
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
New Iveco boss is excited about challenges ahead
New Iveco managing director Michael May is looking forward to visiting more dealerships.
BY DAVID MEREDITH LATE last year, the director of Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus in Australia, Michael May, got an unexpected phone call from Italy. And it was nothing to do with a long-lost relative trying to connect. The global brand manager for Iveco was on the blower and wanted to put a proposition to him. The prospect of heading up a different truck brand that was widely seen as being in disarray compared to the established structure of Benz was somehow attractive, and so he engaged with the caller. As a result, May made a decision in December to turn his back on 20 years or so with the big German and start a new challenge. He moved in behind his new desk in February. Six weeks later, all hell
broke loose, and he was locked down at home for 112 days while COVID, market paralysis, production interruptions and, as if that wasn’t enough, the decision by Navistar to quit Australia and stop making the International prime mover for right hand drive revolved around him and his new team. Talk about out of the frying pan. Big Rigs spoke to May recently in a free-ranging discussion about Iveco, the product range, the dealer network and the opportunity. Iveco were obviously keen to attract someone with a solid local market knowledge, along with familiarity with dealing with a European-based manufacturer. With that kind of brief, the field was narrow, but May’s track record was a perfect fit. Iveco needed some clear Aussie thinking about product lines, market emphasis
and dealer development. After a succession of attempts at corralling the Iveco group had fallen flat, this appointment needed some urgent success. Despite the unprecedented complications, May’s playlist of tasks is starting to make a difference. One important development is to connect directly to the dealer salespeople. Last week I was at the WA Iveco dealer, and they had just got off a conference call between May and all their sales executives. The call was much appreciated and allowed them to air some difficulties that will need his leadership to resolve. “I want to hear straight from the people on the ground,” May told me. “These contacts are invaluable and give me much needed insight for my internal product meetings.” New management at the WA dealer AV Trucks has also
made outstanding progress. Now with all Iveco products under the one roof, the business is targeting the widest range of market sectors. Iveco dealers across the country seem to be coping well with the pandemic, and even the factories in Italy and Spain are remaining open. Locally, the Dandenong plant is working three instead of five days. The Iveco model range is lighter than the line-up at his previous assignment, but he sees that as a positive. “We’re more nimble for a start,” he said. “And now that the local organisation is linked directly to the head office in Italy and the factories in Italy and Spain, instead of via the CNH Industrial group, product identification and adaptation is far easier and rapid than before.” He sees the biggest change recently being the transition
from the trusty ACCO’s US platform, to the X-Way chassis, with all its modern technology. Users in this sector are used to what works, and what has worked for years, and are often reluctant to move on the newer developments. But the new truck is slowly gaining acceptance, even though other brands have expanded their efforts and their penetration in this market. Globally the shift towards alternative fuels and especially CO2 reduction is accelerating in Iveco’s core markets and will inevitably reach our shores. The new S-Way is very popular in Europe and will no doubt eventually replace the Stralis here in Oz as well. But supply of Stralis will continue for some time yet as the local company assesses the right way – and time – to introduce its successor.
One area that has sparked his attention is the company’s off-road suite of products. He is amazed at the capability of the Daily 4x4, and feels the Trakker is largely a secret - a story rarely told. The Astra, with its – how can I be diplomatic – “unique frontal appearance,” remains an immensely capable specialist vehicle that is ready for extended service in constant off-road conditions. Even the Eurocargo 4x4 has gained traction, particularly with recent deliveries to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. Hopefully, now that Victoria is opening up and the COVID emergency becomes a watch and act process from now on, Iveco’s new boss can visit the people in the trenches in person, and steer the brand closer to its potential in a highly resilient market. Watch this space.
May sees the biggest change recently being the transition from the trusty ACCO’s US platform, to the X-Way chassis.
PACCAR to expand workforce as production ramps up
DESPITE what has universally been acknowledged as a very unusual year, PACCAR Australia is again increasing truck production over the coming months. To support the increase and in a further boost to the local community, PACCAR Australia will expand its workforce, with recruitment currently underway for the factory and related departments at the Melbourne-based head office. “This is great news for local manufacturing and follows the recent employment of more than 120 people for the Kenworth DAF Bayswater Plant, and many more in PACCAR’s supply chains, following the increase in production earlier this year,” said Andrew Hadjikakou, Managing Director, PACCAR Australia. “Being a proud Australian manufacturer with a predominantly Australian supplier base means we are not suffering some of the constraints of overseas component supply.
Australians are patriotic and are showing that supporting Australian manufacturing is important to them. “The increase in production reflects the work carried out across the business in managing the restrictions and challenges we have faced this year, particularly in Victoria. “As we go into our 50th year of manufacturing Australian-made Kenworth trucks, we also celebrate the assembling of DAF trucks in Australia, having more than doubled the number of DAFs being produced in the plant since 2018. The increase in production provides a positive outlook for the future growth of both brands in Australia.” Hadjikakou added that in preparation for this growth, the $40 million Bayswater site expansion is well underway and is on schedule for completion in 2021. After chasing early pacemaker Volvo for much of 2020, perennial heavy duty king-pin Kenworth was also
back on top in the 2020 sales race after the posting of October sales figures by the Truck Industry Council. Kenworth recorded an encouraging 230 sales for October, just four shy of its total for the same month in 2019, and a 22.7% share of the sector. That brings its total units sold for the year to 1546, and 84 clear of Volvo, which recorded 143 sales for October to take its 2020 tally to 1462. Tony McMullan, CEO of Truck Industry Council, the peak industry body for truck manufacturers and importers in Australia, noted the October results were a positive progression. “These positive results across all heavy vehicle segments are most likely due to the ongoing financial benefits of the federal government’s instant asset write-off incentive, that operators can leverage,” he said. “I am pleased to see that the Truck Industry Council’s lobbying efforts, for an increase
in the instant asset write-off limit and the schemes duration, were acted upon by gov-
ernment with the Treasurer announcing in the recent federal budget that the $150,000
cap was to be removed and the scheme extended until the 30th June 2022.”
To support production increase, PACCAR Australia is expanding its workforce, with recruitment currently underway.
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12 FEATURE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
New Volvo range designed with truckies top of mind
The new FH will have the option of Euro 5 and 6 emissions levels across the range in both 13-litre and 16-litre capacities.
THE new Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH16 – on sale from November 30 – have been designed with the driver in mind and offer unparalleled levels of comfort, driveability and safety, said Volvo Australia. “This new generation of Volvo Trucks has been designed from the inside out with the driver in mind,” said Tony O’Connell, Vice President, Sales Volvo Trucks Australia. “We all know how hard it can be to attract drivers in this country. “These trucks raise the bar in terms of comfort, performance and efficiency, and any driver would be proud to find themselves behind the wheel of any truck in our new range.” The new Volvo FH will have the option of Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions levels across the range in both 13 litre and 16 litre capacities as well as a complementary range of horsepower options. The Volvo FM features an all new cab as well as Euro 5 and 6 options in 11 and 13 litre engine capacities. Emissions, efficiency and
safety unsurprisingly feature highly across the Volvo Trucks line-up in addition to a significant focus on the driver environment. The entire range of new Volvo models will be built at the Volvo Group production facility, Wacol, Queensland. Safety As before, truck cabs across the range meet the world’s most stringent crash test rating; the Swedish BOF10 cab strength test. Visibility has been improved by more than 10% on the Volvo FM, and the Volvo FMX which now features similar lines to the Volvo FH cab with a larger windscreen, slimmer A-pillars, slim line mirrors, and a lower door line. To minimise blind spots the new passenger corner camera activates when the left indicator is used, the corner camera can also be activated at the push of a button enabling the driver to check the area when required. The camera image is displayed on the 9-inch dash mounted touch-screen display. This display can handle input from up to 8 cameras.
The FM features an all new cab as well as Euro 5 and 6 options.
The new 9-inch dash mounted touch-screen display.
FH & FH16 LED headlights feature the Adaptive High Beam function which partially dips the high beam headlights when the headlights or taillights of another vehicle are detected ahead of the truck. This means that the area surrounding the vehicle can remain illuminated by the partial high beam, increasing visibility, without blinding other road users. The system also detects the lights of smaller vehicles such as motorcycles and cyclists. Other active safety features include, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) for speeds down to
zero km/h and Hill Descent Control that automatically activates the wheel brakes when extra brake force is needed to maintain constant downhill speed. The Electronically controlled Brake System (EBS), which is a prerequisite for safety features such as Collision Warning with Emergency Brake and Electronic Stability Control, comes as standard on the new truck. Volvo Dynamic Steering, with the safety systems Lane Keeping Assist and Stability Assist, is also available as an option.
Comfort The Volvo FM and FMX interior cab space has increased by up to 1 cubic metre, giving drivers more room to move as well as additional storage space. Day cab models have also had a 40% increase in storage space. A new ergonomically design I-Shift transmission selector and simplified switch gear across the dashboard adds to the ease of use and comfort from the drivers’ seat. Inside, an all-new 12-inch instrument panel minimises driver distraction with clean, clear digital instrumentation while a new larger touch screen display with a simplified menu is now within easy reach of the driver. The functions within can be controlled via buttons on the steering wheel, by voice control, or via the touchscreen and display control panel. Emissions Building on the current Euro 6 offerings in Classic Volvo FM11 and FM13 models, the entire range of models now come with options for Euro 6. In the new Volvo FM Euro 6 horsepower ratings include the 11 litre 380, 430 and 460hp options, the 13-litre range includes the 460 and 500hp options. The previous range of Euro 5 engines with 330hp to 500hp options will still be on offer. The Volvo FMX will also retain the option of a 540hp Euro 5 power plant. The Volvo FH will also benefit from the addition of 13 litre Euro 6 variants including the 500hp D13 Turbo Compound engine as well as the 13 litre 540hp rating. The Volvo FH16 will see the existing Euro 5 range, that covers horsepower ratings from 600 to 700hp, complemented by Euro 6 variants at 550hp and 650hp. Fuel Efficiency The addition of the Australian I-Save package to the new Volvo FH is set to create new lev-
els of fuel efficiency and CO2 savings. The 500hp/2800Nm Euro 6 turbo compound engine, is included in the Australian I-Save package and enables significant fuel and CO2 savings. In long-haul operations, the new Volvo FH with Australian I- Save combines the new Euro 6 D13TC engine into a package that also includes I-See which accesses centrally stored topographic data to optimise transmission performance and engine efficiency. Other components included in the package are I-Shift with dash mounted gear selector and economy transmission software, I-Cruise with I-Roll, optimised 2.83 rear axle ratio with fuel efficient energy tyres, engine idle shutdown, and variable displacement power steering pump. “I’m very excited to see the new Volvo Trucks range come to life here on Australia soil,” added Tony O’Connell, Vice President Sales. “Our biggest launch ever with our safest, most productive and most efficient range of transport solutions has been eagerly anticipated by customers. “This has been a massive project and we have invested heavily in our manufacturing capability to ensure that these trucks will be built at our Wacol Qld production facility. And as always, will continue to be serviced by the largest dealer network in Australia and New Zealand. “The new Volvo FM and Volvo FMX are intelligent and versatile and continue to support our customers by building on the already formidable reputation carved out by the classic models in the urban streets, the quarries and the regional back blocks of Australia. “The FH and FH16 will continue to power Australian long-haul and heavy haulage businesses with new levels of driver comfort and appointments.”
The FH and FH16 LED headlights feature the Adaptive High Beam function.
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17/11/2020 4:17:43 PM
14 NEWS
A quick acting Linfox driver has been named as a Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian after saving a woman’s life on a Queensland motorway when she suffered a medical episode. Matthew Georga was carrying out his regular duties when a vehicle in front of him began swerving across lanes with its driver slumped over the wheel.
Immediately, Georga slowed his truck and created a buffer to the vehicle by blocking traffic behind him and until the car came to a stop after striking a barrier. Along with another motorist, he then removed the woman from her car and proceeded to administer CPR until emergency services arrived and took her to hospital. Georga’s intervention and
teamwork with the two other motorists who came to her aid are credited with saving the woman’s life. Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Stephen Roche, said Georga demonstrated incredible initiative and had safety at the forefront of his mind. “Matthew Georga’s priority was the safety for other motorists and for the driver that
Pictured: Tony McGrath, Linfox Site Manager, Wendy Maroney, Linfox Safety and Compliance Officer, Matt Georga, Linfox driver, Mel Stranger, Linfox Safety and Compliance Advisor, Andrew Todd, Linfox Regional Manager Consumer and Healthcare Group.
day, and through his quick action, not only helped save the life of the driver but also reduced the risk of a much bigger incident,” Roche said. “We’re pleased to recognise Matthew as a Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian for his prompt action in not just saving a life, but for the steps he actively took in making a dangerous situation a safer one. “The Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian accolade recognises those in the trucking industry that go out of their way to look out for others, and Matthew Georga is a worthy recipient of the title.” According to ATA Chair, David Smith, this is another example of a selfless action from an unsung hero of the industry. “Congratulations to Matthew Georga on becoming a Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian,” Smith said. “Matthew’s story is another reminder of how dangerous our roads can be, and how critical it is to remain vigilant for our own safety, and the safety of other motorists.”
Clearer signs for truckie rest areas TRUCK friendly caravanner Ken Wilson is calling for clearer signage – along with consistent and more definitive legislation – to help stamp out the on-going misuse of truckies’ rest areas. While Queensland has made some recent changes in the right direction, the manager of the self-funded Truck Friendly caravan group said there is still a lot more to do there – and Australia wide – in order to keep non fatigue-regulated vehicles out of the designated truck stops. He said the law and signage as it stands leaves too much wriggle room for abuse by some RV and caravan users and in many cases isn’t enforceable in court if fines are contested. Wilson has written to transport industry stakeholders, all state and territory governments asking them to work together for uniformity. Wilson said that in almost all states, a definition of
a ‘truck’ is a ‘rigid vehicle designed to carry goods’, which includes all the dual cab utes towing caravans. He said many descriptions in legislation also refer to a ‘Heavy Vehicle’ as ‘a vehicle over 4.5t’. This description will also include many large motorhomes. “If the vehicles fit the description of a ‘truck’ or ‘heavy vehicle’ how can they be legally excluded from using these signed rest areas?” said Wilson. Silhouette signage of trucks and cars are also a concern with little or no legal meaning, he added. “This is a national problem and needs a national solution with all states and territories agreeing on common legislation and effective, enforceable signage. “No one can expect any traveller to stop at the state border and google the individual state rest area legislation before they cross into the next state.” Picture: Alf Wilson.
Quick-thinking truckie saves life
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Scenes like this at a popular truck rest area between Sydney and Newcastle could be avoided with better signage, believes the Truck Friendly group.
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16 COVER STORY
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Race is on to get job done
Our roving reporter rides along with a highcountry truckie who is working hard around the devastation left by the bushfires in the northeast region of Victoria. BY DAVID VILE IT has just gone 8.30am and Craig Radford works his way up through the gears as he heads out of the little town of Benambra in a remote corner of the north-east Victorian alpine region, with another long day hauling timber on the schedule. More commonly known to all and sundry as Womby, Radford drives a twin-steer Kenworth T659 for ANC Forestry Group, with the company just having commenced a large-scale hardwood harvesting contract based out of the mountainous country between Benambra and Corryong. The timber being harvested is all salvage hardwood which was affected by the massive bushfires which swept through the area at the start of the year, and with the bush tracks once open again and the winter weather gone the race is on to get the job done. The smooth travelling on the blacktop is short-lived as the dirt begins and Womby engages the cross-locks to help give the Kenworth a bit of extra bite as he starts to tackle the climb up the range on the Buenba Road. “It’s a bit like putting your hubs in on a four-wheel drive, you might as well have everything working for you…coming up the Buenba side it goes up pretty quick, you climb 600 metres in altitude in just a couple of k’s,” he said. For Womby, who makes his home at Trafalgar in Gippsland, the die was cast from a young age in terms of an occupation, with his father, Kevin a logger around Noojee and Powelltown for many years. “One of my earlier memories was of Dad’s 1418 ‘Benz
carting billets of wood, it was all short stuff back then…I learnt to drive around the back paddock when I was around ten and started hauling timber with a Mack Super-Liner and jinker at 21,” he recalled.
The ANC Kenworth T659 heads up the range on Buenba Road heading to the logging coupe.
The view out the windscreen paints a picture of the devastation from the bushfires.
Blood, sweat and beers: Womby’s first truck, a Mack Super-Liner and tri-axle jinker.
With the first lot of rationalisation within the timber industry in the 1990s the family took a package bringing their operation to a close which consisted of the Super-Liner and a Mack Value-Liner, which at the time was the first V8 Value-Liner to be sold into Victoria. After a spell on a road sealing team the lure of the bush saw Womby work for Cable Logging, which became part of the ANC Forestry Group in 2006, firstly steering a Western Star for six years, then a twinsteer Kenworth T409, before stepping into the new T659 in 2019.
The Cummins under the bonnet, which is rated at 550 horsepower, provides the soundtrack as the truck makes its way up and then along the range towards the logging coupe kicking up a plume of dust along the way. With a Kennedy tri-axle skel trailer folded up on the back of the prime mover the truck is compact and makes easy work of the twisting corners and the ride is fairly smooth given the road has seen a fair bit of recent truck traffic. Womby reckons the view out the windscreen has changed quite a bit over the years when comparing the
With the Kennedy trailer folded up on the back the ANC Kenworth is well set-up for work on the winding mountain roads.
Kenworth to the 1980s era Super-Liners and Western Stars. “The 409 was good to see out of with its short bonnet, when I got into the 659 it took some adjustment with the air cleaners and so on but they are a lot easier to see out of than the old Super-Liner where you had a footy field out the front of you!” he said with a smile. “The 409 was the first twinsteer truck ANC bought and I did nearly a million k’s in it before getting into this one…. they ride that much better with the twin steer I don’t think I would get back into a single-steer truck.” With their headquarters at Morwell, the ANC harvesting gear and trucks are scattered across a large part of Victoria deployed on contracts for both hardwood and softwood timber, therefore giving the company drivers a variety of work hauling to a number of mills and processing facilities throughout the year. “In the winter-time generally we go back on the pine as the hardwood is more seasonal, with jobs like this we will probably run from late October through to the end of June - it doesn’t really matter what you cart, you still get your hours up in the day,” he explained. Running along the top of the range the damage caused by the fires is severe with only tinges of green starting to come back to the forest with the
ANC Driver Craig Radford, better known to one and all as Womby.
views out to the NSW Snowy Mountains on one side and the Victorian Alps out the other highlighting how far and wide the fires burnt. “About the only good thing now is you can see where abouts all the other trucks are on the road further around the hill,” Womby says grimly. With all road traffic using channel 40 and the log harvesting crew running channel 39 there is a steady stream of chatter over the UHF and with all the ANC trucks tracked by GPS and all loading data sent electronically he can see which coupe he will be loading out of and where it is destined for. The truck also runs four cameras which capture each corner of the truck, which Womby reckons is handy to have when negotiating the windy roads when running at full length. Today he will be doing a couple of loads off the range down to the log dump which
has been established just to the south of Corryong in the Nariel Valley, and depending on the grade of timber there will hopefully a load back to one of the mills in Gippsland at the end of the week on his way home. Pulling up onto Dunstan’s Road at an altitude of around 1300 metres the air is a little chilly and Womby pulls up for a break and checks the truck over, with a flat tyre on the trailer going to come in for a bit of on-site attention up at the coupe. Content with doing the bush work, he no doubt will be adding a few more kilometres to the T659 over the next few months as the salvage work continues, and he reckons with his truck and trailer tailored for the job he has some pretty good tools to do it with. “She drives well, she pulls well and with the Kennedy on the back it’s just a good set-up all round.”
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18 FEATURE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Transport legend will keep truckin’ Bill Ferguson may have recently celebrated his 88th birthday, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be parking up his truck any time soon.
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
“I’LL just keep going as long as I can. When I can’t do it anymore, that’s when it’s time to give up. A fella asked me a few years ago, ‘When are you going to retire?’ And I said I’ll retire when they start to dig the hole. My mother lived to 107 so I’ve got a bit to go to catch her age haven’t I,” said Bill Ferguson, 88, with an infectious laugh.
sheep crate and two decks of cattle and still load and unload all on my own,” he said. And it’s this can-do attitude that has helped to keep him young at heart – and his doctor agreed. “About five years ago I had a hip replacement in Melbourne and of course beforehand the doctor has to give you the once over. He had a look at me and said, ‘There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with you old sport.
Bill has been driving trucks for over 70 years.
With over 70 years behind the wheel of a truck and millions of kilometres travelled, Ferguson is a true legend of the transport game. He followed in the direction of his father and grandfather and has carried on their legacy. His son Ross Ferguson has done the same, also working as a truck driver. After a long chat with Ferguson about life and trucking, it’s clear he loves what he does and shows no signs of slowing down. “I tow a four-deck
Wool bales bound for Melbourne.
You’re still working and that’s why you’re still so fit and healthy’.” Ferguson was out of hospital within just five days. “The day I was going home, the doctor and surgeon came to see me and said, ‘Remember what I told you. Don’t stop doing what you’ve been doing all your life. You know what happens when you stop. The end of the road is very close’.” So Ferguson has lived by that advice and done exactly that. Doctor’s orders.
Ferguson’s grandfather started a transport business in Avenel, Victoria, back in the 1800s. The business was passed onto his father and then onto him. Ferguson started driving a truck at the age of 17 (before he even had his licence). Livestock, wool and hay transport have been his specialty for most of his career. “I started in trucking after I left school and then just kept at it. I’ve been doing some people’s work, then they’ve passed on and I’ve continued working for their family and now their grandchildren. I just got to like the job and at that time, most young blokes like myself fancied driving trucks so it just carried on. I’ve been doing it for that long, I sort of know nothing else and that’s what keeps me going. “When my father was alive, we used to cut wood and cart that into Melbourne, then we developed into livestock. He got killed from a stock crate accident many years ago, while he was loading cattle. He was only 49. I’ve been doing it myself ever since,” he said. Ferguson travels throughout Victoria, as well as into NSW, driving his Iveco Powerstar Automatic which he has had for almost 16 years. It’s a far cry from the old Bedford he started out with back in 1948, which was used to cart up to 80 lambs at a time into Newmarket. Over the past seven decades, Ferguson has owned many different trucks. From the original old Bedford, he moved to a new one, purchasing a schmick new Bedford S-model in 1953. His first International came in 1962, followed by another three wearing the same badge. Then there were two Kenworths and another International, before he purchased his current truck in 2004. Still at the ripe age of 88, Ferguson isn’t afraid of hard work. “I enjoy what I’ve been doing all of my life. People ask why I’m still working. I tell them that I don’t do bowls or go fishing, so what else am I going to do,” he laughed. “Some of the country I get to is nice and I enjoy the peace and quietness. I get out into western NSW quite a bit, carting wool out there for people who I started carting wool for their father and when he passed away, I carted
Bill says, “I’ll just keep going as long as I can.”
This red International Acco was owned by Bill in the 1970s, pictured here with his kids Fiona and Ross.
for their sons, and now their grandsons.” Though the eastern states are his mainstay, Ferguson has made one very memorable trip further afield. “The furthest I’ve been is into the Northern Territory. I drove my truck to Alice Springs, where I was inducted into the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2010. It was my son, myself and a good mate of mine and we got to drive a few vintage trucks up there in the parade. It was a bit of a holiday for us. That was about the most memorable and best time,” he recalled, still clearly chuffed to have received the honour. “To be inducted was terrific. There were people from
around the country that knew me and we were escorted through the aisle among this great group of people. It was just like winning Tattslotto. “It was great to be up there and read the history of some of the older pioneers of the transport industry. I’ll get back up there some day. It was a long way but my son and I shared the driving so that made it a bit easier.” Speaking with Ferguson, the passion he has for the job and the industry is undeniable. What’s also clear is the impact of some of the people he’s met along the way. When asked what he has enjoyed most about being a truckie, he responded, “I think it’s the people that I’ve worked with
over the years. There are very few of them left now. Sometimes there would be up to 10 of us going to Queensland with livestock and we’d camp along the road. I’ve made some great friendships. Back in those days, everyone would stop and help each other. It’s a bit different today. I think a lot of the mateship has gone out the window over the years. “I have a lot of good mates in the industry – mostly in my vintage and some younger ones that have come off farms and things like that and are like my old mates. The only state I haven’t been to is WA, I’ve been everywhere else though. I’m a bit like a lucky star I guess.”
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20 READER RIGS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
‘The Boss’ takes in the view, as shared by Ryan Ballard at Followmont Transport
Loaded with bullocks, William Joseph heads from SA to Melbourne
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!
Aaron Sonter got an impressive birds’ eye view of his Kenworth in this great shot
Danyelle Haigh shared this shot of ‘Giddy Up’, her Western Star 4964
2Speed and his Kenworth T909 loading chickpeas off the Golden Mile in Dysart, Queensland
A great shot shared by Shane Kelly, heading down the Strzelecki Track, just outside of Lyndhurst
Aaron Tunnah takes in the sunrise at Frankfield, just north of Clermont
Daniel J Walter and his K200 enjoy this breathtaking view, just before the SA border
Jimmy Cresshull got this shot in Coober Pedy, on his way back to Darwin
READER RIGS 21
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
A mighty fine looking rig from Nicholson & Page Transport, shared by Owen Weir
Curtis Simpson captured this stunner near Dysart, Queensland
These DAF XFs take in the seaside views just west of the Nullarbor Royal Flying Doctor Service airstrip. Great pic Dwayne Wallace
Just north of Dalby, Queensland, Tom Bromley tows an AB-triple with his Kenworth K200
Leigh Butcher and this impressive green machine were heading into harvest
Nathan Cracknell drives this Kenworth Legend for Collins of Corowa and was on the return run after unloading coolant
Narelle Curran got this pic during harvest time at Windella Ag Rowena, NSW
Rasmussen Bulk Haulage driver Rob McLaren shared some great shots of this brand-spanking new 2020 Kenworth T909 hard at work
Warren Lohmann shared this great pic he captured in Central Queensland of two impressive rigs sitting side by side
22 DRIVER PROFILES
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Truckin’ In The Tropics
with Alf Wilson
Mad Dog Madigan GENUINE outback character and former Charters Towers truck driver Dennis ‘Mad Dog’ Madigan now lives at the tiny Queensland hamlet of Maxwelton where he is restoring an old Diamond T. Coincidence is the best way to describe my recent reconnection after 14 years with Mad Dog who is a genuine character. Aged 64, Mad Dog is one of just five people who live at Maxwelton which is 50km along the Flinders Highway from Richmond and 150 k’s from Julia Creek in the other direction. That is Richmond in Queensland and not to be confused with a town of the same name in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. A few weeks back I yarned to a Richmond (Queensland) based truckie who mentioned he had recently stopped off at Maxwelton. The subject soon got on to whether we both knew Mad Dog. Of course we did. But I hadn’t seen or heard from Mad Dog since 2006, then out-of-the-blue he phoned me. “I was searching though some old stuff and found your Big Rigs card and wondered if you were still alive,” Mad Dog said. I last saw Mad Dog at the Richmond Fossil Festival in
2006 and before that had yarned to him at a Pig n Dog weekend and a rodeo there. “I got the name Mad Dog because I breed dogs and everybody knows me by that,” he said. Mad Dog was a former truck owner-operator when he was based in Charters Towers in the seventies and eighties. “I drove a White AEC which was a good truck and loved it at the time,” he said. He moved to Maxwelton about 35 years ago which is now a virtual ghost town and that assessment comes from Mad Dog. They reckon if you clap your hands you kill 10 flies and when you open your mouth you swallow 20. “The flies aren’t too bad here at the moment but they can be in big numbers,” he said. “Maxy” as it is known used to be a thriving town with a school, the Northern Star Hotel, a post office, a railway station, a shop and other facilities. “The bloody pub got eaten by white ants and then got blown down by a cyclone more than 30 years ago. It used to be a great place to have a beer and I only had to wander 100m up the street for a drink. As people left so did everything else,’’ he said. Mad Dog knew the writing was on the wall for Maxwelton to become a ghost town when
Garry has been in Australia since a baby and he lives in Mount Isa. “I was in the Army for 18 years and served at Brisbane, Townsville and Perth and got to dive Unimog, Mack and S-Line trucks,” he said. Hard working Garry is 1.64cm tall and said that could be an advantage. His was glowing in his praise for his boss Bob Glanville. “Without a doubt Bob is the best boss I have ever had,”
he said. As for rest areas, Garry likes stopping off at the Scrubby Creek pull over area 60km from Cloncurry and at Torrens Creek on the coastal side of Hughenden. Having the same name as famous Aussie actor satirist and comedian Garry McDonald – known as Norman Gunston – has provided some humourous moments for this truckie. “I do get that mentioned quite a bit,” he said.
the local school needed 10 students to stay open. “It had nine students and when the education department inspector visited to check it out the 10th student he was always away sick. His name was Skippy and they really had a kangaroo on the school roll instead of a boy,” he said with a laugh. Mad Dog still has a collection of old trucks and other vehicles on his Maxy property and his main entertainment is travelling into Richmond from time to time. “I restore these things and there used to be a big USA military camp and airstrip here during WWII,” he said. His prized possession is an old Diamond T truck which is a work in progress to restore. Maxy is a sleepy little place and as they say “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day”. “I bought the Diamond T from out near the Three Ways in the NT more than a decade ago and it used to cart rocks from there to Cloncurry. I put a V8 Perkins motor in it and it has 22 gears,” he said. Being fair skinned, Mad Dog has had his share of skin cancers either frozen off or surgically removed and urges everybody to slip, slop and slap. If he gets bored at Maxy, Mad Dog drives his old car into Richmond where he will have a few cold soft drinks at his fa-
vourite pub the Federal Palace, or the nearby Mud Hut Hotel. If he catches up with a mate, he may even be tempted into having a beer, although he says he doesn’t imbibe much these days. From time-to-time he will even rent a room overnight at the Federal Palace in a town which is the “big smoke” compared to Maxy. “That is when I may have some beers because it gets very hot in the outback. It is 36 degrees today,” he said. Mad Dog is also a history buff and has found old graves about 20km from Richmond at a place which was once a Cobb and Co stagecoach changeover depot. “They are from the 1880’s,” he said. Living in Maxwelton, which is 550km inland from the east coast, has some advantages apart from the peace and quiet. Mad Dog said his biggest thrill was getting a visit from singers Lee Kernaghan and Troy Cassar Daley some time ago. If you are traveling between Richmond and Julia Creek look for the turnoff to Maxy which is 500m off the Flinders Highway. Pop in and see Mad Dog and tell him I sent you. But – be warned - take along the bloody insect repellent.
Garry McDonald IT was very hot the day I saw Garry McDonald at the Townsville Port Access Road where he was hooking up trailers. Aged 57, Garry drives a 2012 Freightliner with a DD15 565hp motor and an 18 speed gearbox for Mount Isa Metal Recyclers. “I carry scrap metal and general and do two return trips between Mount Isa and Townsville weekly,” he said. That is a 900km journey one way mostly along a chal-
lenging Flinders Highway. “The worst section is between Julia Creek and Cloncurry and between Hughenden and Richmond is also rough,” he said. His favourite roadhouses are the Lights on the Hill just past Hughenden and the Charters Towers Gold City Puma. “There is lots of parking near both, you can get a decent meal and good staff,” he said. Born in New Zealand,
Stephen Hickey AN owner-operator for the past 17 years, Newcastle based Stephen Hickey drives a 2007 Kenworth and gets to travel around Australia. When Big Rigs met up with the 45-year-old Stephen he had carted mining equipment from NSW to north Queensland. “I have a backload of tyres, motors and transmissions for the Hunter Valley region,” he said. His company name is Hamond Haulage for a good reason. “The name includes the first letter in the Christian names of my six children,” he said. His flashy yellow Kenworth is powered by a 550hp Cat engine and has an 18 speed gearbox.
“It is a bit dirty even though I cleaned it recently,” he said. Stephen rates the worst roads “as many in Queensland” and said there was a need for more rest areas. “There are less now than when I started out especially ones with facilities for truck drivers. Lots of vans park at many,” he said. With that in mind Stephen tries to pull up at rest areas where his is the only vehicle. The first truck Stephen drove was a W Model Kenworth and although he loves the job, would like to get home more often. Stephen gets annoyed at car drivers who dangerously overtake trucks.
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24 DRIVER PROFILES
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Tassie Truckin’
with Jonathan Wallis
Adam Johnston
Glenn Finlayson
It is always a pleasure to catch up with those indefatigable drivers from RBA Linehaul, and so it was at Kempton’s Mood Food the other day when Adam Johnston from Ulverstone rolled in for a refreshment break. Driving an RBA 2008 K-108 with a 600 ISX Cummins up front, he had just picked up a fridge pan full of choice Tas-
“You can’t complain about the weather on a day like this,” Glenn Finlayson from Devonport told us the other day when he dropped in to Mood Food, the 24-hour truck stop at Kempton, for a bite to eat and a great Barista made cuppa. He was driving an Autocare 2016 Mack “Granite” at the time with a 500 MP 8 up front, and towing an empty 7 car carrier back to Devonport, having brought a full load down.
manian apples, and was about to return to Devonport to put the pan on board the Spirit of Tasmania to Melbourne. “I’ve been here for 12 months now, and I can only say it’s a great job with a top boss, who really knows the job and all that’s concerned, and a great friendly crew of blokes to work with as well,” he told us. “I have been driving all up
for a couple of years now, and spent six months or so driving drill rigs and floats in Western Australia previously, but I’d have to say I really love and prefer driving in Tasmania.” We asked him how he spent his time off, and he replied: “I really enjoy camping and 4-wheel driving and dirt bikes and outdoor stuff whenever I get the chance.”
“I’ve been here for five years now, and would have to say it’s a really good job, and they are a good crowd all round to work for and with. “We have been a bit quiet lately with the Covid pandemic, but things are rapidly picking up, especially now they have eased opening the borders, and mainland tourists are already trickling in at the moment. “I guess I’ve been driving professionally now for 20 years or so, and prior to that I drove excavators and machinery so it
Haydn Bean
Ron Hillier
Stopping over at Mood Food, our eye was taken when Haydn Bean from Deloraine rolled in driving his always immaculate BFT (Bean Family Transport) 2002 T-404 S with a Series 60 up front and towing a Fresh Freight fridge pan. There is just something about the T404 Kenworths that I really like. He was on his return leg from Bridgewater to catch the SeaRoad ferry at Devonport at the time, and
Great to catch up with Ron Hillier, from Westbury, when he passed through Kempton the other day and dropped in for a refreshment break and a great cuppa. He was driving an eye-catching DeBruyn’s 2013 Mack “Granite” with an MP8 535 up front and towing a Tautliner at the time, and he was on his return trip from Hobart to Launceston. He told us: “The Mack is being replaced in the New Year with a new FMX Volvo, and
told us: “Well I have been driving trucks for about 27 years all up, and have happily been an owner driver for the last eight of them. “We mainly cart hay for farmers, and this is kind of our fill in job, and it works nicely, in fact you couldn’t ask for anyone better to tow for, and it is all going well just now so I am basically happy all round. And as for the truck, it’s running beau-
tifully just now, and I’d like to say thanks to Brad Moore in Launceston, as he is just one magic mechanic when it comes to looking after us!” We asked him about how he spent his time off, and Haydn said: “Well we own the wellknown “Comstock Farm at Deloraine, (though not the house!), and that keeps us pretty busy. It looks like being a fantastic year too with all the recent rain.
whilst it has been a good rugged hard-working truck, I would have to say I am looking forward to the added comfort in the big European. “I’ve been here with DeBruyn’s now for a good 14 years and they are a genuinely great Tasmanian outfit, and they really look after you, as long as you do the right thing, and that’s fair. “You get a lot of variety here too, and they are an interesting company as they have various specialised divisions now, and
was a fairly easy transition. “Originally from Melbourne, I drove for Patricks and other outfits on the mainland before moving to Tasmania about 3 years ago, and I am loving it down here more and more all the time, it was the very best move I ever made.” We asked him how he spent his time off and he added: “Mainly looking around and exploring this beautiful state, and doing a bit of 4-wheel driving, and plain enjoying Tasmania.
they always seem to have plenty of work and keep us busy. “I’ve been on the road pretty well all my life, trucks, excavators and so on, and I’ve never, other than those odd occasions we all have, regretted taking it up for a living!” We asked Ron how he spent his time off, and he told us that he likes to spend time with the family whenever he can, but when he finds a bit of time he also likes to go up to the Lakes and try some trout fishing.
AD FEATURE 25
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
D’Angelo Engineering: Innovation through and through for 52 years
Danny, who started the business in 1968, recently celebrated his 89th birthday.
The D’Angelo Engineering workshop, circa 1986.
IN 1968, Arrigo (Danny) D’Angelo founded D-Angelo Engineering – and what a 52 years it has been. While much has changed since then, what has remained the same is the company’s commitment to Australian made, with its range of truck and trailer equipment still produced in Melbourne to this day. Danny came to Australia in 1955, aboard a ship from Abruzzo, Italy. Recently he celebrated his 89th birthday. His son
That incident brought him back to doing factory work, which evolved into semi-trailer manufacturing and repairs. “He began doing general repairs and engineering. He was working for other trailer brands and doing odd jobs here and there. As demand increased, he decided to go out on his own, working from his backyard. That expanded into a small workshop and he kept expanding from there. He was designing his own stuff and even stuff
Giulio D’Angelo has taken the reigns as Director of the business his father built from the ground up. When Danny migrated to Melbourne, finding work was tedious. He visited workshop after workshop in the hope of some luck. Though his work in Italy involved working with brakes, cutting metal and welding, at first these skills went unnoticed and he instead spent several months as a cleaner. From there he went on to paint-
ing maritime vessels, working with an industrial chemical firm in Geelong and building silo tanks to store wheat. His first foray into the trucking industry came during the 1960s, when he saved enough money to purchase his first truck. That joy however was only short-lived. Within a month on the road, it was written off by a drunk driver and “flattened like a pizza”. He sold what he could as scrap metal and began restoring the truck.
for the opposition,” explained Giulio. A big win for Danny came when a Victorian trailer manufacturer consulted with him on a trailer design. His custom couplings and bushes showed the benefits of using lighter components as opposed to heavier imports. He closed the deal, with 1000 units ordered. From there, he began focusing on other components too, including fifth wheels, ballrace assemblies, Ringfeder cross
HITCHING UP AUSTRALIA
members, landing legs, slewing bearings, skid plates and truck and trailer accessories. And with that, D’Angelo Engineering was born. Over the decades, Danny’s engineering expertise has been invaluable. The business moved to its current site in Laverton North, Victoria, in 2003. Today, D’Angelo Engineering continues to produce a trusted range of truck and trailer equipment, that is still proudly Australian made.
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26 SOUTHERN SNIPPETS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Tassie truckies hatch plan for convoy in November
SNIPPETS FROM THE SOUTH With JONATHAN WALLIS
IT seems that when good people get together good things happen, and so it was great to hear from our old mate Rick Sutcliff the other day, who tells us that he recently got together with Daniel “Sleeves” White to formulate a plan for a convoy on November 29 in southern Tasmania. It had come to their attention that with the recent pandemic, fund raising for worthy causes had come to a virtual halt, and moneys were urgently needed for children in hospitals etc. They then ran the idea by Emma Bygrave and she jumped on board to lend her considerable assistance. The planned departure/ end times and locations are still to be determined, but it looks like around 10am
from the Hub in Brighton and ending somewhere 15 minutes or so away, close to Brighton. Rick just advised us: “Great news is that we have now filled the top 10 positions. Voting for lead position has started and works as follows: Each truck in the top 10 has been allocated a number which will be located on their photo. These will be in our album on the Facebook page T.I.T (Trucking in Tasmania), Make a donation referencing the truck number that you would like to see leading the convoy. The truck with the most money made towards their name will lead our convoy followed by the other 10 respectively, and we are welcoming anyone who will come along and join the convoy. Bank details are listed on the page, please don’t forget to reference the truck number when you make your donation. If you require a receipt, please message the page so we can arrange one for you. All moneys raised by the convoy
Local legend Rick Sutclif is helping to organise a much-needed truck convoy.
will be donated to “Give Me 5 For Kids” so please help us raise some much-needed money for this great cause!” In emergency only, you can ring Rick on 0499 169 229, or Emma Bygrave on 0488 810 441.
More compassion is needed These days we seem to be seeing a proliferation of Organisations and Associations all apparently sincerely concerned with issues of mental health, and in particular as regards those issues concerning the Road Transport Industry. All very commendable. But it does appear that with mental health currently claiming the public eye, there is also access to Government funding and publicity, and that gives pause as to the sincerity of some of these bodies. Undoubtedly in today’s climate, I am sure they will ensure an adequate supply of logos for truck doors and there will be conferences and awards and maybe even seminars on mental health and suicide prevention. But I personally ponder how advantageous this will all prove to the driver facing insurmountable stress, sorrow or financial disaster, as he sits alone in his truck crossing the Hay Plain at 2 am, for example. Once there was a network
of homely truck stops where drivers could unburden their souls to those worldly-wise folks behind the counter, or discuss issues with fellow drivers. Sadly, the old-fashioned truck stops are rapidly being replaced with antiseptic and impersonal Railway Station type “fast food” cafeterias now days, and of course an off-sider in the truck is unthinkable. I feel that what we need is compassionate and non-judgmental people on the ground, in depots and truck stops. A more humane Industry that looks after its drivers in fact, would that be too much to ask? Renos for popular truckie stop In these times of Coronavirus pandemic and with many truck stops reducing their hours and services to the industry, there is some good news from Tasmania, where Bennetts Petroleum are continuing their expansions, renovations and improvements to their now renowned 24-
Hour Truck Stop and Roadhouse, Mood Food. Situated on the Midland Highway at Kempton in the southern Midlands, it is conveniently less than an hour’s travel from Hobart. Always a popular and convenient stop for trucks since we first came to Hobart over 16 years ago, Mood Food has always been a friendly stop offering good food and coffee, and great amenities, including their express take away food and coffee out the back, as well as the cleanest and most up to date toilets and bathrooms I have ever seen in any truck stop in Australia. Well the good news is that they are expanding again, and should soon offer a new much enlarged and improved interior dining area, as well as tables and eating areas out the front and on the side. Good news for some is that there will even be a smoking veranda out the back, also new high-speed diesel pumps at the back supplementing the current bowsers and electric charging points for cars.
COLUMN 27
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
Electric vehicle drivers must pay their fair share VTA COMMENT PETER ANDERSON CEO, Victorian Transport Association
AS state and Commonwealth governments grapple with how to manage the economic fallout of COVID-19, new methods of collecting revenue to replenish the coffers will be inevitable. Taxes are never popular, but in the context of recovery and securing the future for our children and grandchildren, it will be essential to pay down debt and ensure revenue streams to fund government services and infrastructure spending. Transport operators are all too familiar with paying above their weight for services used by the whole community, such as roads and other transport infrastructure built in part through the Road User Charge. The VTA and our statebased affiliates successfully advocated for the current RUC of 25.8 cents per litre of diesel to be frozen this year in view of the impact of coronavirus, instead of increasing it by CPI (2.5%) as proposed to the Transport Infrastructure Council late last year. Additional to the RUC, drivers of petrol/diesel passenger cars, trucks and buses pay a fuel excise of $0.423 per litre of petrol and diesel fuel plus GST and $0.134 per litre of LPG plus GST. Electric vehicle drivers have
While the fear of increases to the fuel excise are looming, the deficit of revenue not being collected from EV’s needs to be addressed.
to date been spared paying this excise, in part because a collection method has not been developed and because government’s have been incentivising EV sales to help reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. Increasingly, the impacts of more fuel-efficient vehicles are becoming a drain on revenue, with the gap also widening between fuel excise raised and the cost of road infrastructure, increasing pressure on other community-based taxation.
While the fear of increases to the fuel excise are looming, the deficit of revenue not being collected from EV’s needs to be addressed. Another policy initiative is changing the tax structure for road users based on distance travelled. Such a system would include EVs but is inherently flawed from fairness, collection, and compliance perspectives. The simple reality is that electric vehicle drivers must pay their fair share. Proposals by the govern-
ments of South Australia and New South Wales announced in November to introduce a road user charge for EVs is welcome recognition all motorists – irrespective of how their vehicles are powered – must pay their way. As electric vehicles become increasingly popular it is essential to start to factor in a mechanism for recovering road user charge revenue lost from an expected reduction in conventional petrol/diesel vehicles, over time.
The VTA applauds the leadership role of the NSW and SA governments in anticipating the need for a mechanism to charge electric vehicle drivers for using the roads, just as heavy vehicle and petrol-driven passenger vehicle drivers have been paying for decades. While electric vehicles are not expected to overtake sales of petrol and diesel fuelled cars for some time, these vehicles are the way of the future as governments around the
world incentivise their purchase to help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. At some point EV drivers will need to contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the nation’s transport infrastructure so it’s only fair that they also contribute to the road user charge. As charging mechanisms are explored in conjunction with other state and national jurisdictions, a mechanism should be developed that charges EV motorists at the charging station, removing the need for logbooks. States and the Commonwealth must consider how technology can be used to calculate and charge users at the charging station, like the way in which a percentage of fuel sales are levied back to the Commonwealth. Payment terminals at charging stations could conceivably be used as collection terminals with a percentage of the feed-in tariff rate applied and charged to the driver in real-time. This would mitigate the need for logbooks, which we know are cumbersome and less accurate, which is why the statutory formula was introduced as an alternative for calculating fringe benefit tax contributions. As other jurisdictions recognise the need for EV’s to contribute to the road user charge, it will be important that a consistent and uniform charging mechanism be adopted – the VTA looks forward to participating in discussions with the Transport Infrastructure Council and state and Commonwealth jurisdictions to land on an EV road user charge that is fair and equitable.
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28 COLUMNS
It’s time to capitalise on our gains during pandemic
COST CUTTER CHET CLINE
AT THE WHEEL DAVID MEREDITH
AIR CTI founder/owner
contributors@bigrigs.com.au
AU
WOMEN IN TRANSPORT TRANSPORT WOMEN IN JACQUELENE BROTHERTON JACQUELENE BROTHERTON
RT ERTON
AS we count down the days to the end of 2020 most of us can’t wait to see it gone. In so many ways this year has been highlighted by disappointments, devastation, losses, bungles, scandals, disappointAT THE WHEEL ments, and other negativities. DAVID THE OZMEREDITH TRUCKER contributors@bigrigs.com.au ButWILLIAMS the trucking and the MIKE whole of supply chain can contributors@bigrigs.com.au build on all the positives to come out of it. We have finally been acknowledged as an essential industry and providing the necessities of life to all the population. It was the same during the devastating bushfires, and the floods and in the aftermath of these events EDITOR and then especially during the JAMES GRAHAM
avman
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Chair of Transport WomenWomen Australia Chair of Transport
Australia
james.graham@bigrigs.com.au
TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE contributors@bigrigs.com.au
EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM
TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS
TRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER DAVID VILE TWU NEWS contributors@bigrigs.com.au RICHARD OLSEN
LEGAL EAGLE ROWAN KING
james.graham@bigrigs.com.au
TWU NSW State Secretary
contributors@bigrigs.com.au
Principal Lawyer RK Law
One of the by-products of the lockdown, especially in Victorian metro, is that no one has been driving much if at all.
Coronavirus crisis. Without trucking industry soldiering on during the pandemic there would have been TASSIE TRUCKIN’ no essential JON WALLIS services, medical contributors@bigrigs.com.au
supplies, no groceries, no toilet paper and yet we had to fight hard to keep truck stops open so drivers had somewhere to buy take away food and use
basic facilities. We now need to capitalise on these gains especially leading into the Christmas period and the easing of the border
restrictions when people will finally be able to travel after months of restrictions and being unable to see their families. One of the by-products of the lockdown, especially in Victorian metro, is that no one has been driving much if at all. Once the state borders are open, they will possibly be driving long distances. They may have forgotten how to share the road with heavy vehicles. They will also be taking up parking spaces reserved for trucks and we will have to again fight for our rights at truck stops and rest areas. Let us pray that we get through this busy period without any major issues and then in the new year we can start an image campaign to highlight the safety of the road transport industry and the humanity of the people who work in it. Transport Women Australia Limited have some ideas on this, and we hope to put them into action in 2021.
The Driving the Difference scholarships winners have been announced – see full story on page 33 – and have been showcased on the TWAL social media and will be presented with their certificates at the TWAL EOY functions. We congratulate the winners and wish them success with their chosen course and their careers. Transport Women Australia Limited has held its AGM and the full board is remaining in place. We are holding EOY functions in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. We had hopes of SA and Tasmania, but they did not come to pass. We are well into planning for the 2021 Driving the Difference conference with registration to be opened early January 2021. There are still opening for sponsors and speakers; submissions or enquiries can be sent to chair@ transportwomen.com.au or 0417422319.
Our plan to ensure a safe and fair future for the industry
LOBBYIST STEVE SHEARER
SA Road Transport Association Executive Director
TWU NEWS
TWU NEWS RICHARDOLSEN OLSEN RICHARD TWU NSW State Secretary TWU NSW State Secretary
2020 has been a hell of a year, as if you need telling. The TWU is looking forward to 2021 as a year to continue the fight to change things in our industry for the better. Our specific plan for 2021, is about how we lift rates and conditions to a standard that respects the critical nature of the work transport workers do. It’s a plan that ensures a safer and fairer driving future for the industry, that gets you home at the end of every shift and properly paid. The plan means we will question the industry, Gov-
ernments and organisations like the RMS and the Heavy National Vehicle Regulator (HNVR) about changes that impact directly on the truck driver. EAGLE LEGAL Let’s look ROWAN KINGat the recent anPrincipal Lawyer RK Lawby the Federal nouncement Transport Minister, Michael McCormack. We look forward to the benefits that Electronic Work Diaries (EWD) bring, but we have still have questions and ongoing concerns. We also look forward to the reduction in fines constantly applied to drivers for issues like spelling errors in their log books. The TWU commented some time ago that EWD will not be the panacea that fixes the problems related to fatigue management, but it makes a contribution. We must avoid the movement of freight at the expense of driver safety. The recent “grounding” of
the Auswide Linehaul fleet by the NHVR is a classic example. The NHVR ordering the company to cease operations partly based on issues with “fatigue management and training”. We know that EWD reduces the ability for managers to pressure a driver to drive for longer, yet despite that companies will continue to fail in their behaviour towards their drivers. EWD will not determine or police the fatigue level of a driver. Professor Anne Williamson of the University of NSW has said previously “trying to improve compliance with inadequate fatigue risk management laws will do nothing to reduce driver fatigue.” … “Just increasing compliance with inadequate laws cannot reduce crash risk.” So what’s missing? I would suggest:
• A commitment to the full solution for a critical workforce. The excitement from both the Federal Roads Minister and the head of the NHVR about EWD reducing paperwork is not balanced by a proposal or strategy that deals with what is outside the driver’s control. • We need commitments to a better understanding of the
conditions on the road. • These commitments must include, support for management of fatigue, enforcement of maintenance and safety standards, adequate rest areas and a crackdown on the exploitation of drivers by companies whose management want to live the Rolls Royce lifestyle whilst their drivers are sent out to the job with-
out a safe driving plan or a vehicle fit for purpose. • We need commitment to legislation that ensures 30day invoice periods to enable owner operators to keep on top of payments. We need to ensure that the duty of care that is owed to truck drivers is fulfilled as the safety and future of our industry is a shared responsibility.
We know that EWD reduces the ability for managers to pressure a driver to drive for longer.
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COLUMNS 29
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
Campaign with Big Rigs gives truckies louder voice Acting Chief Executive Officer Australian Trucking Association Bill McKinley
THE voice of Australia’s truck drivers has been heard loud and clear, as the review of the national truck laws continues. Following the release of the Heavy Vehicle National Law review Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), the Australian Trucking Association together with Big Rigs launched an online campaign to amplify the voice of Australia’s truck drivers and ensure their views were heard. An initiative to gather feedback from truck drivers on the options in the RIS for
changing the fatigue laws, the Voice of the Driver campaign gave drivers the opportunity to share their views in an easily accessible way, through an online survey and social media posts. Throughout the six-week campaign, we received 432 survey responses and a social media reach of more than 46,000. The online survey detailed the eight proposed fatigue options and invited respondents to state whether they supported or did not support the option and offer any additional feedback. The survey results highlight that, overall, Australia’s truck drivers support the proposed new laws, especially when it comes to simplified record keeping and flexible fatigue management. “Current work diaries and rules are far too complicat-
ed. The pressure that is currently on drivers with all the paperwork they have to do is unbelievable, and anything to make their life easier so they can concentrate on the road and other things is a good thing,” a survey respondent said. Meanwhile, another respondent highlighted the importance of giving drivers increased autonomy in managing their own fatigue. “We need a system that encourages drivers to manage their fatigue in a flexible way. Fatigue issues can’t be solved through regulations,” the survey respondent said. The survey responses also highlighted the importance of stronger medical standards. “Current fitness to drive is basically a tick and flick. It must be more thorough to identify underlying health problems such as sleep ap-
noea,” one respondent said. Separately, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has announced the rollout of approved Electronic Work Diaries for heavy vehicle drivers to manage their fatigue. This is a really big step forward for industry. It will reduce paperwork for drivers, as well as the unbelievable amount of record keeping that companies need to complete to stay compliant. Moving forward, it’s crucial that the communication between industry, government and regulators remains open and transparent to ensure operators are being fairly represented. They are the ones dealing with these laws on a day-today basis. We’ve already provided the feedback gathered through the survey to the NHVR, National Transport Commission
Australia’s truck drivers support the proposed new laws, especially when it comes to simplified record keeping and flexible fatigue management.
and state governments, and we are now using the results to help develop the ATA submission to the RIS. Campaigns like this are so valuable, and we are so grate-
Take advantage of tax breaks for your business
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz
AS a former operator myself, we all know there has been two speeds in the transport industry during this pandemic. Some operators are flat out meeting pent up demand in the economy, and some business have trucks parked up. However, with the significant tax concessions in the budget through time limited tax measures this will help business bounce back. The incentives are about backing business through this uncertain time to retool their operations or refresh their fleet. Under our Lower Taxes Plan in this year’s federal budget there are a range of measures which will support Australian transport businesses. An estimated 3.5 million businesses across Australia, will be able to deduct the full cost of an eligible asset in the year they are first used or installed ready for use through Temporary Full Expensing. Our transport businesses require a high capital investment to get started and ongoing investment to stay profitable. These measures will be a massive boost for any operator
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Discuss your requirements with our sales staff today. They will help you gain the best value from your new Southern Cross equipment.
by significantly reducing their tax liability when purchasing new equipment, like a new truck and trailer. The Temporary Full Expensing measure became available on 6th October 2020, and will remain active until the end of June 2022, with no limit on the value of the assets. As part of the 2020–21 Budget, the government announced that it will target support to businesses and encourage new investment through a loss carry back regime. Eligible businesses that previously paid company tax in a relevant year and have subsequently made taxable losses can claim a refundable tax offset up to the amount of their previous income tax liabilities. This will allow new investment to generate significant tax losses which can then be carried back to generate cash refunds for an estimated 1 million companies that employ 8.8 million workers. It will provide the business with a needed cash flow boost to keep their business running, retain their workers and invest with confidence in the future. We want the transport industry to know that Federal Government has your back. Australians should be very proud of how the transport and logistics sector has constantly overcome the challenges.
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30 SPY ON THE ROAD
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Tolga a top spot for drivers
Our man with his ear to the ground right around Australia brings you all the hottest truckie gossip from our busiest roadhouses and highways.
SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON
Tolga town’s rest area popular IN recent months numerous truckies have complained to Spy about the shortage of rest areas or pull-over places for heavy vehicles in the vicinity of Cairns and surrounds. One that Spy can recommend is in the main street of the small hamlet of Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands. Tolga is about 100km from Cairns and just 8km from Atherton. To get to Tolga from Atherton you travel through the rainforest canopied Kennedy Highway along a delightful stretch.
A truck travels through rainforest on the 8km stretch of the Kennedy Highway between Atherton and Tolga.
The pull off area for trucks is in Tolga’s main street and is a piece of bitumen off the road with no facilities. But not far away and within walking distance is the famous Tolga Pub, public toilets, and shops including the post office. Every time Spy has passed through Tolga there has been a truck parked there with the driver having a fatigue break and perhaps a meal at the hotel.
Just up the road is the town of Kairi and further along the Tinaroo Dam. Tolga is the centre of the peanut growing industry on the scenic Atherton Tablelands and whilst only a couple of trucks can fit comfortably at the pull off area, it is sure popular. Contaminated water at rest areas MOST drivers Spy speaks to feel there is an overall shortage
of rest areas around Oz, especially ones with facilities for truckies. This includes toilets, shaded sections with seats and tables, parking space and water taps. However at some locations where all the boxes are ticked you have to be sure not to drink water which is not fit for human consumption. Over the past few years and mostly before the Coronavirus Pandemic, Spy came across such water at rest areas in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Often there are warning signs advising that the water could be considered contaminated and is only good for washing hands. But despite this, reports still filter to Spy that some ignore the warning or fail to see the signs and have a drink. I recall one huge rest area beside the Hume Highway in
NSW used by hundreds of motorists daily including a lot of truckies. Tourists were seen there filling up water bottles until told my others about the dangers of having a mouthful. There is also such a rest area beside the Flinders Highway in Queensland at the tiny centre of Maxwelton. The rest area is 550km
from coastal Townsville and another 250km west to Mount Isa. It is a combined motorist and heavy vehicle rest area where trucks, motorists, and caravans can stop and take a break. There is shade courtesy of picnic tables which are under cover and there is quite a lot of room here.
Water not fit for consumption at a NSW rest area near Sydney.
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BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 crossing a creek which was popular with recreational fishers. On numerous occasions I saw two old-timers in a dinghy anchored not far from the bridge and they had a powerful kerosene light on board. Sometimes scores of mullet and herring would leap from the water and land in the boat. Obviously attracted to the light.
The entrance to Westbury is creating safety problems for drivers.
The maximum time limit for staying is 20 hours and a sign does advise the water isn’t suitable for drinking. The amenities are cleaned regularly by council workers and some trucks stop there overnight. So if you are thirsty and don’t carry water with you, check the signs. Pop-up toilet ROADWORKS are a fact of life for truck drivers and other motorists and so are the resultant sight of traffic controllers who hold up signs at each end. One South Australian driver had to stop for some time on a lonely stretch of highway as roadworks progressed and got to yarn to a female traffic controller. In this remote area there was no mobile phone signal and zero internet. He needed a piddle which he did out of view behind his truck. But as he saw the lady having a large amount of cold water from a container it prompted him to ask her a gender question. “How do you get on if you need to use a toilet when there isn’t one for miles?” he asked. Her reply was unexpected, at least the second part of it. “I can go behind my vehicle which is nearby if I need a widdle but a number two is different,” she said. Please explain, was his next question. “I carry a little portable toilet with me and also have a pop up tent which surrounds it to give me privacy,” she explained. So hopefully Spy has been able to provide info about what is perhaps a mystery to some and menial to others. But not to those stuck at
roadworks in certain situations. Vision impaired RESTRICTED vision as traffic enters the Birralee Road junction at Westbury village in Tasmania due to a high tree is a safety problem for drivers. Some truckies reported this to State Growth and hopefully the tree will be lopped or removed in the near future. “There is a lack of vision there and even cars have difficulty. This has been reported and it was immediately sent to the contractor who should fix this as when asked by State Growth. Bad planning having a tree there in first place,” one driver told Spy. Westbury is a scenic town in the central north ad is located 30 km west of Launceston just off the Bass Highway. It has some wonderful old historical buildings dating back to the convict days. Mystery solved WHEN a truck in which learner drivers are schooled were continually seen in his street, a transport man became curious. There was also a regular presence of car schools with pupils being taught all safe forms of driving before going for a licence test. In fact many residents in the street wondered why all these car and a truck school vehicles were so common. In a bid to get to the bottom of the matter, Spy asked a woman who is a senior transport department worker. “That is easy to answer. This is the only suburb near where the testing officers take anybody doing a licence test which has a hill. So this is where they are asked to do a hill start,” she said.
Fishy tales amusement A CONVERSATION was overheard at a roadhouse between a WA truckie and another from the Northern Territory and the subject was fishing. We have all heard of anglers from all walks of life spinning an unbelievable fishy story. The WA man thought what was being told to him by the Darwin based driver was well and truly in that category. “Sometimes we take an aluminium dinghy up a creek and small fish jump into the boat. Then we use them for live bait on our big lines whilst we wait to check the crab pots,” he said. However he did qualify that statement adding that it had to be at night and you had to have a bright light in the boat. “What a load of bull. I have never heard that before,” was the doubting reply. From my own experience, Spy can swear that such things can happen. As a youth I used to go fishing and crabbing with my now departed dad to a bridge
SOS for big bull A NSW based driver wonders if any other truckie has information about a huge bull which used to lay on a road near the Christmas Creek iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. He told Spy that the bull was well known to truckies and was “as big as a Torana car”. “The bull would lay on the tar road which ran under a railway bridge and wouldn’t move unless we pomped the horn. Us truckies used to enjoy seeing him and would call others in the area on the radio to advise he was there,” he said. The lad said many truck drivers enjoyed seeing the bull who was docile. But he hasn’t come across any who have seen the bull recently. If anybody has info on this animal could they contact Spy who will pass it on to the concerned drivers. Cattle on the road ON the subject of cattle, Spy hears that many have been wandering onto the roads around Mungindi near the NSW and Queensland border. Also around Alpha and Roma in Queensland and on the lonely road between Win-
ton and Boulia. On occasions herds can stay on the road for some time holding up traffic. Despite the best efforts of drovers on horses trying to move them off the road. Half the fine REPORTS about truckies being issued with heavy fines for minor infringements are almost an everyday occurrence. Spy hears of many irate truckies who have been victims of what many reckon is just Government revenue raising. However, Spy was horrified to hear of one incident from a veteran drive who was pinged for a log book infringement. “The officer issued me with a ticket for partially filling out my log book and it was for $640,” he said. But he said what the road transport enforcement officer then told him would have the blood of truckies boiling. “He said I was lucky as if I hadn’t filled out any part of the log book the fine would have been double at $1280,” he said. I also heard of a driver who was breached at Mt White in NSW after being stopped at a weighbridge and was found to be carrying a load 20kg over the limit. Experience vital EXPERIENCE gained as a truck driver didn’t really work out as expected for one fellow Spy knows. The veteran long haul driver made sure he got a few days off so he could host his son’s 18th birthday party. About 40 young men and women turned up and a percentage parked their cars in the street outside his suburban home.
From all reports everybody enjoyed themselves and there was a liberal sprinkling of alcohol consumed, as would be expected at such a milestone. Our truckie thought that each car would have a designated driver who could stay off the booze to get their passengers home legally and safely. But come midnight he found that wasn’t the case as revellers wanted to leave, but alas, there were no designated drivers, or anybody who would have been under the legal alcohol blood level. “You have all the experience as a truck driver so you should get us home,” one youngster muttered. So, old mate made six trips to various parts of the city to drop off drunks and the task was completed about 2am. “Some of the others slept at my place for the night but I am glad when it was over,” he said. But the bottom line was that everybody was safe and sound. Armed robbery WHILST picking up a copy of Big Rigs from a servo roadhouse on November 3, Spy got a shock to hear that it had been the target of an armed robbery earlier that morning. The report about the incident said that a female staff member had been threatened with a knife at 3.40am. The alleged culprit who had his face covered demanded money from a female staff member. Police and the company she works for provided counselling after such a traumatic incident. During the day scores of truckies patronise the popular business.
On occasions herds can stay on the road for some time holding up traffic.
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32 CAREERS & TRAINING FEATURE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Scholarship program
high achiever build on her
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
RECENTLY named the 2019/20 QTA Daimler Emerging Leader of the Year, Letitia ‘Teash’ De Winter from IWS Haulage has proven herself as a jack of all trades – and she has some big plans ahead. Teash was one of four recipients of the 2019/2020 QTA/Daimler Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program, which is designed to identify some of the industry’s emerging talent and further develop their capabilities. Though her official role at IWS Haulage is in admin and compliance, what she does extends far beyond that. So how would she describe her role? “It depends on the day of the week to be honest,” she said. “I handle accounts receivable and payable, do our payroll, health and safety, serve customers, do deliveries in the truck, operate the machines, load and unload trucks with the forklift and sometimes help out in the workshop.”
Teash completed her school-based traineeship with IWS Haulage and gained her Certificate 3 in Business Administration and a Certificate 4 in Workplace Health and
Safety. She has gone on to get her MC licence, front end loader, bobcat and excavator tickets too. Based in Jacobs Well in Queensland, IWS Haulage
This shot was taken the day Teash got her MC open class licence.
B Double Drivers & Tow Operators We have exciting opportunities for Owner Tow Operators & B Double Drivers to join our team. The drivers will be operating B Double tippers and road trains working interstate. The work is suited for drivers who are able to spend time away from home – live in truck position and are looking for high earning potential. Benefits of the role: • Excellent earning potential • Consistent work • Permanent & secure - Full time position • Immediate start available To be successful you will need: Experience: • 1 year B-Double experience • 1 year tipping experience preferred Licence: • MC drivers licence
is a family business owned by her parents Michelle and Michael De Winter. The ambitious 25-year-old plans to one day take over the business when her parents retire.
Her knack for all things transport and logistics isn’t much of a surprise when you consider that she has been around the industry all her life. While her parents run IWS Haulage, her maternal grandparents are industry icons – Terry and Daphne Nolan, of Nolan’s Interstate Transport. “When my Pop Terry passed away, I worked there for a little while and also had the opportunity to work in Western Australia for a couple of months too. Two years ago, my parents and I discussed what they wanted to do with the business, whether I wanted to take over once they retired or whether they would sell it – so I started learning all the ropes so that one day I can take over,” Teash said. When she learned she would be part of the QTA/ Daimler Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program, Teash wanted to use this to further her skills. “I actually didn’t even know I had been nominated until the QTA called me to let me know I had re-
ceived the scholarship. Each recipient had a one-on-one meeting with a careers coach to look at what areas we wanted to develop ourselves in – whether it was communication, industry knowledge, some sort of certification or if there was any other area we wanted to work on. Because I come from a small business, I wanted something that would touch on multiple areas at once. I chose to do a business management certification, which I finished quite quickly,” Teash said, explaining the significance of scholarship programs such as these. “When you’re younger, there is a bit of stigma around putting the hours in, proving yourself and having to work hard. That can take away from developing your own skills on paper. Being from a family business, I find I try and take on more and more to learn about the business. This scholarship helped me take a step back and work on building my knowledge. I needed to go back to learn-
INTERSTATE SOLO, TWO UP B DOUBLE, ROAD TRAINS, B TRIPLES AND MC DRIVERS Due to significant growth, Auswide Transport Solutions have permanent or casual roles available for drivers based in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide. With an immediate start available to suitable candidates. Auswide Transport Solutions are looking for professionals who; • Demonstrate great customer service. • Prioritise safety & have a safe driving record. • Mature attitude. • Minimum 5 years’ experience with MC endorsement. Including B Triple and Road Trains. • BFM/AFM & DG Licence (Highly Recommended) Working within fatigue management guidelines you will perform interstate linehaul duties whilst adhering to all OH&S, legislative, site and contractual obligations. You will be required to display a commitment to Auswide Transport Solutions safety and compliance standards and values whilst maintaining your equipment and keeping it in good order. You will also be required to provide a copy of your current licence and meet Auswide Transport Solutions employment criteria, which includes a medical with drug and alcohol screening. We offer a great work environment, above award conditions, • Fulltime permanent rate of 48c/KM • 5 weeks annual leave entitlements
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CAREERS & TRAINING FEATURE 33
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
helps this
Scholarship winners named Alexandra Del Piero, Metro Trains.
strengths
ing and work on myself. It steamrolled from there and I thought, well I might as well do this and this too.”
The four scholarship recipients were asked by the QTA to write a letter about how the scholarship helped
Teash likes to help out in the workshop too – Here she helped pull out a gearbox from one of the company’s Freightliners.
Hannah Stewart, Stows Waste Management.
them and what they had learnt throughout the year. Members of the QTA visited IWS Haulage and video linked with representatives of Daimler to present her with the 2019/20 QTA Daimler Emerging Leader of the Year Award. “I thought I had done something wrong and was in trouble,” she said. “I actually shed a sneaky tear, I was very surprised. Growing up I was bullied, so I really do take achievements to heart, because in my head what I do is the norm, I don’t think it’s anything extraordinary. I’m very appreciative of the fact that Daimler and the QTA have this program and the fact that they encourage people coming up in the industry to further themselves and provide them with opportunities by funding these scholarships.” Applications for the 2020/2021 QTA/Daimler Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program are now being assessed and will be announced very shortly.
MC/HC - Road Train, B-Double and Single Trailer positions
Isaiah Tomkinson, Lindsay Transport.
Lynette Gray, Robertson’s Bus and Coaches.
TRANSPORT Women Australia Limited and Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific have announced the 2020 winners of the Driving the Difference Scholarships. They are Alexandra Del Piero – Metro Trains, Sydney; Lynette Gray – Robertson’s Bus and Coaches; Hannah Stewart – Stows Waste Management; and Isaiah Tomkinson – Lindsay Transport. Transport Women Australia Limited chair Jacquelene Brotherton said she is proud to award these scholarships. “They showcase the diver-
sity of the applicants and the courses they wish to study,” she said. “It is exceedingly difficult for us to make the decision to get to the final four. Inquiries for the scholarships were amazing and the applicants set such high standards each season, it is makes you wish you had more to bestow.” Brotherton said having winners from the train, bus, trucking, and waste industry shows the diversity of the TWAL membership and applicants. “We were quite stoked that
they came from different three states.” Brotherton said certificates will be presented to the winners at the end of year events in the capital cities where the applicants are based. Last year, in the inaugural year, they were presented at the TWAL 20th anniversary gala dinner. “Of course, events are much harder to stage this year due to the COVID restrictions, but we will make it as festive as possible for the applicants to celebrate their achievements,” she added.
DRIVERS WANTED
If you want a job, good pay, a mix of freight and customers join our team. The position can be based at our Head Office at Dubbo or our depots in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne however we welcome applicants from other areas.
Blenners Transport is a proudly Australian Owned and family operated company specialising in refrigerated transport Australia Wide. With over 30 years experience in the transport industry, we are a well established business working with many well known and reputable brands. We have a strong emphasis on our customers and our team.
PREMIUM PAY RATES ARE AVAILABLE for competent operators.
Due to continuing growth in our fleet, we are now welcoming applications for the following Driver positions –
Duties included for the successful applicants • Routine movements between depots • Deliveries in regional, and metro areas • Load restraint • Customer relations
• Full Time & Relief Interstate MC Drivers • HC/MC/HR North Queensland based Drivers (NQ routes only) • Local HR Pick up & Delivery Drivers – Darra, Townsville, Tully, Innisfail depots
Requirements • Current HC / MC driver’s licence • Display a commitment of WH&S • Strong work ethic reliable and punctual • Ability to work unsupervised
Our ideal candidates must have held a current licence for a minimum five years with a proven competent, safe and compliant driving history, be well presented and a great ambassador for the company. If you are looking for that change and to work for a professional company with the latest equipment, facilities and a clean modern well maintained fleet, we want to hear from you.
We are seeking those who have a strong work ethic and dedicated to working safely. OWD-QV-5163556-TS-334
Please submit your application to ben@rodpilontransport.com.au or phone Ben on 02 6882 0400
Please email resumes to recruitment@blenners.com.au
34 CAREERS & TRAINING FEATURE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Loving life on the highways
Ben McTighe worked in the yard and office of Rocky’s Own Transport before be-
coming a driver a few years ago and enjoys life on the highways.
The 31-year-old now drives a Kenworth K200 for the company which is based
at Rockhampton in central Queensland, a town known as the beef capital of Australia.
Young truckie Ben McTighe was doing some maintenance on a trailer when we caught up with him in at the BP Roadhouse in Cluden.
When Big Rigs caught up with McTighe he was parked in north Queensland. “I brought up general from Yarwun, near Gladstone, to Roseneath, near Townsville, but look like going back empty as I don’t have a backload at this stage,” he said. McTighe said he has always wanted to be a driver after working around the yard and in the office at Rocky’s Own Transport depot. “I started about six years ago and worked around the yard there and also in the office. But I wanted to be a driver and about two years ago I got my heavy vehicle licence and I am glad I did as I love the job. The company gave me support and are really good and my boss is tops,” he said. That experience gained before he got behind the wheel has stood McTighe in good stead. When we saw him in the parking area of the BP Cluden roadhouse on the outskirts of Townsville he was doing some maintenance as we yarned. “I am fixing up a trailer plug,” he said. The quietly spoken McTighe said he doesn’t really stop at many highway rest areas along the way.
“But I do like the BP Cluden Roadhouse when up Townsville way because there is lots of parking and the facilities such as showers are great and the food is fine,” he said. McTighe rates the Kenworth highly, pointing out it has only 170,000km on the clock. The first truck McTighe drove was a Kenworth and he has impressive tattoos on his arms and legs. McTighe was born in Australia and said his surname was of Irish heritage. A committed family man, McTighe will get to spend some time at home over the Christmas break with his wife and son, aged four, and daughter who is eight. We asked McTighe for his New Year’s Resolution, which was short but to the point. “Just to keep safe,” he said. Rocky’s Own Transport is a large company with more than 100 prime movers and in excess of 230 employees. The company sponsors many charities including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Queensland Cancer Fund, Leukaemia Foundation and Lights on the Hill. It is also supporting a bid by Central Queensland to enter a team in the national NRL competition.
DARYL DICKENSON TRANSPORT
Daryl Dickenson Transport is a medium sized family business who specialise in steel and container freight. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry we are a well-established business working with known and reputable companies. We have a strong emphasis on safety and our customers. We are currently welcoming applications for full time interstate MC Road Ranger licensed drivers travelling the East Coast, based out of our depot in Yatala, Brisbane. Our ideal applicants will hold a MC licence and have experience with B Doubles and Road Trains. BFM, steel and tarp experience are an advantage but training is provided as part of the job. We offer you a permanent job with a stable roster, there are no designated runs so you enjoy the flexibility of going somewhere different every week, however, we do have our regular customers that we deliver to. Being a family run business we believe a work and home balance is essential. If you are an individual that takes pride in their work and are looking for stable long term employment, we encourage you to apply for this role by applying by emailing your resume to compliance@dickensontrans.com.au.
CAREERS & TRAINING FEATURE 35
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
Glenn races to top of his field
ALWAYS passionate about heavy vehicles, Glenn Thomas originally had his heart set on becoming a diesel mechanic. Then he discovered his love of engineering, which he quickly discovered opened up the best of both worlds; indulging his passion and knack for design, and also allowing him to get his hands dirty at the same time. We caught up with the busy 28-year-old PACCAR engineer to find out more.
in the R&D department. In high school I partook in additional work experience with engineering and fabrication businesses to gain as much hands-on knowledge as I could before beginning tertiary education. While completing my tertiary studies I worked as a mechanic which allowed me to gain a good overall understanding of the practical side of how
different designs can affect the end product and the different ways that the automotive industry designs vehicles.
What’s the best part of the job at PACCAR? There is always variety in the job with new challenges and changes to work through. Being a part of the graduate program has allowed me to rotate through positions giving good exposure
and experience in a variety of different departments throughout PACCAR. By spending 12 months in each role you really get a chance to settle in and learn the job properly while working with more than just one area of the business. We are often working on new model designs, testing and modification of trucks to improve performance, exploring new manufacturing techniques
to cut costs and improve efficiency and ease of manufacturing/assembly. I am also constantly working with both local and overseas suppliers on different projects to do with almost every part of the trucks.
Out of work, we hear you are a 4 x 4 champ I have been racing for about six years now as both a driver and navigator, my most signif-
How long have you been working at PACCAR and what is your specific role there? I’ve been with PACCAR just over 3.5 years. I am currently managing the cooling system design and development + cost reduction team while also being the project manager for the recently released T410SAR. What training/study did you have to do before getting the job? I completed a four-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at RMIT with Honours. Originally, I started off doing Mechatronic Engineering before switching to Mechanical in the second year as it provided a much broader area of learning which let me focus more on Automotive as well. As a part of that I did a six-month internship at Deutz AG in Germany
icant highlights would have to be taking our first place in the 2018 Outback Challenge, as well as taking my car over to Western Australia to compete in the 2016 Ironman Adventure Challenge. I’ve also had several podium finishes within Victorian Short course winch challenge events over the last few years, and only just this weekend we finished in second place with only seconds between us and the winners of the event.
Can you adapt anything from off-roading into your role at PACCAR? While the application and sizes are very different the engineering principals behind building a race car and a truck are still the same. Racing shows how many of the parts fatigue and fail as well as what it takes to make them survive in such extreme usage conditions which helps when it comes to designing truck parts that need to last millions of kilometres in what can be very tough conditions as well.
The 4 x 4 champ has picked up a few tips and tricks from his love of car racing that he adapts to his role as a PACCAR engineer.
McColl’s
Australia’s Leading Tanker Transporters Come and Join Us! McColl’s Transport is one of Australia’s leading Tanker Transport companies, operating throughout Australia, specialising in the transportation of Bulk Food, Farm Milk and Bulk Chemicals, employing over 450 people nationally. Due to expanding business we currently have a number of vacancies across Australia with an immediate start. Whether you’re a Driver and would love to get behind one of our Kenworth or Volvo Trucks or you’re a Mechanic, servicing our stunning Fleet in one of our modern Workshops. We also have a number of Operational roles available. If you’re looking for stability in a large Australian owned, national company then working at McColl’s is for you! Depending on the role, we will provide you with many benefits including competitive rate, penalties, RDO and flexibility. We will provide you with on the job training, uniforms and a commitment to Health and Wellbeing. If you’re interested in joining McColl’s then view our vacancies on Seek.com.au or reach out to us by emailing your details to hr@mccolls.com.au with the subject heading Big Rigs. We look forward to hearing from you!
McColl’s – Systematically Better
Any messages to others thinking of following you into engineering? Do it! It’s a great career that is always interesting and has ongoing options for development. No matter what your interests are there is always a job that is a good fit. If you enjoy what you are doing it doesn’t really feel like work.
36 CAREERS & TRAINING FEATURE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Five great webinars to watch
IF there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, it’s that the online realm can help keep us together, keep us informed and keep us in the know. With many having to navigate through lockdowns, quarantine and having to do things very differently to what they were once used to, webinars have become an excellent source of knowledge and training. Here, we list some great webinars for truckies and transport operators to put on their radar. Fatigue Choices: Fatigue Flexibility – made easy During National Road Safety Week, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) ran a fatigue safety campaign, which included two webinars centred around fatigue. The ‘Fatigue Choices’ webinar is designed for transport operators and owner drivers and was livestreamed on 17 November. It discusses how easy it is to work with the NHVR to access flexible fatigue arrangements. A second webinar called ‘What’s next in fatigue management?’ was also held as part of the fatigue campaign, aimed at safety professionals, safety consultants and transport operators. Visit: www.nhvr.gov.au/aboutus/safety-campaigns/fatigue
TMC Online A free transport industry event, TMC (Technical and Maintenance Conference) went virtual this year. It was held in an online conference format on 23-24 November – but if you missed the live session, not to worry, all content will be available on the platform to those who registered for seven days, so be quick! The event included workshop ‘how to’ tutorials and demonstrations, industry updates and presentations, a celebration of industry excellence with the Castrol Vecton Awards and more. Visit: new.truck.net.au/tmc Settling the Mind: Mental Health and Coronavirus Webinar Series COVID-19 has undoubtedly impacted on our way of life – some have felt the effects more than others. In this webinar series by the Black Dog Institute, which includes five informative sessions, experts share mental health evidence and insights related to COVID-19. These webinars also highlight the resources and support available to those who need them. Topics covered include managing anxiety, checking in with your mental health, and how to help if you’re worried
about someone else’s mental health. Visit: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/settling-the-mind-mental-health-and-coronavirus-webinar-series/ Changes to Owner Driver Laws in Victoria: An Update With changes to the law covering owner drivers in Victoria
in place from May 2020, this NatRoad webinar discusses what Victorian owner drivers need to know. Alkan Munur from the Victorian Wage Inspectorate explains rights and responsibilities of owner drivers, hirers and freight brokers under the new rules; and how to make sure all involved are meeting the requirements. Visit: www.natroad.com.au/ natroad-webinars
Framework and Tools for Road Freight Access Decisions With heavy vehicle access approval conditions differing between states and local governments, Austroads commissioned a review of the heavy vehicle road access tools used in jurisdictions across Australia and New Zealand. This review, coupled with a gap analysis,
decision making framework and resource repository were proposed to assist heavy vehicle operators and road asset owners make clear and consistent road access and compliance assessment decisions. In this webinar, we hear some of the key findings and recommendations of the review. Visit: austroads.com.au/publications/freight/web-r629-20
With COVID-19, more and more webinars are making it into the online world. Here are some to put on your watchlist.
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.
Relief MC Interstate Drivers • Fatigue compliant. • 5 weeks leave. • Modern equipment & facilities. • Weekly pay cycle under Modern Drivers Award. • Large client base nationally. • Full-time position may be available. A current unrestricted MC Licence 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 drug & alcohol 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
Princess Royal is a family owned and run business located in Burra South Australia (approx. 160km north of Adelaide). There is an exciting opportunity opening in our freight division for a suitably qualified and experienced MC truck driver. This role requires a team player who is reliable, self-motivated, understands their NHVR compliance responsibilities and of course, enjoys working outdoors with cattle.
About the role
The role will suit drivers willing to be away from home for periods of time as the work consists of long-distance livestock transportation both locally and interstate. Drivers will be required to load and unload cattle, so livestock experience is preferred.
Benefits of the role: · · · · ·
Excellent earning potential Permanent & secure – Full time position Consistent and plentiful work Great team environment Annual uniform allowance
About you
This role would suit an enthusiastic individual with a can-do attitude. A successful candidate for the role must: · Hold a valid MC Licence · Provable driving experience (B-Double// Road Train) · Be willing to travel away from home for periods of time · Have experience with cattle/livestock · Have good communication skills · Have a strong work ethic · Ability to identify potential mechanical faults and defects · General Maintenance
Please include a cover letter outlining your experience and apply to hr@princessroyal.com.au
CAREERS & TRAINING FEATURE 37
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
PACCAR grad program helps Bec plot career path
LIKE a lot of high school students, Rebecca Wadlow knew what she liked – and what she was good at – but wasn’t sure how she could turn that into a career. It wasn’t until she began investigating university options with her engineer dad David that she had the light bulb moment, one that set her on course to become a design engineer at PACCAR Australia, and at the cutting edge of what our trucks will look like in the future. “It was my dad who said to me, ‘you like problem solving, you like your science, you like your math, you like figuring things out, and being creative…engineering, let’s have a look at what courses there are and go from there,” recalled Wadlow, now 31. “As soon as I found the course that I studied, which was product design engineering at Swinburne, I was like, ‘yep, this is exactly me, it’s got everything; maths, science, engineering, management, has all the business parts as well as the creative side too.” The other big turning point for Wadlow, who came from a non-trucking background, was
In a short time at PACCAR, Rebecca Wadlow has already left her stamp on some of the OEM’s top-selling models.
doing the industry-based learning phase of her studies with Cummins. That’s how she got to know about PACCAR. “I thought ‘wow, trucks are pretty cool. They’re huge and there is so much involved in them’. “As soon as I applied for a
graduate position there and had my first interview and actually had a tour of plant, I was walking through going ‘wow, yep this is the place I want to work at. This is something I want to learn; this is something I want to see; it has everything there.” During her four years in the graduate program, Wadlow ro-
ROAD TRAIN LIVESTOCK DRIVERS – 2021 SEASON Road Trains of Australia (RTA) Pty Ltd is 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 is seeking expressions of interest for casual & fulltime experienced livestock transport drivers for its 2021 season in WA, NT & QLD. 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. For more information and to express your interest for the 2021 season please send your application to hr@rta.net.au. Your application must include a detailed cover letter outlining your motivations for this position, what state/s you would be interested in (WA, NT, QLD) and an updated resume. RTA encourages and values diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.
tated through the quality team, then manufacturing/engineering, before moving on to dealer development and a sales engineering role. “Very early on I could see how important it is to know your customers and know what’s going on in that side as well as the manufacturing side,
because without customers, we don’t have any trucks to build,” she said. “I felt very lucky to be able to see so much of the business and how different things operate, and how everything works together.” Today, the design engineer works full-time at the ever-ex-
panding Bayswater plant in PACCAR’s product development/program management team. “Essentially that means working on future trucks,” said Wadlow. For obvious commercial reasons, Wadlow can’t give away specifics but said every day is different and every day she is learning something new. “It’s exciting to be able to have the opportunity and be involved and have my say in what the future should look like, and how truckies interact with our trucks. Not many people can say that.” As for her advice to others interested in following in her footsteps into the industry, Wadlow’s message is to be open to new experiences and try different things. “I wouldn’t have found PACCAR without Cummins, and the only reason I knew about them was because I put my hand up at Cummins and said I want to check out some more things. “I never thought I’d be a truckie girl, but this is where I am now and I absolutely love it.”
Drive your career
with Wagners! Wagners are one of Queensland’s largest ASX listed construction materials and mining services companies. We believe our employees are the backbone of our business and that drivers are a highly valued and integral part of the Wagners team. We currently have several exciting opportunities available across various sites throughout QLD and NT.
Remote project sites
South East Queensland
• MC Road Train Drivers
• Steel Delivery Driver
(NT, CENTRAL QLD & WESTERN QLD)
• Transport Project Manager (WESTERN QLD)
(TOOWOOMBA)
• Agitator Driver
(VARIOUS LOCATIONS)
• Agitator Driver/Loader Operator (VARIOUS LOCATIONS)
• Batchers
(VARIOUS LOCATIONS)
Interested? Please get in touch today! hr@wagner.com.au (07) 4637 7777 or 0407 736 457 www.wagner.com.au
COLUMNS 87
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JUNE 26 2020
38 PUZZLES
Sad day for all in transport
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1 Name a cylindrical rocket-launcher (7) 2 What is an altar attendant of minor rank (7) 3W hich English jockey won the Derby nine times, Lester (7)
S O N A T A S
Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
E
Down
R
SUDOKU
4 Which planet is nearest the sun (7) 5 Name the 20th letter of the Greek alphabet (7) 6W hich instrumental compositions are usually in several movements (7) 11 Who wrote Alice in Wonderland, Lewis ... (7) 12 Which Pacific republic was formerly New Hebrides (7) 13 What is propanone also known as (7) 14 W hich substance is secreted by an endocrine gland (7) 15 Name the process by which the earth is worn away (7) 16 What is an alternative term for a halo (7)
U M P S O I L E O N A U R M E O D L E
THIS article is the ending of an 11era for the 12 transport13industry with the demise of this magazine under the restructure and rationalisation of News 17 Corp. It is a sad day for all of us in the industry as Big Rigs magazine has been a part of our lives for almost 30 years. 19 For some, their entire careers so far. It will leave huge gap as the editors and staff have support21 ed the industry, provided fair and rational debate and given everyone a fair say in industry doings to all, as well as stories, pictures and news of our peoEASY ple, our trucks and our unsung heroes. Our lives will be the poorer for its demise; being a columnist for Big Rigs for the past year and half has allowed me to fulfil yet another childhood dream, to write, and it has given me great pleasure and I hope it has at least been enjoyed by some. While so many are focused on the negatives of the industry, I have tried to focus on the
3 What are prizes to be won in competitions (8) 7N ame a form of stylised exercises based on Chinese martial arts (3,3) 8W hat is a body of troops stationed in a fortified place (8) 9 What is an angle in a golf-links fairway (6) 10 Name a group of eight related items (8) 11 Which term describes a warning or caution (6) 14 N ame some nocturnal carnivores that feed chiefly on carrion (6) 17 What might we call a plasterer (8) 18 W ho created a former method of hypnosis, Franz Anton (6) 19 Name an extended musical composition (8) 20 What is a type of long, narrow pasta (6) 21 W hat descries one deserving of distinction, especially for poetic merit (8)
M I E R I C U P R Y E R O E S I O O N
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Across
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positives aspects or those issues about which I am most passionate and have a chance of making a contribution to change. I began writing column when I was returned as Transport Women Australia Limited chair in November 2017. In the interim, TWAL has had 14 many successes and 15 16 achievements. It has expanded the relationship with Girl Guides Australia and been involved with several successful projects with them, 18 the Victorian Snoozefest in April 2018, the “Great Bag Migration” for the International Jamboree in Sydney in October 2018 and other inter20 actions that are expanding the knowledge of the transport industry. We launched the Women Driving Transport Careers initiative with our partners Wodonga TAFE and Volvo Group at the 2018 TWAL Creating Connections conference. This initiative has been in hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic but all partners are excited to move forward to expand the program as soon as possible. We held a well attended and exciting conference in May 2018 and we have plans in place with the date saved and venue booked for our Driving the Difference 2021 conference
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B T A I Z D O G O K A V A E N U R A T A U
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C A R R O L L
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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Across: 3 Premiums, 7 Tai chi, 8 Garrison, 9 Dogleg, 10 Octuplet, 11 Caveat, 14 Hyenas, 17 Renderer, 18 Mesmer, 19 Oratorio, 20 Noodle, 21 Laureate.
2
Down: 1 Bazooka, 2 Acolyte, 3 Piggott, 4 Mercury, 5 Upsilon, 6 Sonatas, 11 Carroll, 12 Vanuatu, 13 Acetone, 14 Hormone, 15 Erosion, 16 Aureole.
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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS: Jacquelene Brotherton (far right) enjoys a night of celebration at a Transport Women Limited event with (from left) Rachel Hesse, Paul Fleiszig and Coralie Chapman. Picture: Contributed
in Melbourne. 1 In November 2019 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the organisation (TWAL) with 6 a fabulous gala dinner at The Windsor Melbourne where we also presented our first four winners of the Driving the7Difference scholarships with our amazing sponsor, Daimler Truck and 10Bus Asia Pacific. We also presented the inaugural Trish Pickering Mem-
13
orial 2 Award, sponsored by the 3 wonderful Wes Pickering. This was awarded for longterm outstanding contribution by a female to the road transport industry, the inaugural winner was Pam McMillan the 8 9 longest serving director and chair of Transport Women Australia Limited. This is an award and 11annual12 the recipient of the 2020 Trish Pickering Memorial Award
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will 4be announced later 5 this year at an event still to be determined. We have also launched our Learning Initiatives Breakfast Series with several partners so far, including NTI, MOVE BANK and rt health. In early 2020 the Creating Connections Mentoring program was finally ready to commence with both mentors and mentees signing up to the pro-
15
Across
gram. 1 I would Lackinglike discipline to thank the 3 Prejudice fantastic team at Big Rigs 6 Ship’sfor company newspaper their incredible support and wish 7 Precious stonethem ongoing success. 9 Young male horse thatbird I get the oppor10I hope Extinct tunity to continue to work with 11 Country some of them and so work to13 Of the moon wards making the trucking in16 Famous dustry a better appreciated, 18 aDreadful and safer place for our peo19 Strange ple.
20 Slight parody 21 Offspring 23 Electrical unit 24 Absent 25 Spoil
Fighting to end the inequality: Big 16Rigs and TWU played their parts 17 HARD
M I N O R
C R A A R T E E S O V M A
B I A S R O O L T N A D U O D D N I O L T R
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23 25 industry as dry as they can. They want operators to meet their unrealistic deadlines and take on more freight for less or they face the risk of
MOORE X
TRAILERS
PITTSWORTH PHONE (07) 4693 1088 Fax (07) 4693 1545 email: sales@mooretrailers.com.au www.mooretrailers.com.au V1 - IBRE01Z01MA
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losing their contracts and the ability to support their 19 families. It appears the government does not care. There are unsafe vehicles, dodgy licences, poor payment times, wage and superannuation theft – just a few of the many things we have called for to be stopped. A reminder to governments and the transport industry clients: the industry that has kept Australia moving during the pandemic is facing an uphill battle. Employer groups should be standing alongside transport workers to unite for a safer and fairer industry.
QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Lax, 3 Bias, 6 Crew, 7 Gem, 9 Colt, 10 Moa, 11 Iran, 13 Lunar, 16 Noted, 18 Dire, 19 Odd, 20 Skit, 21 Son, 23 Volt, 24 Away, 25 Mar.
L A C R E W G E O M O A E L U N T D I S K I T V P A W A Y
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policy that should be keeping safe one of the most dangerous industries in Australia. 18 To quote one truck driver turned Australian senator, Glenn Sterle, 20 “a death at work or on the road should not be the price of doing business”. The TWU puts it to governments that we must stop the inequality that exists between truck drivers and clients. 24must be paid proper Drivers rates, owner-drivers must be able to trust they will be paid properly for the work they do and on time. Families depend on this. Many of the ongoing problems that occur are down to the big clients squeezing our
Down: 1 Legal, 2 Awe, 4 Iron, 5 Sot, 6 Comet, 8 Minor, 9 Care, 12 Rates, 14 Unit, 15 Audit, 17 Donor, 18 Diva, 20 Spa, 22 Ova.
THIS is the end of an era, the last TWU column in the trusted transport industry publication Big Rigs. Over the years the TWU and Big Rigs have played their parts in the role of keeping the top end of town accountable and doing our bit to look out for the rights of the little guy. It’s still about the voice that speaks out for the truck driver,
the owner and the employee. It’s been the voice that calls out for fair pay for the work you do, for safety in the drivers’ cab and on the road, the voice that seeks to relieve the pressure on the driver pushed by clients’ incessant cries for increased productivity for the same rates and conditions. It is obvious we still have a long way to go – we have been through countless road, freight and transport ministers and nothing changes. Truck drivers are still dying at work. It’s a pretty safe bet to say this is due to the lack of strong government policy in place,
A final reminder to all Big Down Rigs readers: now is the time to unite, now is the time to ensure 1 Lawful equality in this industry. 2 Respectful fear we can stand on 4 Together Golf club common ground working to 5 Drunkard ensure the government contin6 toHeavenly body workues support transport 8 and Person age they ers theunder industry 9 Be concerned support. TWU will continue to 12The Scolds voice the needs 14 Single entityof transport workers to the ofemployers, 15 Examination accounts their industry bodies and the 17 Giver clients. 18Better Primastandards donna mean job 20 Mineral spring a safer security and ultimately 22 fairer Eggsindustry for all. and We can lift the standards we need together – our lives depend on it.
More Trailer For Your Money
AU
avman
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 2020
Are we being conned? COST CUTTER CHET CLINE AIR CTI founder/owner
OUR tyre experts and our government regulators are not telling us vital information, information necessary to save lives, reduce damage to driver’s health, that is costing transport tens of thousands of dollars per truck, and costing our country billions of dollars, WOMEN IN TRANSPORT while needlessly damaging JACQUELENE BROTHERTON Chair Transport Women Australia ourofworld. Why? Because they sell lots more tyres! Making billions of dollars more every year! Australia has over a million heavy truck tyres rolling on our roads, at a rough value of $400,000,000! We could reduce tyre use by 30% by using the correct tyre pressure. A further 10% THE OZ TRUCKER are ruined by uneven tyre MIKE WILLIAMS contributors@bigrigs.com.au wear and blowouts, easily saved by using a Tyre Pressure Maintenance System, or Central Tyre Inflation. A 40% savings exceeds $160,000,000 dollars every year. It gets worse: One third of all single truck fatalities are caused by steer tyre failure! We lost 171 heavy truck drivers in the last 12 months. Work related fatalities is 13 times higher than othLOBBYIST er workers. An average of STEVE SHEARER SA Road Transport Association 74,530 working weeks is lost Executive Director every year. Muscular stress and mental stress top the list. Driver stress and high vibration levels are a major cause. Whole Body Vibration is a known killer, yet our government ignores our roads and our tyre pressures. Most tyre manufacturers do little to inform transport, tyre fitters, and regulators about optimising tyre pressures. Yes, Load to Inflation tables are available on the internet, showing tyre pressures matched to the tyre load and size. But, is this information available at your tyre dealer? Does the tyre manufacturer explain matching tyre pressures to the load? Has your dealer explained this, or does
he just tell you to run 100 psi or 110 psi in all of your tyres? Tyre and rim associations also publish Load to Inflation tables, but, again, where are they? AT THE WHEEL TheMEREDITH first tyre manufacturDAVID contributors@bigrigs.com.au er also printed charts, both for Australian roads and USA roads, showing tyre tread life reducing at any pressure above the Load to Inflation recommendations. In fact, they showed a 22% tread life loss at only 20% over inflation. Who’s telling the truth? I’ll put my money on the company that invented the radial EDITOR tyre. GRAHAM JAMES james.graham@bigrigs.com.au Yet, even they won’t recommend any tyre pressures under 70 psi (heavy truck tyres)! Why not, you should ask…. The reasoning is, USA regulators class a truck tyre that is under half the ‘molded in’ maximum tyre pressure as a
flat tyre! And most heavy truck tyre maximum pressures are 130 to 140 psi! In fact, almost all truck tyre manufactures won’t recTRUCKIN’ ON THE BORDER ommend any pressure under DAVID VILE contributors@bigrigs.com.au 70 psi. Why?
TWU NEWS RICHARD OLSEN
LEGAL EAGLE ROWAN KING
TWU NSW State Secretary
Let’s look at the evidence The USA Tire and Rim Association ‘Bible’ has Load to Inflation tables that go down to 25 psi, when equipped with Central Tyre Inflation, and working at speeds under 80 kph. At 25 psi, the load can be up to 2,300 pounds (just TASSIE TRUCKIN’ over WALLIS a tonne per tyre). JON contributors@bigrigs.com.au Internal engineering papers, from one tyre manufacturer, recommends highway pressures for 110 kph highway speeds of 2 bar (29 psi) with a load of 1 tonne per tyre. Yet, no one is telling us, or the regulators. Two years ago, the USA
Technical Maintenance Council’s ‘Future Truck’ division stated that tyre pressures must match the load, for safety and profitability. Last year, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator commissioned a PBS tyre review. It recommended the following pressures for Aussie semi trailer rigs, fitted with 11R 22.5 tyres, at maximum legal weight: 120 psi steer, 75 psi tandem drive, 55 psi tri axle trailers. Has this information reached transport or tyre fitters? Nope. So, almost all of our heavy trucks are running steer tyres 20% under inflated, tandem drive tyres 33% over inflated, and trailer tyres a whopping 85% over inflated, when fully loaded. Empty, drive and trailer tyres are 300% over inflated. Do the experts care? Are they explaining this truth to you?
Does it really matter? Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) did some stopping tests, working with the NHVR several years ago. ARTSA proved that a lightly loaded semi, with the correct tyre pressure for the load, stopped 15% shorter. Last year, ARRB did some tyre performance tests for me. These proved that a 20% over inflated tyre’s slip angle increases 15%! Our trailer tyres are 85% over inflated, at best. How much do those tyres slip? How much do they wag their tails when they are empty, with 300% over inflated tyres Tyre pressure tests done in the USA proved that suspension wear and tear increased 85% with over inflated tyres. That means your suspension is being hammered 566% higher than it would be if the tyres were inflated to match the load. These over inflated tyres are
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hammering out roads into the death traps they are now. Over inflated tyres act like super balls, amplifying any road roughness, hammering our trucks and drivers into an early grave, or years of suffering. Does anyone explain the dangers of incorrect tyre pressures? Why not? Trucks with the wrong tyre pressures are harder to drive, increasing driver stress, wearing him out. Add in high vibration, poor handling, and a rough ride and it is no wonder that drivers are suffering. The tyre manufacturers and retailers are making a lot more money than they should. Optimising tyre pressures, especially with CTI, eliminates most blow outs, most uneven tyre wear, and adds at least 30% longer tyre tread life. Optimised tyre pressures increases casing life by at least 15%, saving more money.
Principal Lawyer RK Law
Tyre pressure tests done in the USA proved that suspension wear and tear increased 85% with over inflated tyres.
Optimizing Tyre Pressures is Essential if Profit is IMPORTANT AIR CTI WILL SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON EVERY TRUCK ON EVERY ROAD. • 30% LONGER TYRE LIFE • Doubles Diff and Tranny Life • Doubles Suspension Life • 50% Longer Truck Life • Less Downtime
• More Uptime • Increased Profits • Safer • Greener
Optimize Your Tyre Pressures with AIR CTI Match Tyre Pressures to the Load and the Road 100 psi in all tyres is simply WRONG
AIR CTI 03 51276128 | www.aircti.com Ring now for more information. Aussie Made
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