The General Freight Committee recently held its first meeting for 2011. This committee, which we refer to as the Engine Room, represents the largest membership division of the Association, General Freight. The meeting addressed some of the 2011 priorities:
Productivity (including Technology)
• Heavy Vehicle Road Safety dialogue with Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner, Kieran Walshe
• Freight 2011 – Sandown Safety Drive Day
• Higher Productivity Vehicles
• Electronic Work Diaries – Operational Pilot
• Heavy vehicle compliance with height restrictions in Urban Melbourne
Safety
• HV Driver Fatigue laws review
• Monitor implementation of HV speeding (COR) laws
• Liaise with Worksafe (WSV) on guidance material and OH&S regulations
•
People
• Accelerated Licence Graduation for HV drivers
• VTA Workers Compensation Committee
• Industrial Relations – Safe Rates, Safe Roads submission
Agenda – Government Regulations and policy direction
• CRRP Road Reform
• Freight Infrastructure Charge (FIC)
• Registration and Fuel Excise Annual Adjustment
• Alternative Fuels Taxation
Under general issues affecting the freight and logistics industry, the committee discussed the Victorian flood recovery process. The VTA is keen to get involved in the clean up and support the country areas. Philip Lovel will be visiting many parts of country Victoria in the next few weeks to identify where the VTA and industry can best assist.
VTA meets Top Cops
A high level delegation of VTA members yesterday met the four most Senior Victorian Police involved in road policing.
Philip Lovel AM, CEO VTA said, “We did not know what to expect. This was our first ‘get to know you session’ and we went well prepared.”
Senior industry representatives included: Paul Freestone, Freestone’s Transport; Alan Brown, Chairman VTA Long Distance/Regional Freight Group; Alan Yates, Cootes Transport; David Nash, Patrick; Simon Skazlic, K & S Freighters; Shane Falkiner, Linfox; Dennis Blaney, Cameron Interstate; Peter Anderson, Chairman VTA General Freight Committee and Border Express; Tony Miller, Fonterra Australia; Cameron Dunn, FBT Transwest; Gerard Waldron, ARRB; and Neil Chambers, VTA.
Each member present introduced their companies and commented on their particular issues.
A wide range of topics were discussed including truck bans in right hand lanes, speeding heavy vehicles, 50% increase in truck related fatalities in last 12 months, activities of police regarding repeat offenders, truck testing and poor industry performance, shortage of experienced and qualified drivers, history of the police taskforce for heavy vehicles, and tailgating of cars by trucks.
Inspector David Newton provided numerous examples of poor industry practices and what he has found whilst visiting transport companies. He particularly highlighted the lack of controls by prime contractors over subcontractors.
The police advised that they had now set up a “Road policing intelligence unit”, staffed by 25 officers. Deputy Commissioner Walshe said, “With over 700,000 commercial vehicles in Victoria, the police have a big task to ensure everyone operates safely.”
Deputy Commissioner Walshe said, “With a 50% increase in fatalities (greater for serious injuries), the special unit would be reviewing every truck accident in the past 12 months and this would provide some useful information for the police targeting.”
VTA President Paul Freestone presented a detailed list of what the police should investigate after an accident. This would enable the transport industry to assist in training our drivers and staff and advising the different sectors of the industry about their safety issues.
Philip Lovel said, “We were very pleased with the outcome of the discussions. We think Deputy Commissioner Walshe now has a much better feel for our industry. He offered to work ‘in partnership’ with the transport industry and acknowledged the good work being done by many companies.”
Further meetings will be held between the police and the VTA over the next six months.
Facts on fatalities involving heavy vehicles
1. Victoria’s road toll for 2010 was 287
2. There were 50 fatal crashes involving Heavy vehicles (not buses) resulting in 60 fatalities (& many serious injuries)
3. This represented 21% of all fatalities and was an increase of 50% over 2009.
4. Of all the 60 fatalities in 2010, 27 were in the metro area of Melbourne (35% more than 2009) and 33 were in country Victoria (65% more than 2009).
5. Prime movers/semi trailer involved 23 fatalities (38% in total)
6. Heavy rigid vehicles involved 16 fatalities (27% in total)
7. B-doubles accounted for 12 fatalities (20% of total)
Transport Industry Safety Group
The first meeting for 2011 was held on Thursday 10th February with a very interesting agenda;
The topics covered were:
• Issues with truck bans in right hand lanes
• A new COR proposal for maintenance and repairs
• Developing a new information publication on buying a tyre and rim
• Launch of the new braking Code of Practice
• Launch of the new Loading, Unloading Exclusion Zones guidelines
• Review of the 2010 truck accident statistics
• Safety Drive day at Sandown on 3rd & 4th March
• Need for a guide for installation of seats in trucks
• A report on current coroner’s findings
The VTA Over Size Over Mass Group
At a meeting on the 8th February members addressed
• The newly proposed electronic permit system
• Clarification of A & B permits
• A possible rise in bridge assessment charges particularly for heavy lifts
• Need for OSOM input into the heavy vehicle regulator process
• Issues with COR in the waterfront particularly involving the interface with the Stevedores
• Request to increase the 25m low loader length to 26 metres
Pallets
The VTA continues to work with its members and the Victorian Small Business Commissioner to address the many issues with the management with pallets.
At the present time a draft code of practice is being debated after a meeting between all parties in December 2010. A further meeting is planned for in March to consider what the parties think of the draft. We expect there is a lot more discussion to take place before we can take it back to the wider industry and the Federal Government.
Philip Lovel AM
CEO