ATA: Reset required for road freight

The peak body’s 2022 Election Policy Charter calls on the next Federal Government to urgently update its approach to road safety and productivity

As the days to the next federal election count down, the Australian Trucking Association is calling upon the next Federal Government to reset the national approach to heavy vehicle road safety and productivity, outlining numerous proposals in its 2022 Election Policy Charter.

While the ATA points out that significant gains have been made in safety, productivity and infrastructure over the three decades in which the body has been in existence, it says a wide range of further changes are urgently required to keep the industry on track in a rapidly changing environment.

Time to take stock

“The ATA is concerned that safety and productivity outcomes are stagnating,” writes ATA Chair, David Smith, in the introduction of the ATA’s 2022 Election Policy Charter.

“COVID has forced the nation to review our supply chains for goods and services. For the transport industry, this has been challenging and frustrating.

“As Australia heads into the next federal election, the ATA believes the relationship between this industry and government needs to be reset. The ATA supports an engaging, collaborative and positive relationship in the national interest. This needs a focus on outcomes.”

A smarter approach

The policy charter calls on the next government to address a wide range of issues under three broad themes: People (safety, safe roads, safe vehicles, safe speeds), Viability (productivity, the HVNL, road user charges, and recruitment, retention and training), and Future (technology and harmonising technical regulation).

The ATA has made a total of 56 recommendations in the charter, the body also outlining a timeline for the preferred rollout of the implementation of the changes from 2022 to 2025.

Here’s a selection of the major ATA policy recommendations:

Safety

Setting a target of a reduction of heavy vehicle accidents by 25 per cent per year
The Australian Government to fund and operate all major freight routes
An additional 10-year, $5 billion truck roads and rest area program to bring the road network into line with the national standards
Full expensing for trucks and trailers to encourage the purchase of new, safer equipment, with a view to reaching a target of 90 per cent of the fleet being less than 10 years old by 2025
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau to conducting no-blame safety investigations of truck crashes where there are lessons to be learned
Maximum 100km/h speed limit everywhere in Australia
Mandatory medicals for all heavy vehicle drivers against fit-for-purpose medical standards
A freight infrastructure delivery champion attached to Infrastructure Australia
A national map of freight infrastructure gaps
The Euro VI emission standard or the equivalent US/Japanese standards for new trucks
A purchase incentive for zero-emission trucks

Productivity

Define vehicle access on the Australian Government funded network to include combinations up to 53.5 metres, such as A doubles and type 2 road trains
Reduce the number of access permits that need to be lodged by 95 per cent by July 1, 2025
The HVNL to be a collaborative model between customers, government and industry
The elimination of dumb red tape within the HVNL
Keep increases in truck road user charges close to expected CPI
Lock truck charges in for each three-year pricing period, so businesses can manage their cash flows, quotes and customer expectations
Better facilities to attract more women drivers
Encourage greater diversity, including women, first peoples and migrants
Competency-based training and ‘blended’ apprenticeships with specialist modules
Better government funding for training initiatives
Protecting drivers from pernicious law ‘enforcement’

Technology

Adopt new technology and proven fatigue management systems
Adopt electronic documentation and electronic notifications
Abolish urban curfews for zero emission trucks
Invest in zero emission truck recharging and refueling infrastructure, with a focus on back to base depot facilities and freight routes
Set a zero-emission truck sales goal of 30 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040
Introduce an annual maintenance program for the Australian Design Rules and vehicle standards, which should include the removal of duplicated provisions Z Consolidate rules and standards into single resources Z Introduce reciprocal recognition of roadworthiness inspections

In outlining its timeline for the recommendations, the ATA is calling for a ‘freight infrastructure delivery champion’ to be appointed by June 30, 2022; heavy vehicle access permits to be reduced by 75 per cent by March 31, 2023; the Euro VI or equivalent emissions standard to be mandated for new trucks by January 1, 2024; and 90 per cent of Australia’s truck fleet to be less than 10 years old by December 31, 2025.

Click here to view the full ATA 2022 Election Policy Charter.