Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 311 i Owner Driver

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR – a time to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. That’s what you may recall the situation being in years gone by. Nowadays, the build-up to the festive season can be fraught with anxiety, panic and, possibly, calamity. Businesses start slowing down, preparing to send their employees off for a week or two’s break. Not so much for the road transport industry though. While the traditional role of Australia Post may have diminished over the years (many Christmas greetings are now sent by email), the burgeoning parcel delivery system has proved a boon for the trucking industry, especially medium to light commercials. Many Australians undertake their Christmas shopping online. Easier to look at the screen and press a few buttons, rather…

MINIMUM 30-DAY payment terms are a must for the road transport industry, which is characterised by tight margins, according to the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad). But it wants more than a probe into the issue. The statement comes in response to a government agency’s pledge to shine a spotlight on large firms exploiting smaller ones through late payments. “[The] Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s [ASBFEO’s] review of payment times can help by providing SMEs better and easier access to capital helping them sustain their business, which is why NatRoad is supportive of the review,” NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says. “Whilst we welcome the recent announcement, to measure the effects of late or extended payment practices on the cash flow of small businesses and family enterprises in Australia,…

Last month, NatRoad in this publication said if the “TWU has knowledge of drivers who are being forced to drive long hours while fatigued and to skip their rest breaks then they should report this behaviour to the authorities because the new Chain of Responsibility laws have massive penalties and must be enforced”. This statement is so out of step with what is happening on the ground it is almost laughable. NatRoad seems to think drivers being pushed to drive fatigued is an unusual occurrence, something that might be sorted out with a simple phone call and by invoking the almighty Chain of Responsibility laws. The truth, as anyone who works in the industry or talks to drivers would know, is that every day drivers all over the country are…

I SIT HERE WRITING this column on the day that marks the 100th year since the cessation of the war to end all wars. On top of that, during a recent evening, I was advised that a dear friend has had his family summoned to say their last goodbyes. The mind has been in better places. I have seen a few comments recently that have caused me to raise my eyebrows. The Federal Government has pledged a bag of money to have Rockhampton bypassed by through traffic – especially beneficial for heavy vehicles. The reported explanation of benefits provided was a reduction in congestion, less pollution and more time for local families to spend together. But the point that really attracted my attention was the comment that through traffic heavy…

Drinks: Instead of reaching for sugary soft drinks, sports or energy drinks, refuel with water, sparkling water, tea, a small carton of plain milk or occasionally coffee. Snacks: Instead of reaching for a bag of lollies, crisps, ice cream or chocolate, refuel with a piece of fruit, a snack pack of trail mix, air popped popcorn, bliss ball, yoghurt tub, dried chickpea/fava bean snack. Meals: Instead of reaching for pies, sausages rolls, hot chips, cheesy pizza, refuel with wholegrain or rye sandwich, roll or wrap filled with protein and salad/veg, salad, brown rice sushi, rice paper rolls and roast dinners. “You can enjoy fruit and unsweetened dairy on your daily menu.”…

TOORADIN TRUCK SHOW & TRACTOR PULL January 19, 2019. Rutter Reserve, Tooradin, Vic. The Tooradin Tractor Pull & Truck Show has been a annual event since 1998, growing into a fabulous family day. It is a non-profit event run by a committee of local community people putting all proceeds back into local clubs, schools and various charities. Truck show runs from 10am to 6pm. No BYO. Adults $35, kids $10, family $85. Strictly no dogs. For Truck Show inquiries phone Ashley Gorton on 0408 191 626 or for general enquiries email Allyn Reeve at allyn@reevetransport.com.au. Or see the website at www.tooradintractorpull.com.au LIVESTOCK, BULK AND RURAL CARRIERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE February 21-23, 2019. Griffith, NSW An annual gathering of fellow truckies, government, suppliers and industry representatives to discuss the challenges in road…

NOTHING WORSE than pulling up to the speaker and asking for a 30 cent cone, just to be told they cost 60 cents. Who knew? Has the cost of handing over a rather small whipped ice-cream gone through the roof? How many 30 cent cones, oops sorry, 60 cent cones, can you fit in the back of a pair of B-double tautliners? (Oh, and never mind how we are supposed to hold them down securely.) Have things gone up in price that much across the board? With the whole $1 milk debacle, surely the white bit has got cheaper? The elephant in the room is, everything has gone up. I’d hate having to mention electricity, gas, private health and anything else you care to think of, but we continually see…

THE NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR (NHVR) has released the final National Compliance and Enforcement Policy (NCEP), which outlines how agencies should tackle high-risk behaviour and non-compliance in the heavy vehicle industry. With Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) enforced by several different agencies across Australia, the document is designed to guide a more streamlined approach to enforcement. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says heavy vehicle operators and the broader road transport industry can expect improved targeting of compliance activities by law enforcement agencies as they operate across state borders. “Our transport enforcement agencies directly interact with heavy vehicle drivers and operators more than 320,000 times a year and today the NHVR has released a policy, which outlines how those interactions will be more targeted and risk-based. “The NHVR already undertakes heavy vehicle…

Paccar Australia called on industry partners to assist drought-affected Aussie farmers doing it tough, donating a total of $116,000. “We are grateful to the dealers and suppliers in our extended Kenworth Family network who responded to our recent call for donations to the cause through the collaboration between Rotary Australia and the National Farmers Federation Appeal,” Paccar Australia said in an announcement. Paccar thanks Assemco, Brown and Watson International, Gilbert & Roach Kenworth DAF Huntingwood, Gilbert & Roach Kenworth DAF Newcastle, HELLA Australia, Heavy Automatics, Hilton Manufacturing, Rae-Line, Suttons Kenworth DAF Arncliffe and Zinc for direct contributions to the combined fundraising effort. “We would also like to recognise the efforts of our Paccar employees who enthusiastically participated in a variety of fundraising activities to add to the total donation.”…

AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS. Another year older and, you may well say, little achieved. We continued our Truck That Australia videos to good comments and some watching, but not enough and perhaps, not the ones we needed to see them. Then we started the Truck That Australia Drivers Club and many said they would get involved. It took far longer to set up than I had hoped, work getting in the way again. While we have some members, there’s not enough to make the difference we all want. We asked as the club for a withdrawal and/or review of Safe-T-Cam fines. Those who sit inches off the back of another truck to try and avoid the camera, or run off hills at 120km/h plus, etc., only fuel the fires…

ARE YOU TIRED, worn out, overworked? Do you have enough energy to stop and say, “No, I will not stand for it anymore, I’m tired?” According to the Transport Accident Commission, drowsy driving is suspected to be a primary cause in more than 20 per cent of road fatalities. Most fatigue-related accidents occur during regular sleeping hours, and the more severe the crash, the more likely it is that the driver or drivers were fatigued. Fatigue is a possible factor in almost one-third of single-vehicle crashes in rural areas (www.tmr.qld.gov.au). Unfortunately, a lot of people think fatigue is only a problem for long-distance drivers, but it is also relevant for short-distance drives. You don’t generally become fatigued just from driving. Usually, they are other factors that come into play, such…

DIONYSUS Dead Can Dance [PIAS]/Inertia www.deadcandance.com New releases from Australian duo Dead Can Dance (Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry) have been few and far between. After putting out eight albums between 1981 and 1996, the pair disbanded, before reuniting for 2012’s Anastasis. Dionysus is their first album since and again they embrace the music of the world, with particular emphasis on the Middle East. Added sound effects such as beehives, bird calls and a Swiss goatherd augment the swirling instrumentation, as well as Gerrard’s occasional haunting vocals. Dionysus is primarily two lengthy tracks, the first split into three sections (‘See Borne’, ‘Liberator of Minds’ and ‘Dance of the Bacchantes’). The second “act” contains ‘The Mountain’, ‘The Invocation’, ‘The Forest’ and the chilled-out finale, ‘Psychopomp’. Not a road album, this should…

Anecdotal evidence is that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the significant outcomes of SBT. Others include shame and depression and sleeplessness. The ripple effects can include financial pressures on truck drivers’ families if the drivers seek a recovery break or if they leave the industry altogether, and this is true of PTSD from any source. Toll classifies all fatalities are as Significant Safety Incidents or SSIs. “They require thorough investigation. All drivers involved in fatalities or other serious incidents are required to debrief and are offered counselling and assistance, either through the Toll Chaplaincy or the Employee Assistance Program,” Toll Group general manager road transport safety and compliance Dr Sarah Jones says. Toll’s in-house counsellor is Ruth Oakden. A senior chaplain, Oakden is also group manager for wellbeing,…

RECENT TRUCK DRIVER deaths on Australian roads have led to renewed calls to treat truck-crash fatalities as workplace deaths to widen the scope of investigations. Currently, road deaths involving commercial heavy vehicles are mainly considered as road accidents, which contribute to the road toll but are not considered ‘worksite’ deaths and hence may not warrant prosecutions under industrial law. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) reinforces a widely held view that trucks and roads still count as a driver’s place of work. “There is a fundamental problem with the way the deaths of truck drivers are dealt with,” TWU national secretary Michael Kaine says. “Firstly, many are not classified as workplace deaths, despite the fact that the roads are drivers’ place of work and the hazards are enormous. “Secondly, deaths of…

IN MAY 2018 the Australian Government released a report on the Inquiry into National Freight and Supply Chain Priorities that identifies 54 actions to inform the development of a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy (the National Strategy). The actions are focused on the following areas: • An integrated approach, including cross-border planning and harmonisation • Measurement of freight performance • Planning for current and future needs, including protecting freight corridors • Delivering the priorities, including investing in road and rail infrastructure, improving regional and remote supply chain resiliency and accelerating access to key freight routes by B-doubles and other combinations • Communicating the importance of freight. One of the actions recommends that all states and territories have a freight strategy with clear links to the National Strategy and associated…

CARBS ARE ALWAYS a popular talking point, but with so much noise out there it can be tricky to untangle fact from fiction. Here I’ll set the record straight and bust some common carb myths to point you in the right direction. MYTH 1: CARBS CAUSED THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC As much as we’d love to place the blame somewhere, the obesity epidemic can’t be explained by carbs alone. The research consistently shows a high carb calorie controlled diet doesn’t cause weight gain – it’s far more complicated than carbs. What we do know is that eating healthy carbs, in the right amount for you, actually has a whole host of health benefits like feeding our friendly gut bacteria, reducing short and long-term illness, as well as boosting our mood and…

MOUNTAINS OF GOLD Karen Craigie ButtercupRecords www.karencraigie.com Mountains Of Gold is the third album for Sydney singer-songwriter Karen Craigie, who has worked in various areas of the music industry around the world. These 10 tracks cover the subjects of life, love and adventure. ‘Bottom Line’, a song about repetitive arguments, was written with the help of her young son; ‘Little Heartbreaker’ is a mid-paced country rock song worthy of widespread airplay; and ‘Happy Ending’ is a twangy guitar-based track that wouldn’t be out of place in a spaghetti western. But the alarming title of ‘Kill Me Now’ is not indicative of the song’s lyrics, although it is about a bad breakup. Craigie’s vocals have an honest quality, the songs are well crafted and the album deserves high honours. INTERSTATE GOSPEL…