Table of contents for Issue 333 in Owner Driver

BY THE TIME you’re reading this issue of Owner//Driver we’ll be well into National Safe Work Month with the aim of improving health and safety in the workplace. Safe Work Month has taken on greater importance in 2020 due to the repercussions of COVID-19 upon our working lives, as well as our personal and family situations. Safe Work Australia in each state are involved, but particular mention should be given to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland who are offering free virtual events, with many focusing on road transport, simply by registering on its website at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au. Live-streamed expert speakers and panels are covering topics including the ongoing health and safety implications of COVID-19; wellbeing programs; safety culture and leadership; rehabilitation and return to work; and mental health. The Workplace Health…

SUPERANNUATION has become one of the bedrocks of our society. Australia decided many decades ago that it was not good enough for there to be inequity when it came to retirement and that all Australians should have the right to retire in dignity, not just rich Australians. Transport workers were among the first to fight for superannuation and were there to defend the right to a fair retirement system when it came under attack. Our superannuation is now the envy of the world. Retired workers in most countries around the globe have to rely on a state pension, which in some cases is meagre, whereas most Australians get to retire in dignity after years of working hard for their super. Superannuation benefits workers but also is a huge boost to…

IT CAN BE overwhelming to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but the good news is that it can be managed and there is plenty of help available to show you how. You’ll have a team of people, including your GP, a credentialed diabetes educator, dietitian, podiatrist and eye specialist, who will be able to help you learn all you need to know about diabetes, treatment and management. Taking charge of diabetes doesn’t have to be a full time job, but you do have to be mindful of it 24/7. Some people can manage it through healthier eating, being more active or losing weight. But eventually most people will need medication to bring their blood glucose levels down to their target level. If left untreated, high glucose levels in your…

THE AUSTRALIAN Trucking Association (ATA) has celebrated the achievements of outstanding industry businesses and individuals, with the presentation of the 2020 National Trucking Industry Awards. Livestreamed via an online broadcast, the 2020 National Trucking Industry Awards is aimed at recognising those who have gone above and beyond to improve the trucking industry. Robert Cavanagh, MD of Cavanagh’s Transport/Stockmaster, Inverell, NSW took out the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry. “Well known in the trucking industry as an expert in livestock transport, Cavanagh has more than 35 years’ experience in the industry and is an active and committed member of state and national rural road freight transport associations,” the ATA says. “He is a strong advocate for safety, technology and animal welfare and is often recognised for his…

IN MY SEPTEMBER article I accused bureaucracy of being infatuated with technology. Actually, they are blindly paranoid with technology. All they can think of in their way to improve road safety outcomes is simply – and I mean simply in its most derogatory of connotations – by the application of technology. The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) recently devised a ‘Voice of the Driver’ campaign supposedly in an attempt to give drivers an input into proposed fatigue laws. I did the exercise. Every question had a telepathy base. Yes, each question did give an opportunity to explain why or why not, but not one suggestion asking for consideration of the merits of education. And not one question asked for suggestions of better, more realistic regulations. It hasn’t gone on blind eyes…

TOLL CHARGES for heavy vehicles across Australia continue to increase, affecting the margins of transport operators and adding to cost pressures during the current pandemic. NatRoad members have raised a number of concerns relating to the operation of toll roads, all of which are unfortunately encapsulated in the policy that will apply when the NorthConnex tunnel opens in coming weeks. Soon, most trucks travelling in the north of Sydney will no longer be able to use Pennant Hills Road unless they have a local destination. Instead, they will be required to use the NorthConnex tunnel. If they don’t, they will be fined $194. Trucks and buses (over 12.5 metres long or over 2.8 metres clearance height) which pass two gantries that will monitor the flow of traffic on Pennant Hills…

THE SPEED OF NOW PART 1 Keith Urban EMI/Universal www.keithurban.net Keith Urban continues to stretch country’s boundaries on The Speed Of Now Part 1, his 11th solo studio album. His catchy duet with pop superstar Pink on ‘One Too Many’ is a case in point, but he outdoes that with ‘Out The Cage’, a high-octane track that features hip-hop artist Breland and legendary disco-pop guitarist Nile Rodgers. ‘Superman’, with a trademark Urban guitar solo midstream, is another rapid-fire pop-rock track as he sings of Johnny, June and a ring of fire. ‘Forever’ starts of somewhat sedately, before Urban raises the bar as he reminisces but looks forward to future endeavours. There’s traces of country on ‘Ain’t Like A Woman’, and definitely on ‘We Were’, with Nashville star Eric Church adding…

Infrastructure Australia (IA) has added construction of Parkes Bypass, on New South Wales’ Newell Highway, to the Infrastructure Priority List. An upgrade of Canberra’s Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is also an added project but work at Parkes involved the nation’s thirdbusiest freight route and dovetails with the town’s rail freight and intermodal focus, made more acute by the Inland Rail project. IA explains that the NSW government’s proposed $172 million Parkes Bypass project involves a 10.5km bypass along the Newell Highway, including bridges over existing railway lines, connections to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct and upgrades to local roads. The existing highway runs directly through the Parkes town centre, which contributes to congestion and safety risks in the town and limits the ability of high performance freight vehicles to use the…

ONE OF THE more rewarding parts of my job is working with experienced drivers and operators. These are the people who’ve been in the industry for years and have a lot of knowledge to share. For these people, finding themselves in breach of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) is a particularly difficult experience. It’s hard being prosecuted for a mistake after years of doing the right thing. I’ve been reflecting on what causes good experienced drivers to find themselves on the wrong side of the HVNL. Often the common thread is that something unexpected has happened on their trip to throw out their usual routine. It could be that they left a couple of hours later than usual because their truck was in at the mechanic’s or they had…

IN MY SUBMISSIONS to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Review and Senate Inquiry into Road Transport, along with raising issues and current concerns, I have specifically asked for two things. Firstly, a national road standard so that if a national highway has a failure or deformation and does not meet the standard, then a repair must be done within a certain time. This too would apply to repairs. Any done must also meet the standard and, should they fail within a set period, be done again. How can we keep doing the job as the roads fall apart under us? How can we keep safe on the road and have our trucks kept up to a safe standard when the road has such dips, bumps and irregularities? These failures…

Letters to the Editor need to be typed or clearly handwritten and be no more than 500 words. Letters should include name, title (e.g. owner-driver, manager) and city for publication, unless otherwise requested. Letters may be edited for clarity or space. Please be concise, so we can offer more people an opportunity to express themselves. SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: gbush@bauer-media.com.au or fax: 07 3101 6619 Level 5, 451 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006 We prefer letters by e-mail, but handwritten letters will be accorded the same opportunity to be published. Wage theft In your recent edition (Owner//Driver September 2020, issue #332), Warren Clark from NatRoad alleges ‘costly award confusion’, referring to some confusion in the Road Transport Long Distance Operations Award 2010 [MA000039]. Is Mr Clark serious? The…

SLIM & I Various artists EMI Music www.slimdustymusic.com.au Slim & I is the soundtrack to the documentary of the same name, covering the life and career of Australian country music icons Slim Dusty and his wife Joy McKean. The CD version is 12 tracks shorter than the digital version, although both contain songs interspersed with various interviews. Old classics such as remastered versions of ‘When The Rain Tumbles Down In July’ and ‘Indian Pacific’ will please Dusty fans. One of his most popular songs, ‘The Biggest Disappointment’ is featured twice, both acoustically, with Troy Cassar-Daley delivering a trademark performance, followed by a surprise Missy Higgins and Dan Sultan version. There’s also tracks from Joy and Heather McKean, Bill Chambers and Darren Hanlon. A worthy tribute to the late country music…

Make no mistake, Cummins was super-keen to get its lightweight and highly responsive 500hp (373kW) X12 engine into Kenworth’s T410 model. Likewise, and equally keen to satisfy the liking of Kenworth customers for Cummins power, there were more than a few Kenworth managers and dealers anxious to see the Chinese-built Cummins offered as an alternative to Paccar’s MX-13 in the 410. There was also the hope that X12 would even find its way into Kenworth’s T360, offered alongside the Paccar MX-11 and the 8.9 litre Cummins ISL. However, it wasn’t to be and despite the impressive results of several X12 trial units – including a Kenworth T408 tipper pulling a four-axle dog trailer and a Western Star on B-double shuttles – Paccar’s US masters delivered an emphatic ‘No!’ and that…

IVECO TRUCKS AUSTRALIA has announced that it has been advised by Navistar, manufacturer of International Trucks, of the cessation of global production of the ProStar range. This will come into effective in December this year. While left hand drive model replacements are in development, Iveco says it has been advised that the extensive validation and engineering investment necessary to make these vehicles available in right hand drive, for what is a limited number of lower volume markets, means that these replacement vehicles will not become available in Australia. However, while Iveco Trucks Australia’s position as distributor of new International trucks will cease at the end of the ProStar’s production, it says it remains committed to supporting all existing ProStar customers through its nationwide International dealership network. Iveco states that will…

THE PAYMENT Times Reporting Bill has now passed through parliament. You may not have noticed, because for ownerdrivers the bill offers no significance. This was an opportunity for the federal government to fix one of the most common bugbears in our industry by enforcing 30-day payment terms. Instead, they’ve passed a bill that simply requires companies that have turnovers greater than $100 million – so likely only around 3,000 companies across Australia – to report their average payment times twice yearly. The bill is not worth the paper it’s written on. However, what is worth noting – for when elections come around – is that the Liberal and National parties voted against amendments put forward by the Opposition that would have secured 30-day payment terms, and fines for late payers.…