moving freight in the urban environment – looking beyond the dollar national local roads &...
TRANSCRIPT
Moving Freight in the Urban
Environment – Looking Beyond the Dollar
National Local Roads & Transport Congress 11 July 2006
Stuart St Clair Chief Executive
Australian Trucking Association
Australian Trucking Association
• Established in 1989
• Peak representative body for trucking in Australia-a federation of state and sector associations, & major logistics companies
• Mission:
“To unite and represent a professional and safe Australian trucking industry.”
Industry Creates NationalWealth
• We are a vital industry – create wealth & improvement of national standard of living
• We represent around 3.5% of the GDP of this country (about $30b)
• Over 180,000 employees in the hire and reward business of transport & over 49,000 transport operators
• Trucking industry of world standard
ATA & Local Government
• Joined ATA as CEO in March 06
• Councillor for 12 years- 8 as Mayor
• Personal understanding of the importance of the relationship between ATA and ALGA, who are partners (with AAA & College of Road Safety) in the SaferRoads Project
Trucking Pays Its Way
• Important to recognise that trucking pays its way
• Trucking pays $1.8b for roads towards construction and maintenance expenses of just $1.62b
• All Australian Transport Ministers recently rejected National Transport Commission’s recommendations for diesel excise and registration increases in 3rd HV Charges Determination
Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
• COAG( including ALGA President) agreed at
its meeting last February: -Harmonise & reform rail and road regulation within five years -Strengthen and coordinate transport planning and project appraisal processes -Reduce current and projected urban transport congestion.. informed by review.. options for managing congestion focusing on national freight corridors
Trucking’s Challenge
• COAG also initiated Productivity Commission Inquiry into Road and Rail Infrastructure Pricing
• ATA welcomed COAG initiatives
• ATA’s Productivity Commission Submission = the further you drive, the more tax you pay, and the heavier the load the more tax you pay
Major Freight Task
• Major challenge for the trucking industry = Government forecasts Australia’s freight task will double between 2000 & 2020
• ..forecasts suggest that most of the growth will be on road, despite some shifts to rail for port shuttles Source: Twice the Task NTC 2006
• Report states that doing nothing will lead to increased road/rail congestion
Road Freight Growth
• Currently estimates are that only 9-15% of non bulk freight is contestable between road and rail
• In Australia, there are 810,000 kms of roads & about 44,000 kms of rail
• Emphasise that we are not anti rail- but it should be assisted independently of road
• We do not want increased taxes and charges on road freight operators to make rail more competitive
Local Government Roads & Transport Draft Strategy
• Agree with thrust of strategy, but reiterate trucks do pay their way
• Note strategy acknowledges need to protect freight corridors and supports more productive vehicles
• We would support local government with increased funding under Roads to Recovery and other programs such as AusLink Strategic Regional Program
Trucks
• Trucks are increasingly needed• Emissions & noise standards of
trucks have greatly improved with
ADRs eg 80/01 & 80/02• Suspension improvements led to
noise reduction• Productivity improved with B-
doubles = 30-40% increase
Safety• Trucks are not involved in 90% of fatal accidents. Where trucks are involved, two thirds are not responsible
• Australian Transport Safety Bureau = 2000-2005 reduction of 22% in fatal crashes involving articulated trucks
• NTC study ( 2006) noted 74% of drivers surveyed felt no pressure to speed & company policies were an effective compliance measure
• Safe-T-Cam in SA = 99%+ compliance for trucks over 8 months
Consultation re Freight Task
• Modern consumers demand an
increasing range of products quickly• Trucking industry plays vital role in
economic lives of communities• Need discussions with ALGA, &
through it local councils to manage & improve urban road freight
• Reiterate ATA would support Councils
obtaining AusLink funds
Challenges
-Raptour Report 2005 (Prof Kim Hassall) highlights that heavy vehicles are regulated but not LCVs and 4WDs now 2m+ which“strangle the fluidity of our freight & passenger arteries”
-Need harmonised regulation. In global economy still have differences in Australia eg NSW OH&S fatigue regulations
-Also need sensible regulation eg some fatigue regulations can increase congestion by forcing driving in peak hours
Productivity Gains
• Performance Based Standards (PBS)
- Focuses on vehicle behaviour rather than prescription for vehicle standards- NTC Steering Committee- ATA’s position
• Higher Mass Limits (HML)
- Essential for industry-AusLink - In NSW crucial role for Councils in permitting travel 100k from routes
Productivity Gains
• Industry uses cutting edge technology for vehicles such as GPS- a
productivity/management tool: can be utilised for tracking of loads etc• Intermodal terminals Important for logistics providers Rail could be used at ports• Enhanced distribution systems- may reduce trip numbers
Productivity Gains
• Also for meeting community expectations:
-dedicated freight lanes: justified by freight volumes
-lane sharing: utilised with bus & taxi lanes
-freight traffic preference periods: avoid peak times
Conclusions
• Appreciate being invited to be here today
• Essential that ALGA and ATA have a close working relationship as sector representatives
• With co-operation & understanding between local government and the trucking industry, the ever increasing road freight task can be managed to deliver better outcomes for communities
Australian Trucking Association
Thank you