|
|
| MORE INDUSTRY NEWS...
|
|
10 Mar 2010 | Truck drivers must not be allowed to ignore basic job roles such as loading and unloading vehicles, IR commissioner says...
more
|
|
|
10 Mar 2010 | Name likeness to failed company causes rumours to circulate about the demise of one of the nation's largest trucking operators...
more
|
|
|
10 Mar 2010 | RACQ calls for upgrades to Queensland highways after inspection reveals a host of road hazards...
more
|
|
|
21 May 2009 | Toll fined $220,000 for OHS breach, as judge tells trucking industry to lift its game...
more
|
|
|
28 Nov 2008 | Sub-contractor responsible for workplace death, despite incident happening at Star Track Express depot...
more
|
|
|
12 Sep 2008 | Fletcher International Exports convicted and fined almost $50,000 over chain of responsibility breaches...
more
|
|
|
| MORE TECHNICAL NEWS...
|
|
10 Mar 2010 | Isuzu is leading the way as the truck industry works hard to overcome the perceived dirty image of trucks belching ...
more
|
|
|
09 Mar 2010 | Truck market continues rebound from slow 2009, according to new data on monthly deliveries for February...
more
|
|
|
09 Mar 2010 | Hino launches automatic dump truck that can be driven on car licence in what is an Australian first...
more
|
|
|
06 Aug 2008 | New truck sales drop dramatically as European manufacturers take advantage of emissions standards....
more
|
|
|
04 Aug 2008 | Iveco's Sydney Truck Show stand showcases product line-up and reflects commitment to ‘going the distance’....
more
|
|
|
13 Aug 2008 | Gosford City Council is using one of the latest Isuzu trucks to help it win the war on pollution...
more
|
|
|
| RELATED STORIES...
|
|
04 Mar 2010 |
Government plan to restrict trucks on Victoria's freeways may raise significant compliance issues, according to VTA ...
more
|
|
|
04 Mar 2010 |
Victorian Opposition Ted Baillieu says the “choice of roads” to be included in the new truck exclusion lane policy are a “recipe for disaster” ...
more
|
|
|
15 Feb 2010 |
Lindsay Fox pushes black box recording in trucks, leading to claims the technology will be accelerated ...
more
|
|
|
28 Sep 2009 |
E-DIARY DEBATE: "No drivers left" if electronic monitoring introduced, industry veteran warns ...
more
|
|
|
10 Nov 2008 |
Federal Government to face pressure to legislate trucking rates, while industry "ignored" link between pay and safety ...
more
|
|
|
25 Sep 2009 |
Scaremongering over IAP must stop, the VTA's Neil Chambers says. The issue is about road access ...
more
|
|
|
| COMMENTED STORIES...
|
|
10 Mar 2010 | Name likeness to failed company causes rumours to circulate about the demise of one of the nation's largest trucking operators...
more
|
|
|
10 Mar 2010 | RACQ calls for upgrades to Queensland highways after inspection reveals a host of road hazards...
more
|
|
|
02 Apr 2009 | Truck driver's push to curb use of fog lights pays off, with stricter standards to catch culprits blinding drivers...
more
|
|
|
09 Nov 2009 | TWU launches legal action against K&S Freighters in a move that could set a precedent for trucking companies...
more
|
|
|
28 Sep 2009 | E-DIARY DEBATE: "No drivers left" if electronic monitoring introduced, industry veteran warns...
more
|
|
|
29 Jan 2010 | Grain haulage sector “rife” with loading breaches, according to advisory firm, as lack of weighbridges threatens to bring operators unstuck...
more
|
|
|
|
Governments have sacrificed the chance to use fatigue management to drive optimal safety outcomes because of their “messy” approach to the new laws, the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) claims.
VTA Chief Executive Phil Lovel has criticised the states’ approach to fatigue management, which has led to cross-border inconsistencies and some states enforcing the laws despite the fact no legislation or regulation has been agreed to.
According to Lovel, governments’ rush to enforce laws in the face of an unprepared bureaucracy and industry has created a sub-optimal safety outcome.
Lovel says many operators have merely tried to do the minimum to comply by September 29 because they did not have enough time to devote resources to delivering the best fatigue mitigation measures.
He says governments should have given the industry up to 12 months to move to the new laws from the date they were agreed to in order to give operators time to adjust.
“The implementation phase is not ideal, with many pieces of information and changes to regulatory and administrative processes still dribbling out from governments right up to the implementation date, and, it would appear, beyond that date,” Lovel says.
“As a result, what we are finding is that many transport operators are concentrating only on what they need to do as a minimum to comply, to fall over the line if you like.”
Because of this, Lovel says the industry “must mark a spot in the sand on this” and demand of governments from now on that any measures passed must be accompanied by sufficient preparation and implementation time.
“In future, give industry at least nine to 12 months clear air to plan for and implement the reform after governments have signed off on the legislative and administrative changes, particularly when there are multifaceted issues involving people, changes to operational and administrative system and training,” Lovel says.
This, Lovel claims, will give operators the chance to absorb what is expected of them.
In the meantime, he says industry groups must work with state road agencies as well as the National Transport Commission (NTC) to monitor fatigue management implementation “and work diligently to smooth processes during the first 12 months at least”.
Lovel also wants a cooperative approach regarding educative enforcement practices.
“Because the industry has been squeezed out of sufficient time for implementation, and multiple transitional arrangements are adding to confusion about the legal requirements, many well-intentioned operators and drivers will be caught short,” Lovel says.
But he warned the VTA will be aware of this and will defend and support anyone who it deems is unduly punished.
Victorian operators have been the hardest hit under fatigue management, as the Brumby Government ruled out a transition phase to the new regime unlike NSW, Queensland and South Australia.
Fatigue management laws aim to increase accountability in the supply chain by holding all those involved in the delivery of goods responsible for managing driver fatigue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
|