Geoff Crouch wants to use his position to fix problems with national heavy vehicle regulations.
Ron Crouch Transport Managing Director Geoff Crouch and Speedie Contractors Director Tim Knowles are the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) new vice chairs.
The ATA board elected the pair to the positions last night.
Crouch, who has been involved with the ATA for a year, says he wants to help the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) get its procedures back on track.
“We need to do whatever necessary to work with the ATA and regulator to get the regulator right for the future of the industry,” Crouch says.
“The potential benefits are immense but we’ve got to get it right.”
Crouch says all parties must work together on the issue and “stop protecting their patch”.
He has highlighted the effect the NHVR’s inability to process heavy vehicle permits has had on the industry.
The failures prevented many operators from delivering freight, left trucks stranded and cost businesses significant time and money.
“It’s heartbreaking for those hit hard because this is their livelihood, and something that should be so simple [as] issuing a permit should not be a make or break issue as far as businesses and financial viability is concerned,” Crouch says.
“It should be straight forward.”