The National Transport Commission (NTC) is being told to focus on current regulations rather than working to introduce new policies. The
The National Transport Commission (NTC) is being told to focus on current regulations rather than working to introduce new policies.
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has used the news of the NTC’s new board appointments to call on the organisation to deliver on national reforms that have been promised but not yet delivered.
ATA Chairman Trevor Martyn has listed six reforms he says require immediate attention, which include fatigue laws, a comprehensive system of rest areas, greater access for higher mass limits vehicles, a national B-triple network linking east coast capitals, a single body to decide on performance based standards and measures to encourage operators to join TruckSafe.
“The commissioners must not get carried away by the discussions about new thinking for transport. The first step towards fixing the transport system is to carry out the existing reforms properly,” Martyn says.
“The trucking industry carries 75 per cent of Australia’s freight, but we can’t do our job efficiently because of the shambolic regulations imposed by the state and territory governments.
“They all agreed to reform their road transport regulations, but the only reform they pursued with any diligence was to slug the industry with higher registration charges.”
The ATA will be expecting the NTC to deliver on reforms, with Martyn saying all commissioners have a strong background in transport policy.