ALC to push logistics code as answer to NTC’s call for corporate sector to play greater role in road safety
By Brad Gardner | August 8, 2011
The Australian Logistics Council will promote a voluntary code of conduct in its response to a proposal for the corporate sector to play a greater role in road safety.
The National Transport Commission’s A Corporate Approach to Road Safety Discussion Paper, released last week, calls on business to provide feedback on how the sector can work cooperatively with government to reduce road deaths and injuries.
“ALC will be making a submission and will take the opportunity to promote the National Logistics Safety Code (NLSC) as the approach by corporate Australia,” the group says in its newsletter to its members.
The voluntary code of conduct, which was developed by the ALC, lists responsibilities for all parties involved in the freight task.
It covers chain of responsibility, time slot management, scheduling, safe loading, occupational health and safety laws, fatigue management, speed compliance and vehicle safety.
Signatories include some of the industry’s biggest players, such as Coca-Cola, Big W, Metcash, National Foods, Toll, Linfox, Ron Finemore Transport, Greenfreight and Lindsay Transport.
The NTC wants the corporate sector to propose how it can work with government to achieve the goals of the National Road Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce road deaths and injuries in Australia by 30 percent between 2011 and 2020.
NTC Chairman Greg Martin says the organisation is committed to assessing the feasibility of a national program, which might include codes of practice and auditable safety programs.
The NTC discussion paper, which will be subjected to public consultation sessions, lists existing practices that could be drawn on to create a national framework, including the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme and TruckSafe
“The NTC is seeking information on what private sector organisations can and are willing to do to contribute to meeting the National Road Safety Strategy targets,” the group says.