Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal asks industry what issues should be focused on in 2015.
The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) has started laying the groundwork for its focus in 2015, while also announcing details on potential reforms to pay rates for truck drivers.
RSRT president Jennifer Acton has asked the trucking industry to begin submitting proposals on areas the tribunal should target next year in its third annual work program.
The prgram is deisgned to chart the RSRT’s work for the year ahead. It has previously looked into the supermarket, bulk and linehaul sectors and is currently in the middle of an inquiry into the cash-in-transit industry.
“In preparing an annual work program the Tribunal is required to consult with industry. Accordingly, the Tribunal invites written submissions from interested persons on the matters the Tribunal should identify in its third annual work program and the priority attaching to such matters,” Acton says in a written statement.
“The matters may be any or all of a sector or sectors of the road transport industry, the issues for the industry or a sector of it and/or the practices affecting the industry or a sector of it.”
Acton says submissions must be lodged with the RSRT by 4pm October 20, while the deadline for responses to submissions will be 4pm November 5.
The announcement coincides with news the RSRT will soon finalise work on pay rates for employee and contractor drivers, which is part of its second annual work program.
A number of conferences have been held on the matter where various groups have proposed fixed rates, a cost calculator, and allowances such as ‘danger money’ to account for the industry’s high injury and fatality rate.
“A final report on the outcome of the conferences is to be provided to the President of the Tribunal by 27 October 2014,” Acton writes.
She says the report will inform the tribunal’s development of any draft road safety remuneration order (RSRO), which can mandate terms and conditions throughout the trucking industry.
“Any such draft will be published on the Tribunal’s website, so that interested persons can make submissions and comments on it prior to the Tribunal deciding whether or not to make a RSRO based on the draft,” Acton says.
“Information about the conferences and proposed RSROs is available on the Tribunal’s website.”
The RSRT has issued one RSRO to date. It took effect on May 1 and mandated conditions covering payment times, contracts, safe driving plans, driver training and drug and alcohol policies.