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Future Leaders Forum takes message to capital

Rest areas, ATSB and mandatory stability control the main points

 

Participants in the 2018 Daimler Truck and Bus Future Leaders’ Forum have raised key trucking industry issues with Australian politicians in lobbying meetings. 

The Daimler Future Leaders were hosted by government and opposition MPs at Parliament House in Canberra, raising the importance of improving truck rest areas, establishing safety focused crash investigations and introducing the mandatory fitting of electronic stability control in heavy vehicles.

“The industry needs a new generation of leaders to deal with the issues of today and address the challenge of technological disruption,” ATA chair Geoff Crouch says.

“The trucking industry needs better rest areas, safer vehicles and more knowledge about the causes of crashes to ensure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day, and the ATA is proud to work with such promising participants.” 

The ATA says the meetings centred on safety and solutions to the three key issues:

  • further action is required to increase the quantity, capacity and quality of driver rest areas to reduce rates of driver fatigue and ultimately fatality rates.
  • the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) be empowered to provide independent, no blame, safety investigations for road crashes involving heavy and autonomous vehicles
  • the ATA has called for the mandatory fitting of stability control to all new trucks and trailers, with only limited exemptions.

“A great initiative with participants attending from far and wide,” federal infrastructure minister Michael McCormack tweets after the meeting.

“The future of Australia’s trucking industry is in safe hands.”

As part of the Forum, participants will each undertake a leadership project focused on an industry issue, with many developing potential solutions to the key items discussed in the lobbying meetings which will then be presented at Trucking Australia 2018.

During the Forum, participants are taking part in developmental workshops delivered by head of the School of Politics and International Relations at the Australian National University, Dr Andrew Banfield, well-known journalist and media director of Ogilvy Public Relations Anne Fulwood and Wisdom Learning CEO Rod Hattch.

“Daimler is thrilled to be part of such an invaluable program that allows participants to work so closely with politicians and gain valuable industry insight from expert mentors,” Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific president and CEO Daniel Whitehead says

Crouch also notes the important role ATA member associations have played in the Forum’s success.

“It is wonderful to have such high engagement from our member associations in developing leaders. It is clear to see each participant represents their employer and member organisation with pride,” he says.

 

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