Australia’s transport ministers have agreed to recommend to COAG there should be a new national truck regulator by 2013.
The regulator would be responsible for all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, with a commitment to improving safety and preserving local productivity initiatives.
The Chairman of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), Trevor Martyn, welcomes the decision, but warns there will need to be extensive consultation with trucking operators and industry associations.
“The ATA believes there needs to be a single, easy to use body of law that clearly covers the field for road transport," Martyn says.
"National regulations and a single national regulator have the potential to be an essential safety initiative, with efficiency improvements for regulators and operators.”
On the safety front, Trevor Martyn says the plan could deliver.
"It will make laws easier to understand and here will be a better understanding of the rules within industry, leading to greater compliance and seamless chain of responsibility laws that are fully operational across borders," he says.
"Imlementing a regulator will contribute to more consistent on-road enforcement; the introduction of modern, safer vehicle configurations; and more opportunity for industry leadership in adopting leading edge safety aids."
“However, operators, drivers and our customers need to be able to more forward without losing their existing productivity and access arrangements and other benefits," Martyn says.
“In particular, it needs to be remembered that most of the trucking industry does not operate across state borders and will not directly benefit from national heavy vehicle regulations.
"These companies will only benefit if the uniform regulations are easier to understand and follow. Any change must not disadvantage their operations, while promoting similar positive outcomes for interstate operators and national companies who operate on intrastate routes.
“It also needs to be understood that many of the benefits of a single national regulator and a national body of regulations will only emerge when safer, high productivity truck combinations like B-doubles and B-triples can be used on more of the road network,” he says.
Trevor welcomes the transport ministers’ acknowledgement there are many issues of principle and detail to be worked out.
“The Australian, state and territory governments will need to consult closely with the state and sector trucking associations and the ATA," Martyn says.
"These bodies are the ones that can draw in owner-drivers, as well as with interstate operators, intrastate operators and national companies to make sure the proposal delivers better safety and less red tape for the whole trucking industry.”
Contact your ATA member organisation for a fact sheet setting out the details of today's ATC decisions.