Transcript The Future of Road Infrastructure Chris Althaus CEO ATA

Carrying the Freight:
The Trucking Industry Perspective
13 June 2007
Stuart St Clair
Chief Executive
Australian Trucking Association
Australian Trucking
Association
• Established in 1989
• Peak representative body for trucking in Australia
•
A federation of state and sector associations and
major logistics companies
• Our mission:
“To unite and represent a professional and safe
Australian trucking industry.”
Industry Creates National
Wealth
• An essential industry. We create wealth &
improvement of national standard of living
• We represent around 3.4% of the GDP of
Australia. Around $30 billion.
• Over 180,000 employees in the hire and reward
business of transport & over 49,000 transport
operators. More than 250,000 people engaged in
supporting industries
• Trucking industry of world standard
Major Freight Task
• The doubling of the freight task a major
challenge for the trucking industry
• Government forecasts Australia’s road freight
task to more than double between 2000 and
2020, Source: BTRE Report 112, 2006
• Doing nothing will lead to increased congestion
on road and rail networks
Road Freight Growth
• Current estimates show only 9-15% of non bulk
freight is contestable between road and rail
• In Australia; about 810,000 kms of roads & about
44,000 kms of rail
• ATA supports a competitive rail industry, assisted
independently of road
• We oppose increased taxes and charges on road
freight operators to make rail more competitive
Trucking Pays Its Way
•
Trucking more than pays its share in Australia
•
Trucking pays $1.8b for roads towards
construction and maintenance expenses of just
$1.62b
•
The industry faces a new heavy vehicle charges
determination
•
New pricing system to be implemented by July
2008
Trucking Industry’s Challenge
• The federalist system of government
• COAG initiated Productivity Commission Inquiry
into Road and Rail Infrastructure Pricing
• ATA’s Productivity Commission Submission:the
further you drive, the more tax you pay, and the
heavier the load the more tax you pay
• Focus needs to be on safety and getting the
freight task accomplished. More flexibility
driving/work/rest
Safety
• Trucks are not involved in 90% of fatal accidents.
Where trucks are involved, two thirds are not the
responsibility of the truck driver
• Australian Transport Safety Bureau figures:
2000-2005 reduction of 22% in fatal crashes
involving articulated trucks
• National Transport Commission study ( 2006)
noted 74% of drivers surveyed felt no pressure to
speed & company policies were effective
Council of Australian
Governments (COAG)
• COAG, a council formed by state premiers and
the federal government agreed last February to:
– Harmonise & reform rail and road regulation
within five years
– Strengthen and coordinate transport
planning/project appraisal processes
– Reduce current and projected urban transport
congestion… informed by review… options for
managing congestion focussing on national
freight corridors
Productivity Gains
•
Productivity improved with B-doubles = 3040% increase
•
Intermodal terminals Important for logistics
providers
•
Higher Mass Limits Network (HML)
In a country the length and breadth of Australia,
HML network is:
–
Essential for industry
–
Uniformity among states is crucial
Productivity Gains
• Industry uses cutting edge technology for
vehicles such as GPS management tools; needs
to be convinced re Intelligent Access Program
(IAP)
• IAP needs to be used for productivity rather than
as a punitive device
• Linking of IAP to the HML in NSW
is a new requirement
• Auslink
Productivity Gains
• Need for productive vehicles;
• B-Triples, quads, double road
trains.
Employment Challenges
• National skills shortage in Australia has affected
the trucking industry
• Data shows the average truck driver in Australia is
52 years of age
• Harsh enforcement
• We are struggling to replace the natural attrition
Solutions?
• Promote our industry. A great career in an
attractive industry
• More programs in schools
• Should also attract mature workers
eg Ready for the Road
• Limited scope in overseas recruitment & likely
costs $15000+
Conclusions
•
Appreciate being invited today
•
Close relationship with your association
•
Many common fronts where industry can
relate.
•
There needs to be more opportunities to meet
in a spirit of cooperation; relationships need to
be fostered and grown
Australian Trucking
Association
Thank you