Trucking industry congratulates Coalition on election victory

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has today congratulated Scott Morrison on leading the Coalition to an election victory and retaining government.

The ATA represents the 50,000 businesses and 200,000 people in the Australian trucking industry.

“The ATA and our member associations look forward to continuing our work with the Government to improve the safety and productivity of the Australian trucking industry,” ATA Chair Geoff Crouch said.

“We now urge the Government to turn its focus to taking action on improving road safety, with the ultimate aim of zero fatalities or serious injuries on our roads,” he said.

“The ATA welcomes the Coalition’s budget and election commitments to road safety which include:

  • a $2.2 billion road safety plan that includes the establishment of a new office of road safety, as well as additional funding for the Black Spot program, rest area and local road upgrades, research and development, and bridge upgrades.
  • $400,000 for the redesign of the Volvo ATA Safety Truck
  • the development of a nationally consistent approach to new and improved pullover bays, and
  • increased funding to improve the Driver Reviver program.

“More truck rest areas and improved facilities are urgently needed on Australia’s roads. The ATA also urges the Government to extend the role of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to help everyone better understand why truck crashes occur and what can be done to prevent them,” he said.

“In addition, advanced safety technologies such as autonomous emergency braking must be mandated for new trucks as soon as possible,” he said.

The ATA is also calling for action on the reviews into the Heavy Vehicle National Law, national transport regulatory reform and heavy vehicle accreditation.

“We need to see substantial law reform, not just tweaking or promises of future action. We must also ensure the vital safety reforms that came into force in 2018 are preserved,” Mr Crouch said.

“These reforms must extend to heavy vehicle accreditation.

“The ATA is advocating for operators accredited under our risk management scheme, TruckSafe, to receive the same regulatory benefits as operators accredited under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, in accordance with the competitive neutrality policies agreed by the Australian and state governments.

“We also urge the Government to support hardworking small trucking business owners by introducing mandatory 30-day payment terms. This would support the owner-drivers and small fleet operators that keep our country moving,” he said.

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