Sunshine Coast-based truckie Niell Graham had a clear message for his colleagues on the newly-formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC) – just get started on fixes and worry about the money later.
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Save the date for these top truck shows and events
This year’s truck events are already in full swing, with heaps to look forward to. Check out some of the highlights below.
Truckies ‘could save hundreds’ under new Fair Fuel Plan
Victorian transport operators could save themselves some money as the state is set to cap and lock fuel prices under the government’s Fair Fuel Plan.
Why can’t defects be cleared by ANY jursidiction?
Here’s my wish list for 2025. Hopefully I’ll have the chance to write about all of these being positive outcomes through the year – okay, I’d settle for just one!
- Fair fines – Truck drivers shouldn’t be fined a week’s wages (or more!) where the offence is minor. We saw an NRL player fined $850 after crashing and injuring a child, while high on drugs. If that’s the standard, then an error in a work diary should only be a warning, with education provided to the driver.
- Clear defect notices – photos, and notes about exactly where the defect is, should be mandatory to send to the registered operator. Surely, we are beyond the days of triplicate pieces of flimsy paper!
- A defect that can be cleared by ANY jurisdiction! This rubbish that VIC cannot clear a NSW defect is ridiculous. Again, surely technology can help? I mean, how about one state uses a telephone and call the other state road agency and clear it that way.
- Better roads. While I know that isn’t the domain of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, surely they have the ear of transport ministers (both state and federal) and again… have a conversation. This isn’t rocket science, it’s basic common decency. Our drivers and trucks deserve better quality workplaces.
- Less crashes involving trucks. Better driver training (for ALL road users, young and old); better advertising of road safety issues (like the old TAC shock advert days); more police presence targeting cars (drove to Brisbane over the Christmas break, only saw two police cars for the entire trip); and no-fault investigations that provide the real reasons for crashes.
- Jodie Broadbent is the founder of Know the Road, which provides consulting auditing and training services for road freight supply chain partners.
Work underway to upgrade nine Tasmanian bridges
Strengthening works are being undertaken on nine Tasmanian bridges, while tenders have opened to strengthen a further 12 bridges this year as part of a $100 million upgrade of Tasmania’s freight routes.
Bunbury’s recently opened $1.46 billion highway helps ease congestion on local roads
The 27-kilometre Wilman Wadandi Highway, opened in December, has been seeing around 18,000 vehicles a day.
#PicOfTheDay – Steven White
Steven White took this great snap at McKinlay while heading down from Darwin to Brisbane on his weekly run.
New GM for Kenworth DAF Melbourne
Kenworth DAF Melbourne has appointed Paul Wiffrie as General Manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the dealership, including TRP Geelong.
‘The lack of parking for trucks is a huge problem’
I’m like JFK – I’m a man on a mission in 2025! The three main things I want to raise awareness about are truck parking, obesity amongst truck drivers, and electronic work diaries.
ADFUSE welded radiator cores are a winner
Adrad has been manufacturing and supplying quality engine cooling products for over 40 years. One of their hugely successful products for heavy duty cooling applications is ADFUSE welded radiator cores.
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