Brendan Hopley new VTA president

The chief operating officer of Murphy Transport Solutions, Brendan Hopley, has been elected president of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA).

With a long and diverse career in transport management, Brendan succeeds high profile truck operator Paul Freestone as president of the VTA.

He joined Murphy Transport Solutions in 2006, helping to guide the fifth-generation family company – trading since 1858 – into a strong, viable future.

VTA chief executive officer Neil Chambers commented, “Brendan is passionate about the transport and logistics industry, and passionate about ensuring that the VTA continues to be the pre-eminent employer and prime contractor association representing the industry in Australia.”

Listing his objectives, Brendan Hopley said, “Safety is paramount, as is striving to ensure that the industry becomes drug and alcohol free – the VTA will be working very hard to ensure that random drug and alcohol testing becomes mandatory for the transport industry.

“I’m also of the strong view that the industry needs to concentrate a lot of attention on the attraction, training and retention of our existing and future workforce. If we don’t attract, train and retain the right people, the industry will struggle to meet the growing freight task. To continue to improve industry safety and compliance, as well as productivity levels, we need the right people, cultures and systems in place,” he commented.