Road and Container Charging Plus Portal and Road Trains

This week we are talking about Road and Container Charging Plus Portal and Road Trains in Diesel News.

A new road-charging regime will be found for the trucking industry, after a decision by the Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC) of state and federal transport ministers. The plan is to thoroughly examine the costs and benefits of implementation of independent price regulation and a forward looking cost base, slated to come in 2018–19.

The council agreed to freeze heavy vehicle charges at 2017–18 levels for a further two years, to a mixed reaction from industry associations.

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) characterised it as continuing crushing fuel and registration charges on small business truckies, with transport ministers deciding today to overtax the industry by $189.5 million next financial year.

“Australia’s trucking industry delivers every item on the shelves of every supermarket,” said Geoff Crouch, ATA Chair. “We’re an industry of small businesses that are tied up in red tape, overtaxed and then endlessly criticised.”

Meanwhile the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) was more sanguine on the subject, with its Chairman Ian Murray welcoming the new charges and the current freeze.

“ALC therefore welcomes today’s decision to commence work to assess implementation options for independent price regulation of heavy vehicle charges,” said Murray. “We similarly support the decision to freeze heavy vehicle access charges at 2017/18 levels for two years, and acknowledge the Council’s agreement on the latest legislative package to deliver improvements to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).”

Fees Hike

From 1 January 2018, DP World Australia will introduce a surcharge of $37.65 per container received or delivered at the Botany terminal. This is an increase of $16.49 on the earlier infrastructure tax of $21.16, which DPWA imposed in April.

“Our members are stunned, they’ve effectively been hit with two big price increases at the port in less than a year,” said Simon O’Hara, Road Freight NSW General Manager. “Once again, the latest price gouge has been cynically blamed on so-called ‘increased costs’ at the port, but the ACCC (Australia Competition and Consumer Commission) has already acknowledged that extra taxes could earn DPWA and Patrick a combined revenue of $70 million, equivalent to a five to six per cent increase in unit revenues.”

Portal Award

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) online permitting system has been recognised for its innovation and customer-focused approach in the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management, announced in Canberra.

The NHVR Portal was one of 17 finalists in a strong field of contenders for the Award and NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, said it was an honour to be recognised as a finalist alongside the high-calibre entries from the Australian Government, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmanian and South Australian Governments.

“I want to acknowledge the contribution and commitment of my team, industry and our government partners who have collaborated together to help us make the portal a success,” said Petroccitto.

Road Trains Australia and TruckSafe

Western Australia-based Road Trains of Australia (RTA) has been recognised for its rigorous standards in management, maintenance, training and animal welfare through the TruckSafe accreditation program.

The family owned and operated company has more than 40 years’ experience in safe and dependable livestock, fuel, bulk commodities and general freight transport throughout the north of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

“TruckSafe is the only quality assurance program for livestock transport that enables us to manage our animal welfare compliance,” says Steve Beatty, RTA’s Northern Territory Manager.