This week Diesel News is featuring stories about a Top Apprentice, Telematics, Payment Times and SA Access.
A survey into the trucking industry’s use of telematics shows 94 per cent of operators surveyed plan to invest heavily in hardware and technologies for their business in the next year. The figures come from the 2017 Telematics Benchmark Report: Australian Transport Edition survey published by Teletrac Navman.
According to the survey, 88 per cent of transport businesses have either already implemented telematics or are planning to in the next year. The functions the operators are using telematics for include: vehicle tracking (82 per cent), speed tracking (74 per cent), distance travelled (74 per cent), driver hours (57 per cent), maintenance (53 per cent), idling (46 per cent) and driver performance (45 per cent). Fatigue monitoring is the number-one technology (61 per cent) that fleet managers are considering.
Fatigue is the biggest compliance concern for fleet managers (70 per cent), beating out vehicle maintenance (59 per cent) and speed management (37 per cent).
Top Apprentice
Joel Handley from Cummins South Pacific’s Carole Park, Queensland, branch was announced as the 2017 Heavy Vehicle Industry Association’s National Apprentice of the Year at the HVIA National Awards.
“Joel’s commitment to the Cummins workshop is an asset,” said Bob Martin, Chairman of Judges. “He is always ready to start the day and willing to work back after his shift or on the weekend to complete an urgent job.”
Supplier Payment Code
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has stated the trucking industry’s big business customers should sign up to the Australian Supplier Payment Code. The Australian Government endorsed the voluntary code in its response to the Small Business Ombudsman’s inquiry into payment times.
“Extended payment times are a major problem for small trucking businesses,” said Geoff Crouch, ATA Chair. “The ATA is aware of customers demanding payment times of more than 120 days. Some companies that demand long payment times then have the gall to offer finance to their small business suppliers to cover their missing cashflow.”
NHVR in SA
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has set up a dedicated heavy vehicle Access team in South Australia to service the needs of the local industry.
Access Supervisor Sean Pederick was appointed in early October and leads a team of four Access Operations Facilitators – Melanie Smart, Michael Marschallek, Emma Drabsch and Alex Clark.
“I’m a local guy having grown up in Adelaide and have worked in the South Australian transport industry for more than 16 years,” said Pederick. “Having an Access team based in Adelaide is exciting news for both the NHVR and the heavy vehicle industry as it allows us to work more closely together on all matters relating to permits for heavy vehicle access.”