Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697641709279.pdf (Australia)
From: Sent: To: Subject: Tuesday, 13 October 2020 10:02 AM RRAT, Committee (SEN) Chris Duncan .

Sensational Transport.

EMAIL TO ROAD TRANSPORT SENATE ENQUIREY .

To the Senate Inquirey into Road Transport.

My submission to the Senate Inquirey comes with 35 years starting in 1985 to current date being involved in the transport industry in Australia.

From Humble beginnings as a driver , then owner driver spanning 10 years , to a driver spanning 20 years , then as an owner driver for the last 5 years .
My submission is an accumalating personal opinion on the transport industry where i have seen many changes .

These changes include the Upgrades of many highways across Australia.

Pacific Highway.

From its , dangerous beginnings to its current state as a multi lane Freeway Between Sydney and Melbourne.

Between Sydney and Brisbane Both of these Major Highways took many years to complete and the infrastructure itself would have been a major task.
I thank you for these Freeways as they now bypass many smaller towns and make our job easier to do.

Concerning highways such as Gore Highway , Cunningham Highway , Newell Highway , New England Highway and state roads in the West of QLD , NSW , VIC.

There needs to be Major upgrades on these Highways as the infrastructure has been left to disintergrate into a somewhat dangerous , dissrepair.
Due to major Allocation of Funds and resources being used on the major Highways , Qld on the Bruce Highway / Toowoomba Bypass , Logan and Gateway Highways , Warrego Highway in and around Brisbane.

Nsw on the Pacific Highway / Connex tunnel and other roads in and around Sydney.

Vic Highways have been somewhat antiquated after the Ringroad was finished.
These major Highways that have been left to there own demise have themselves played many parts , including due to the infrastructure and minor repairs , band aids , have caused many $ 1000,000.00s of $$$ in repairs to operators heavy vehicles .

In the place of A UNEXPECTED BREAKDOWN IN A UNSAFE PLACE on any road ( Not including Failure to maintain a heavy vehicle or any vehicle ) then all Safety Control / applied Fees to be abolished.
These services should be looked on as a SAFETY FEATURE for all heavy vehicle and road users alike.

Also the roads have caused many heavy vehicle accidents , major injuries , and heavy vehicle / road users alike / fatal accidents.

A very large percentage of these accidents are due to lack of repairs and maintenance of infrastructure in general.

We need to see a massive upgrade to this area of concern immediatly.

TRUCK DRIVERS LIVES MATTER.

CAR DRIVERS LIVES MATTER.


1 Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industrySubmission 117 ALL DRIVERS LIVES MATTER.

DESIGNATED HEAVY VEHICLE PARKING BAYS / AMMENITIES.

BREAKDOWN AREAS.

Heavy Vehicle Designated parking bays are needed to be built in large numbers all over Australia and should be of the highest priority.
As Fatigue management Rules set out regarding work hours / work Diary restrictions leave a very small window for opportunity for heavy vehicles to access when needed.

As a result we have to stop in carved out gravel , nil ammenities , some what dangerous niches on the side of the road , where it is noisey , and vehicles passing by us at a somewhat close proximity.

As a result our fatigue related sleep time is interrupted immensely.
This in turn creates fatigue related factors , the next day and puts all , just not heavy vehicle operators but all road users at risk of having , or being involved in an accident .

We need to see a massive upgrade to this area of concern immediatly as there are only 21 Designated Parking bays in QLD .

There also needs to be urgent upgrades of BREAKDOWN AREAS.

Example.

The New Toowoomba Bypass has no areas suitable for A HEAVY VEHICLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY.
Therefore if our heavy vehicle does fsil in anyway we are istantly if SAFETY CONTROL are required to attend then we are charged for this service.

I feel this is unfair and we are being exploited into paying excess charges for something we have no control over.

FATIGUE MANAGEMENT.

In WA & NT they have 17 , 17 & 9 hours driving respectively over 3 days adding to 43 hours , work / driving time .

This allows its transport industry to gain maximum gain for maximum work time.
So much more productive It would be if implemented here in QLD , NSW , VIC , SA we are governed by 12 , 14 , & 16 hour work limits .

Different rules for different 12 , 14 & 16 hour work diaries.

I would like to see a change from a 12 hour work diary to be scrapped in favour of a 14 hour work diary time maximum period per day.

Although it is likeley we will still only use 12 hours .

It gives us a more flexiable time period day to day to accomplish our tasks.
Employers cannot expect us to complete 14 hours everyday without the correct renumeration.

It comes back to the driver / operator to manage his / her fatigue as we do now.

It will actually allow heavy vehicle operators / drivers to have the fkexibility to make deadlines , and support our customer base.
Also if we need to travel an extra hour to the next designated parking bay or Depot or home for our major rest period it will allow us to do so without breaking any driver working related hours in our Work Diary / and the fear of prosecution for over extending our driving / work related hours.

INFRINGEMENTS.

Firstly , The spelling errors , forgetting to cross a T or dot an I to be abolished.

No infringements or Fines / Demerit points issued and to be abolished Australia Wide.
2 Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industrySubmission 117 If we accidently forget to put a mark in our work diary but have filled out work related times on the same day , Fines / Demerit points / Infringements to be abolished Australia Wide.

The $$ amount for infringements relating to minor offences to be msssively decreased or abolished.

The $$ amount for major breaches to be massively reduced to a somewhat more in line with with the nature of the breach .

CORE .
CORE .

As dealt with regarding the recent unfortunate accident regarding the death of 4 vic police officers in 2020.

To be more stringently upheld and dealt with after a satisfactory inquirey has been done in a required quick and somewhat time based timeframe.

TBA.

Say a 2 week period.

No Exceptions.

As it is more frequent that operations managers / employers are pushing driver expectations with unrealistic time frames.

Maximum penalties.

Maximum Fines.

Maximum Jail Time.


If a driver is at fault without Operations Managers Employers input then the same Maximum penalties.

Maximum Fines.

Maximum Jail time.

With the possiable introduction of mandatory seeing eye cameras , personally i see this as an invasion of our privacy .

These cameras can be turned on / off by a third party.

As has been noted previously by a driver wakung up from a rest period.

This driver was under video surveilance while changing .
This is unappropiate in any circumstance.

REGISTRATION FEES.

To be reduced to half of the current cost .

As these costs are made excessive with , fees for this , fees for that , levys for this , levys for that.

Taxes for this , taxes for that.

The list is never ending.

Also in times of Droubt , Flood , Fires , Registration Fees to be halved or Waived as we are providing a essential service to help the Australian public carry on with there day to day lives.
In times of the Recent COVID 19 PANDEMIC , ALL Heavy Vehicle Registration Fees to be WAIVED/ REFUNDED as we are providing an essential / transport work related task .

We not only have the most dangerous job in Australia before Covid 19 came along but we know have to travel in and out of COVID 19 HOTSPOTS , putting ourselves and family at risk to if we are infected with Covid 19.

TOLL ROAD RELATED CHARGES.


3 Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industrySubmission 117 A more regulated fee pricing charges for useing TOLL roads.

For Trucks ( Half the Rate Now ) Increases to be at 1% yearly.

For Cars & 4x4 ( Same Rate ) For Motorbikes ( Free ) For cars & 4 x 4 with ,Caravans Half the amount again.

If maintenance to occur it should be a shared cost between State and Government of the day.

Or the overseas based company that owns the Toll Road itself.
Once the payment for that Toll Road has been Paid in full .

Then it resorts to a lesser fee again.

Say 60 % of Fee.

TRANSPORT PAYMENT TERMS This is another area that needs to be addressed immediatly.

No more 7 ,14 , 21 , 28 , 30, 60 or 90 day payment terms.

Terms of Payment for Transport Services Rendered need to be Paid in full within 48 hours of PROOF OF DELIVERY / OR AN AGREED TERM OF NO MORE THAN 7 DAYS .
BUT ONLY AFTER A SIGNED CONTRACT / PLAIN AGREEMENT OF TRANSPORT BY DOCUSIGN OF SORTS BETWEEN THE 2 PARTIES.

Example .

Long term customer / Transport relationship has been implemented after 6 months continuous working with eachother on a regular week to week basis.

No Exceptions.

EXAMPLE.

Customer engages Transporter.

Customer already knows charges or fees.

Transporter picks up / delivers with a signed PROOF OF DELIVERY recieved .Transporter Paid within 48 hours of P.O.D.
Otherwise LATE PAYMENT FEES TO BE ADDED AT 10% ACCUMMULATING DAILY.

No EXCEPTIONS.

ALL DISCREPINCIES TO BE DEALT WITH WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD OF PROOF OF DELIVERY .

TIMED AND DATED .

OTHERWISE NO CASE .

IF FOUND TO BE FAULSE CLAIM PAYMENT IS DOUBLED AND PAID IMMEDIATLY BY CUSTOMER.

IF CUSTOMER GOES BROKE THEN BY LAW TRANSPORTERS ARE PAID IN FULL FIRST AND FOREMOST.

TRANSPORT FEES AND RATES .

Last but not least , Transport Fees and Rates.

This issue needs to be dealt with immediatly.


No more enquiries or investigations into this matter as this issue has been going on for many years.

It needs decisive action immediatly as Transporters have carried this country for far to long.

We need sustainable rate increase across the board to be able to sustain our buisinesses.
It is time for Transporters to have the correct inline with Inflation / and Taxes / Tolls / and other charges incurred by transporters for which we have obligingly carried this countries freight system from the day of its inception.

The time has come for it to be regulated.

Example.

A Taxi and driver charge minimum booking fee , + $2.17 per klm for a car on gas / hybrid.

+ public holiday surcharge / xmas day holiday surcharges and Tolls and so on.
Theoretically taxis cost about 10 / 15 cents just in fuel maybe less per klm 4 Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industrySubmission 117 Theoretically a 15 litre Prime Mover and single trailer cost between $1.00 / $ 1.20 per klm just in fuel costs depending on $ price of fuel.

(Diesel) There needs to be a minimum rate for different transport truck size categories.

IF THE $ PRICE OF FUEL GOES UP OR DOWN THEN THE RATE IS INCREASED ACCORDINGLY , Example.
Rigids x 2 axles $1.20 pklm+gst Rigids x 3 axles $1.50 pklm+ gst Prime Movers / single trailers $2.80 / 3.00 per klm + gst.

PrimeMovers(Specialised Trailers) $3.00 / 3.20 per klm + gst.

Prime Movers (Oversise)upto 3.5 wide & weight.

$3.50 / 4.00 pklm + gst Oversize over 3.5 wide&weight Reflectively of the above rate.

Prime Movers /, B Doubles $4.50 / $5.00 per klm + gst .

Prime Mover / Road Trains.

2 , 3 and 4 Trailers.

$6.50 / $ 9.00 + gst per klm.


+ an hourley hire at a set rate for loading and unloading.

These figures are a very close to if not accurate cost of operating a heavy vehicle to transport customers freight .
The customer needs to understand it has to pay for a service , as they are charging regulated prices for there goods , and making a profit after expenses and they have for to long abused and relied on the transport industry to cut there transport costs to transport there freight at reduced unrealistic rates to keep the so called customer in favour with the transporter.
If the customer knows how much for a truck and trailer he can have any transport operator transport his freight as they are all set at minimum cost before they need the transporter.

Also this creates a level playing field for all Transport Operators across the field .

We effectively disolve the word BACKLOAD as it costs the same amount of money to travel POINT A TO POINT B.

& POINT B TO POINT A.


By a minimum rate we the transport operators can effectively fuel / maintain , and pay for Trucks / Trailers / Registration / Insurance / Wear and Tear / and make a small profit which is our given entitlement to do to provide for our families and rightfull advancement in life .

PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME .

I ALSO GIVE THE SENATE ENQUIREY MY PERMISSION TO PUBLISH THIS E MAIL REGARDING THE SENATE ENQUIREY INTO ROAD TRANSPORT.

Regards.
Regards.

5 Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industrySubmission 117 Chris Duncan.

Sensational Transport.

Get Outlook for Android 6 Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industrySubmission 117