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Truck charges a key concern for QTA in 2015

Trucking association outlines main priorities it intends to tackle in 2015.

 

The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) will continue the fight to reform heavy vehicle charges this year, along with supporting a government initiative to encourage school leavers to join the trucking industry. 

QTA acting president Tim Knowles used his address at the association’s annual general meeting to detail its priorities for 2015.

Chief among these is getting governments to adopt a National Transport Commission (NTC) recommendation to improve the model used to determine annual heavy vehicle charges.

The current system underestimates the number of trucks on the road, and the industry claims it may lead to trucking operators being overcharged $117 million next financial year.

“High on the association’s priority list is an acceptance by state and federal government of the NTC findings in 2014 that our industry is overcharged through registration and fuel excise,” Knowles says.

He says continued involvement in and support for the Queensland Government’s GenR8 School to Work Transitions program is also a priority.

The award-winning program provides school students with industry placements to allow them to gain a Certificate II in Logistics.

It counts the likes of Nolan’s Transport, Followmont Transport and Lindsay Australia among participants and is seen as an effective means of encouraging young people to build a career in the transport and logistics industry.  

“Skill retention and skill development are constant challenges for all operators. There can be no doubting our drivers are our greatest asset,” Knowles says.

“QTA Ltd has partnered the Department of Education, Training and Employment in the development of and promotion of the highly successful GenR8 program. We will continue this valuable work.”

While not specifying areas of concern, Knowles says the QTA will also devote resources to trying to ease the administrative workload on trucking operators.

“QTA Ltd will continue to strive for regulatory reform and the removal of unnecessary red tape, delivering efficiency to the freight task and to the business of every operator,” he says.

Knowles adds that the group has already held talks with the newly-elected Labor state government, and the early signs look promising.

“Our early conversations with the deputy premier and minister for transport Jackie Trad and minister for main roads and road safety Mark Bailey would give us confidence that the association is considered a valuable partner and pre-eminent industry representative association in Queensland,” he says.

The QTA developed an effective working relationship with the previous government, culminating in the group obtaining regular access to then transport minister Scott Emerson and playing a vital role in the establishment of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Working Group.

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