Outgoing managing director Michael Kilgariff says inefficiencies "baked-in" to current system are costing millions
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has joined calls for an independent review of the rules governing the movement of Oversize Overmass (OSOM) vehicles on Australian roads.
The statements, by outgoing ALC managing director Michael Kilgariff, come one month after calls began for a senate inquiry into the existing OSOM permits system.
Calls for a Senate Inquiry into Oversize Overmass Permit System. Read the story here
Kilgariff says inefficiencies in the current system require the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to negotiate with over 400 different road asset managers nationally – a burden he says is costing millions.
“This is creating a situation where some businesses are waiting in excess of 100, 150 and sometimes even 200 days for approvals to move equipment,” he says.
“Worse still, operators are expected to obtain new approvals every time they wish to move the same load, on the same OSOM vehicle, along the same route, from the same origin to the same destination.”
Approval for some OSOM movements rests in the hands of road asset owners who, he said, might not be in a position to make decisions quickly because of limited resources.
“In effect, the NHVR now has accountability for outcomes over which it does not exercise control,” Kilgariff says.
“It would be prudent for the Federal Government to immediately commission an independent review of the system, so that any subsequent changes can be implemented simultaneously with the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.”
The Final Report of the Inquiry into National Freight and Supply Chain Priorities had specifically identified streamlining the route approval process for OSOM movements as a priority, he added.
The statements come as the ALC announced an interim successor to Kilgariff when he steps down from the role on July 27.
Lachlan Benson, the managing director of transport and logistics consultancy Blue Arcadia, will help to manage ALC’s policy, advocacy and industry event activities from Kilgariff’s departure up until a new permanent chief executive is appointed.
The ALC says Benson is well known to many in Australia’s freight logistics industry from his former role as the executive general manager of the Industry Relations & Logistics Division at the Sydney Ports Corporation.
He was also previously manager of industry relations at AWB and a senior policy officer with the NSW department of transport.