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Australian container transport safety initiative launched

HVSI-backed campaign hailed as a boost for truck safety

 

The container transport and logistics industry has stepped up to support heavy vehicle safety, releasing a coordinated campaign to raise awareness and good practice in safely packing shipping containers heading to and from Australian ports.

Federal transport minister Michael McCormack welcomes the Safe Container Loading Practices & Heavy Vehicle Safety Campaign, which has been awarded $140,000 under the federal Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), run by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

“This is a great initiative by the container transport and logistics industry to support heavy vehicle safety,” McCormack says.

“Container transport is forecast to double over the next 12 years and with 80 per cent carried by Australian heavy vehicles, it’s vital cargo inside containers is properly secured and not overloaded.”

The campaign is being delivered by Container Transport Association of Australia (CTAA), Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), with support from the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association’s (ICHCA’s) Australian arm.

Six supporting online training and information modules were produced by WiseTech Academy covering the impact of unsafe container loading practices, international conventions, heavy vehicle laws, Chain of Responsibility, packing to minimise risk and truck rollover prevention.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says the online course and associated resources, including a Safe Container Packing Checklist, would contribute to reducing the risks of load shifts, road accidents and breaches of mass limits.

“The container transport and logistics industry is a vital part of many heavy vehicle supply chains and plays a key role in heavy vehicle safety,” Petroccitto adds.

“This awareness campaign provides practical steps to ensure that cargo inside shipping containers is packed properly and restrained securely to avoid an accident when the container is transported on a public road.”

The Safe Container Packing Checklist can be used by importers, exporters and their packers, both in Australia and overseas. The Checklist was developed internationally and adapted for use in Australia.

CTAA director Neil Chambers notes the campaign draws on expertise from international organisations, including the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) based in the UK, and global transport logistics insurer TT Club.

“The online training course and associated resources are for all parties in the container transport logistics chain,” Chambers says.

“This is just the beginning. We will now work across the sector through a series of webinars to raise awareness about safe container loading practices.”

FTA director and APSA secretary of Paul Zalai sees the initiative as providing a useful set of resources for freight forwarders, importers, exporters and their container packers. 

“By providing ready access to both international and Australian best practice guidance on container packing, cargo securing and heavy vehicle safety, we hope to improve safety outcomes and reduce commercial losses across the whole container logistics supply chain,” Zalai says.

Details of the Safe Container Loading Practices & Heavy Vehicle Safety Campaign, including information on the upcoming Webinars, can be found here.

 

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