It’s been a horrible few months watching many wonderful Aussie trucking names announce their exit from the transport industry. It seems each week there’s another big company or family operator calling it quits, leaving behind an incredible enduring history.
How has it got to this? The answer may be more complex and ongoing than one simple editor’s note, but it demands attention for the sake of the industry’s future.
A collection of our beloved columnists have weighed in on the defining industry issue in this September edition of OwnerDriver, with there being a common theme in their message to the sector: set your rates. This has since been supported by the Western Australian government, who in early August launched its own online freight rate calculator tool for the state’s owner drivers.
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The WA Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure now has the tool available on its website alongside a further range of resources to help owner drivers determine whether they are being adequately paid when it comes to the jobs they do on the roads each day.
“Owner drivers play an important role in keeping Western Australia’s road freight transport industry supply chain running,” Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny said at the time.
“We estimate there’s around 7,000 owner drivers in WA and competition in the sector can be fierce, leading some owner drivers to cut their rates to unsustainable levels to secure work.
“And while competition is an integral part of heavy road freight, owner drivers should be able to negotiate a safe and sustainable rate of payment with their hirer.”
It’s a particularly unique challenge in WA, as owner drivers also face the massive distances required to reach the ends of the state. Add in roads that are often unsealed and requiring a range of payloads and the need to set the right rates with customers is pivotal to an operation’s profitability.
“What we’re providing is the tools to enable owner drivers – who have invariably invested heavily to establish themselves as road freight operators – to quote on jobs and ensure all their costs and overheads are met, and their business remains viable,” Dumesny said.
It may not be the entire solution, but an interactive cost calculator for rates and a guidelines for 13 different truck types and configurations at least makes a start for owner drivers. Let’s hope it gets the ball rolling before too many more operators close their doors.
Outside of this, there’s some beautiful trucks in this edition of the magazine. The DAF you see on the cover, courtesy of QMR in Queensland, is a stunner and is sure to make a splash on the highways. Check out page 24 for the full story behind this new addition to the recycling giant’s fleet.
A green shade takes over our Truck of the Month for September as Warren Aitken ‘split the G’ on his Guinness and met Cahal Carey. His new Volvo is the perfect example of a well-deserved statement piece forged from years of hard work, as can be seen on page 30.
Outside of that, the usual array of insightful truck technology and tips for driving on the road are inside, as well as our variety of columnists discussing the industry’s latest news. From page 21, don’t miss our comprehensive wrap of the jam-packed Casino Truck Show courtesy of Geoff Crockett. We hope you enjoy the read, and stay safe.
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