Fast tracking the move to newer, safer and greener trucks in Australia’s aging truck fleet is a key element of the Truck Industry Council’s strategy for the next five years.
TIC CEO Tony McMullan says while Council members, which include major truck manufacturers such as Daimler Truck Australia Pacific, Kenworth, DAF, Mack, Volvo, Isuzu, Hino and IVECO and suppliers like Cummins and Detroit Diesel, were doing their bit to market products which would produce less harmful emissions, and the uptake of these clean diesel trucks has been good, the uptake of zero and hybrid trucks was slower than it could be.
One hurdle, McMullan says, is the cost of upgrading to a newer low and zero emission truck.
Tackling this issue head on, TIC is calling on politicians of all persuasions to get behind the TIC National Truck Plan 2025-2030 and back in incentives, including 100 per cent instant asset write-offs, for owner drivers and transport businesses to help speed up the transition to a younger national fleet, noting that at least 11 OEMs are already marketing trucks in the electric and hybrid space.
McMullan says there are also ongoing discussions being had about using greener fuels such as renewable diesel as a way of lowering emissions from the existing fleet, given the reality that the vast majority of trucks on Australian roads continue to be driven by internal combustion engines powered by diesel fuel.
He says the biggest win for lowering CO2 emissions from the transport industry, in the shortest time, would come from having a low carbon fuel mandate.
McMullan says he has also written to candidates vying for election for the next term of the Federal Government and encouraged them to read and support the National Truck Plan.
TIC is currently planning a social media campaign calling for the public to be part of the modernising Australian truck fleet mission.
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The social media campaign will highlight the health and safety benefits of newer trucks on local streets and how essential trucks are to our standard of living.
On the health side, newer trucks equate to less pollution in the air. For example, a Euro 3 truck from 2003 produces 10 times more particulate matter than a Euro VI truck from 2024. It also releases 5.0 g/kWh of nitrogen oxide, versus a Euro VI truck’s 0.4g/kWh.
When it comes to safety, newer trucks are being kitted out with the sorts of safety features those driving newer cars enjoy every day, such as autonomous emergency braking systems, lane departure warning, blind spot and speed monitoring. Older trucks simply don’t have these systems available.
TIC research, commissioned for the report and based on ABS Vehicle Census Data, predicts the Australian truck fleet will hit about 850,000 vehicles by 2030.
If current trends continue, the research predicts 32 per cent of those trucks will be 21 years old or older, with Euro 3 engines or less, and the total fleet will produce about 14 per cent more greenhouse gases than are expected to be produced this year.
In a bid to decrease the average age of Australia’s truck fleet and reduce emissions by 2030, the Truck Industry Council is focused on two key suggestions for government.
The first is to call for a 100 per cent asset write off depreciation allowance that offsets the costs associated with the purchase of a new low and zero emission truck and a new Euro VI and equivalent diesel truck.
The second is a 50 per cent depreciation allowance towards the purchase of Euro V or equivalent second-hand trucks for those upgrading from a Euro IV or earlier truck.
McMullan says the 50 per cent incentive for upgrading to a Euro V truck is designed to assist operators who would not usually be able to buy a new truck but may be inclined to update their fleets to newer trucks if it cost less to make the change than it does right now.
What do you think of the TIC financial incentives idea? Email your thoughts to sean.mortell@primecreative.com.au
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