TRUCKING INDUSTRY * Australia - Draft truck laws 'need revision'

Canberra,ACT,Australia -Warwick Daily News -18 May 2011: ... When they meet on Friday, Australia’s transport ministers should order the National Transport Commission to undertake a clause-by-clause reworking of the draft national truck laws, Chairman of the Australian Trucking Association, David Simon, said today... Australia’s governments are working to set up a national regulator for the trucking industry and national truck laws... Mr Simon urged ministers to consider a number of policy issues further, including:

• the NTC recommendation not to allow external review of access decisions by road managers;

• the recommendation not to provide operators in TruckSafe with the same regulatory benefits as operators in NHVAS, even though TruckSafe delivers comparable or better safety outcomes;

• the inconsistent approach in the draft to chain of responsibility and the need for the national regulator to be responsible for significant CoR investigations;

• and the need for the national regulator to have oversight of enforcement agencies.

(Image from planbooktravel: trucks on show till end may 2011)

* Northern Territories - Truck group calls for national regulation review

Alice Springs,NT,USA -Reuters/ABC News, by Tom Nightingale -May 20, 2011: -- Australian Transport Association says the proposed changes to truck regulations needs to be tweaked...  A national trucking industry group is pushing for state and territory transport ministers to reject proposed new rules that are meant to simplify regulation... Transport ministers from across Australia are meeting in Alice Springs today... They are considering national rules and an industry regulator to cut red tape... Australian Transport Association spokesman, Bill McKinley, says the proposals are good in theory but flawed in detail and need a total review...   (Image from trucksplanet: Mack Australia "Titan 2)

* ACT - No date set for safe rates

Canberra,ACT,Australia -Supply Chain, by Brad Gardner -May 20, 2011: -- The Federal Government insists it is committed to overhauling remuneration methods in the trucking industry, but will not set out a set date for the introduction of reforms... Workplace Relations Parliamentary Secretary, Jacinta Collins, has told the Transport Workers Union’s federal council the government will progress safe rates “in a timely manner”. A 2008 report commissioned by the National Transport recommended government intervention to fix rates... The government last year released its Safe Rates, Safe Roads discussion paper outlining proposals to ensure drivers received a sustainable income... During her speech to the council, Collins told the union the government is considering the options from the discussion paper and wants to ensure employees and owner-drivers receive a fair outcome... The paper proposes expanding the role of Fair Work Australia to include granting owner-drivers employee-like conditions and hounding parties in the supply chain for unpaid bills... Trucking association NatRoad wants the government to legislate paid waiting times instead, claiming it is the most pressing issue facing operators... Heavyweight Toll is also opposed to safe rates. It argues owner-drivers will be worse off under the scheme...  (Image from kenworthdownunder:  Truck V8 Supercars)