2011
- won the trucking industry a two-year exemption from the Australian Government’s planned carbon tax until 1 July 2014. Other transport fuel users, including the rail industry, will be subject to the tax from 1 July 2012.
- commissioned and published two two major research reports, covering the environmental credentials of the trucking industry and the gaps in heavy vehicle safety research.
- prepared detailed submissions, supported by legal advice, in response to the draft Heavy Vehicle National Law package released by the National Transport Commission in February 2011. The submissions and legal advice pointed out more than 245 issues with the draft.
- won Australian Government support for high productivity vehicles, with the release of the Government’s Draft National Land Freight Strategy.
- secured a better deal for trucking operators and employees affected by the 2011 floods and TC Yasi.
2010
- exposed the Greens’ plan to increase B-double registration charges to more than $20,000. As a result of the ATA’s advocacy, the Greens had to abandon this idea despite their increased influence in Parliament after the election.
- released a proposal to enhance driver licensing, which would give truck drivers who complete enhanced competency-based training the ability to advance more quickly through the graduated licensing system.
- provided extensive input into the development of the draft National Road Safety Strategy, with its emphasis on safe systems rather than blaming drivers for every accident.
- secured amendments to the new requirements for Maritime Security Identity Cards. These amendments protect people in the industry who have criminal records, but have since become honest and valued employees and workers.
- protected thousands of federal interstate operators from paying too much in registration charges, by effective lobbying in the Senate.
- started work on two new Technical Advisory Procedures, to cover side and rear underrun protection and electronic braking
systems. - held TruckWeek 2010, which featured more than 30 events across Australia, including the ATA’s member association delegation program to meet ministers and shadow ministers in Canberra.
- celebrated the 50,000th visitor to the Road Ahead. The Road Ahead was recognised for its work on improving road safety and promoting the industry when the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia awarded it the 2010 Transport and Logistics Industry Excellence in Community Service Award.
- developed the first ATA strategic plan, to cover the period 2011-2013, after detailed consultation with member associations and companies.
Previous years
The complete list of the ATA’s achievements is in the attachments.
