The transport sector isn’t perfect, just like anything it has its flaws.
Being a cornerstone industry for Australia however, it’s important that all those who work within it, are fairly represented.
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An organisation that ensures a voice is given to those in industry, works behind the scenes to make this happen.
The National Road Freight Association (NRFA) is the voice of independent owner drivers, small fleets, and long distance operators.
Established in Queensland around 15 years ago, its aim was to give representation to the independent drivers who, until then, had largely been overlooked in the national conversation.
Today, it stands as a national force advocating for sustainable change, tackling issues that affect everyone from the solo driver to the larger fleet operator.
Under the leadership of President Glyn Castanelli, the association has been at the forefront of some of the most crucial conversations and reforms in the Australian transport industry.
Glyn says the most pressing challenge is halting the “race to the bottom,” and creating a framework where drivers are respected, protected and supported, setting a minimum standard that benefits everyone.
“A few years back we were one of the largest participants in the Without Trucks Australia Stops senator inquiry, so we decided to make it a priority of ours to see the 10 recommendations of that inquiry implemented,” he says.
“That’s our main objective, setting these standards for our industry and ensuring its safe, viable and sustainable.”
“Through the Closing Loopholes Bill, we were able to gain a transport division within Fair Work, where minimum standards can be created for our industry by our industry, and we spend a lot of time participating in the orders that will come out of that division of Fair Work.”
The NRFA is also focused on the infrastructure that keeps the industry moving including the review of Heavy Vehicle Length and Mass Limits (HPML), which if approved, will allow for more efficient vehicle configurations on the road.
With backing from state and federal transport ministers, the initiative will increase the general access vehicle length to 20 meters and vehicle height to 4.6 meters.
“Licensing reforms has also been a review that’s completed, and it’s now in the implementation stage,” he says.
“International licenses will no longer be accepted as proof of experience, except for New Zealanders, and they’re also looking at accelerated competency pathways.
“Instead of getting your license for a HR and letting it sit in the drawer for 12 months then going and getting your HC, if you’ve done X amount of competency training and it’s been verified, then you can actually get your license faster, but you’ll have more training.”
Glyn says the NRFA is also focusing on industry training and apprenticeships now that heavy vehicle driving is considered a trade, the infrastructure is needed to train these apprenticeships.
“First we will work out what we need, then we will proceed to lobby federal and state politicians to get that put in place, otherwise we won’t have drivers for the future,” he says.
Despite these wins, Castanelli emphasises the need for collaboration and how the industry only gets better when everyone works together to make change.
The NRFA annual conference is the perfect illustration of this collective effort, bringing representatives from the NHVR, NTC, AustRoads, Transport Workers Union, ATA and NatRoad, politicians, members and drivers together.
It’s this diverse mix of voices that fuels progress.
“We’re like the conscience of the transport community because we’re grassroots and volunteers,” he says.
“When we go to Canberra, speak to transport ministers or even the regulator, we’re giving our own hands-on experience and stories of how things do or don’t work in our industry.”
The NRFA’s goals for 2025 go beyond continuing the fight against the race to the bottom, the association wants to make the industry safer, and ensure a brighter future for the next generation of truckies.
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