Sustainability and safety high on the list for the transport industry in 2023

While the world may be moving on from the pandemic issues of the past two years, 2023 is shaping up to have its own challenges for Australia's transport industry

The toughening Australian economy, the war in the Ukraine, talk of a global recession, the push towards a zero emissions future, labour shortages, increasing interest rates and high compliance costs are just a few of the challenges the transport industry will deal with in the year ahead.

There are also opportunities to be found in the roll out of rest stops around the country, the updating of PBS laws and the streamlining of administrative tasks faced by businesses operating in the transport space.

For Western Roads Federation’s Cam Dumesny 2023 is shaping up to be all about decarbonisation. 

“The Australian transport industry needs to prepare to move onto green energy for no other reason than fuel security,” Dumesny says.

“Decarbonisation policy for the transport sector will play a larger role for the industry in 2023 as the government looks to make good on its election promises.”

Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny says in 2023 decarbonisation will play larger role.

Dumesny says uncertainty around the Australian economy caused by inflation, rising interest rates and unrest around the globe will be felt by transport operators too.

“Transport has always been a lead economic indicator for the Australian economy,” Dumesny says. “We’re the first to be hit and the last to recover.”

Queensland Trucking Association president Gary Mahon predicts 2023 will be a tight one for those operating in the road transport industry.

Mahon says increases in fuel prices, road user charges, and compliance costs, will continue to put pressure on the sector.

“All these pressures will increase the freight rates and put more pressure on the cost of living which will in turn put pressure on wages and interest rates,” Mahon says.

Mahon says labour shortages will continue to make life difficult for operators too.

He wants the government to invest in targeted infrastructure investment to help the industry and says that despite the challenges ahead, he is hopeful the industry will be able to maintain minimum service standards.

Gary Mahon of the QTA wants more investment in targeted infrastructure.

Another wildcard for transport operators in 2023 will be the fate of the Covid-19 instant tax write-off scheme which is legislated to end on June 30 this year.

What happens to the scheme will likely determine just how much capital is invested into new trucks and assets in 2023 when compared to the record results of 2022.

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) says the state of Australia’s roads will continue to dominate news in 2023, as will the roll out of the $80 million in funding promised for the purpose of overhauling the country’s heavy vehicle rest stops.

The ATA also says the transition to zero-emission vehicles will be a key issue as governments head towards a net zero emissions target of 2050 and turn to industries such as transport to help them get there.

The Heavy Vehicle Industry Association (HVIA) says its members have already shown a strong commitment to a zero-emission future which would continue to evolve over the next 12 months.

HVIA says it will also be taking a leading role in training and education for the industry this year, offering various courses to help transport industry staff to hone their skills and talents on topics such as proper load restraint and best practice tyre management.

The HVIA will also launch its new tyre management course at this year’s biggest trucking event, the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show in May.

On the plus side, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) argues that the Australian trucking industry is set to experience positive changes in 2023 as it focuses on improving safety and efficiency.

NHVR’s Sal Petroccitto highlights the regulator’s commitment to being a modern and risk-based regulator that takes an “inform and educate” approach before enforcement.

Petroccitto says the NHVR will continue its efforts to finalise the transition of heavy vehicle services from the states to the NHVR, resulting in more consistent and efficient compliance approaches nationwide.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto wants to put more productive vehicles on the roads.

He says this will include the delivery of a national network map that allows industry players to plan journeys and make use of the NHVR portal for automated access decisions.

The NHVR also plans to reduce red tape and get safer and more productive vehicles on the roads by reforming the Performance Based Standards scheme.

This will include moving mature combinations into the “as-of-right” fleet and reducing end-to-end approval times. 

In an effort to help operators manage their rest periods and combat fatigue, the NHVR will also dedicate resources to its Advance Fatigue Management (AFM) program.

Petroccitto  says operators can expect new tools and resources to be made available this year, including pre-approved AFM work and rest examples and a new streamlined online AFM application process.

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