SARTA - Achievements

SARTA's Achievements

A Summary of some of Our Major Achievements

SARTA has been a highly effective industry organisation for many years and has secured a significant number of major gains and wins for the industry as a direct result of our effective and hard work. These results have included the following:

Securing improved access and operational conditions for Heavy Vehicles;
1. Road Train and B-Triple access into Adelaide;
2. Countless extensions to B-Double and other RAV access networks;
3. Broader acceptance of trucks by Councils, due to direct action by SARTA;
4. Increased Mass on Truck and Dog rigs under NHVAS (brought in at the same time as Road Train access south of Pt Augusta due to SARTA's representation);
5. A fairer approach by DTEI and SafeWorkSA on the requirements for modifications of Livestock rigs to be fitted with Safety Harness systems;
6. Securing 100kph speed capability for Road Trains (we're close to securing a 100kph speed limit).
Improved Media and Community views and understanding of the trucking Industry;
1. The fact that trucking supports all aspects of the Community's daily life and under-pinning the State's economy;
2. The high safety record of the Industry;
3. The fact that 84% of fatal/serious car-truck accidents are caused by the motorist (according the findings of the Federal Office of Road Safety);
4. The fact that the vast majority of truck drivers and operators are law-abiding and responsible;
  1. An excellent example of this improved media coverage of trucking is the fair-minded response to the several serious accidents on the SE Freeway on the descent from Crafers to Adelaide - just 2 to 3 trucks in the 500,000 that come down the hill annually have issues;
  2. This improved media coverage of the industry has come about purely due to the hard work by SARTA since the mid 1990s, including being available for the media 24/7.
  3. It has been a critical aspect of SARTA and the industry's improved outcomes with Government - as being seen as responsible, law-abiding and important
Improvements in the Gazette and Permit system (although more improvement is needed):
1. Improved processing turn-around times;
2. Improved approval rates;
3. Removal of penalties for minor clerical errors (eg carriage of out-of-date Gazettes);
The Grain Code of Practice:
1. Protects against the smaller mass breaches IF the operator complies with the Code;
Preventing the proposed 2006 massive hikes in Registration Charges;
1. SARTA started the national back down by Transport Ministers when we secured the agreement of the SA Minister in February 2006 to oppose the massive hikes in Rego and Fule excise. Other states followed suit and the increases were defeated. We convinced the Government of the damage that it would do by directly involving the key export industries that would have to carry the costs that trucking would pass on.
2. Sadly, two years later in 2008, despite another enormous effort by SARTA, we lost the next major round when enough of the Ministers in other States stood firm and agreed to massive increases to be phased-in from 2008 to 2010.
Avoiding the worst, most restrictive and impractical legislative reforms on:
1. The Fatigue Management laws - the original proposals were utterly unworkable;
2. The Chain of Responsibility laws on Mass, Dimension and Load Restraint;
Warding off the inappropriate aspects of the new IAP system -limiting its application;
Defeating the TWU's outrageous $100 Meal Allowance claim and many excessive wage claims;
Securing fairer and more co-operative enforcement practices and outcomes from SA Police and DTEI Inspectors;
1. We have resolved numerous cases of unfair/inappropriate enforcement actions.
Improving the approach by Customers, including major corporations, in their dealings with truck operators, including for example getting them to comply and co-operate with the industry in relation to scheduling and queuing practices. We have frequently brought them into discussions with SARTA and the authorities and worked to help the customers lift their game - to the truck operators' benefit;
Improved funding from both the State and Federal Governments for infrastructure on freight routes;
1. SARTA has been very active and effective in lobbying for increased funding from the federal and state governments, regardless of which party was in power at the time;