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Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
ROAD TRANSPORT
NEWS
Dedicated drivers
While New Zealand remained in
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
lockdown, drivers throughout the
MEET THE NEW RTANZ COO country kept up a steady schedule,
clocking up the kilometres and
HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY keeping the economy ticking over.
RTANZ NEWS 1
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
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RTANZ NEWS 2
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Contents
PAGE 4
Clocking up the kilometres
TDJ Trucking’s Milk Maid carries Meadowfresh Milk between Christchurch and
Invercargill 363 days of the year.
PAGE 5
Meet the Chief
Simon Carson has stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for RTANZ.
He shares his vision for the future.
PAGE 8
A century in transport
Wairarapa’s Pinfolds Transport has serviced its community for a century. It still remains
a family-run business.
PAGE 15
Health & Safety
The COVID-19 threat is not over yet and transport companies must still follow careful
guidelines. Safe Business Solutions details the latest requirements.
PAGE 26
Around the regions
RTANZ Area Executives round up news and developments from around New Zealand.
Events Contact Us
The RTANZ combined seminars for Regions Two and Website: rtanz.co.nz
Three and Four and Five have been cancelled 0800 367 782
because of COVID-19. Chief Operating Officer: Simon Carson,
The RTF Transport Summit in Wellington has also scarson@rtanz.co.nz, 027 55 66 099
been cancelled. Editor: David Killick, Communications Manager,
dkillick@rtanz.co.nz, 027 55 44 272
August 19: Heavy Haulage Association Conference,
Administration: Victoria Higgs,
Hamilton—TBC
admin@rtanz.co.nz, 027 365 2075
August 28: Region Two and Three AGMs—TBC Membership Benefits Coordinator: Vicki Harris,
vharris@rtanz.co.nz, 027 534 3848
We welcome contributions and feedback for this
magazine.
RTANZ NEWS 3
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Cover story
Milk Maid clocks up the kilometres
By David Killick
T
he Milk Maid is a busy
girl who leads a very
active life. The Volvo
600 Globetrotter clocks up an
incredible 420,000km a year,
carrying Meadowfresh Milk
from Christchurch to
Invercargill.
To put that another way,
that’s more than 11 times
around the globe!
She operates seven days a
week, all year, except for
Christmas Day and Easter
Friday. In two-and-a half
years, the Milk Maid clocked
up 1.2 million kilometres.
Owner-operator John
Craigie, of TDJ Trucking, is
based in Waikouaiti, north of
Dunedin. The women’s team
—John’s wife, Marj, and fellow
Marj Craigie, left, and Caz Moore, drive the Milk Maid—complete with Betty
driver Caz Moore—do the run Boop logo—between Waikouaiti and Christchurch for TDJ Trucking. Abbie,
up to Christchurch and back, the Bichon-Shih Tzu, looks on.
starting at about 4:30 a.m. The
men’s team—John and Wayne
Court—do the night run, to Invercargill and back, finishing at 2:00 a.m.
John, who set up the business 10 years ago, has spent his whole career in the south
apart from a stint in Australia. “I always wanted to be an
owner-driver,” he says.
“ When he started the When he started the milk run, the annual distance
milk run, the annual was a record. The other big challenge is the major
distance was a investment required to buy a truck and
record.” trailer.
John is a big fan of Volvo. “The
Volvos have been incredible trucks;
they’ve never let us down.”
He says the Level 4 lockdown didn’t cause too many problems and all
the drivers liked the lower traffic volumes. Now, under Level 2, traffic is
getting heavier again.
Another reason for more government investment in southern roads,
surely!
RTANZ NEWS 4
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Interview
Simon Carson says COVID-19 has shown that technology and keeping members informed are vital.
Communication with members is critical
Newly appointed RTANZ Chief Operating Officer (COO) Simon Carson discusses his role.
H
ow do you see your role as the new We will be working on strategies with the board
COO? and with the association itself through its
Membership contact is still going to be members—there will definitely be some change
critical. It’s not a role that is going to be entirely seen in the future.
office-based. Regional visits are going to be How do you think the industry has coped so
quite important to the success of this role and far with COVID-19 and how has RTANZ been
staying in contact with key members to address able to help members?
issues that affect the whole The industry has come out of it OK.
industry. The other thing that
“We like to think the As far as I’m aware, there’s been no
I’ve attempted to do in this short cases of COVID within the industry.
time is make a better association offers
It’s not something that we could
connection with the Road peace of mind to have prepared for and it’s
Transport Forum to make sure members.” something we were dealt at very
we’re both working as two short notice and adapted to. The
organisations that are on a adaptability of the industry has
single page. actually been commendable at all levels—from
Are there going to be major changes? management level right down to driver level, so
Change is inevitable; change needs to happen we have seen a certain level of adaptability and
to keep up with what the membership wants. innovation.
RTANZ NEWS 5
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
One issue at the start of the lockdown was a have expired during the period right through to
lack of toilet stops for drivers. How were you roading. There have been some good wins that
able to help? have been achieved so that’s been beneficial.
It’s proven to us that open communication,
It was probably a more difficult challenge than encompassing all relevant parties, is critical
people realize, as councils, local bodies, and when we’re put in a position like this. It’s a good
private entities wanted to keep their facilities lesson learnt.
closed. However, we did work with all of these
entities and managed to get a good network of The driver shortage has been a big issue. Is
toilet and food facilities up as quickly as this still the case?
possible. The Road Transport Forum did a great The driver shortage has actually fallen off the
job as well, getting Civil Defence to recognize radar right now and the reason is COVID-19.
the urgency for these facilities to be opened for Before COVID-19, the driver shortage was
drivers. There was an updated list available probably our number one concern. We received
every day available on the website and some kind of communication from members
communicated to members through email as most days about how they weren’t properly
well. staffed, how they were finding it hard to get
What do you see as the main challenges drivers, and some sectors found it harder than
now? others to get drivers. The stock sector is one
that has seen some changes over the past year
The main challenges now will be the speed that or two, enabling them to have a relatively good
businesses can get back up to full operation. driver retention program. But the COVID-19
One of the other challenges I see is people pandemic has released people from other
being match fit to come back into industry. industries—tourism’s a great example where
Some people have been sitting at home through they’ve made a lot of redundancies, and other
no choice of their own for four to six weeks and industries as well, which have enabled some of
for them to come back into the industry and be those people to drop back into transport, should
expected to perform at 100 per cent is they choose. So the driver shortage has actually
something that is going to take some close addressed itself over this time.
managing from businesses.
How can RTANZ help members?
RTANZ will continue to help members through
the communication channels that we have, so
our Facebook page, our newsletter, and
Improve cashflow
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obviously we’ll start to have more face-to-face
in the coming weeks, and also electronic means.
with regular
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There’s a lot of information going out at the off-road refunds
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moment but it is all critical. We do try to ####################################
sectorize the information as it comes to hand, ####################################
but a lot of it does go out to the entire Is your money sitting with
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membership and we expect if there’s any ####################################
the NZ Transport Agency,
questions or concerns, that they address those ####################################
with their association or their regional waiting for you
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representatives or head office. to claim it?
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You believe there needs to be a good ####################################
relationship with NZTA. What are the ####################################
benefits? CONTACT US NOW
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0800 437 623
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NZTA as a whole have embraced COVID
www.eroad.co.nz
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relatively well and supported the industry. We’ve ################
worked with NZTA as part of a driver and freight
forum over the past six to eight weeks where we
had representatives from different sectors
coming together once a week to discuss the
problems that we’re seeing—from the COFs that
RTANZ NEWS 6
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
What role does technology play and how can critical that everyone is being kept up to date.
it be harnessed? We like to think the association offers peace of
mind to members. We don’t want anyone to feel
Transport’s been historically a manual industry
stranded, we want them to be informed and
where only recently people have started to adapt
supported. Right through the COVID-19
to the technology that’s available. Technology
pandemic we’ve had many non-members
comes in all shapes and forms—through
approach us for assistance, and that has shown
telematic systems for in-vehicle monitoring and
us that there really is a need out there for a
business reporting right through to
network support system, and that can be found
communication, how we get information out to
through the association. Also, there are many
members and also the speed that we get it out to
membership benefits—you’ve got buying
members. Communication is now critical. People
privileges and a network of discounts and
rely on that communication and we’ve seen that
suppliers to work with so there’s that as well. Our
through things like branch meetings, for example
commercial sponsors and associates bring a lot
—you don’t need to go to those, you don’t need
of benefits.
to go to gatherings to get the information that
maybe 10 years ago you had to do. It’s fed to Tell us a bit more about yourself? How do you
you real time, it’s fed to you regularly, and it like to relax?
works the other way as well—through members Relax? I don’t even know what that is these
communicating with us we can address some of days! I do like to get out and about with my wife,
the issues that we have seen, especially through Helena, and my two-and-a-half-year-old German
COVID-19, at a speed we haven’t seen before. Shepherd, Esko. I like to spend time down in the
Why else is it worth being a member of Mackenzie Country and spend a bit of time
RTANZ? fishing and tramping. I don’t get a lot of
downtime but just to sit at home with maybe a
We run a national association so we’ve got staff
glass of wine and a nice meal, watching a movie,
based all over the country. Transport is a
maybe on a Friday night with my wife is quite
complex game and people often get into
enjoyable, too.
transport without really knowing all the
complexities—like what that truck will and won’t
do, knowing how to correctly assess what RUC Call Simon Carson on 027 55 66 099,
bands they should be paying, what weights they 0800 367 782, or email scarson@rtanz.co.nz
can carry. So compliance is a huge thing that
RTANZ can assist members with. I think through
COVID-19 and the changing environment that it’s
RTANZ NEWS 7
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Milestones
Carterton-based Pinfolds Transport has been part of the Wairarapa rural community since 1920. It has a
longstanding association with Golden Shears, the top shearing and wool-handling championship.
Pinfolds Transport celebrates 100 years
T
he first of May was a special date for
Carterton-based Pinfolds Transport,
marking 100 years in business. However,
celebrations that were to take place at the
Carterton Rugby Club had to be postponed
due to COVID-19.
Owners Steve and Karen Pinfold had the
venue booked, the caterers and the cake
organised, and the invitations had just arrived
back from the printers, but with COVID-19 just
starting to rear its ugly head, they decided to
postpone the celebrations. They weren’t
prepared to put people’s lives at risk, especially
with elderly people due to attend. It turned out
to be the right decision as a week later the
country was in lockdown. Business owners Steve and Karen Pinfold carry on
Business manager Karen Pinfold says the the family business.
company hopes to commemorate the occasion
later in the year. She says a special supplement of Carterton. It was a business that carted
in the local newspaper generated a huge amount anything and everything.
of feedback and goodwill. The company has Walter oversaw the transformation from horse
always been a family business and part of the and cart to motorised vehicles. They purchased
local community. their first truck, a Leyland with solid tyres. Later
Steve’s grandfather, Walter Pinfold, founded trucks included Leylands and Austins, which
the company after returning from World War 1 were used for everything from fertiliser spreading
when he and his brother in-law, Edgar (Ted) to shovelling coal, carting hay and carrying
Follows, purchased Cornwell Mew, Shaw livestock.
Carriers & Livery Stables. The business became Walter’s wife Molly, whom he had met and
Follows and Pinfold. married in London and brought back on a troop
Steve and Ted inherited four or five horses, ship in 1919, was very much a part of the
carts and rigs, as well as a stable in the middle business.
RTANZ NEWS 8
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Ted sold his share to Walter and in
1928 the business became W. A. R.
Pinfold—General Carrier.
The great depression of the early
1930s was the most shattering
economic experience ever recorded.
The Government introduced five-mile
cartage restrictions, which were later
increased to 30 miles in 1936.
Pinfold trucks and their distinctive
livery—in the colours of the New
Zealand flag after World War 2—have
been as much a part of the Wairarapa
landscape as the rolling hills that
Walter would drive over to the coast,
together with his young son Alan
(Podge).
When Podge and his wife June took
over in 1954, the business became Pinfolds
Transport. The triangle around the “P” in the
business’s logo was designed by Podge to
represent the three generations of Pinfolds in the
company.
Alison Pinfold recalls one of everyone’s
favourite memories is June providing the drivers
with morning tea every day, brought across the
paddock from the family home next door –
scones, pikelets, sandwiches, muffins, and
currant loaf among the delicacies. It was a
tradition June inherited from Molly who
continued it for more than 57 years.
Alison remembers that “all the workers would
materialize around the same time.”
Another tradition was the Pinfold’s Christmas
BBQs, which were a huge affair.
Today, the company runs a modern fleet,
including Volvos and Isuzus, and focuses solely
on livestock cartage anywhere within the lower
North Island.
Steve and Karen, who took over Pinfolds
Transport in 2008, have kept alive the Pinfolds
philosophy of being a “family orientated
business.” [continued on Page 10]
FROM TOP RIGHT: Company
founder Walter Pinfold holds baby
Alan (Podge), next to a Leyland
truck, sometime in the 1920s;
Pinfolds have been part of the
Wairarapa branch of the RTA since
1946; Wooden sheep crates in the
1960s.
RTANZ NEWS 9
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Steve started as a driver and then
dispatcher, while his sister Alison first worked
on the family dairy farm and then in financial
administration for Pinfolds. She was later
joined by younger sister Maureen. Third sister,
Christine, also returned to work on one of the
two farms the business used to own in Chester
Road.
Podge and June’s grandson, Scott Brady,
started as a mechanic and then became a
driver, in 2007 buying his own Kenworth and
working as an owner-driver for the company.
Grandson Alan Brady worked on the dairy
farm. Steve and Karen’s boys, Troy and Adam,
worked after school as wash boys. Troy later
became a driver and their youngest boy, Ethan
(also known as Podge), now drives for the
business.
A sense of family
runs right through
“We’re the business—from
dedicated to the Pinfold family
members, to its
providing a drivers and admin
high-quality staff, to the farmers
service every who are its
step of the way.” customers.
Many of the staff
have almost become Ethan (Podge) Pinfold represents the fourth generation.
family through their long service. Warren
(Caddy) Cadwallader started in 1976 and Mike Steve and Karen would like to thank all the
Rzoska in 1981. Toddy started in 1988. Chuck businesses present and past staff for being part
Hausman, 93, a driver who worked for Walter, of the Pinfolds story, and all their loyal
still drops in and says hello to the family. customers, agents, and staff for their support
Getting livestock from A to B is only part of over the years.
the job, Steve says.
“We’re dedicated to providing a high-quality
service every step of the way so our loyal
farmers know their stock is in good hands.”
RTANZ NEWS 10Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Essential information for members
T
he Road Transport Forum (RTF) is the central for Level 3, and signed off by WorkSafe, should
point of communication for the road freight continue to be the guidance for Level 2, unless there
transport industry on COVID-19. For details, are good reasons why certain practices are no longer
see: rtf.nz. relevant. The Centers for Disease Control and
Alert Level 2—what you need to know Prevention has updated its Covid-19 advice,
available here.
New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2 on 14 May. The
movement of all freight is permitted at Alert Level 2, Other information
including the ability of business and customers to The Government has a number of websites with
send, distribute and receive freight. All freight can information about COVID-19 and operating under
enter and leave the country. Alert Level 2. You can find business information,
On 13 May, RTF CEO Nick Leggett issued including the Government support available to
this Advisory. businesses, here.
Information is available on the Government’s RUC increases for 2020
Covid-19 website here. New RUC rates will commence on 1 July, advises
From 29 May, gatherings can be held with up to 100 RTF technical manager Kerry Arnold.
people. When holding a gathering, play it safe— “The increase is 5.3 per cent and is applied
maintain hygiene standards and meet existing unilaterally across all current RUC rates. The
record-keeping requirements for contact tracing. increase exacerbates the calibration issues that arose
Cabinet will review the settings of Alert Level 2 this from last year’s increase where only some vehicle
month. types received an increase,” says Arnold.
Guidance and protocols The delay in posting this information is because in
part, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) delayed
It is important the industry maintains the high
notifying NZTA until mid-May 2020.
standards that have been set as there is still
The RUC handbook will be available closer to 1 July,
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RTANZ NEWS 11Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Road Transport Forum
Budget sets the right priorities for NZ
By Nick Leggett
—Pathway to Success—we hope that the
Budget allocation to trades training ($1.6 billion
for a Trades and Apprenticeships Training
Package to help workplaces retain their
trainees) will have some capacity for our
industry. We have, after all, demonstrated
ourselves as a critical industry to our country’s
economy, particularly in the minds of the public.
Infrastructure is a tried and true lever to
create jobs, both as an economic stimulant and
to enhance capacity for greater productivity
over the long term. So it is not surprising to see
a further $3 billion to fund infrastructure
projects. This comes from the $50 billion the
Government has set aside in this Budget to
W
recover from COVID-19.
hat a difference a year and a global
This infrastructure spend is in addition to the
pandemic make. The 2019 Budget
previously announced $12 billion New Zealand
delivered a $7 billion surplus, the 2020
Upgrade Programme. The Government’s
Budget, a $28 billion deficit.
Infrastructure Industry Reference Group is giving
Quite rightly, the 2020 Budget focuses on
advice to Ministers on which projects should
jobs as we look at about 1,000 people a day
progress. As always, we advocate for spending
joining the unemployment queue. Many of these
on roads to ensure freight can move efficiently
are people who have never been unemployed,
and more safely around New Zealand to the
and have not previously experienced poverty.
ports and airports that take it
Some commentators have
to our export markets.
remarked that it borrows big,
“The industry will be Exports will be a massive
splashes the cash and hopes for
contributor to our economic
the best, rather than delivering a very pleased to read recovery.
strategy to get New Zealand out about significantly more We are disappointed to
of one of the deepest economic
holes it has ever been in. You only support to trades see New Zealand First grab
more money for rail projects
need to look at the $32 million the training and a greater
that don’t stack up, to the
Budget allocates to food banks to infrastructure spend.” tune of $4.6 billion. KiwiRail
realise what’s ahead.
has already ruled out two
Our net debt will be 53 percent of
rail lines as uneconomic: the
GDP—that’s some borrowing.
Gisborne to Wairoa freight line and a passenger
Two aspects of the job creation interest us—
line from Hokitika to Westport. We support
the industry will be very pleased to read about
spend on rail to ease city congestion and
significantly more support to trades training and
improve public transport, but there has to be a
a greater infrastructure spend.
realistic cost-benefit ratio to any future rail
We are also pleased to see an extension of
investment.
the wage subsidy. Although, the threshold for
the further eight weeks of wage subsidy is a 50 We support this Budget’s goal to create jobs
per cent year-on-year reduction in the at a time many New Zealanders are facing
business’s income, as opposed to the original unemployment. We support training and re-
30 per cent reduction. For businesses in that training as one path to employment and we
situation, you have to wonder about their believe road freight transport can make a strong
viability going forward. contribution to this.
As the RTF hopes to embark on a road freight • Nick Leggett is the CEO of the Road
transport specific training scheme later this year Transport Forum.
RTANZ NEWS 12Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Ask a lawyer
Seek advice before starting major change
By Amanda Douglas
Government has announced an extension to the
existing wage subsidy scheme. This will be
available from 10 June until 1 September 2020.
However, not all employers currently receiving
the subsidy will be entitled to receive the
extension. To qualify, employers must
demonstrate a 50 per cent reduction for the 30
days before an application is made, when
compared to the closest period for the previous
year. Employers receiving the extension will
remain subject to their existing obligations to
retain employees for the subsidy period, and to
pay employees 80 per cent of their ordinary
income, where reasonably possible, among
other requirements.
The extension eligibility criteria leave little
W
question that this phase of the scheme is
elcome to Level 2. Following weeks of
focused on businesses affected by the enduring
significant restriction on economic
consequences of the crisis, including those
activity, we are now seeing more and
operating in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
more businesses reopening and economic
activity progressively resuming. Many businesses will continue to be affected
by this crisis, but not necessarily at the levels
However, it would not be unjustified for us to
required to become eligible for the extension. To
say that things are certainly not as
ensure the ongoing viability of
they were. We are operating in
such businesses, consideration
a very different environment to “How will employers may need to be given about
that which we enjoyed at the
beginning of the year. There are navigate and absorb how operational and financial
efficiencies may be created
still, undoubtedly, tough times the difficult economic
within the workforce.
ahead for many employers and conditions?”
employees. Restructuring
In this month’s edition, we During the wage subsidy,
discuss some issues that we are seeing as employers have generally been
businesses begin to consider the effect that unable to undertake business restructuring
COVID-19 is likely to have on operations over which would see employees let go. That
the short to medium term. restriction is consistent with the wage subsidy’s
Wage Subsidy purpose, which has been to support businesses
Employers who have taken advantage of the to keep people employed while many were
wage subsidy scheme received funding for the unable to undertake work due to, or work
original 12-week period. This means that for a volumes were affected by, the COVID-19 Alert
number of employers, the subsidy will come to Levels.
an end in June 2020. The hope is that, as we return to some
Many will be considering what comes next. semblance of ordinary economic activity,
How will employers navigate and absorb the employers will be in a position to retain their
difficult economic conditions which are widely employees without the support of the wage
anticipated to remain well beyond the 12-week subsidy. However, that will not be possible in all
subsidy period? cases and structural changes will be necessary
for some businesses to ensure their ongoing
On 14 May 2020, the Government released
viability in the “new normal”.
the 2020-2021 budget. As a part of this, the
RTANZ NEWS 13Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
In order to make employees redundant or to Our team has considerable experience in
change roles (including reducing hours and pay), restructuring and organisational change. We are
a restructure process will be needed. There are a on hand to assist members to navigate their
raft of options available to make savings on obligations during this uncertain time and to
employee costs, which often form a large assist them to achieve commercial solutions to
proportion of fixed costs. all employment-related matters.
Those falling into this category need to
carefully consider their legal obligations in Please contact Amanda Douglas, at Wynn
proposing organisational change, as well as any Williams, amanda.douglas@wynnwilliams.co.nz
obligations that may persist as a result of the for any inquiries. Members are able to access 15
wage subsidy scheme. It is important to review minutes free with Wynn Williams to triage your
these matters and to get advice before
issue and to find a way forward. Please do not
embarking on a restructure process.
hesitate to get in touch to discuss your
A robust restructuring proposal which
employment needs.
outlines sound commercial reasoning will be
key, as is the need to carry out a sound and fair
consultation process. If members are unsure
about such matters, they should seek
professional advice. Incorrectly introducing
changes may result in a business being exposed
to liability, from personal grievances, that it may
well not be able to shoulder at this time.
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RTANZ NEWS 14Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Health & Safety
Physical distancing and strict hygiene protocols are still essential under Level 2.
COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
Safe Business Solutions advises what businesses need to do under Alert Level 2.
N
ew Zealand has been fortunate that, due to being under various forms of strict lockdown, as
our geography and our collective resolve to these restrictions are lowered many countries are
lock ourselves away and restrict our seeing an increase in new cases and deaths.
movements, we have been able to bring the
After New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2 on May
COVID-19 outbreak under control.
14, most businesses are getting back to work
This has only been possible with the hard
which is great news for our economy, jobs, and
work and selfless dedication of those essential
workers and businesses who have kept our sanity; however, after only two days there was
exports and supply chains open and our already a big difference in approaches that
supermarkets shelves stocked. businesses and individuals were taking to how
If the COVID-19 virus has shown us anything, Level 2 restrictions are applied.
particularly overseas, it is that you take the virus In order to avoid following the rest of the world
lightly at your own peril. From an outbreak in a with heavy casualties, massive unemployment,
city in China in January, COVID-19 has spread to and further restrictions, we need to ensure that
every corner of the Earth. As at May 15, there everyone in New Zealand is doing their part to
were over 4.5 million cases and the virus had ensure this doesn’t happen here. The best place
caused more than 300,000 deaths worldwide. Of to make sure that happens starts in your
further concern, and despite much of the world workplace.
RTANZ NEWS 15Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
These are the most important things you can do: Additional access to sites and site deliveries
• COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe. Moving to Alert Level 2 means that more
• Keep your distance from other people in public. businesses will be operational and will be visiting
• If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work. Don’t your site. This includes increased deliveries along
socialise. with engineers, client reps, and the like.
All visitors to site must:
• If you have symptoms of cold or flu, call your
• Sign in and out using the register for contact
doctor or Healthline and get tested.
tracing purposes;
• Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your
• Follow the handwashing protocols for site entry
hands.
and exit;
• Sneeze and cough into your elbow, regularly • Follow the physical distancing protocols for the
disinfect surfaces. site at all times.
• If you have been told to self-isolate you must do Zero tolerance for any COVID-19 symptoms
so immediately.
If you or any of your team are feeling unwell or
• Keep a track of where you’ve been and who have any COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough,
you’ve seen. shortness of breath, sneezing, or a runny nose)
COVID-19 Safety Plan ensure they do not come to work or visit other
To ensure everyone is on the same page and workplaces.
you have considered all the COVID risks in your If you have symptoms of cold or flu, call your
workplace, make sure you have a good COVID-19 doctor or Healthline and get tested.
Safety Plan in place that is well communicated with Transportation protocol and travel
all workers and reviewed regularly as alert levels arrangements
alter or other announcements are made by
When travelling for work or using a vehicle
government.
under Level 2, limit the number of people per
This is a new Worksafe requirement applicable
vehicle to maintain one metre spacing.
to all businesses in New Zealand.
Delivery drivers must sign in and out using the
Physical Distancing register and follow the physical distancing protocols
New direction from government states that for the site at all times.
“people should keep their distance from people Regional travel restrictions have been lifted and
they don’t know in public (ideally two metres), with you can now travel around the country for work if
one metre physical distancing in other you follow good personal health measures.
environments unless other mitigating measures are Contact tracing
in place.”
Have a contact tracing system in place to record
People working together should keep one metre
everyone who you interact with on your premises
physical distancing unless other mitigating
and ensure that all drivers, reps, or other workers
measures are in place and greater separation
who are visiting other workplaces are doing the
where it is reasonably practicable to do so.
same.
In situations where it is believed work can only
be done safely and effectively within one metre COVID-19 is still out there, it hasn’t been
physical distancing, find ways to manage the added eradicated from New Zealand. The virus will remain
risks by adding additional controls such as physical a serious threat to our health, to our businesses,
barriers, increased hygiene and cleanliness, short and to our country until such time as it is. Be
duration of works, and wearing additional PPE. vigilant, keep your distance and stay safe.
Kia Kaha New Zealand!
Strict hygiene protocols
Enforce strict cleaning and hygiene protocols in For advice or support on Health and Safety, Human
all areas of your workplace. This includes offices, Resources, Employment, Recruitment, and
vehicles, smoko rooms, and toilets. Business Continuity planning matters, call the SBS
Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your team on 0508 424 723.
hands.
RTANZ NEWS 16Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Technology
EROAD Contact Tracing service ready to help
U
nder Alert Level 3, there are restrictions to telematics solution, which utilises the
keep workers safe, limit interaction with Ehubo hardware unit fitted into company
customers, and help prevent the spread of vehicles.
COVID-19. Businesses need to operate safely The EROAD Contact Tracing Service can
and self-assess their ability to meet these be called on in the case of a suspected infection,
restrictions. and this report can be used to help demonstrate
Under Alert Level 2, it is not life as normal, to authorities your capability to record whom
and there are some restrictions and other your employees came into contact with.
measures in place to reduce the risk of How this on-request service works
transmission. We need to maintain physical
• Contact EROAD with your employee's details,
distancing, self-isolate anyone who is unwell,
continue hygiene standards and contact the vehicle(s) which they were in charge of and
registers. One area that EROAD can help you the time period to be traced
and your business operate under Alert Level 3 is • For each stop we provide Latitude/Longitude
by using EROAD’s GPS vehicle tracking location, a geocoded address, the geofence
capability. name if within a geofence, and the stop duration
If in the unfortunate circumstance one of your • For each stop we cross reference other
drivers comes into contact with a person who vehicles in your organisation which were stopped
has a suspected COVID-19 infection, EROAD in the same location in order to provide a list of
can assist with wider contact tracing efforts. This vehicles (and therefore other employees) who
is due to the GPS capabilities of the EROAD may have been in contact
RTANZ NEWS 17Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
• To receive this free report, contact EROAD given time. The GPS vehicle tracking monitors
Customer Support 0800 437 623, and press 2 the location of every vehicle in your fleet. Data is
and this data will be provided to you to support then collected and stored, encrypted, and then
your wider contact tracing efforts transmitted to EROAD’s central database.
EROAD’s GPS vehicle tracking capability EROAD’s cloud-based portal provides you with
provides instant visibility across your fleet easy-to-understand visualisations of your fleet’s
activity.
Knowing the location of your vehicles in real
time, and also retrospectively, provides peace of Monitor your fleet’s productivity on one
mind and helps to keep drivers safe and telematics platform
businesses profitable. Telematics technology provides you with an
Your vehicles produce a huge amount of accurate view of where your fleet is, the exact
valuable data every day. EROAD’s telematics routes taken and how your vehicles and drivers
solution captures that data and combines it are performing at any time.
together to provide powerful insights about your You can also see jobs completed, which driver
fleet to help you make better, more informed, was in the vehicle and for how long, as well as
data-based fleet monitor stops made, and
management decisions. time spent at customer sites.
EROAD’s highly intuitive “Knowing the location of EROAD’s telematics
platform does a lot more your vehicles … provides provides you with visibility so
than simply monitor your peace of mind and helps to you can schedule jobs
fleet’s GPS location and the keep drivers safe and effectively based on the
distance your vehicles
businesses profitable.” location of each vehicle in
travel. It provides your fleet. Your dispatchers
sophisticated data to help can also make constant
you make better decisions route adjustments based on
about your fleet as well as automating a range of traffic conditions, vehicle availability, and weather
tasks to free up your staff to do other things. conditions. You can also switch resources around
Everything from route planning and to ensure deliveries reach your customers when
optimisation, driver and vehicle performance, fuel they need to.
usage through to safety, productivity, RUC At the same time as improving dispatch, you
compliance, maintenance scheduling, and cost can keep your clients informed of estimated
management can now be monitored to ensure arrival times, which helps build trust and
efficiencies are being achieved across all parts of customer satisfaction along the way. In addition,
your business. you can also analyse and use the data from
In effect, it provides you with a 360-degree completed jobs to make decisions that better
view of your entire operation and displays the serve your customers in the future.
data in such a way that helps you make critical EROAD’s data insights then allow you to
business decisions with a continual improvement better allocate resources, optimise routes, reduce
mindset. You can see trends that are impacting turn-around times, and plan schedules more
your bottom line or productivity, including visibility accurately. This can also help lower operating
at an individual level, from a driver to a single costs, such as fuel and labour, at the same time
vehicle or piece of equipment, to a high-level lifting the bar when it comes to providing a high
view of your entire fleet. standard of customer service.
How does GPS telematics work?
Information: www.eroad.co.nz
EROAD's telematics technology comprises
four key components, which all work together to
tell a story about the performance of your
vehicles. The vehicle connection captures key
data about what your vehicles are doing at any
RTANZ NEWS 18Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Information Technology
Go paperless and let technology help
EROAD advises how members can make their business more efficient
I
n this new world we find ourselves in,
working smarter and safely has never
been more important. Keeping your
business running smoothly and
efficiently, and at the same time
protecting staff, can be enhanced by
utilising technology.
You can improve communication with
your drivers, the back-office staff, and
managers, all with the use of smart
technology. You can protect your drivers,
protect your time, and protect your
business by going paperless in your
vehicle’s cab.
First, protect your drivers by reducing
the number of physical surfaces in the cab. The depot. Information is then either typed into a
government recommends these simple but computer or simply put in a folder in a filing
effective steps to slow the spread of the virus: cabinet. All this kind of duplicative effort will
vanish as soon as mobile devices replace paper
Wash your hands often, cough or sneeze into
and all the valuable information is automatically
your elbow, and clean surfaces. You need to
stored in a single centralised system on a
clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
computer.
and objects. COVID-19 can
remain on plastic Protect your business by
and stainless steel surfaces “It is hard to think of reducing costs and creating
for up to about three days, efficient workflows. Digital
anything less efficient than records that include
and less than that for other
types of surfaces. a paper-based system.” photographs can make all
the difference by reducing
You can help to protect
the time spent on maintaining
your drivers in their vehicles
workflows. Having the right
by removing paper
information can help you to make smart
documentation in their cabs. Paper has the
decisions to boost the bottom line. Mobile
potential to come into contact with the
devices create information that is easy to
COVID-19 virus. EROAD’s paperless cab bundle
analyse and turn into best practices, allowing
removes some of this paper documentation and
you to easily spot issues and resolve problems,
replaces it with easy-to-use digital tools.
thus creating efficiencies in your business.
Protect your time by reducing the admin
Switching to digital workflows and mobile
burden of processing paper and running Excel
devices will help to create efficiencies in your
spreadsheets. Removing paper-based and
business and help reduce costs, while
manual systems from your day will help to
generating real business insights. Don’t delay in
reduce the time you spend on admin, increase
having a safer, more productive business—go
your productivity, and reduce your lost
paperless today!
information.
It is hard to think of anything less efficient
than a paper-based system. For a vehicle Call EROAD on 0800 437 623 or go to https://
inspection, a driver fills in a form on a clipboard, www.eroad.co.nz/paperless/ to find out more
marking down everything that the sheet requires, about EROAD’s paperless cab bundle.
and then delivers the form back to the vehicle
RTANZ NEWS 19Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Driver Training
Snow and ice are the obvious hazard in winter driving, but are your drivers prepared for fog, rain, sunstrike,
and high winds, too?
Tackling the risks of winter driving
Darren Cottingham describes the main dangers and what to do about them.
T
here are three main risks for companies These are all scenarios which drivers are
that employ drivers: generally unprepared for as they don’t get much
practice at driving in them; they are the
1. Compliance risk – drivers break the
scenarios that take us by surprise and can
road rules or drive tired or distracted, so
exceed our skills to recover from them.
they get a fine or they have
an incident However, it is possible for
drivers to learn how to deal with
2. Low-speed manoeuvring “They are the these situations and drive within
– bumps, scrapes and dents scenarios that take their abilities. The skills and
that cause a us by surprise and knowledge they require are:
disproportionate amount of • Reading the road ahead –
cost to repair can exceed our
being aware of upcoming signs
3. Driving in difficult skills to recover and road markings, and potential
situations – bad weather from them.” changes in the road’s surface
conditions that cause • Braking and accelerating –
incidents and delays. staying within the limits of the
As we’re coming into winter, bad weather vehicle being driven
driving becomes an issue for many in New • Following and stopping distances –
Zealand. We usually think of bad weather in
understanding the dynamics of the vehicle
terms of snow and ice, but it includes torrential
and the friction of the road in order to not
rain, slips, flooding, sunstrike, low-light, mud on
put other road users at risk through being
the road, fog, and high winds.
unable to stop in time
RTANZ NEWS 20Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020 • Cornering – understanding how different types of weather change the amount of grip or traction available on the road • Route planning – knowing which parts of the route may be particularly challenging (for example, exposed plains where strong side winds could cause issues for high-sided vehicles), having a backup route • Vehicle checks – in harsh weather, it pays to be more diligent with tyre pressures and fluid checks • Emergency kit and clothing – when driving in snow, there’s always the chance that you may be stranded and therefore will need the right equipment to survive • How to deal with an incident if it does happen Every panelbeater rubs their hands in glee when it’s rainy, foggy or icy because business picks up. To avoid your vehicles becoming damaged, it’s important to educate your drivers about the risks while driving for work in bad weather. Of course, you should also make sure that your vehicle maintenance program is adhered to and that you are not encouraging your drivers to drive in clearly dangerous conditions. • There is an online driving in difficult conditions course available on www.drivingtests.co.nz which covers the information drivers need to know. • Darren Cottingham is the founder of DT Driving Tests, part of the TR Group. RTANZ NEWS 21
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Membership benefits
RTANZ delivers savings and benefits
T
here are many reasons why it pays to Crombie Lockwood—exclusive insurance
become a member of the Road Transport package
Association (RTANZ), says Membership Crombie Lockwood are our preferred insurance
Benefits Coordinator Vicki Harris. brokers and provide yearly assessments to best
NZI is RTANZ’s preferred insurance company evaluate your insurance needs and to assist you with a
and main sponsor structured cover and policy to meet all your transport
operator insurance requirements. They offer an
NZI’s Commercial Motor division offers more than
exclusive insurance package to RTANZ members with
just insurance. They also provide a unique suite of
increased benefits.
free and subsidised services that produce
meaningful business improvements regardless of Wynn Williams—free legal advice
your size and circumstance. Wynn Williams provide a specialty RTANZ legal team
Discounted fuel pricing scheme with BP, Mobil, offering a 15-minute free telephone consultation for
Z Business, and Allied Petroleum employment issues, agreements, health & safety, and
policy advice across the transport sector.
Fuel is the second largest cost to your business.
RTANZ has partnerships with several fuel providers Gibson Sheat Lawyers
to provide members with substantial fuel price Specialist legal advice for road transport operators
discounts through the RTANZ Fuel Scheme. If you (compliance, prosecutions, limited licences,
would like a fuel analysis done so you know if you employment, health and safety, RUC, commercial
are getting the best price for your fuel, then Vicki is contracts and business acquisitions).
happy to help. iCOS Live—transport management software
Bridgestone—premium discounts on new and provider discounts
re-tread tyres iCOS LIVE is an online transport management software
Tyres are the third largest cost for truck operators. provider for logistics and freight companies. They offer
Bridgestone NZ have entered into a key supply a discount to members of $10 a month per truck for
agreement to assist all RTANZ members to receive those who use their online transport and logistics
premium discounts on new tyres and re-treads. management software.
RTANZ NEWS 22Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Safe Business Solutions—free one-hour investments, credit cards, transaction accounts,
consultation tailored around health and safety insurance, advice, and support.
SBS offer affordable and tailored health & safety and Area Executives—advice from the experts
human resource solutions nationwide and are the Our Area Executives around the country all have
biggest provider to the transport industry. They extensive experience in the industry and knowledge of
provide a one-hour free no obligation consultation for the latest rules and regulations. Our AEs are available
RTANZ members along with special pricing. on the end of a phone for instant advice or just for a
n3 provide access to discounts from over 60 friendly chat.
leading suppliers Regular communications
n3 is a business network which provides you with Members get regular communications such as this
exclusive savings to over 55 leading suppliers by newsletter or Truck and Chat, a fortnightly email round-
linking accounts or using Trade Cards. This is one of up of the latest news concerning the road transport
our most popular member benefits that has proven to industry.
save our members millions of dollars. Members can
EROAD—sponsorship to the Road Transport
also make big savings by signing up to business
Association
network n3 and using their n3 discount card. In 2019,
members spent $5,028,335 and saved a staggering EROAD produce the most advanced telematics
$2,128,752. technology products to pay RUCs, monitor your fleet,
and support you to better manage your drivers once
Vodafone—telecommunications benefit
they leave the yard.
Vodafone provide members with a benefit for new or
existing Vodafone accounts—one month free every
For more information, call Vicki Harris,
time you renew your 24-month business contract.
027 534 3848 or 0800 367 782 or email:
BNZ—financial benefit vharris@rtanz.co.nz.
BNZ provide members with a wide range of special
deals including asset finance, personal loans,
Get help from
15,000 mates.
As part of your RTANZ membership, you can pay less for the things
your business needs, from health and safety to electrical products
and gas.
RTANZ has partnered with n3 for the last 7 years. Last year, Members
saved over $2.1 million* on their business costs.
n3 draws on the combined buying power of over 15,000 Kiwi
businesses to negotiate exclusive terms from New Zealand’s top Suppliers. That’s
what makes n3 different – utilising our business buying power means more
savings to your bottom line.
Plus, RTANZ covers your membership fee with n3 -
you can enjoy all the benefits with no cost.
Get started with n3 today.
Visit n3.co.nz/rtanz or call 0508 20 30 40
to activate your n3 membership.
*The savings shown are based on Member spend from Apr ‘19 - Mar ‘20.
RTANZ NEWS 23Road Transport Association NZ Inc. June 2020
Manufacturing
Intertruck’s assembly plant in Mt. Maunganui keeps New Zealanders employed manufacturing quality product.
Kiwi manufacturing will rebuild economy
I
t’s up to Kiwis to support local manufacturing to “Our newly released ECAS (Electronically
rebuild New Zealand’s economy, says national Controlled Air suspension) is unique on second
vehicle assembly company Intertruck. steer axles and provides significant ride benefits,
Local trailer manufacturers produce over 95 twin-steer load equalisation, improves traction,
per cent of the country’s trailers, so it is clear that and offers many other benefits. During the vehicle
Kiwi manufacturing is the preferred choice, says design and production phase, our teams work
Intertruck owner, Comer Board. collectively with trailer engineers so we can build
International granted a rare the truck chassis exactly how they
opportunity for Intertruck to build its want it. This type of production
own assembly plant, and 16 years “We provide many flexibility is not offered by overseas
later, Intertruck continues to design solutions for plants.”
provide meaningful jobs to Kiwis,
Kiwi operators.” As a 25-year-old family-owned
demonstrating it can compete Kiwi business, Intertruck engages
against large overseas assembly with 50 Kiwi companies to supply
plants. components, employing hundreds of
“Our business model reaches further than Kiwis in the manufacturing supply chain. These
being just a regular importer,” says Board. “Aside suppliers deliver high quality at competitive
from our production facility investment, we pricing.
provide many design solutions for Kiwi operators. “This new era is about looking after New
Smart design innovation has positioned Zealand first by investing in our people,” says
International as market leaders in tare and Board. “We encourage businesses to reset their
vehicle design for New Zealand. Our R&D buying patterns and to adopt the ‘Buy NZ Made’
division optimises New Zealand’s unique culture for trucks, as they do with trailers. We
regulations, such as having a secondary twin- have a loyal customer following and sincerely
steer axle spacing on 8x4 tractors to legally thank these businesses as we participate in the
achieve 27-tonne axle group weights. immediate rebuild of our economy.”
RTANZ NEWS 24You can also read
