ROAD TRANSPORT NEWS - Road Transport Association NZ
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
ROAD TRANSPORT
NEWS
Studies have shown fatigue to be a major cause of road accidents; now a major NZI report aims to help the
industry better understand the issue and how to tackle it.
Fighting fatigue
TIME TO TALK BUSINESS A new report from NZI has delivered
a surprise result, revealing that
CELEBRATING TOY TRUCKS fatigue impacts drivers differently
than many people would expect. The
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES insurer has practical advice.
RTANZ NEWS 1
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Principal Road Transport Associa1on NZ Inc. Sponsor
www.rtanz.co.nz
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
Full-time truck driver.
#########################################################################
Part-time photographer.
#########################################################################
#########################################################################
#########################################################################
Mobilcard. The fuel card that
helps you run things your way.
#########################################################################
#########################################################################
Find out more at mobilcard.co.nz
#########################################################################
#########################################################################
#########################################################################
#######################################################################
RTANZ NEWS 2
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Contents
PAGE 4
From the Chief Operating Officer
Simon Carson reflects on the challenges of 2020 and gears up for the year ahead.
PAGE 8
In-depth report probes causes and effects of driver fatigue
NZI and partners Fit Fleet have produced a major report, entitled NZI Improving Driver
Safety & Performance.
PAGE 14
Museum showcases much-loved toys
The New Zealand Museum of Toys and Collectibles, in Christchurch, celebrates
childhood nostalgia.
PAGE 24
Around the regions
RTANZ Area Executives round up news and developments from around New Zealand.
PAGE 27
Hall of Fame
Six individuals have been inducted into the 2020 New Zealand Road Transport Hall of
Fame.
Events Contact Us
Website: rtanz.co.nz
May 7-8 May 2021: Eworld Expo, Trusts Arena, 0800 367 782
Auckland.
Chief Operating Officer: Simon Carson,
scarson@rtanz.co.nz, 027 55 66 099
Editor: David Killick, Communications Manager,
August 27-28, 2021: RTANZ Region Three dkillick@rtanz.co.nz, 027 55 44 272
AGM, Wairakei Resort, Taupo.
Administration: Victoria Higgs,
admin@rtanz.co.nz, 027 365 2075
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. December 2020
Chief Operating Officer
Let’s celebrate success, but more work ahead
By Simon Carson
We are seeing progressive gains in the wider
economy but there is still an air of caution on
what is yet to come. Communication among
industry suppliers, forwarders, transport
businesses, and the customer needs to be a
critical part of what we do, and is equally
important as having the trucks to do the job.
I continue to work with Waka Kotahi NZTA on
regional roading projects across the country. We
are still receiving changes to infrastructure and
roading which simply do not suit our industry.
The same has happened with some of our
councils, where projects have been started,
finished, ripped up, and started again.
There’s a lot to be said for shovel-ready
projects, but if they aren’t fit for purpose then
I
received a well-written letter in late November they should not proceed. We have pushed for a
from a member of the public voicing their better use of the dollar on our roads and a much
appreciation of the work and the value the more effective consultation process. Whilst I feel
transport industry has in New Zealand, but also there has been some progress made, there is still
asking what happened to the “glory months” a long way to go to get to where we need to be.
earlier this year when transport businesses and Membership involvement is critical for us to
the industry were held in the highest regard in the be able to correctly address and action industry
public domain. concerns. The three big topics
The days of the transport heroes for us as an association always
were here, then appeared to be just
“The pandemic,
have been: roading and
as quickly forgotten. When the colliding with the infrastructure; compliance; and
industry waded into a period where already pressured driver shortage.
we were reluctantly thrust into the
transport network, Early adopters of the “Road
spotlight, the country celebrated us. to Success” program and good
Outside that, we never have been has created the
support from the industry to
an industry even slightly good at perfect storm.” sign up for trainees are an
celebrating our successes. We need
indicator that transport
to get much, much better at doing
operators see this as a positive
this and retain the momentum that we have
step in the right direction. Roading and
recently seen.
The national supply chain has cracks showing compliance issues are often harder to extract
in every link and with no immediate solution, this from industry. Ultimately we need to know what
is expected to continue well into next year. The your concerns are if we are to be able to work on
pandemic, colliding with the already pressured providing a solution, or escalating as required.
transport network, has created the perfect storm. Recently RTANZ has implemented a new
Disruption in key global markets, major port CRM tool which went live on December 1 as well
congestion, and the pre-Christmas rush to put as a new website introduced in late November. A
goods on shelves has created significant change in staff in Region 2 and Region 5 have
pressure on the transport industry which in 12 left opportunities available for dynamic people to
months has experienced a 7 per cent increase in join the team and plans are underway for regional
heavy traffic volume on our roads just to keep up. seminars once again in mid-2021.
RTANZ NEWS 4
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Our connection to the Road Transport Forum
is strong and offers a real value proposition for
members at all levels.
Finally, I am happy to have been given the
opportunity to lead the association in 2020
through a period of significant change, to meet
members from across the country, to work with
an innovative and proactive board, and to set a
new standard for you as members of our
Association. As the year comes to a close, I
would like to extend best wishes and a peaceful
festive season to all our members as we look
forward to a productive 2021.
All the best, and safe journeys to all.
• Call Simon Carson on 027 55 66 099,
0800 367 782, or email scarson@rtanz.co.nz.
#######################################
#######################################
#######################################
#######################################
#######################################
#######################################
RTANZ NEWS 5
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Road Transport Forum
Government needs to talk to business
By Nick Leggett, Road Transport Forum chief executive
possible, given our disadvantage of being so far
away from the rest of the world.
This is a well-oiled, logistics-driven machine,
and the government could learn a lot from the
businesses involved. They only have to open the
door and ask.
We believe the COVID-19 experience has
highlighted the need for a formalised Freight
Strategy for New Zealand. For example, we saw
the major issues that arose from trying to
distribute a flu vaccine around New Zealand
earlier this year; how does the Government plan
to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine should one
ever get to market?
And if there is no COVID-19 vaccine, what
T
are the government’s plans? We can’t be cut off
he trucking industry wants to see Labour from the rest of the world for much longer—the
engage better with the business strain is starting to show in both the supply
community in its second term of chain of goods and of skilled workers. Without
government. materials from offshore and skilled workers, the
Solutions to the issues and opportunities that big ticket projects to boost the economy won’t
COVID-19 has thrown up lie in the get off the ground.
knowledge and expertise held by We are keen to hear what
New Zealand’s businesses, rather “There are some the government is planning in
than its bureaucracy. significant supply its response to COVID-19 and
COVID-19 has highlighted a
critical need for better
chain issues ahead can only hope it asks for
advice before making
understanding by government and we have asked
decisions with broad sweeping
and its officials about how the the government for adverse impacts.
global supply chain works and immediate attention The Road Transport
how that flows through to moving Forum’s briefing is available
goods into, out of, and around to this.”
here.
New Zealand. There are some
significant supply chain issues When no, means no
T
ahead and we have asked the government for here are shades of outgoing US President
immediate attention to this. Donald Trump’s behaviour in those behind
Both through the New Zealand government’s the Yes lobby to legalise recreational
lockdown of New Zealand and its Level 3 cannabis in New Zealand. Neither seem to be
lockdown of Auckland, little consideration was able to accept the outcome of democratic
given to the supply chain and no intelligence elections.
from relevant businesses was sought. That can’t Sure, the cannabis referendum result was
happen again. close, but the No vote won the majority of 50.7
As we do with each incoming government, per cent. Most parties, including Labour which
we have sent the new Transport Minister, is now the majority party in government, said
Michael Wood, a briefing about the critical role prior to the election that they would consider the
road freight transport plays in the New Zealand result of the referendum to be binding.
economy. Some of the Yes lobby will try and re-litigate
Our economy is driven by exports and the referendum result. They’ve already started
imports—goods that need to get where they are the allegations of too much money on the other
going as efficiently and cost-effectively as
RTANZ NEWS 6
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020 lobbying side, and misinformation. the first step to doing something about that is to They might want to look in the mirror on give the Police powers and tools to roadside some of that; just saying it doesn’t make it true. test drivers for drugs in their system. We just know from our engagement—which We hope that one of the first pieces of didn’t cost anything and was not to tell people legislation the new Government turns its how to vote, but to suggest they be aware the attention to is the Land Transport (Drug Driving) legislation was not complete, medicinal Amendment Bill, which was introduced in July cannabis was already legal, and there were this year. unexplored, unintended consequences—how This new law will allow Police to test if drivers well-armed the Yes lobby was with social media are under the influence of drugs, just as they do warriors. Much of the information they pushed for alcohol. We will certainly support this Bill as was completely incorrect. And let’s just say, they it goes through the proper processes to become weren’t kind. law, which were delayed by the election. The referendum result is a success for the While our industry has strict protocols around RTF as we worked hard to ensure people were drug and alcohol testing, we cannot account for aware of some of those unintended the other road users that share the road with consequences of legalising recreational professional drivers. We rely on the Police to do cannabis, including the impact on road safety that; we need them to have the right tools to and the implications for workplaces. These were keep the road safe. the concerns of those we represent. For the record, the total number of votes We know New Zealand has a problem with received in the cannabis referendum was cannabis use, but legalising it was not going to 2,908,071–-a total of 1,406,973 Yes and help those who have to manage workplace 1,474,635 No. There were 26,463 votes where health and safety within pretty strict laws, or the voter has not clearly indicated the option for those drivers for whom the road is their which they wished to vote. workplace. None of the policy work around the unintended consequences had been done before putting the Cannabis Legislation and Control Bill to the vote. That left too many unanswered questions. People like a bit of certainty around big decision making and it just wasn’t there with this Bill. More deaths on our roads are caused by drug-drivers than purely drunk drivers. We think RTANZ NEWS 7
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Cover story
A new NZI report shows that the effects of driver fatigue are different to what many might expect—however,
there are tools that businesses can use to alleviate risk.
Better fatigue management in your business
W
hen thinking about fatigue in produce the NZI Improving Driver Safety &
commercial drivers, people naturally Performance report with the aim of helping the
picture a tired driver nearing the end industry better understand why this occurs.
of their 14-hour shift. It is easy to assume that, This report sets out to provide businesses with
as their shift draws to a close, they are at their an in-depth look into how fatigue affects
most fatigued and most likely to have an commercial drivers and the risk it poses to their
accident. However, a new report from NZI has safety.
revealed that fatigue impacts drivers differently Taylor comments: “The report is a great step
than common wisdom assumes. towards safer driving practises. There is a large
NZI’s dedicated Fleet Risk misconception that driver
Management (FRM) team has fatigue is something
analysed NZI’s Torque Data*, “Drivers are failing to management has no control
investigating five years of data get adequate rest and over. With this report, we
across 16,757 commercial have set out to change that
vehicle claims and incidents. turning up to their shift
thinking, helping educate
Forty eight per cent of all fatigued.” businesses and drivers on
accidents identified in the data the risks involved and how
occurred in the first two hours they can better manage their
of a driver’s shift. Ian Taylor, IAG’s Manager exposure.”
CMV & Value Propositions, who heads the Through better management and awareness
team, puts this down to fatigue: “A key insight of the impacts of fatigue, NZI hopes to see a
from this investigation is that drivers are failing reduction in the number of accidents occurring
to get adequate rest and turning up to their in commercial fleets around the country.
shift fatigued. They are compromised from the Ultimately, the onus sits with drivers to
get-go and are having accidents when they ensure they get the rest they need but the NZI
should be at their most rested and most alert.”
Improving Driver Safety & Performance report
Having identified fatigue as a major cause of
helps inform businesses about the tools and
accidents early in a driver’s shift, NZI has
worked closely with its Fleet Fit partners to training they can implement to support drivers.
RTANZ NEWS 8
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
“NZI works hard to upskill New Zealand’s * NZI’s Torque Data is a subset of NZI’s claims
commercial drivers, the Fleet Fit programme data. Data is collected via an online tool which
partners with leading fleet safety businesses collates data for claim and accident analysis.
around the country to provide the tools and Data is based off five years of claims and
training to help keep drivers safe,” says Taylor. incident stats from January 1, 2014 to December
“Accidents will always continue to occur, but if 31, 2019. It covers accidents for trucks and
we can tailor training around the most prolific heavy vehicles (5,746), buses and coaches
causes of accidents, we will see the biggest (7,486), and light vehicles (3,525). Higher values
improvements.” do not represent increased levels of risk, but
NZI’s Fleet Fit programme is available to all greater levels of reporting and use of Torque
businesses holding a Commercial Motor Vehicle Data across segments.
Insurance Policy with NZI.
• For more information on fatigue and how your
business can better manage its risk and the
safety of your drivers, and to download a copy
of the NZI Improving Driver Safety &
Performance report, see: https://
www.nzi.co.nz/Fatigue-Report.
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
Specialist supplier to the
############################################################################
############################################################################
New Zealand Transport Industry
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
Representing the worlds leading manufacturers of
############################################################################
lifting & load restraint products
############################################################################
############################################################################
Freephone: 0508 274 366
www.cookes.co.nz
RTANZ NEWS 9
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Sleep essential for performance at work
By Rob Thomson, Health & Safety Consultant, Safe Business Solutions Ltd
M
y bed and I are
perfect for each
other, but my alarm
clock keeps trying to break
us up!
As an employer, you
would hope that your
employees are coming to
work each day refreshed
and energised to perform at
their best.
In a recent Australian
data survey involving more
than 8,000 employees, it
was found that 39 per cent
of those employees
surveyed were sleeping six
hours or less a night. The
data indicated these
employees were more ‘Sleep hygiene refers to the environment and routines needed to get a good
stressed, had less energy, night’s sleep.
and were working more
than employees who
achieved the recommended eight to nine hours In our “new normal” of COVID-19 life, there
sleep per night. are many things beyond our control that may
“Sleep hygiene” is the new term that refers to leave us feeling anxious and can impact sleep
having both a bedroom environment and daily patterns. Anxiety, combined with excessive
routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted workloads, is impacting the ability of employees
sleep. Signs of poor sleep hygiene include to switch off from work, their sleep quality, and
having a hard time falling their work/life balance.
asleep, experiencing The good news is
frequent sleep that employers can
“The good news is that take action to
disturbances and
suffering daytime employers can take promote better sleep
sleepiness. action to promote habits for employees.
We have heard the Employers can
better sleep habits for reduce the long
stories of Margaret
Thatcher, former UK
employees.” hours employees
Prime Minister, who work and promote
—Rob Thomson, SBS
could get by on four balance between
hours of sleep a night— work and life through
however, this is a human rarity and it’s a very encouraging
different story for most of the rest of us. employees to switch off from work emails in the
For the vast majority of shift workers and evenings, on weekends, and holidays. During
employees, research shows that they need the working day, employers can encourage
around eight to nine hours of sleep to function employees to exercise on breaks, take a short
properly. It is well recognised that having a good walk, and make lunch breaks compulsory to
sleep cycle will positively impact mood, energy ensure employees get downtime during their
levels, concentration, memory, and the ability to working day.
handle stress.
RTANZ NEWS 10Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
For employees, considerations for a better Of most interest to employers, increased
sleep cycle include: sleep tends to cause employees to be happier,
more engaged and more creative in the
• Taking a hot shower just prior to going to bed workplace. Sleep (quality and quantity) may in
fact be the ultimate performance enhancer—one
• Staying off phones/devices for at least an hour that reinforces good health instead of sacrificing
before bed, as the bright light impacts the
ability to fall asleep it (as much as it pains the writer to state) as
coffee, tea and energy drinks do!
• Avoiding caffeine in the evening
• For more information, see:
• Exercising outside in fresh air
http://www.sleephealth.org.nz
• Limiting daily “power naps” to 30 minutes https://www.sleepfoundation.org
• Waking up and going to bed at the same time https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au
each day
https://sleepcouncil.org.uk
• Developing a sleep ritual/routine
• Reading (non-work books) prior to sleep Safe Business Solutions Ltd (SBS) offers Health
and Safety and HR consultancy services across
• Avoid watching TV or gaming in bed New Zealand. If you are unsure if your
For employees, eating healthily and at regular company’s Health & Safety obligations are being
intervals, connectedness with people—family, met or have queries regarding employee
friends, and colleagues (either in person or over performance in your workplace, call the SBS
video-chat mediums)—looking after their Team: Freephone 0508 424 723 or email
physical and mental health, and seeking info@safebusiness.co.nz.
counselling support are other ways employees
can maintain a sense of purpose and wellbeing,
and the achievement of a relaxed and positive
mind.
Vodafone Business Teams Plan is the simple and affordable
way to give your team, of 5 to 100 people, Endless Mobile
Data – so they can keep working when and how they want.
Open term Business Team Plan
option
Keep Everyone connected
Large
$38
without the worry per person per month
of running out of data. All plans include
40GB Max Speed Data and then Endless Data at reduced speeds
Speeds reduced to a maximum of 1.2Mbps after 40GB. Max SD streaming at all times
Unlimited Talk & TXT to standard NZ & Australia landlines and mobiles
Hotspot included at no extra cost
Landline number for your mobile, e.g. an 03, 04, 06, 07 or 09 on your 021
$7 Daily Roaming to over 100 destinations
Add Vodafone One Business Mobile so your team can work-on-the-go with the functionality of
an office phone system on mobile for $15 (ex GST) a month
Includes 5G access at no extra cost until 30 June 2021. Then $10 (incl. GST) Add-On per month
5G now available in parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown and requires a 5G phone from
Vodafone. See vodafone.co.nz/business/5g-advantage
Talk to us today and ask about your exclusive RTANZ offer
call Richard Holmes 021 902 118 or Kate Smith 021 914 524
Terms and conditions apply to the products and services offered above and prices are subject to change. For more
detailed information go to www.vodafone.co.nz/legal/terms-conditions.
C2 General
RTANZ NEWS 11Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Ask a lawyer
Employers’ responsibilities over holidays
By Amanda Douglas
One of my employees has been here 14
months now and has applied for annual leave
over Christmas. But I’ve been paying her 8
per cent this whole time so I thought she
doesn’t get to apply for annual leave?
You are only allowed to include 8 per cent
holiday pay in an employee’s wages/salary if
they are on a fixed term contract for less than 12
months or if they work on an intermittent/
irregular basis.
If that employee has been on more than one
fixed term agreement of less than 12 months,
you can keep paying them 8 per cent holiday
pay and their “leave” over Christmas is unpaid.
However, if they are a permanent employee,
I
then unfortunately, they are now entitled to four
have an employee on a driving shift partly weeks annual leave, even though you’ve been
overlapping with Christmas Day. Someone paying them 8 per cent already. You will have to
said we can agree to move Christmas Day let them take leave and pay them their annual
to a different 24-hour period. Should I do leave payments as you would any other
that? permanent employee.
Check your employment agreement. Some You should check your other employment
agreements have a clause in there that agreements to make sure that you are only
effectively agrees to do this. paying 8 per cent holiday pay
Otherwise, you need to get your for fixed term or irregular
employee’s written agreement.
“An employer is not employees, so you don’t run
You can agree with your allowed to try to avoid into this issue again in the
giving employees future. If you do have that
employee to transfer the public
problem for other employees,
holiday to cover a 24-hour period their holiday you will need to consult with
that begins or ends at any time on
what would have been a public
entitlements.” them to agree a variation to
their employment agreements
holiday but to cover their whole
to fix the problem.
shift rather than just part of their
shift. I was planning to have some outdoor games
This can mean that they would have a whole for staff to play at the Christmas party this
shift off for the public holiday, not just part of it. year. But someone said what about health
It can be useful for the employer as they won’t and safety—should I just not bother because
end up having to pay the employee different the health and safety makes it too hard?
rates for different parts of their shift and they
Having a safe Christmas party doesn’t mean
would get time and a half for the whole shift, not
you have to have a boring Christmas party, but
just part of it.
there are some factors to take into account.
However, you don’t have to do this. An
Even if you hold the party offsite, wherever
employer is not allowed to try to avoid giving
you hold it becomes part of your “workplace” for
employees their holiday entitlements, so care is
the purposes of your health and safety
needed. Regardless of what happens, ultimately
obligations. All your usual hazard identification
employees are still entitled to receive 11 days
processes need to happen, as they would in
public holiday in total.
your workplace.
RTANZ NEWS 12Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
If your games are physical (think cricket or • If you are a member of RTANZ and have an
pétanque), then make sure you have a employment or health and safety related
brainstorm about ways they could go wrong and question, please submit it to Amanda Douglas
the hazards arising from that. You would need to at Wynn Williams:
make sure you bring some first aid equipment amanda.douglas@wynnwilliams.co.nz with the
with you from the office. It would also be
subject line: RTANZ Ask a Lawyer.
worthwhile thinking about how you would get
someone to after-hours/emergency room if that
was needed. For example, will there be a car
close by? Will there be someone sober to drive
it?
Obviously, there is also a range of other
things to think about, too, for any Christmas
party, such as if there will be alcohol, how it will
be managed safely, how you will encourage
people to get themselves home safely, and
managing behaviour of intoxicated people to
ensure no harassment or illegal behaviour. We
can assist with more complicated situations and
guidance if you require it.
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
Transport law
############################################################################
############################################################################
specialists
############################################################################
############################################################################
Keeping you on the right road
############################################################################
############################################################################
CONTACT US
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
Employment | Health & Safety | Insurance | Prosecutions | +more
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
Call now for your first 15 minutes free
######################################################
South Island: 03 379 7622 | North Island: 09 300 2600
RTANZ NEWS 13Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Feature
Classic Coca-Cola delivery truck models on display at the NZ Museum of Toys and Collectibles.
Museum celebrates childhood nostalgia
By David Killick
D
o you have memories of racing cars on might like to check it out online.
the living room floor, building huge The museum features an eclectic collection
structures with the help of cranes and of toys from the 1920s to now. On show are all
bulldozers, or tearing to the rescue in fire trucks kinds, from a working model railway display, to
and ambulances? Or maybe, like me, you had Harry Potter, Star Wars, dragons, castles, pirate
World War 2 fighters and bombers flying over ships, dolls and bears, warships and soldiers,
your head in your bedroom. aircraft, the Batmobile, and of course, lots of
Remember the names? Corgi, Matchbox, cars and other vehicles. Many are beautifully
Lego, Meccano, Mattel, Tonka (“Boy oh boy, it’s made and highly detailed. A shop also sells a
a Tonka toy!”) played an outsize role in many range of products—just the thing for Christmas.
Kiwi kids’ childhoods, and some brands are still After “many years of dreams and collecting”,
going strong. Alan Preston, with support from his partner Ruth
For some, models grew Fisher, opened The Toy Collector in 2016.
into larger full-sized In December 2019, they moved to a new larger
“Seeing a versions, while others have site in Manchester Street, a Charitable Trust was
toy or never lost their love for established, and the museum was launched.
models. Long-
picture can serving
instantly southern
take you RTANZ
member
back.” Warren
Hamilton, for
example, the founder of
Cromwell Transport, has a vast
collection of model trucks.
Anyone who still has fond
childhood memories of these
toys will appreciate a visit to the
New Zealand Museum of Toys
and Collectibles, which opened
this year in Christchurch. Or, if
you’re located further afield, you Sometimes childhood toys can continue into a lifelong passion
RTANZ NEWS 14Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Alan’s love for toys started in Dunedin with
Matchbox cars, the museum website says.
“Limited to four cars each, the whole family
would be dragged into the store to buy the
maximum number of cars allowed, to then be
shared between him and his brother Paul. While
those treasures were lost in the hills and growth
around their home in Dunedin (a fact that still
irritates him), he grew to have a fascination with
miniature from diecast to lead soldiers.
“In recent years, their daughter introduced
him to new toys. He was also reminded that
nostalgia exists even in the very young when,
just as for adults, seeing a toy or picture can
instantly take you back to a memory you didn’t
even realise had been created.”
• See: http://www.nzmuseumoftoys.com
ABOVE: Boy oh
boy, it’s a Tonka
toy!
LEFT:
Transporters, a
tipper, a concrete
mixer, and fuel
trucks.
BELOW: Heavy
haulage
celebrated in
scale models.
RTANZ NEWS 15Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Essential information for members
The Road Transport Forum (RTF) is the central for non-members. To purchase, please email
point of communication for the road freight forum@rtf.nz or call (04) 472 3877.
transport industry. Visit the RTF website here to
COVID-19
keep up to date on media releases, Nick’s blog,
submissions, and advisories. WorkSafe signed off road freight transport
specific guidance and protocols developed by
General information the RTF to help businesses be safe during the
The COVID-19 website: https://covid19.govt.nz/ COVID-19 alert levels. These remain best
has general information including Government practice at this time.
support available to businesses. WorkSafe—COVID-19 safety plan
2019 Operator Cost Comparison Report— WorkSafe has developed a template to help
how to get your copy develop a COVID-19 safety plan, which you can
The latest operator cost comparison report is find here.
now available for purchase from RTF. The report
presents the results of a confidential cost survey
of trucking businesses across New Zealand
conducted for the RTF by the New Zealand
Institute for Business Research (NZIBR),
University of Waikato.
The latest survey covers the financial year of
2019. The cost of copies of the report are:
A division
$250+GST of L&F Limited
for members of RTF and $400+GST speirsfinance.co.nz
A division of L&F Limited speirsfinance.co.nz
SPEIRS speirsfinance.co.nz
A division of FINANCE
L&F Limited
Get Asset Finance
A division of L&F Limited
working for you ...
A division of L&F Limited
Talk to us to find out how you may be able to …
• Have assets making money from day 1, with structured finance to improve cashflow.
A division
• Fund of L&F
second Limited
hand assets, in line with their remaining useful life.
• Retain cash in your business, rather than rapidly repaying debt to meet the needs of your funder.
• Spread your funding risk, reducing your exposure to one financier controlling all your assets.
A division
• Access of L&F Limited
Working Capital, release equity tied up in your assets.
• Receive Fast, Efficient & Consistent service, enabling you to quickly access funds for the assets you need.
Call SPEIRS
A division FINANCE now on 0800 773 477 ...
of L&F Limited
We’ll have an Agent near you get in touch ASAP to discuss how your needs may best be met.
0800
A division of L&F Limited SPEIRS
Disclaimer: Speirs Finance is a division of
L & F Limited. All statements above are general in Passenger Light Heavy Mobile Fixed Business
nature and subject to individual application, Cars Commercials Commercials Plant Plant Equipment
standard terms & conditions and credit criteria.
A division of L&F Limited
RTANZ NEWS 16Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Technology
Mercedes-Benz’s eActros battery-powered electric truck has undergone extensive testing in Europe. Series
production will begin next year.
Battery-electric truck hailed a success
M
ercedes-Benz Trucks is continuing to trial Mieghem Logistics, an esteemed logistics
its battery-powered Mercedes-Benz company in the country.”
eActros electric trucks. Belgian logistics Laurent Van Mieghem, of Van Mieghem
company Van Mieghem Logistics is testing the Logistics, says protection of natural resources
eActros on daily distribution journeys of up to was a priority for the company. “That’s why we
200 km near the company’s headquarters in already invested in solar panels on top of our
Saintes, Belgium. new warehouse and are also investigating the
The Mercedes-Benz eActros installation of wind turbines on
will be initially used for our company premises,
delivering pharmaceutical “This…puts us in the driver which would be ideal for
goods to hospitals and harvesting our own energy to
nursing homes. Additional seat when it comes to power electric trucks and
tasks are planned to follow modern and environment- logistics warehouses in
soon. friendly technology.” future.
The 25-ton truck with a “Our interest in CNG or
range of around 200 LNG powered trucks has
kilometres is equipped with a Schmitz Cargobull always been very moderate, as they still use
refrigerated swap body, which is also electrically fossil fuels. An all-electric truck, however, has
operated and therefore emission-free. The always been on our minds and as a logistics
batteries of the truck are charged overnight at the company with a 90 per cent Mercedes-Benz
company’s warehouse. fleet, we were very eager to participate in the
Peter Brock, CEO at Mercedes-Benz Trucks Mercedes-Benz eActros tests.
Belgium and Luxembourg, says the eActros has “This is for our company the way to go to
undergone intensive customer tests in Germany, realize a CO2-neutral transport solution that
Switzerland, and the Netherlands since 2018. meets our corporate values of sustainability and
“We are proud to now have the first all-electric puts us in the driver seat when it comes to
eActros in Belgium to be tested with Van modern and environment-friendly technology.”
RTANZ NEWS 17Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Swap body with electric cooling unit from The eActros in series production
Schmitz Cargobull The series-production eActros will be
The swap body of the eActros used by Van significantly superior to the prototype in a
Mieghem Logistics is the W.KO COOL model number of respects, such as range, power, and
from Schmitz Cargobull. It has optimized safety. The eActros will be launched as a two-
insulation for the energy-efficient transport of and three-axle vehicle. Series production is
refrigerated goods. Its robust construction is scheduled to start in 2021 in Germany. In
ideal for intensive daily use. The purely addition, Daimler Trucks will embed the vehicle
electrically powered refrigeration unit operates in a “holistic ecosystem” that also includes
completely emission-free and is specially consulting services relating to e-mobility.
designed for use in distribution transport.
Insights gained from the first phase
During practical tests the eActros’s range of
about 200 kilometers has proven to be
absolutely realistic—regardless of payload,
route, or topography. The eActros is in no way
inferior to a conventional diesel truck in terms of
availability and performance in urban traffic, on
highways or overland routes.
The cooling system for the cargo, but also
the air conditioning—both electrically operated
—have been functioning without any limitation in
both extreme heat and winter conditions.
Drivers are very pleased with the continuous
availability of torque across the entire speed
range. They also like the quiet driving style and a
pleasant, smooth driving experience. In addition,
when driving with foresight, electrical energy can
be recovered through recuperation—motor
braking. It is then rarely necessary to use the
brake pedal.
The eActros: locally CO2-neutral alternative
for urban distribution traffic
While the eActros is based on the chassis of
the Mercedes-Benz Actros, the vehicle’s
architecture is completely geared to electric
drive and has a high proportion of specific parts.
Drive is provided by two electric motors close to
the rear-axle wheel hubs with an output of 126
kW each and a maximum torque of 485 Nm
each. This results in 11,000 Nm each after the
transmission ratio, which is a performance
equivalent to that of a conventional truck.
Lithium-ion batteries with 240 kWh supply the
energy for the eActros. Depending on the
available charging power, the batteries can be
fully charged within three hours (at 80 kW).
The development and testing of heavy-duty
electric trucks in distribution transport is being
funded partially by Germany’s Federal Ministry
for the Environment and partially by the Federal
Ministry of Economics and Energy as part of the
Concept ELV² project.
RTANZ NEWS 18Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Technology
EROAD’s telematics system saves you money
T
he cost benefits of GPS telematics are
many; choosing just five in a system of
EROAD’s calibre is no easy feat. While
some of the ways EROAD can save you money
are more obvious, like fuel savings and reduced
road user charges (RUC), Ehubo2’s best-in-
class technology enables a world of possibilities
you may be less aware of.
Many of these benefits are interrelated and
fall into multiple categories. The good news is
that once you start using EROAD to track one
thing, you’ll enjoy knock-on benefits in other
areas without much, or any, additional input on
and associated vehicle maintenance costs.
your part.
More on that later.
With EROAD’s super-accurate locational and
Posted Speed displays current speed
distance tracking and a host of built-in features,
against road network speed for driver
you’ll be able to spend less, get more money
awareness and self-correction. Drive Buddy
back, and even earn more in the first place by
provides real-time feedback on speeding, idling,
delivering exceptional service.
and harsh steering or braking, alerting the driver
Benefit 1: Reduced fuel consumption and logging any events for review. And at the
fleet level, EROAD’s idle reports can highlight
Everyone wants to spend less on fuel, one of
excess fuel use due to idling or a poorly tuned
a fleet’s largest expenses, and EROAD helps
vehicle. Reducing idle time and speed just a
customers do that in several ways. Innovative
little each day can add up to massive savings—
software features help you understand your
in many cases, thousands of dollars per year
fleet’s fuel consumption, identify possible
(depending on the size of your fleet).
waste, and encourage driver safety. Using
EROAD, you can: Increase driver compliance:
Monitor speeding and idling: Electronic monitoring increases
accountability, motivating drivers to do the right
Did you know that driving at 90 km/hr
thing—and do it consistently. This includes
requires 20 percent less power, and therefore
better, safer driving (less speeding, harsh
less fuel, than driving at 100 km/hr? Reducing
braking, and non-productive idling, all of which
peak speeds by just 8 km/hr can reduce fuel
waste fuel) as well as using the vehicle for
consumption by 10 to 15 per cent, not only
authorised trips only.
saving fuel but also reducing wear and tear—
When you can see who is driving, how fast,
where, and when, you’re going to enhance
driver compliance with safety best practices
and company policies. Organisations that use
EROAD’s Driver Behaviour Analytics have 38
per cent fewer speeding events than
organisations that don’t, and Driver ID alone,
linking data to a specific operator and vehicle,
has been shown to reduce overspeeds by up to
85 per cent.
RTANZ NEWS 19Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Benefit 2: Reduced insurance costs
Because the insurance game is all about
risk, anything you do to reduce your risk profile
will be taken into account. In fact, some
companies won’t cover transport fleets unless
they get telematics installed. As with home
insurance, your insurer assesses your risk
based on factors including the nature, size, and
location of your business to determine what
your insurance costs will be.
While installing a telematics system certainly
improves your risk profile, be aware that it
doesn’t automatically entitle you to a discount. finding additional savings from the more
Work with your broker to review your risk profile accurate record keeping.
every year, examining any improvements made In New Zealand, the NZ Transport Agency
and where the opportunities lie. For example, if requires heavy vehicles to pay road user
organisations have EROAD units installed, are charges (RUC)—a hassle to buy and administer
insured by NZI, and their drivers rank among manually. Using EROAD to buy RUC
EROAD’s top 25 per cent, then NZI will waive electronically and track off-road usage means
the excess in event of an incident as part of its you won’t overpay, you’ll receive the RUC
Safe Driving Rewards programme. refunds you’re entitled to, and you’ll save time
Then actually use your telematics system! and money on RUC administration.
Improved driver behaviour and a positive culture
shift spurred by Ehubo2 will naturally lead to Benefit 4: Reduced repair and maintenance
fewer accidents and a better overall safety costs
profile, with lower premiums as an indirect
As discussed earlier, better driving achieved
result.
through driver monitoring and real-time
coaching reduces collisions and vehicle wear
and tear. Another way EROAD saves you money
on maintenance is by proactively managing
servicing and repairs. In our cloud-based
ecosystem, the driver, fleet manager, and
workshop team are always on the same page,
seeing the same thing at the same time.
Drivers can perform vehicle inspections
using EROAD’s Inspect app on any mobile
device or by using Ehubo2 to record any
actions required. A pre-start inspection
checklist helps you stay on top of things like
tyre inflation and tread, existing scrapes, and
turn signal function so you know you’re safety-
Benefit 3: Reduced road user charges, bigger compliant before you leave the yard. While a
fuel rebates weekly pre-start inspection may suffice for light
By automatically and accurately vehicles, a truck necessitates at least a daily
documenting how and where you use your fuel, check. In cases where multiple operators are
you can recover the maximum rebate you’re using the same vehicle, pre-start inspections
entitled to—and put that money back into your may be needed several times a day.
business. And if you use contractors you pay
based on distance, rather than relying on the
driver to read the odometer, you could be
RTANZ NEWS 20Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Track usage and billable hours by identifying
the closest asset, the most suitable person for
the job, or if anyone is available. See which jobs
were completed, how long workers spent on
site, how far they travelled, and when auxiliary
equipment was used. And in the case of pooled
vehicles, know who is using them, when, and for
how long to determine whether you actually
need more vehicles before you purchase them.
EROAD can also monitor vehicle idle and
working time to identify under-performing assets
or drivers, improve fuel economy, and reduce
engine wear and tear. While driving efficiencies is
EROAD Inspect also tracks vehicle defects, fundamental to good fleet management, a more
logging them on a defect board in MyEROAD productive fleet also means happier customers,
Fleet Maintenance for you, or your team, to take which can translate into business growth and a
action. Captured data can be enriched with healthier bottom line.
photos and driver comments and forwarded to
the service provider in real time from any
location.
Scheduled notifications, including warrant of
fitness (WOF) and certificate of fitness (COF),
can be automatically sent to Ehubo2 to keep
maintenance on track—and your fleet in top
condition. Ensure a solid compliance record,
minimise unexpected maintenance costs, and
reduce unnecessary vehicle downtime.
Benefit 5: Increased productivity and Keep track of your assets
efficiency with EROAD Where
Fleetwide visibility allows fleet managers to
maximise assets by ensuring their optimal use. • Reduce the risk of lost productivity
With MyEROAD, you can track every aspect of • Improve asset utilisation
your operation and manage all your vehicles and • Speed up customer billing
assets using one platform. Fuel consumption,
fleet scheduling, vehicle activity, driver
Get in touch today
behaviour, maintenance schedules, and more to learn more:
can be displayed on a cloud-based portal, shop.eroad.co.nz
allowing you to respond to events as they
0800 437 623
happen and identify areas for future
improvement.
RTANZ NEWS 21Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Membership benefits
iCOS LIVE prepares to launch major upgrade
R
oad transport operators, their CEO and founder Kathy Ross says iCOS
subcontractors, and their clients all stand LIVE’s distinct features set it apart from
to benefit by joining iCOS LIVE, a web- competing systems. “We have real-time track
based solution hosted in the cloud that offers a and trace—from online or electronic data
work-flow solution for the interchange bookings through
freight and logistics industry. dispatch to proof of delivery
iCOS LIVE is transforming “We enable transport with signature or camera
the transport sector by taking operators to grow better capture.
it from a paper-based world “What we do, we do
to a paperless world—and for businesses effectively.” exceptionally well. We
businesses, that means —Kathy Ross, iCOS LIVE founder understand the transport
significant efficiency gains business. We enable
and costs savings. transport operators to grow
The company was extremely proud to be better businesses effectively.
announced as the Winners of the “Outstanding “Our unique point of difference is bringing
Contribution to Innovation Award 2016” at the leading-edge technology and R&D together to
RTF Conference in Tauranga. However, it is not connect and streamline all transport processes,
standing still and is now getting ready to launch offering total transparency for our customers.”
a new version and website which will bring even iCOS LIVE is easy to operate. Kathy says
more benefits to users. iCOS LIVE has created a spider’s web of B2B
RTANZ NEWS 22Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
connections, integrated
other software packages,
and collaborated with
competitors, to provide the
best possible customer
support.
“Our entire team is
taking the opportunity to re
imagine ICOS LIVE for our
customers. We are building
a customer centric, intuitive
solution that will enable our
customers to use our
platform in new ways and
access their data more
easily and efficiently. This
new platform includes
incorporating 10 years’
worth of wish list features
and functionality that we
plan to roll out.” iCOS LIVE is easy to operate, providing transport operators with real-time data.
The new iCOS has been
developed in Microsoft web
services running on the Azure platform and will • Photos on Delivery
be released in the first quarter of 2021. • Signature on Delivery
Customers will see a new web interface, more
• Back to Depot
responsive and informative data flows, and
integrations with Port Connect and others as • Driver Update Actual Items
more and more features are rolled out. • Record Swap Pallets
“You can think of this as us taking all our
• Record Temperature
knowledge and experience in transport industry
and asking the question ‘what could iCOS do for • Record Unique References
our customers in 2020 and beyond?’,” says • Colour Code Job Status
Kathy. If you are an existing iCOS LIVE customer
iCOS DRIVER and you haven’t yet downloaded the iCOS driver
A new addition to iCOS LIVE is also available from the App store, check it out, or contact the
now—a brand new mobile app called iCOS iCOS LIVE help-
DRIVER. desk, support@icoslive.com, and they will assist
This new mobile application has a refaced you and send you a manual.
interface, which features new and improved For more information, see: https://icoslive.com.
functions including:
• Reject a Job • RTANZ has partnered with iCOS LIVE to offer
members a special subscription fee. For
• Reassign a Job to another Vehicle
details, call 0800 367 782.
• Multi Uplift
• Signature on Pickup
• Photos on Pickup
• Transfer Job to Another Vehicle
• Add Extra Charges
• Multi job Delivery
RTANZ NEWS 23Road Transport Association NZ Inc. December 2020
Roads getting worse while costs going up
Sandy Walker, Region Three: Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatū-
Whanganui, Taranaki
must be the priority for us all—to build safe roads
that are fit for purpose and get our R&M costs
back to a realistic cost where it becomes
preventative maintenance rather than required
maintenance to obtain a COF.
The news can only be good for New Zealand
with ex-patriates returning home to work or invest
in businesses and hopefully in our industry, which
not only needs drivers but all parts of a transport
operator’s business. None of us are getting any
younger, including management, and this may give
businesses the opportunity for succession
planning or perhaps a sale if the family no longer
wants to remain in the industry and enjoy a good
life whilst they can after many years of hard slog.
This in itself will increase our population by
I
read with interest Nick’s comments on “What 500,000 over the next four years on top of the
happened to the Safe Network Programme”, predicted natural growth from 5 million to 6 million
which spells it out clearly as to what is going on in the next 10 years, so tax and income streams
with our roading network, with no one from Waka will be on the up with even more congestion on
Kotahi able to give answers on where the $1.4 substandard infrastructure if we do not get this
billion has been spent after the 2018 right.
announcement. Remember to get sorted for the beginning of
The state of our roads says it all—it has not 2021 with renewed permits,
been spent and repairs and logbook stocks, and any other
maintenance costs to operators are requirements needed during
up 55 per cent between 2015 and
“Repairs and
holiday shutdowns. I will be on
2019. The volume of resurfacing maintenance costs to annual leave from the December
work is down 33 per cent on Waka operators are up 55 19 through to January 18 and our
Kotahi’s own targets with seal only per cent between head office will be shut from
lasting 50 per cent of its life. That midday on December 24 until
pretty much sums up what we are 2015 and 2019.” January 11.
hearing daily from you the operator Thank you to everyone for the
and your professional drivers. support you have given me during
There is a very big part of the puzzle missing 2020 and I take this opportunity to wish you your
here. Obviously with COVID costs soaring and no families and staff all the very best for the festive
other way to pay this back other than increased season and look forward to catching up in the new
taxes, why do we have a shortfall in infrastructure year.
when we have had three years of a 6 per cent “Rudolph don’t worry about Trump
increase in Road User Charges and a drop in —he is already on his bike.”
resurfacing of 33 per cent, which only lasts half
the distance?
I am a regular reviewer of the contractor —Sandy Clause
magazine which publishes the results of
successful tenderers for infrastructure New
Call Sandy Walker on 027 485 6038,
Zealand-wide and guess what—Waka Kotahi
0800 367 782, or email: swalker@rtanz.co.nz
selects the cheapest tenderer every time but
usually costs just as much as the dearest one
because all sorts of variations get included in the
fine print. Money should not be the issue; quality
RTANZ NEWS 24You can also read
