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Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
ROAD TRANSPORT
NEWS
Getting the safety message across to every road user is part of a big push to make a difference on the roads.
Road Safety Week
THE DEBATE ON SLOWER SPEEDS The week, coordinated by charity
Brake, runs from May 17-23. It’s a
SAFE DRIVE POD LAUNCHED great opportunity for businesses to
team up with the community and
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RTANZ NEWS 1
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
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RTANZ NEWS 2
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Contents
PAGE 4
From the Chief Operating Officer
Simon Carson updates members on what’s happening in the industry around the
country.
PAGE 7
Cover story
Road Safety Week is being held around the country from May 17-23. Here’s how you
can get involved and help make New Zealand roads safer.
PAGE 14
SafeDrivePods
AutoSense is launching a small device which ensures smartphone screens are locked
while driving.
PAGE 29
Around the regions
RTANZ Senior Industry Advisors round up news and developments from around New
Zealand.
Events Contact Us
May 6: Fleet Day 2021, Claudelands, Hamilton Website: rtanz.co.nz
(EROAD) 0800 367 782
May 7-8 May: Eworld Expo, Trusts Arena, Auckland. Chief Operating Officer: Simon Carson,
May 17-23: Road Safety Week scarson@rtanz.co.nz, 027 55 66 099
June 26: RTANZ South Island Seminar, Mackenzie Editor: David Killick, Communications Manager,
dkillick@rtanz.co.nz, 027 55 44 272
Country Hotel, Twizel
Administration: Victoria Higgs,
August 27-28: RTANZ Region Three AGM and North
admin@rtanz.co.nz, 027 365 2075
Island Seminar, Wairakei Resort
Membership Benefits Coordinator: Vicki Harris,
September 24: Mobil 1 NZ Road Transport Hall of
vharris@rtanz.co.nz, 027 534 3848
Fame awards dinner, Bill Richardson Transport
World, Invercargill. We welcome contributions and feedback for this
September 25-26: The Road Ahead: Transporting magazine.
New Zealand Conference, Ascot Park Hotel,
Invercargill.
October 9: TFHBCC—Ride in a Truck Day, Hastings
Show Grounds
November 27: Eastland Truck Show & Shine,
Gisborne Show Grounds
RTANZ NEWS 3
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Chief Operating Officer
Young people’s concerns need to be heard
By Simon Carson
“If we don’t become proactive on
climate change and the
environment, our industry may
be overlooked and left behind.”
Livestock exports ageing workforce are over 60. A conservative
I
estimate is that within five to six years about 20
n April 2021, the Labour government released
per cent of our current driving workforce will
a statement saying that all livestock exports
need to be replaced.
from New Zealand by sea will stop by 2023.
April 29 saw the official launch in Auckland of
This announcement was met with mixed
the RTF initiative, Ti ara ki tua, “Road to
emotion, with livestock operators and farmers
Success”. This traineeship is about recruiting
the ones being impacted the most.
into the transport industry, but at the same time
The decision to ban bulk live cattle exports
it delivers a message for the transport industry
was largely based on decision makers being
to rethink its employment culture and look at
influenced by the current scrutiny that animal
how we are employing.
welfare is under as well as pressure from the
public, whose opinion seemed to have been Environmental concerns
largely supportive of the decision, and fuelled by
Young people are our nation’s future, and if
media who tended to focus on poor conditions
nothing else we need to listen to what they are
and export animal mortality rates.
saying if transport is to have the attraction that
In 2019, the cattle export trade was worth
we work so hard for it to have.
$77 million dollars to the economy. Since 2015,
As an industry we also need to give some
an average of 60,000 cattle have been exported
serious thought to the impact that moving
each year, with 110,000 being exported in 2020.
freight has on the national and global
In the same year, there were 19 large cattle
environment.
export ocean freight shipments that departed
For the past three years, right across
our shores (excluding Gulf Livestock 1) and from
Aotearoa, people of school-leaving age have
the 110,000 cattle exported, the mortality rate
been gathering in their thousands to demand
closed out at 0.12 per cent, or 128 cattle. The
their voice is heard by government on
Labour government stopped the live sea exports
environmental and climate change concerns.
of sheep in 2003 and New Zealand has not
One topic the movement strongly demanded
exported livestock for slaughter since 2008.
action on was investment in green infrastructure,
The expensive, and limited availability option
alternative vehicles, and fuels, while ensuring
of moving livestock by air will continue.
those previously working in unsustainable
Ageing workforce industries were retrained for sustainable jobs.
There is a fear that if we don’t become proactive
Alarmingly, statistics still send industry a
on climate change and the environment, our
clear and urgent message: 37 per cent of
industry may be overlooked and left behind by
industry operators continue to report a shortage
the very people we are trying to attract.
of drivers and about 25 per cent of drivers in the
RTANZ NEWS 4
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Watch your costs
The more barriers that global trade builds to
protect itself from COVID-19, the greater the
cost of doing business. Is there a reset
strategy after COVID, or does disruption and
the global trade agitation from the past 18
months settle in as the new normal?
As many transport operators look to
assess their costs and implement general
rate increases to their customer base, I urge
you to clearly understand what your
forecasted costs look like in the current and
future market and adjust accordingly. Fuel
prices are seeing increases from week to
week, so please talk to us about protecting
yourselves using a fuel adjustment factor.
• Call Simon Carson on 027 55 66 099, or
email: scarson@rtanz.co.nz.
RTANZ NEWS 5
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Road Transport Forum
Slow driving not the safety solution
By Nick Leggett, Road Transport Forum chief executive
On RNZ Morning Report the New Zealand
Automobile Association called for road
maintenance to be a government priority, in light
of the appalling Easter road toll. New Plymouth
Mayor Neil Holdom said in an article on Stuff
that Taranaki’s roads are reaching a crisis point.
In The New Zealand Herald, AA Northland
District Council chairwoman Tracey Rissetto
showed a journalist how Northland’s roads are
crumbling—the photos with this article say it all.
I guess if the government were going to
really focus on the “system”, they’ve got plenty
of work to do. We all pay for those roads and we
expect them to be in good condition and safe.
That is a very different prospect to reducing
speed limits all over the land in the hope that if
people are going really slowly on those appalling
T
ruck drivers see it all out on the road roads when they crash, they won’t die.
every day. They see things they can At a time when our supply chain is almost
prevent with quick action, or help with if broken and our economy needs goods to be
they get there on time, but they also arrive first flowing freely, slowing everyone down on the
at accident scenes that leaving scarring road slows the economy down. Journeys cost
more. Productivity takes a hit. Costs get passed
memories.
on down the line to householders. Households
Driving in New Zealand is a dangerous spend less money. And round and round it goes
pastime, as this year’s Easter in ever smaller circles.
road toll once again illustrated. We are well aware you can’t
Eight fatal crashes over the “It’s people’s behaviour fix stupid. People will get into
four days. The worst tally for
that particular holiday period in on the roads and lack of cars and do stupid things, or
walk on highways drunk, or
a decade. skills…that cause the step out under fast-moving
The government can call for nightmares.” vehicles, or any manner of
zero road deaths all they want, foolhardy actions. They will
but from what we see every also drive when they are drunk,
day, they aren’t going about the or on drugs, or both, and when they are tired
solutions the best way possible. and distracted and on their phone. The
They are fixated on speed and the roading “system” isn’t going to stop that.
“system”. But people use the roads—on foot, What we, and others including New Zealand
on bikes and scooters, and in cars and trucks of professional racing car driver Greg Murphy,
all varieties. While our truck drivers have plenty believe is that you can certainly help stupid. It is
to say about the roading system, it’s people’s well recognised that it is a lot easier to get a
behaviour on the roads and lack of skills to get driver licence in New Zealand than many other
themselves out of trouble that cause the countries. It’s just a piece of paper really.
nightmares. With that licence needs to come some skills
If we were to fixate on the “system”, roads in training. New Zealand roads are challenging and
many parts of the country are so poor, the only you can easily get into trouble driving. But what
systems-based solution is to have traffic if you were also taught how to get out of that
practically crawling. We have now got so many trouble, like the racing car drivers do? Wouldn’t
different road speeds in one journey you can be that make for safer driving?
asked to travel at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and We believe it would. The road toll statistics
100 km/h. Anyone driving in Wellington and aren’t improving. So, let’s take a holistic view of
Auckland will attest to the new 30 km/h speed both the system and the people who use it,
limit barely registering with drivers. You could instead of taking step-by-step actions to
walk faster; but that of course, is what they alienate the users in cars and trucks.
want.
RTANZ NEWS 6
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Cover story
The Auckland Harbour Bridge and other icons around the country will light up in yellow from May 17 to mark
Road Safety Week. From left: Lisa Buckingham, St John; Leah Abrams, NESA; Bryan Sherritt, Auckland
Transport; Catherine Ross, ShopCare; Chris Armstrong, Brake; Sgt. Ralph Bosma, NZ Police.
Get involved with Road Safety Week
R
oad Safety Week is an annual nationwide
campaign that engages hundreds of “The week is a great opportunity
organisations, schools and communities for companies to promote life-
around the country in raising awareness of road saving messages and show your
safety. The week is coordinated by Brake, the
road safety charity and sponsored by Waka commitment to road safety.”
Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Road Safety Week 2021 takes place from
May 17 to 23 and coincides with the UN Global employees and their families, customers,
Road Safety Week. This year’s theme is speed, suppliers, and the local community. You could
highlighting why it’s an important road safety use the week as an opportunity to train staff,
issue, and the solutions that can help us to raise awareness, or partner with local schools,
create Streets for Life. community groups, and road safety
professionals to promote safer roads. Many
Why get involved? organisations use the week to link existing
The week is a great opportunity for activities to a national event, or as a
companies to promote life-saving messages springboard to launch year-round road safety
and show your commitment to road safety to programs.
RTANZ NEWS 7
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Why is speed an important topic?
Speed is a significant road safety issue.
Vehicle speed plays a part in every crash.
Whilst it may not be the cause of the crash, it’s
a factor in determining the outcome; the faster
you're travelling, the longer it takes to stop
and the bigger the forces involved in a crash,
meaning people are more likely to be killed or
seriously injured. One in four fatal crashes
involves someone driving too fast for the
conditions. (Ministry of Transport [2020]
Annual crash statistics 2019.)
The risk of injury increases exponentially
with impact speed. A crash at 50km/h involves
twice as much energy as a crash at 30km/h.
[See image explaining impact speed and
equivalent force.]
Impact speed and equivalent force: The slower you
How to get involved go, the less potential harm.
Visit www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz to find out
• A road safety display in your foyer or the
more about Road Safety Week, get activity
local community
ideas, and register for a free electronic action
pack of resources such as posters, factsheets, • Fundraising for Brake through a Bright
and infographics, activity sheets for kids and Day or other activity—see
much more. www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/fundraise for
ideas
Your activities could include:
• Promoting road safety and Road Safety Go Yellow
Week to staff and contacts through your An easy way to support the week is to Go
internal and external communications Yellow. Brake is part of the Yellow Ribbon
• A road safety day with free basic safety Road Safety Alliance, which works to raise
awareness of road safety through the colour
checks on employees’ personal vehicles
yellow. You could hold a yellow dress-down
by a local mechanic and road safety
day, wear or display a yellow ribbon, tie a
information
yellow ribbon to your vehicle, or light your
• A road safety quiz throughout the week, building up yellow. For more ideas visit:
with prizes for the top scorers at the end of www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/fund-cat/660-go-
the week yellow.
Fulton Hogan runs road safety activities at a school. SurePlan commits to Step Up for Safe Streets.
RTANZ NEWS 8
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
What have other companies done? get these vital messages out to drivers,
families, and young people, making a big
Fulton Hogan have engaged their staff by
difference to their local community and the
developing some road safety videos,
wider communities in which they operate.”
including a message from their CEO and
some road safety observations and tips from About Brake
employees’ children and local police, along
Brake is a national road safety charity
with a road safety quiz. They also supported
working to reduce road deaths and injuries
some local schools and childcare centres, by
and support people bereaved in road
providing members of staff to assist with road
crashes. For more information, see:
safety activities.
www.brake.org.nz.
EROAD invited fleet and road safety
professionals in to present to staff about road Brake also runs Global Fleet Champions, a
safety topics such as fatigue and distraction not-for-profit membership service working to
and held a Bright Day to help raise funds for reduce incidents and pollution involving at-
Brake. work drivers and vehicles. Free to join,
“Road Safety Week provides a unique members receive access to resources sharing
opportunity to focus attention on how the good practice in road risk management such
safety of our roads impacts all our daily lives,” as guidance reports and tools for using with
says Caroline Perry, NZ director at Brake. drivers. Global Fleet Champions also runs
“Speed plays a part in every crash, and even regular events such as webinars, virtual
small increases in speed can mean the roundtables, and seminars, on a range of fleet
difference between life and death on the road. safety topics, along with the annual
This Road Safety Week we want to help Australasian Fleet Champions Awards.
everyone understand why speed matters and Members receive free access to webinars,
to join together to play their part in making information about other Brake events, and the
our roads safer. latest road safety research. Find out more and
“Transport operators can really take the join at www.globalfleetchampions.org.
lead on safe and healthy journeys and help
RTANZ NEWS 9
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Driving
How fast are they really moving?
—PHOTO: DAVID KILLICK
Is perception reality when it comes to speed?
By Darren Cottingham
A
n angry man in a Maserati recently tooted about this, search for speed-size illusion and
his horn at me as I drove around a mini Bayesian motion estimation.
roundabout in suburban Auckland. I was We use our vision to avoid colliding with
interested why, so I pulled over objects, so it’s surprising that
and had a chat with him. we can be so bad at judging
Apparently I had “entered the “A car waiting to pull speed and position, especially
roundabout too fast, buddy”. out of an intersection when something is heading
Obviously it was nothing to do directly for us.
with the fact that he was perceives your truck as The cockroach running
distracted and had to brake at moving slower than it across your floor is only moving
the last minute to give way to really is.” at 4-5km/h, but it seems fast;
me. Legally, the speed limit on the Dreamliner coming in to
that roundabout was 50km/h land is moving at around 150
so “too fast” is entirely someone’s opinion. knots or around 280km/h, but it seems slow. In
The difficulty with perception of speed is due one second, the Dreamliner covers 1.2 times its
to how our eyes function and it causes serious own length—it is 63m long and travels 77m in a
issues for truck drivers. To put it simply, smaller second. However, the cockroach covers over 45
objects appear to be moving faster than bigger times its own length in one second. The relative
objects. If you’re interested in reading more speed in relation to size has some impact.
RTANZ NEWS 10Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Applying this concept to you driving your 20- realising what he was doing wrong shows just
metre long truck at 90km/h, you’re covering 1.25 how difficult driving is for the average person.
times the length of your truck every second, but This is the average driver: a person you have to
a car covers five times its length and a motorbike deal with on the road every day.
covers 12 times its length every second. A car You can’t change people’s perception of your
waiting to pull out of an intersection perceives speed, but you can be ready to react if another
your truck as moving slower than it really is, driver makes an error. Use defensive driving
which leads drivers to think they’ve got enough techniques to anticipate what other drivers will
time to get out in front of you. The same happens do and to position your truck on the road in the
when a driver is pulling out to overtake, thinking optimal place for the best visibility. As a car
you’re in the distance travelling at 60km/h, but driver, you can be aware of this and adjust how
you’re doing 90km/h. you think about larger vehicles on the road.
The perception of speed is even worse if you Keep your skills fresh, even if it’s just doing
add in low light or mist, or if the driver is tired. some free Road Code quizzes so that you’re not
All this begs the question of whether perception that guy in the Maserati.
is reality. Let’s get back to the angry man in the
• Darren Cottingham is GM of DT Driver Training.
Maserati. He didn’t indicate correctly when he
See: www.drivertraining.co.nz.
exited the roundabout and he tailgated me for
the next three kilometres. His examples of poor
driving are easy to measure (and easy to correct
by knowing the Road Code), but his annoyance
with what he thought I’d done wrong without
Essential information
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The Road Transport Forum (RTF) is the central
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point of communication for the road freight ####################################
transport industry. Visit the RTF website here to ####################################
keep up to date on media releases, Nick’s blog, ####################################
submissions, and advisories. ####################################
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General information
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The COVID-19 website: https://covid19.govt.nz/ ####################################
has general information including Government ####################################
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support available to businesses. Keep track of your assets
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COVID-19 with EROAD Where
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WorkSafe signed off road freight transport specific ####################################
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RTANZ NEWS 11Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Driving
Fleetcoach, developed together with the University of Waikato, is an interactive way for professional drivers to
improve their skills .
Practise online to improve your driving skills
By David Killick
E
asy! Look at the screen. You are the driver. driving skills with Fleetcoach, says Chief
Now tap on the hazards as they appear. Operating Officer, Craig Cockerton.
How many can you spot? “We help people become better and safer
Actually, it’s not that easy. There’s a lot to drivers. Regardless of how good people think
observe. An intersection is coming up. A they are, everyone can improve.”
pedestrian is about to step out onto the road. A Fleetcoach traces its origins to 2010, when
driver is getting out of his vehicle. Watch out for Dr. Robert Isler, from Waikato University, and his
traffic lights, warning signs, uneven road team came up with a program aimed to cut New
surface. Zealand’s high road toll, especially among
These are just some of the young drivers. They
potential hazards you have to developed eDrive, an online
successfully identify in order “Regardless of how good program for learner drivers, in
to pass Fleetcoach’s online people think they are, collaboration with Waka
driving course. Kotahi NZ Transport Agency,
Fleetcoach consists of 14
everyone can improve.” and the Accident
courses, covering the core —Craig Cockerton, COO Compensation Corporation
skills of hazard perception and Fleetcoach (ACC). eDrive is still part of
awareness and includes the AA Defensive Driving
subjects such as Fatigue, course. Fleetcoach was then
Distraction and Inattention, Speed, Reversing launched in 2014 to help another at-risk group
and Slow Speed, Electric Vehicles, and Fuel- of drivers—those who drive for work.
efficient Driving. Recent courses on Stress and Training is specific for New Zealand
driver Values expand Fleetcoach’s wellbeing scenarios and roads (one video shows Newtown
approach to driver training. Courses generally in Wellington, another shows a rural road), while
range from 10 to 20 minutes in duration with the Australia has its own scenarios. Cockerton says
core Skills Awareness training taking around 60 courses provide all the guidance to help give
minutes. drivers the best practice. They are business
Upwards of 160,000 drivers through New focused and ideal for any organization, no
Zealand and Australia have improved their matter how large or small, or what type of
RTANZ NEWS 12Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
The benefits and values
of Fleetcoach are clear
and can be measured
in several ways.
vehicle they drive. Part of the reason for Fleetcoach’s
“Road safety and driver safety become part effectiveness is down to research and
of their culture—how to build that safety culture. technology. The programs are research backed
If people talk about road safety, they will share and evidence-based and harness the latest
situations, and talk about them. It’s about videos of real roads and conditions.
making sure everybody feels safe.” “It is incredibly effective—the more realistic
He says the benefits and values of we can make it, the more it transfers to what
Fleetcoach are clear and can be measured in people are doing on the road and the realism
several ways. “The outcomes they expect draws people into the training,” says Cockerton.
depends on their approach to driver training.”
Organizations that completed Fleetcoach • For more information or to join, see:
courses have seen their total number of www.fleetcoach.com.
incidents drop with the severity of incidents also
dropping, In some cases, the reporting on near
misses has risen thanks to the stronger driver
safety culture in the business. One company
recorded a 54 per cent drop in the total cost of
vehicle related incidents over a four-year period.
Investing in making sure drivers have the
requisite skills, exhibit safe driving behaviors
and keep up to date pays off.
RTANZ NEWS 13Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Health & safety
AutoSense Ambassador
Greg Murphy reckons
SafeDrivePod will
change driver
behaviour, especially
among cell phone-
dependent young
people.
SafeDrivePod launches in New Zealand
N
ew Zealand’s roads are about to become reduces distraction, some behaviours,
just that little bit safer, with the launch of especially device-based distraction, remain
SafeDrivePod—a small device which stubbornly present. SafeDrivePod offers a
ensures smartphone screens are locked while perfect solution to ensure distraction from the
driving. phone is reduced as the phone screen is locked
Available for both Android and iOS, while driving, enabling drivers to still
SmartDrivePod allows hands-free options communicate using hands-free options but
(voice-activated calling and car kit) to be used, keeping their eyes firmly focused on the road.”
as are navigation apps on AutoSense Ambassador
Android (Google Maps, Greg Murphy also sees
Waze, etc.), and iOS (Apple “This small pod will reduce SafeDrivePod as a game
Maps).
driver distraction and keep changer. “This small pod will
The device was reduce driver distraction and
developed in The our roads safer.” keep our roads safer,” says
Netherlands after the Murphy. “It will also drive a
—Greg Murphy, AutoSense Ambassador
founders saw an increasing no texting, no video calling
trend in traffic accidents in behaviour from young
line with smartphone usage and app creations. drivers as they get used to driving with the
In New Zealand, Transport Minister Michael device in the vehicle.”
Wood recently revealed that 22 drivers died With SafeDrivePod having just launched in
while distracted by their phones between 2015 the middle of April, there has already been a lot
and 2019. of interest from fleet owners. At $250 per
AutoSense is now distributing SafeDrivePod device, it really is an easy option to keep fleet
to the New Zealand market. “Over the past five drivers and all road users safer by keeping their
years we have tracked fatigue and distraction eyes on the road.
events with Guardian by Seeing Machines,”
says CEO Charles Dawson. “What we have • Find out more at www.autosense.co.nz/
found is that while the installation of the driver safedrivepod.
monitoring system (Guardian) substantially
RTANZ NEWS 14Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Membership benefits
Special offer from Whale Watch Kaikoura
R
TANZ is delighted to have
secured generous support
from Whale Watch Kaikoura
in the form of vouchers and
special discounts for members.
Whale Watch will provide
vouchers to auction off at the 31st
RTANZ South Island Seminar, to
be held at the Mackenzie Country
Hotel, in Twizel, on June 26; and at
the RTANZ North Island Seminar,
to be held at the Wairakei Resort,
Taupo, on August 28.
Prizes comprise two family
vouchers (for two adults and two
children) valued at $420 each.
Proceeds from the auction will
help raise funds for the Life
Education Trust for a new truck.
RTANZ Senior Industry Advisor
John Bond says The Road
Transport Association supports
the Life Education Trust and the
work they do with children,
promoting health using “Harold
the Giraffe”.
“We are looking at raising
funds, by initiating a Dutch auction
at both seminars, to raise money for a
second-hand tractor unit to tow their
classrooms to their schools within the Whale Watch is also offering a 50 per cent
Canterbury, Marlborough, and Nelson discount package to RTANZ members and
regions.” their staff and families.
Whale Watch is also offering a 50
per cent discount package to RTANZ
members and their staff and families.
The discounts give members the opportunity “The need for our members to take a break,
to be part of the Kiwi Whale Watchers Club and and to enjoy what we have here in this country,
are valid until October 31, 2022. There is no is not only vital for our businesses and our
restriction on the number of tours travelled members’ wellbeing, but also vital in looking
during the special period, and there is also a 20 after our tourist entities, who many people rely
per cent discount off any purchases over $20 at on.”
the Whale Watch Gift Shop. (Conditions apply.)
• To take advantage of the Whale Watch
John Bond says he is thrilled with Whale
special offer, email inquiries to Vicki Harris,
Watch’s generous offer. “Throughout both the
earthquake and the COVID-19 lockdown vharris@rtanz.co.nz with “Kaikoura Whale
periods, our industry drivers were able to Watch” in the subject field.
continue working, as ongoing service
providers…
RTANZ NEWS 15Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Ask a lawyer
The law on trial periods at work is clear
By Amanda Douglas
• Must be agreed in good faith (i.e., you
cannot force employees to agree to a trial
period)
• Must outline the exact duration of the
period (can be less than 90 days, but not
more)
• Must include a valid notice period for
dismissal during the trial.
If you do have staff members on trial
periods, you must treat them the same as
your other employees. They still have all
minimum employment rights and
responsibilities. They can still bring personal
grievances against you based on things like
discrimination, and sexual or racial
I
have 21 staff and am about to employ three harassment.
more. Can I use 90-day trials for these new What are my obligations around the new
employees? bereavement leave for miscarriages and
Trial periods allow employers to dismiss stillbirths?
new employees, within a certain timeframe, As of March 31, 2021, employees have the
without giving reasons. They can be used in right to bereavement leave in the event of a
any industry for any job. If you dismiss a staff miscarriage or stillbirth.
member using an invalid trial Employees can take up to
provision, they can bring a three days’ paid leave if they
personal grievance for “If you do have staff
or their partner experiences
unjustified dismissal. members on trial a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Unfortunately, you will not periods, you must treat This also applies to people
be able to use trial periods for planning to have a child
these three new staff. Only them the same as your
through surrogacy or
employers with 19 or fewer other employees.” adoption, if that pregnancy
staff (at the beginning of the ends in either of those ways.
day on which the employment The leave can be taken at
agreement is entered into) may any time and for any purpose
use trial periods. relating to the miscarriage or stillbirth. It does
Checklist for a valid trial period: not need to be taken straight away or on
consecutive days. Employees are not
• 19 or fewer employees at the
required to provide you with proof of
commencement of employment
pregnancy, miscarriage or stillbirth.
relationship
The existing rules on bereavement apply in
• Must be a new employee (i.e., has not that employees become eligible for
worked for you before) bereavement leave after six months. You
need to pay your employee their normal daily
• The period must be agreed to in the
pay or average daily pay for each day of
employment agreement
bereavement leave that would otherwise be a
• The employment agreement must be working day.
signed before the employee starts work
RTANZ NEWS 16Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
My staff have some pretty harsh banter general assistance with the process,
with each other. What do I do if someone providing external counselling, or language
makes a complaint about bullying? and cultural support if needed. Depending on
the seriousness of the accusations, you may
As the employer, you are responsible for need to take steps like separating the
setting the standard of what is acceptable complainant and the person complained
behaviour in the workplace. Allowing bullying about, or potentially suspending the person
may breach your health and safety complained about.
obligations to your staff. By having If complaints are made about you as the
appropriate and thorough policies, you may employer, you must make sure the
reduce your liability if unacceptable events investigation is done by an independent
take place. party, not by someone you employ.
Work environments should be free from After the investigation you should take
intimidation and inappropriate behaviour. the appropriate disciplinary action and
Building a positive workplace culture is continue to support the complainant as
crucial. Staff banter can be healthy and needed. You should also consider the
positive, but you must ensure it doesn’t cross adequacy of your policies and have a
the line into bullying. Bullying may include think about your general culture, including
victimising, humiliating, intimidating or ways in which these instances can be
threatening a person. You should draft prevented.
workplace policies and be clear about what
kinds of behaviour are and aren’t acceptable. • If you are a member of RTANZ and have
If you feel the banter is going too far you an employment or health and safety
should talk to those involved and remind related question, please submit it to
them of your policies’ contents. Amanda Douglas at Wynn Williams:
If you do get complaints of bullying, you amanda.douglas@wynnwilliams.co.nz
should investigate them straightaway. By with the subject line: RTANZ Ask a
“letting things slip” you risk creating a culture Lawyer. Feel free to also make use of
where poor behaviour is tolerated. Your Wynn Williams’s Legal Helpline, in which
policies should define the internal processes
the first 15 minutes is free for RTANZ
for resolution. Investigations should be
members, by calling Amanda on (03) 379
impartial and fair to all parties involved. You
should keep everyone informed and up to 7622.
date. Support should be offered, particularly
to the complainant. This could include
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RTANZ NEWS 17Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
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
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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
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RTANZ NEWS 18Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Technology
Seven things we’ve learned in seven years
By Marie-Claire Andrews
M
yTrucking is seven years old this month. 1. Owner Operators are king (and
The original MyTrucking prototype queen!)
application was developed by founder
Sam Orsborn for a couple of mates at Wairarapa The journey from “driving-for-
someone" to “driving-for-yourself” to
Livestock Transport (WLT).
owning multiple trucks and hiring drivers
Not long after getting it up and running
“but-still-driving-most-days” is one we
at WLT, Josh Hawkins from
work alongside all the time. Most owner
Martinborough Transport saw it and asked
truck operators work around the clock
for a copy. Jump forward a bit to late
and never rest, although watching the
2013, another trucker caught wind of this
next generation grow up and pick up the
software and asked for a copy, too.
reins is a bonus.
Sam, being the smart dude he is, knew
you can't just keep making copies of a 2. The domestic industry is far bigger
database file, so he hired a team, and the than we imagined
rest is history! Our software is now cloud-
based, and in the offices of over 400 COVID rocked the world, but as
transport companies, across four essential services in New Zealand and
countries and in the hands of more than Australia, our customers flourished and
5,000 drivers. Along the way we’ve learnt with economic conditions still good for
a lot, but it boils down to these seven most of them, we’re seeing amazing
things: growth in their vehicle numbers.
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RTANZ NEWS 19Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
3. Be great at what you’re good at
“Real people get respect and
This is an industry where we all have our role
to make it work well. So, we’re good at software.
there’s no time for fluff, fancy
You’re good at transporting, your drivers are talk, or faffing about.”
good at driving (there’s no way you’d want me
behind the wheel!). We sometimes hear "I’m not
good at tech” (see point 6 for more) and we
always answer—you don’t have to be, we are.
4. Want to get ahead, get real software platforms at once. But it’s got to help
get the job done, not add a job to do.
Real people get respect and there’s no time
for fluff, fancy talk, or faffing about. Genuine care 7. It’s a tight community
and connection get appreciated and don’t have It doesn’t take long for a good idea, a good
to be sugar coated or shined. It’s a busy working person, or a good piece of software to be shared
day where minutes matter, so we’ve learned to across the wires, north and south. And it’s not
keep it simple and be real. just the old boy’s network; the thriving Facebook
5. You can’t stay parked for too long groups for truckers, for women in trucking or just
for sharing epic truck pics are proof that this
Like all industries, ours is evolving. Safety, industry is especially connected. Everyone
compliance, training, software, people— knows everyone—so reputation matters.
everything changes. We’re evolving so we can
continue to make dispatchers’ lives easy,
drivers’ days less stressful, and owners dreams • More information: www.mytrucking.co.nz
more peaceful—we’ve updated our software
more than 40 times in the last year!
6. Tech is appreciated when it goes unnoticed
Don’t think transporters aren’t tech minded.
Sure, we’re still migrating a few off the paper
diary but we’ve learnt that tech will be embraced
when it’s so simple it can slip into the working
day without a ripple. We’ve seen high-tech cabs
with multiple devices, and dispatch offices with
fancy screens displaying several integrated
RTANZ NEWS 20Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Membership benefits
Z and Caltex Apps make topping up easy as
A
t Z, we know life can the pump—then all you need to
sometimes put you do is fuel up.
under the pump, so, It’s that easy! Pay by plate is
we wanted to make fuelling currently only available using
up even speedier. your Z Business Card in the Z
You now have more ways app, Find out more here: Pay
to pay, using the Z and with Z App | Z. Only on the Z
Caltex Apps. App!
Making your payments Want to opt out? If this is a
fast, contactless and easy as, feature you don’t want to have at
and available at all Z and an account level, we can also
Caltex stations, nationwide. switch it off for you, if you like to
It’s a no brainer really. keep things classic— if this is
Pay in app allows you to something you want to opt-out
fuel up with your phone: Just pre-set your Z of, please contact our team at
Business account details in the app, then fuel up Zbusiness@z.co.nz.
and go! This feature is available using your Z
Business Card on both the Z App and Caltex • For more info or to read the FAQs, please see
App. Find out more here: Pay with Z App | Z and more at our dedicated Pay with app site: Pay
Pay-in-app is here. | Caltex with Z App | Z.
Pay by plate is the speediest way to pay, • For more information on RTANZ fuel
previously known as Fastlane. Our cameras discounts, call Vicki Harris, 027 534 3848 or
simply read your number plate and we unlock email: vharris@rtanz.co.nz.
A BIG
DEAL FOR MEMBERS
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RTANZ NEWS 21Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Membership benefits
Exclusive insurance package for members
A
s a business, you
need insurance for
more than just trucks;
you need cover to keep you
moving. Road transport
comes with a unique set of
risks. Breakdowns, illness,
and accidents happen and
when they do, it pays to be
prepared so that you can get
back to business as quickly
as possible.
As RTANZ’s preferred
insurance broking partner,
Crombie Lockwood has
years of experience
safeguarding transport
businesses, and has
developed a package
exclusively for RTANZ
members. Road transport comes with a unique set of risks, for which businesses
The package protects need to have the best insurance cover.
your trucks, other vehicles,
stock, business income and improvements will be automatically updated on
assets, and also provides liability and personal your policy.
accident cover.
Personal accident cover
Crombie Lockwood will analyse your
business needs and evaluate the risks you face Should a serious injury or death occur, you
to provide you with an insurance package that can receive financial support for your driver or
covers your total business. their family.
Designed to give you peace of mind, the Fuel contamination
package provides the certainty of market value Cover for mechanical or electrical
cover (i.e., cover based on the market value of breakdown as a result of filling up with the
the lost vehicle/item at the wrong fuel or additive.
time of loss). There are also
Towing costs
additional covers and “Crombie Lockwood will
benefits for you to choose If your truck has a
from.
provide you with an mechanical or electrical
The package includes the insurance package that breakdown—even if there
following benefits exclusive covers your total business.” wasn’t an accident—
to RTANZ members: you’re covered for towing
Off-road tyre damage costs to get the vehicle
somewhere safe for repair.
Cover for any tyre damage sustained while Nil excess.
your usually on-road vehicle is off-road such as
in a quarry, construction site, or landfill. Driver care
Cover-PLUS If a driver is hospitalised away from home,
they will need family support, and this covers
To make sure your cover keeps pace with a those travel and accommodation costs, or even
changing market, any insurer conditions and counselling in the event of a fatality. Nil excess.
RTANZ NEWS 22Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Driver’s effects in the cab Optional covers
The sleeper cab is your driver’s home away These covers can be purchased for an
from home so in an accident, the company additional cost:
covers the loss of personal items kept in the • Loss of use covers loss of vehicle use for the
cab. Nil excess. time it takes to resolve your claim.
Scanners and tablets • Loss of revenue provides cover for any
Cover for accidental loss of laptops, reduction in revenue experienced as a result of
scanners, and tablets. an accident that takes your truck off the road.
Hydraulics lifts, hoists, and rams 24/7 accident support with CL Assist
Accident or not, this covers all fixed hydraulic The RTANZ insurance package comes
lifts, hoists, and rams for mechanical breakdown complete with an accident assistance service
or failure, but not wear and tear. available 24/7, New Zealand-wide.
It gives you access to vehicle recovery and
Coroner inquiry costs
towing services, and no matter the size of the
If your vehicle is involved in a fatality this accident, you will receive direct support from the
provides cover for the legal, travel, and time of the accident right through until the claim
accommodation costs incurred for you or your process is complete.
driver to attend and provide evidence at a Your claim will be automatically lodged and a
coroner’s hearing. repair manager notified.
New replacement of loading equipment Crombie Lockwood aims to get you a cash
If you have fixed loading gear (less than three payment or a repair/replacement plan within 48
years old) that is damaged in an accident, it will hours. Where the claim is complex and that’s
be replaced with a new machine. not possible, they will do what they can to get
you sorted as quickly as possible.
Relief drivers Claims team are on hand 24/7, 365 days of
Sometimes it takes your driver longer to the year.
come right than it does to fix a truck. This
covers the cost of a replacement driver until • For more information, call Vicki Harris, 027 534
your own one can get back in the cab. Nil 3848 or email: vharris@rtanz.co.nz
excess.
Crombie Lockwood—helping kiwis of all kinds
C
rombie Lockwood has been helping New
Zealanders protect what is important for
over 40 years—their businesses and
homes, their incomes, their assets, their
families, and their futures.
Crombie Lockwood started in 1978 in a
small office in Napier. It now has a team of
around 900 insurance industry professionals in
more than 25 local offices.
The company arranges business insurance,
personal insurance, and life and health
insurance on behalf of over 100,000 clients
throughout New Zealand, placing insurance from extinction.
premiums of around $1 billion. In 2014, Arthur J Gallagher & Co (Gallagher)
Crombie Lockwood is active in caring for purchased Crombie Lockwood. Gallagher is the
communities and is an official partner of Kiwis fourth largest insurance broker globally with a
for kiwi. This partnership established heritage as a family-run agency since 1927.
the Crombie Lockwood Kiwi Burrow, a Gallagher has been voted one of the World’s
dedicated kiwi incubation, hatching, and Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere
brooding facility, which is helping to save kiwi Institute for the last eight years running.
RTANZ NEWS 23Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021 RTANZ NEWS 24
Road Transport Association NZ Inc. May 2021
Health and safety
Managing contractors’ responsibilities
By Jason Shepherdson, SBS Health & Safety Consultant
T
he Health &
Safety at Work
Act 2015 (HSWA)
clearly states that a
business (PCBU,
Person Conducting a
Business or
Undertaking) cannot
“contract out of its
duties". What does this
mean to you? It means
you must consider the Choosing contractors requires careful consideration to keep everyone safe on site.
risks involved of a —Photo: USACE HQ
contractor completing
work on your behalf
example, the main contractor is the PCBU that is
and especially when on a site controlled by you.
onsite and has ultimate control of the site and
This is regardless of whether that is on a
therefore would have Primary Duty of Care.
construction site with multiple PCBUs or
Their duties would include setting out roles,
maintenance and repair to your site/premises,
responsibilities, and accountabilities, explaining
including service and cleaning arrangements.
so everyone understands expectations,
The HSWA states that the identifying responsibilities for
more control your business reporting incidents, injuries,
has over the site, the workers, “Businesses working and any additional hazards and
and the project/task, then the together on a project need risks, and how they will be
more responsibility you are
likely to have regarding the to consult, cooperate, and managed.
Businesses working
health and safety of those coordinate.” together on a project need to
involved. This does not mean consult, cooperate, and
you carry all the responsibility, coordinate. Examples of how
but that you’re in the best position to control the this can be done include agreeing on common
risks. health and safety goals; safety initiatives and any
An example of this is in construction: The KPIs in achieving them; providing opportunities
principal will engage a main contractor to for contractors and workers to communicate with
construct a new commercial building. They in turn each other; and planning ahead for each stage of
engage a number of contractors to deliver their the work—how will the work affect other
respective trades. Those contractors may then businesses and the public?
sub-contract out some of those trades to In summary, it requires identifying the health
subcontractors. Adding to that, the project may and safety risks that need managing and agreeing
also involve other upstream PCBUs, e.g. legal, how to control them. This means everyone needs
design, survey, or other specialist services. These to work together to keep anyone, who might be
are all PCBUs in their own right but in this affected by their work, safe.
RTANZ NEWS 25You can also read
