Focus on the rocks, not the pebbles

Election Platform  

A highlight of this week was launching our Election Platform. This is one of the most important pieces of work our organisation does. 

Connecting people by getting them the goods they need in their lives is key to growing our economy and building our future economic prosperity.  

I’ve seen huge amounts of change, particularly over the last decade or so. By and large these changes have been for the good, especially in the realm of technology. And our industry has adapted well. We are safer. Our members’ businesses are more professional. Freight is moved more efficiently.  

However, it is undeniable that the changes occurring around us also present many challenges, and some things are getting harder. It doesn’t matter who you talk to – economists, business advisors, suppliers to our industry, or our regulators; there is more uncertainty and volatility than ever before.  

We need to move with the times. If we don’t change how we do things, we will not be able to meet the needs of our future prospering economy.  

Transport businesses operate in a highly complex and heavily regulated system. That system is dependent on many things and many different parties. Therefore, despite our best efforts, we alone cannot deliver the system we need. We need systemic changes and whoever the governing parties are (and it will surely be another coalition), they will play a vital role in providing a transport system that is efficient, safe, and reliable. 

There are no silver bullets, but we’ve identified actions in five priority areas, namely:  

1. Fuel and supply chain resilience 

2. Infrastructure 

3. Safer Roads 

4. Future Workforce  

5. Productivity and Lower Emission Freight.  

We are seeking party views on this so our members can approach polling booths better informed.  

Equally important to taking action in these areas is how that action is taken. We must take an evidence-based, risk informed approach that ensures our spend provides good value for money and supports long term prosperity. 

Furthermore, we need to focus on changes that address the substantive issues. In recent times there’s been a tendency to tinker around at the edges, with the current VDAM changes being a good example. Making tiny tweaks so something can be held up as evidence of having taken action, or even worse, deciding to defer any meaningful action, are not helping our mid- or long-term future.  

I often imagine the size and significance of the issues we face as a jar full of rocks and pebbles. The bigger the size, the bigger the problem. We need to focus our fixes on the rocks, not the pebbles.  

NZTA’s consideration of detours

Consistent with our desire that more decision-making is evidence-based and risk-informed, we are taking a more critical look at how detour routes are selected. This weekend a section of SH2 at Paengaroa will be closed to allow work on the rail level crossing by the Te Puke Golf Course.  

Operators have raised concerns about the designated detour route when it appears a much safer, shorter option could have been used. Early indications are that the analysis undertaken doesn’t consider freight cost impacts, and even the cost impacts on infrastructure seem pretty sketchy.   

We are also continuing to push for greater transparency in how funding decisions are made. We should avoid being constrained by historic funding models and stay open to investing it in ways that deliver the best outcomes for connecting communities. 

50MAX transition issues  

We are aware of transitional issues with the 50MAX project that are leading to some vehicles being unable to continue operating without suffering a productivity loss. This is the polar opposite of what was intended. We are working urgently with NZTA to develop a remedy.