It’s been another big week in advocacy across a range of local issues which have much wider significant impacts on communities and the economy.
Policy and advocacy
These issues include:
- NZTA’s Notice of Requirement for the Rolleston Overbridge project, which could have a major negative impact on trucks being able to proactively use a weigh bridge,
- NZTA’s change of mind on upgrading the Pekatahi Bridge which carries traffic between Port of Tauranga and Gisborne,
- and risks related to operators that are genuinely by-passing the new Ohakea CVSC site.
At a much wider level, a highlight of the week was meeting with ACT’s Laura McClure to discuss a bill she has been pivotal in introducing – the Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill.
Transporting New Zealand is speaking at Select Committee next week about our support for this bill. The issue isn’t about excusing bad behaviour by employers or employees, it’s about promoting and providing an avenue for an amicable resolution to employment terminations while safeguarding the rights of employees.
As reflected in the recent National Road Freight Survey results, road freight companies really value their staff. And bearing in mind the challenges of recruiting new drivers, the termination of a person’s employment contract is a last resort.
Typically termination issues are those which involve very real safety implications of unfit drivers being on the road, particularly when there is no commitment from the driver to change those unsafe behaviours, such as drug use, excessive speeding and logbook breaches.
For the safety of all road users, and to avoid unfairly penalising the road freight companies with expensive, drawn-out employment proceedings which result in a loss of productivity and an opportunity cost, they need to get unsafe drivers off the road immediately, followed by prompt termination when appropriate.
Celebrating achievement and success
I was honoured to be invited by the council of the NZ Truck-Trailer Manufacturers Federation (TTMF) to attend its AGM last week and to present and witness an award ceremony.
I still clearly recall the first AGM I attended which was in 1996 shortly after I joined LTSA. We travelled to Pakatoa Island in the Hauraki Gulf, an island owned by a member that had been instrumental in the introduction of the first B-train here, and a great time was had by all. Nothing’s changed in regard that association knowing how to have a great time!
While we often talk about NZ being a technology taker and heavily reliant on global OEMs, it’s important we don’t forget that the vast majority of heavy trailers were built here back then, and even now.
The technology and innovation demonstrated by this sector is as good or better than anywhere else in the world. This is particularly true in the specialised trailer sector as is evidenced by the fact that NZ exports trailers.
At the meeting I had the pleasure of presenting Neil Boyes, who founded Tanker Engineering Services Ltd in 1994, with a TTMF life membership award.
As much as his length of time in the industry is outstanding, Neil has been a stand-out in his field and especially but not only, in the fuel industry. That sector has much to thank Neil for. He is innovative and solution driven and his sharing of knowledge and expertise is also extensive, providing technical consultation to several industry bodies including the Petroleum Industry Transport Safety Forum (PITSF).
Jeff Mears then presented Kate Bucknell a Life Membership Award describing her as the true cornerstone of the federation. Over almost four decades, Kate has been the federation’s secretary, historian and organiser-in-chief. She is the first to arrive, the last to leave, and often the only one who remembered what we agreed to last time!
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Kate since 1996, and I absolutely agree with Jeff, in fact I’m sure if he tried listing all that Kate has done, we’d still be in the meeting room now. Flying home my reflection was less about the tasks and activities Kate does but what she has provided, and to me that is inspiration and outstanding industry leadership.
In an industry that is world leading, Kate has played a key role because many of the innovations have been restricted by our regulations simply would not have happened if it were not for Kate’s advocacy skills and relationship management. Well done Kate and very well deserved
Our seminar
Speaking of celebrating success and achievements, I’m looking forward to our South Island Freight Seminar next Saturday in Christchurch. We’ve already had close to 200 registrations and I’m sure there will be considerable discussion and debate on the raft of industry challenges both during formal sessions and around the bar.
If you haven’t registered, it’s not too late but we have a hard close on Sunday 22 June and you can do that here
