Australian Trucking Association News

Graham Richers wins convention competition

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:37:18 +0000

The Managing Director of Richers Transport, Graham Richers, has won back his registration fee for the 2012 Australian Trucking Convention, as the winner of the ATA’s Christmas special competition.

A long-time convention attendee and member of the Queensland Trucking Association, Graham is also a former member of the Queensland Trucking Association board.

The convention will be held in Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens Event Centre on 16-19 May 2012. Event registration is now open for both delegates and exhibitors.

“I go to the ATA convention to keep up to date with industry matters. I always find the networking good – who you meet, who you talk to. The dreaded A-trailer registration issue is certainly one I look forward to hearing about”, said Graham.

In the competition, delegates were asked to pick their key issue of concern for 2012. Their number one issue was the availability of skilled staff and drivers, with the national truck laws coming a close second.

Speaking of the staff shortages, Graham said “Fortunately, at the moment we’re good. We all see it as a major problem going forward. In Queensland, there’s intense competition from the mining industry.”

Richers Transport spawned from humble beginnings, starting with Graham’s father, Walter Richers. As an employee for an ice vendor, he accepted a model T Ford ice truck (above) in lieu of wages when the business encountered financial difficulties.

As the ice deliveries only took the early part of the morning, Walter began to look for other work the truck could do during the rest of the day. From there, the company grew.

Today, the Richers fleet includes more than 350 units, and employs almost 200 people across south-east Queensland.

The speakers at the 2012 conference will cover the big issues for 2012, including a presentation by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, as he speaks on the progress of the Government’s road transport reforms.

Another session not to be missed is a presentation by international safety leader Don Osterberg, the Senior Vice President of Safety, Security and Driver Training at Schneider National in America.

Under Don Osterberg’s leadership, Schneider National has achieved massive safety improvements, productivity gains and business growth, including a 59 per cent reduction in fatal crashes, a 27 per cent reduction in fatigue-related accidents and $24 million in productivity cost savings.

Federal transport minister to speak at convention

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:10:39 +0000

The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, will brief delegates at the 2012 Australian Trucking Convention about the progress of the Government’s road transport reforms.

The convention will be held from Wednesday 16 to Saturday 19 May 2012 at the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre, Sydney. Mr Albanese will speak on Thursday 17 May.

The Chief Executive of the Australian Trucking Association, Stuart St Clair, said 2012 was the year of delivery for the reforms. The national heavy vehicle regulator will be established from 1 July; the national truck laws will take effect from the end of the year.

“Minister Albanese has led the development of the national heavy vehicle regulator and the national truck laws. These reforms will slash the red tape strangling the industry and boost its productivity and safety,” Mr St Clair said.

“Minister Albanese is scheduled to chair a national transport ministers’ meeting in Adelaide on Friday 18 May, during the convention. The ATA is delighted he was able to set aside time on Thursday morning to brief our delegates on the reforms, before leaving for the Adelaide meeting.”

Exhibitors - we are open for business

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:49:56 +0000

Download your exhibitor prospectus from this page. The 2012 convention represents a year’s worth of business meetings in one event. ATC has an established leadership position, attracting repeat attendances from high profile individuals and organisations. It is a time and cost efficient way to meet with a wide array of senior executives all in one place, and get their point of view on what’s happening in their businesses.

Program launched

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:42:27 +0000

A great line-up of industry expert speakers including Don Osterberg from Schneider National USA, transport & logistics advisor Brendan Richards, and leading economic forecaster Chris Richardson. Topics range from managing change in your business, the federal government’s viewpoint to best practice driver training and industry policy.

Which leading trucking businesses were at TMC 2011?

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:26:42 +0000

A J Mills, Baxter Transport, Blenners Transport, Camsons Transport, Centurion Transport, Cootes Transport, Directhaul, Divall’s, Dyers, Epsom Express, Epsom Sand, Fuel Distributors of WA, General Transport, Hentschke Transport, Herb Blanchard, Jim Pearson Transport, John L Pierce, Johnston’s Transport, Kalari Transport, Kelvin Baxter, Kleen Heat Gas, Lloyds North, McColls, McGrath Newcastle, Mountain Industries, Paul Harrison, R B Russell Transport, Russell Transport, Shaws Darwin, Silk Logistics, Simon National, Single Transport, Speedie Contractors, Toll Group, Toll Mining, Vellex Transport, Wimmera T&B

Save up to $150 each before 24 August

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:53:49 +0000

A $100 early bird discount on Full and Trade Exhibitor registrations closes soon. If you book a group of three or more you will save a further $50 on each Full and Trade Exhibitor delegate. Taken together, and booked and paid for by cob 24 August, you can save $150 per delegate. We think that’s a good deal.

Does not apply to single day registrations.

What’s next?

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:40:11 +0000

Our next event is Australia’s only gathering of professionals employed in trucking workshops, fleet management and industry supplier companies. For the first time, the national Technical & Maintenance Conference (TMC) will be held in Sydney. Visit the website

The conference begins with the Castrol Awards Dinner on Monday 10 October. The practical equipment sessions run on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October.

The venue is Australian Technology Park, close to Redfern railway station and hotels in central Sydney. The Park is a modern conference centre, built from the shell of the historic Eveleigh railway yards.

We hope to see you there, as part of the country’s most important event on road freight transport maintenance and innovation.

National award for trucking workshop excellence

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:51:23 +0000

The Craig Roseneder Award, sponsored by Castrol, celebrates the professionalism of the men and women who provide technical and maintenance innovation and leadership in trucking organisations.

Nominations close on 20 September. The winner will be announced at the Castrol Awards Dinner during the Technical & Maintenance Conference in Sydney in October. He or she will also be acknowledged at the annual Australian Trucking Convention Awards Dinner, along with the other award winners who are announced on that night.

The prize is a scholarship to attend the American Trucking Associations’ Maintenance Council meeting, with airfares, accommodation and $1,500 in spending money. Go here to nominate someone excellent.

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:37:10 +0000

Australia’s great gathering of trucking professionals. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity for you and your people to attend the only annual Australian gathering of trucking professionals employed in workshops, fleet management and industry suppliers. For the first time in nearly two decades, the national Technical & Maintenance Conference (TMC) will be held in NSW.

The TMC planning team goes to great lengths to assemble speakers and topics that have real value to your operations. This year, there will be multiple streams, offering more choices to delegates.

The third, annual TruckSafe Forum will be held as a separate stream. TruckSafe is the industry’s leading business and risk management system. The Forum will allow operators to share information, find out about the latest improvements in risk management and speak with auditors about what they will be focussing on.

The conference begins with the Castrol Awards Dinner on Monday 10 October. The practical equipment sessions run on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October.

We hope to see you there, as part of the country’s most important event on road freight transport maintenance and innovation.

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:28:45 +0000

TMC will give you fresh ideas. The specific topics on the program will once again deliver key insights into the continued productive operation of fleets. This year, the TMC sponsored by PACCAR promises to be a stand out opportunity to pause and focus on our industry’s critical technical service related agenda. Please become involved in this great opportunity to share with your peers, all that is new in technical news and views.

Andrew Hadjikakou
Director of Sales and Marketing
PACCAR Australia