The Truck Industry Council (TIC) is recognised as the primary advocate for policy, technical and regulatory aspects pertaining to the nation's truck fleet. Working closely with State and Federal Governments, the Council has been able to secure significant achievements on behalf of its members.
The initial objective of TIC was to remove and/or harmonize no longer relevant Australian Design Rules (ADRs) with international standards most notiably UNECE. These unique ADRs were costly for manufacturers to meet. One such example was a drop test on fuel tanks designed for petrol, however almost all trucks sold have used the less flammable diesel for over 30 years.
TIC was instrumental in negotiating the maximum length of the B-double combination increase from 25.0 metres to 26.0 metres allowing longer wheelbase, prime movers that improved on-road dynamics (EURO 4 Later) and lead to safer truck/trailer combinations. TIC subsequently achieved an increase in steer axle masses for single steer trucks over 15.0 tonnes GVM. These vehicles, which can now be loaded to 6,500 kg on the steer axle, are fitted with front under-run protection, meet the European (ECE R29) cab strength standards, and are supplied with the latest low emission engines.
TIC has hosted seminars on the future of truck regulations suggesting that a holistic approach to regulations is essential. For example, a symposium highlighting the issues facing the urban freight task was hosted in 2008, and has assisted policy makers in this area. This general policy has been very well accepted by all levels of Government.
A seminar on heavy vehicle exhaust emissions was hosted in October 2012, and on Truck Intelligent Transport Systems in September 2013.
The Truck Industry Council has been directly involved in the development of Performance Based Standards (especially the 20-m semi-trailer Blueprint), the general requirements for Modular B-triples, and the need to modernize the nation's truck fleet to better meet minimum environment standards.
TIC was instrumental in working with government for the adoption of tougher exhaust emissions standards for heavy vehicles in Australia. To this end, ADR80/02 and ADR80/03 allowed alternative standards of compliance from Europe, American and Japanese. TIC is now working with the federal government to consider the next stage in emissions standards, ADR80/04 (Euro 6 and equivalents) and its introduction timing. TIC is also one of the organisations working with government in the development of new regulations that will see the introduction of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on heavy vehicles in Australia. TIC is a key contributor to the Australian government's policy on energy security.
TIC worked with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport to effect the mandation of Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) on all new heavy vehicles as well as the mandation of front under-run protection (FUPs) on all trucks above 12t GVM.
TIC members aim to provide the Australian market with a choice of the safest, greenest, cleanest and most productive trucks in the world to meet the essential task of transporting freight across the country.
