November 2023
Australia should incentivise the modernisation of the nation’s trucking fleet in order to support decarbonisation, while also boosting safety and productivity, peak bodies have urged.
Download HereTruck Industry Council welcomes Safer Freight Vehicles Package Announcement
TIC and NHVR backed research highlights benefit of super single tyres.
Download HereWhat’s a Heavy Vehicle and What’s a Light Vehicle.
There has been confusion and misunderstanding in Australia regarding what are defined as Light Vehicles and what are defined as Heavy Vehicles.An information sheet has been developed to support Local Government Councils in clarifying the issue and eliminating any uncertainty.
Truck Emission Control Systems Cannot Be Deactivated
Following an industry roundtable and subsequent taskforce called by the Federal Government to discuss the potential Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), or AdBlue, shortage, the Truck Industry Council (TIC) has noted that the emission control systems on trucks cannot be deactivated.
“We commend the Government for drawing the various industry sectors together to discuss the issue,” said Mark Hammond, TIC Chief Technical Engineer.
“All modern trucks are required to meet Australian Design Rule (ADR) requirements; this is the law in Australia.
“These vehicle emission regulations are in place to protect the health of all Australians.
“Untreated exhaust emissions can cause breathing problems, including asthma, headaches, eye irritation, loss of appetite, corroded teeth, chronically reduced lung function and cancer.
“It is illegal to turn off the emission system of a truck; tampering with such a system should be condemned by all within the industry.”
The National Heavy Regulator has provided strong leadership in this space and has recently prosecuted operators who have tampered with these systems.
“The TIC stands as one with the Regulator to ensure that this illegal activity is exposed and that offenders are prosecuted.”
The TIC has produced a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (AdBlue) Question and Answer Communique to assist the industry and operators in demystifying some of the questions and issues surrounding DEF/AdBlue.
At the recent roundtable (8th December, 2021), all stakeholders were reassured that DEF/AdBlue supplies were held in sufficient stock across the country to match demand, provided unnecessary panic buying does not take place.
Tony McMullan, the TIC CEO, stresses that the biggest threat to the industry is from this potential hoarding of supplies.
“A clear message to come from the roundtable was a call for calm within the industry,” said Mr McMullan.
“Attempts to secure long term supply and production, beyond the current stocks available, were well in hand by DEF/AdBlue suppliers, also, it is noted that increased support has been offered by the Federal Government in sourcing from new markets across the world.
“The real risk is, and has always been, the potential for operators to start hoarding DEF/AdBlue, which ultimately could result in an unnecessary shortfall in supply”.
One issue surrounding the hoarding of DEF/AdBlue is its relatively short shelf life, especially in summer.
“Hoarding DEF/AdBlue will be counterproductive for operators,” said Mr Hammond.
“DEF/AdBlue should not be stockpiled. It has a shelf life of approximately one year if stored under the right conditions, however, in hot summer months, its shelf life is more than halved.
“Stockpiling DEF/AdBlue beyond standard business use requirements could lead to the DEF/AdBlue spoiling and becoming unusable, ensuing financial losses for operators.”
The current commentary around DEF/AdBlue highlights a significant issue that the TIC has raised with Government for over a decade.
“There is a clear need for DEF/AdBlue to be regulated for quality and supply,” Mr Hammond continued.
“The situation we are currently exposed to highlights how vital this regulatory action is.
“TIC is again calling upon the Federal Government to ensure this critical substance is controlled by Australian law.
“It’s a shame we have to be at this point for Government to realise the importance of DEF/AdBlue on Australia’s supply chain and the need for its regulation.”
-- ENDS --
Click here to download the DEF/AdBlue Question and Answer document
Media contact: Mark Hammond 0408 225 212
The primary aim of the Truck Industry Council’s (TIC) National Truck Plan is to advocate to Government the virtues of modernising the Australian truck fleet.
Australia, by world standards, has an old fleet with an average age of almost 15 years.
The Truck Industry Council’s National Truck Plan acknowledges the Federal Government’s key strategic objectives and identifies policy options the Government can pursue to deliver on these objectives. Options are presented in this plan: to reduce heavy vehicle fatalities and serious injuries; to improve the health of Australians, particularly in urban areas, through a reduction in noxious emissions; and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation’s road distribution channels thus enabling the Federal Government’s record road infrastructure spend to be realised, in turn improving energy productivity and reducing heavy vehicle road transport greenhouse emissions. To enable these benefits to become a reality today and for future generations, barriers that reduce the country’s ability to modernise the nation’s truck fleet must be overcome.
Mark Hammond, CTO of TIC presented 2020 Freight Leader's Roundtable 10 March 2020 – Melbourne
Download HereTony McMullan, CEO, Truck Industry Council delivered a speech to the 2018 Melbourne Megatrans Ministerial Breakfast
Download HereMark Hammond, CTO of TIC presented to the Innovation X-Change Conference, on 10th April 2018 at the UTS in Sydney
Download HereMark Hammond, CTO of TIC presented to the SVSEG an Industry presentation on Vehicle Dimensions and Mass, on 21st November 2017
Download HereMark Hammond, CTO of TIC presented to the NSW-RMS Green Truck Partnership, on 17th August 2016 in Sydney
Download HereThe aim of this report is to provide Government, the broader road transport industry and the public with a better understanding of the nature and scope of the Australian truck market, in particular, Australia's truck fleet age and noting the trends in new truck sales, as well as the issues that are currently faced by the sector. A number of key points emerge from this report that have an impact on the future of economic, transport, safety, environmental, and social policy developed by Governments at both the Federal and State levelsThe aim of this report is to provide Government, the broader road transport industry and the public with a better understanding of the nature and scope of the Australian truck market, in particular, Australia's truck fleet age and noting the trends in new truck sales, as well as the issues that are currently faced by the sector. A number of key points emerge from this report that have an impact on the future of economic, transport, safety, environmental, and social policy developed by Governments at both the Federal and State levels
Download Here(Produced by Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety, May 2020)
Download HereTIC approved in November 2020 a Technical Guide to support the testing of hot components to AS2809 Dangerous Goods Standards which was endorsed by the Competent Authorities Panel (CAP) in December 2020.
This technical guide details a suggested procedure to test and assess hot components of a vehicle for compliance to AS2809:2020 Dangerous Goods standard that could be undertaken by a suitably qualified person. As a result, not all vehicle components need to be shielded against cargo spillage, if their surface temperatures operate at less than 180°C or 20°C below the autoignition temperature of the cargo carried by the vehicle.
TIC developed voluntary Code of Practice for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) of Heavy Vehicles (April 2020)
Download HereThis Technical Guide recommends the fitment of Audible Reverse Warning Devices to all Heavy Vehicles. It provides guidance to manufacturers of heavy vehicles on recommended practice when fitting reversing alarms. It also provides guidance to owners wishing to update in service vehicles by the retrofitting of alarms.
The Guide reflects Coronial recommendations following an inquest into an accidental death of a vulnerable road user. The fitment of audible and or visual reverse warning devices is a common practice on heavy trucks; it is however not a mandated requirement by Federal (Australian Design Rule) or State Vehicle Standards for heavy trailers.
TIC has produced a Voluntary Code of Practice to recognize equipment installed by the Manufacturer that does require VSB6 approval
(Manufacturers' Plate November 2018)
TIC has jointly developed a Guide to Braking and Stability Performance for Heavy Vehicle Combinations (May 2017)
Download HereTIC has produced a Code of Practice for the Conduct of an Automotive Recall (September 2012). The document mirrors a similar code produced by the FCAI for recalls on light vehicles
Download HereTIC developed a Code of Practice to Ensure An Adequate Field of View for heavy vehicles in 2010. This was updated in April 2012 and again in May 2015.
The current version, July 2019, has been expand to include a more defined field of view with diagrams, details on window tinting and additional mirrors plus exceptions to the driver’s field of view.
