One of PACCAR Australia's oldest established dealers has joined
forces with Australia's largest provider of logistics firm to open
a $1.3 million drivers' interchange facility to improve driver
safety by managing fatigue.
Officially opened on 1 November, the purpose-built truck
drivers' complex is regarded as the most sophisticated in the
country. It is the brainchild of Cliff Swane, Managing Director of
Inland Truck Centres - an award-winning chain of PACCAR NSW
dealerships in Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Griffith - in conjunction
with Toll Linehaul & Fleet Services, part of Toll Group. The
facility adjoins his Dubbo dealership in River Street, just off the
Newell Highway.
Toll Linehaul has a long-term lease on the property. Its 180
trucks, which stop over every week in Dubbo, now park at the new
premises. Drivers can rest, sleep and change over trucks in a safe,
secure and comfortable environment.
General Manager of Toll Linehaul and Fleet Services, Bob Lovf,
said Dubbo was the logical choice for the company's first dedicated
drivers' interchange. "Dubbo has traditionally been a change-over
point for long-haul drivers, because it is roughly half-way between
various interstate routes," he said.
Dubbo is one of the busiest transport hubs in regional
Australia. It is situated at the crossroads of three major
thoroughfares - the Mitchell, Newell and Golden Highways. More than
1500 trucks a day pass through the city on these highways, heading
north to Brisbane and northern Queensland, south to Melbourne, east
to Sydney and Newcastle, and west to Mildura and Adelaide.
Approximately 550 long-haul heavy vehicles stop over in the city
each week to comply with fatigue management laws. Most operators
park their rigs on the side of the highways, and either sleep in
their cabs or in local motels and rented houses. If they sleep in
town, they need to disconnect their trailers and leave them by the
highways, so that they can park their prime movers in the city
streets.
"Our drivers used to do the same," Mr Lovf said. "There were no
facilities in Dubbo to do changeovers - it was all done on the side
of the highway and it was potentially an accident waiting to
happen. And, if drivers slept in their cabs, there was a lot of
noise from passing traffic. If they slept in motels, there could
have been other noises and distractions, especially considering
half of our drivers sleep during the day. This was not conducive to
quality sleep," he explained.
"Now, with our Dubbo interchange, we have all of our operators
under the one roof - and they can park their trucks and
trailers inside a secure yard on the property."
Mr Lovf said the facility addressed a critical issue plaguing
the transport industry - driver fatigue - which was responsible for
a substantial number of accidents.
"The Dubbo interchange was built to address this serious
problem. It provides a quiet, stress-free environment for our
drivers to recover after a shift, and be fully refreshed when
they're ready to get back on the road. Driver welfare is vitally
important. We want all of our employees to go to work and to return
home safely," he said.
The Toll Linehaul Drivers' Interchange site comprises 6800 sqm
of land, which includes an expansive yard that can accommodate a
number of B doubles, and provides access for future B triples and
roadtrains.
The 400 sqm complex features 24 sound-proofed bedrooms, which
are air-conditioned and individually fire-proof rated. Amenities
include a meals room, fully-appointed kitchen, a recreation room
and outside barbecue area. There is also a first aid room, laundry
as well as male and female toilets, showers and change rooms.
In addition, the premises is manned 24/7 by an on-site manager.
An operations room is equipped with fleet satellite tracking
screens, and integrated security and communications systems. Also,
safety cameras monitor the entire property, and access to the yard,
building and strategic indoor areas requires a security swipe
card.
Mr Swane said it was rewarding to work with Toll on an
industry-leading initiative. "From the outset, we have focused on
enhancing transport efficiency and protecting the industry's
greatest asset - its drivers. And this will have a flow-on effect,
improving safety for the general public of Dubbo and the wider
community of road users. The Dubbo interchange may be the first
dedicated facility of its kind, but I hope many more will follow
throughout Australia. It's a win-win for everyone."
PACCAR Australia's Director, Sales and Marketing, Andrew
Hadjikakou, said Inland Truck Centres' partnership with Toll
underscores the professionalism and innovation of the entire PACCAR
dealer network.
"Both companies share the same commitment to improving road
safety and the welfare of drivers, and they have developed a
solution which will have a major impact on the industry for years
to come," Mr Hadjikakou said.
"Fatigue management is one of the biggest challenges facing
transport operators today. As the largest transport company in
Australia, Toll, through its Linehaul division, has set a new
benchmark in occupational health and safety. It has gone well
beyond legislated compliance to provide its drivers with the most
advanced facilities for managing fatigue and ensuring road safety
for all.
"PACCAR Australia has more than a passing interest in the
success of the interchange as the majority of Toll's trucks which
stop over in Dubbo are Kenworths. We applaud this proactive
investment, and we hope other companies will follow Toll's lead,"
Mr Hadjikakou added.
Dubbo MP Troy Grant, who officially opened the complex,
congratulated the companies on addressing road safety through
better management of fatigue.
"Fatigue is a significant contributor to heavy vehicle crashes.
Transport for New South Wales crash data found that, in 2011, eight
percent of crashes involving a heavy vehicle involved driver
fatigue. In fact, fatigue is the major contributor to fatal
crashes, with twenty-five percent being fatigue related," Mr Grant
said.
"In all heavy vehicle crashes involving fatigue, the operator of
the heavy vehicle was the fatigued driver in sixty-four percent of
accidents. These statistics highlight the importance of all drivers
taking minimum rest periods in line with fatigue laws. Facilities,
like the Dubbo interchange, will play an integral role in improving
road safety," he added.
Dubbo Mayor Councillor Matthew Dickerson, who was also present
at the official opening, said that, in just a short time, the
premises had made a dramatic difference to Dubbo.
"On average, a truck passes through Dubbo every minute - and
this figure is rising," Cr Dickerson observed. "That said, the
trucks passing through Dubbo are not the problem; it's the
number that are parking in Dubbo which is a concern. It
had become a real eyesore and it also created traffic hazards, with
truck operators trying to cross busy highways and other drivers
being distracted by streams of parked trucks. We had been receiving
a lot of complaints from residents."
Cr Dickerson said Toll Linehaul accounted for about one third of
the trucks that stopped over in Dubbo. The drivers' interchange had
effectively removed 30 percent of the trucks which would otherwise
be parked in the city.
"There has been a visible reduction in the number of trucks. We
are receiving far less complaints and, in fact, we are now getting
positive feedback about the improvement - all thanks to this
private industry solution," he explained.
Toll Linehaul plans to open two more drivers' interchanges in
Brisbane and Mildura in the latter half of 2013.
Kenworth trucks are designed and manufactured in Australia to
meet the world's toughest applications. Kenworth, a division of
PACCAR Australia, is market leader in heavy duty trucks in
Australia. Its trucks are also exported to Papua New Guinea and New
Zealand. PACCAR Inc, a Six Sigma company, is a global technology
leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of
high-quality light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks under the
Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and
manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services
and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to
its principal business.
For further information:
Mick Bennett
Marketing Services Manager
PACCAR Australia
Tel: (03) 9721 1500