Well the red ribbon campaign has been running just over six weeks and the lack of red ribbons on vehicles would tend to indicate that all is well in the garden of transport, remember how I said “if you’re happy with how the government is treating your industry don’t tie a red ribbon on your vehicle” it’s encouraging to see so many happy people, since there are next to no red ribbons out there one would assume we have no problems, with just twenty-two weeks for the campaign to run I guess it’s early days but the signs for support are not looking good.

On the first of July heavy vehicle registrations rose by another 4.2% that makes the total increases over the last two year around 64% and everyone is still happy, amazing isn’t it, we have some of the biggest transport companies crying about no drivers and citing the new fatigue laws as the cause, but don’t worry everyone is still happy.

The appointment of Main Roads WA. Managing Director, Menno Henneveld, as the chairman of the board overseeing the establishment of the new national regulator should have sent shockwaves through the trucking industry, we are seeing another regulatory body to further regulate us at a national level, W.A. , N.T. & Qld will not fare well under this initiative, we will see ‘national regulation’ being interpreted differently by each state, it won’t be good contrary to what they tell you, but don’t forget everyone is still happy.

The regulators in all the state and federal governments are pushing for electronic monitoring (IAP) of heavy vehicles, with this they will be able to check your driving hours and if you go outside the perimeters by a few minutes, your breach will arrive in the mail $600 and three demerit points thank you and not a cop in sight, they also plan to introduce a ‘distance mass charge’ and they will be able to tell you how far your truck has travelled each month and you will pay for every kilometre you travel empty or loaded, and yet with all this knowledge everyone is still happy.

I have to tell you that I don’t know what it will take to get people off their collective butts and fight back, helping the trucking industry is like trying to push a chain up-hill.