Consolidate or add nothing

OF all of the stakeholders in our transport business, the ones that can break your business if you don't deal with this group properly are government departments - at all levels.

For example, step outside your business and look at your business through the eyes of the taxation department. What is this government body looking for in your business? This month we will have an 'outside looking in' perspective, through the eyes of those enforcing the compliance side of our business.

Government starts right at your front door, with local councils. If you operate a transport business and operate this business from your residence, you have local council issues. If you maintain a depot for parking or a workshop, you have local government issues.

You need to know your requirements in relation to council by-laws or you will quickly find that ignorance is no excuse.

Like all government authorities, if you ask the questions and demonstrate a genuine desire to do the right thing, nine times out of 10, you will get the right advice and recognition for taking the initiative.

When we step up to the next level of bureaucracy, we come across the relevant State transport departments and police etc - it is very easy to take a negative view of this group.

This is due to mainly to what Slim Dusty referred to in one of his songs as big fish in little puddles, by certain individuals.

My experience is that the very vast majority of government employees at the coal face for these departments are no different to you and I - just doing a job to earn a living.

Compliance is in the forms Fatigue Management, Chain of Responsibility, WH&S, NHVAS, Mass Management and the list goes on. It is a very significant impost on the cost of operating a transport business. The latest costing for the transport business I am involved in is around 11 cents a kilometre.

We have recently had a Queensland Transport audit and ticked the majority of the boxes. If you keep coming up on their radar, the legislation is in place in Queensland to have the courts place some very stringent review processes in place, to ensure you do the right thing.

On a very positive note in relation to government, if you operate a transport business in North Queensland and in the cyclone Yasi area, the Federal Government is offering a $20,000 grant to improve your business - as well as a full business review, free of charge.

You have to match this $20,000 dollar for dollar.

So, if you have something you need to implement in your business and could not afford the time or the money, contact Cath Morato via email at:

Cathy.Morato@aigroup.

asn.au for details.

I recently heard there are 164 industry organisations representing the transport/logistics industry in Australia.

If this is correct, who do you think is on a hiding to nothing? We definitely are!

Consolidate or continue to add nothing but a lot of industry noise.

I take a very active interest in following the genuine efforts of regulators and industry representatives to nationalise the compliance of the transport industry.

I believe the individuals driving this initiative at industry and government levels are very committed and dedicated and deserve all the support they can get from the grass roots operators in our important industry.