Year in review 2021/22

It has been a year that has once again tested our industry’s resourcefulness and resilience; a year that featured all sorts of ups and downs, and even a powershift at the helm of Australia’s Government.

This report provides a snapshot of some of HVIA’s achievements and benefits to our members during the last financial year.

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Advocacy

Supply Chain Issues related to COVID

• Leveraged participation on the Government’s National COVID Taskforce to influence policy and provide advice to members on supply chain issues and bureaucratic blockages including AdBlue supply, container quarantine issues, compulsory vaccination and border restrictions.

Federal Election Campaign

• Developed a policy roadmap covering the industry’s priorities in sustainability, productivity, safety, jobs and skills
• Major parties considered and responded to those policy priorities
• Their responses meant members were well-informed as they considered their voting intentions.

Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA)

• Solved RVSA implementation issues including improvements to guidance materials, prioritisation of changes to the ROVER computer system, changes to administrative rules, and expediting urgent or overdue applications.

Vehicle Standards

• Partnering on a collaborative industry research project evaluating the appropriateness of current coupling calculation methods for use in large combinations.
• Facilitated member engagement, as subject matter experts, on standing committees chaired by the Department of Infrastructure to review and comment on new and revised ADRs.

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Member Services

State Committees

• Providing a forum for members to engage on current technical and regulatory issues, policy reviews and workforce priorities, HVIA’s State Committees met both in-person and virtually, with regular participation from over 120 members.

HVIA LITE

• The HVIA-LITE project takes a coordinated and collaborative industry approach to ensure the groundwork is laid for a heavy vehicle fleet progressively dominated by battery electric (BEV) and fuel cell electric (FCEV) zero emission trucks.

TechAssist

• HVIA utlised its contacts with regulators to assist over fifty members requiring technical and regulatory information saving those members unnecessary hours of research and delays.

EmployerAssist

• Forty members used HVIA’s complimentary EmployerAssist member service to gain professional advice on industrial relations and human resource issues including Award interpretation, pay rates, employee management guidance and workplace health & safety information.

Member Communication

• Almost 4,000 industry and stakeholder recipients now receive HVIA’s weekly “Talk the Torque” e-newsletter for current news, issues and events updates.
• Engagement on HVIA’s website is up 25% to 30,000 users who have viewed over 66,000 pages during 2021/22.
• The continued growth of HVIA’s LinkedIn community is set to pass 5,000 followers this year, now complemented by Brisbane Truck Show and HVIA-LITE project pages.

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Jobs and Skills

HV101
HV101 online induction training course is available to HVIA members, providing staff with a broad understanding of heavy vehicle industry vocabulary and terminology.

Safety through Education Project
HVIA has received funding to develop two interactive on-line training tools covering best practice procedures for Load Restraint and Tyre Management to improve workplace safety.

HVIA LITE Skills and Training Working Group
HVIA established a working group of members and RTOs to scope and develop a training course for vehicle body builders working on electric heavy vehicles.

Australian Industry Trade College (AITC)
Addressing the heavy vehicle industry skills shortage through a partnership with the AITC as they roll out colleges nationwide.

Group Training Organisation (GTO) Pre-Apprenticeship training
Assisting Queensland based members with the skills shortage, HVIA partnered with several GTOs to offer trailer manufacturers and vehicle body builders an opportunity to host individuals, undertaking Certificate 1 in engineering pre-apprenticeship training, work experience with the potential for full time employment.

Much more than a job campaign
HVIA’s “Much more than a job” careers campaign is featured in Step in the Right Direction, a specialised magazine, being distributed to over 480,000 job seekers, career changers and school leavers in NSW, Qld & Vic.

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National Events

HVIA 2021 National Awards

• The winners of HVIA’s suite of awards for leadership and innovation in the heavy vehicle sector were presented at a gala event in Brisbane in November 2021.
• The presentation, sponsored by National Transport Insurance and Truck Assist, was also streamed around the country where eager nominees and their supporters watched on.

Masterclass at TA22

• HVIA supported the return of the ATA’s national conference Trucking Australia ’22 as Industry Partner. The collaboration avoided a potential clash with ComVec.
• HVIA facilitated a Load Restraint Masterclass to inform the development of an online training course that we are developing, funded by the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.

RACV Royal Pines golf event

• The HVIA Royal Pines 9-hole Teams Shootout, an official curtain-raiser event to the ATA conference, facilitated valuable networking amongst participants in a scenic, semi-competitive environment.
• A huge thanks to the event’s sponsors, led by the inimitable NTI and Truck Assist, and to all the players.

Brisbane Truck Show

• Overwhelming exhibitor support for the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show has confirmed HVIA members’ eagerness for opportunities to reconnect with their customers.
• A new BTS23 Special Preview Edition magazine will be published this year, in addition to the usual at-show official program.

• The week’s events will again include;
  • South Bank Truck Festival
  • National Apprentice Challenge
  • CCFQ’s Heavy Equipment and Machinery Show
  • Heritage Truck Show.
• These activations and events are made possible due to our strong relationship with: Tourism & Events Queensland, the Qld Government, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, and Southbank Parklands.
• We are working hard to ensure reciprocal ticketing, and a shuttle bus to ensure convenient transport options for attendees.