About us
Click here to view the About the VTA brochure
An information powerhouse
The association is an essential management resource, adding significant value to your business through the provision of authoritative information and experienced professional advice. We monitor all available industry-specific information, regularly updating members on the information they need to conduct their businesses more effectively.
The VTA is a platform from which its members can ascertain, address and appraise themselves of the range of issues facing the industry – technology, road and infrastructure development and funding, environmental issues, politics at the local, state and federal level, law enforcement, industrial relations, occupational health & safety, industry image and recruitment, day to day operating problems etc. - and be confident their association is working at practical outcomes for the whole sector.
An influential voice
The VTA’s industry role lies in influencing, communicating and responding to the challenges of industry and of business in general. In fulfilling this role the VTA accesses an extensive industry network.
Support to the industry comprises a mix of high level industry specific training & consulting, extensive professional and management advice, facilitating interchange of information, experience and contacts through major industry events, briefings and focus meetings, and representation on a variety of panels, committees and councils.
Active at the international, national and local levels, across road, rail, sea and air, the VTA sees its role as influencing, communicating and responding to prevalent challenges, both of the industry specifically and of business in general.
The transport and logistics industry is facing a number of pressing issues that relate to both the business and regulatory environments. Because of our broad focus, we are a powerful advocate for the entire industry across all levels of government and in every major forum in which it is important that the interests of members are expressed.
The VTA takes pride in setting the industry direction, in responding to policy issues, in driving the agenda and in maintaining an industry voice at the forefront of the debate – and, we ask the hard questions.
Representation
The VTA represents the industry through a variety of means, including (and not limited to);
- VicRoads Advisory Board
- Victorian Freight & Logistics Council
- Victorian Intermodal Efficiency Group
- Victorian Road Freight Advisory Council
- Transport Industry Safety Group
- Transport Industry Council (Owner Driver Legislation)
- Truck Operations Committee
- National Transport Commission – Industry Advisory Group
- NSW Road Freight Advisory Council
The VTA also supports the national agenda in collaboration with organisations such as the Australian Trucking Association, the Australasian Railway Association, the Australian Logistics Council, Roads Australia and the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation.
Over 100 Years Experience in the Industry
In 1902 the VTA began as the Master Carriers Association. The Association represented hire and reward carriers on the waterfront, lobbying Government and working on industrial relations.
In 1944 the Association became the Victorian Road Transport Association, one of a number of state based employer prime contractor organisations around Australia. It took on many issues including poor roads, road tax, and protection of the railways.
Many of the issues are not too different to today; fuel, safety, wages registration, representation to Governments. In its history it has been one continual battle to present the Freight transport point of view.
In 2001 the name changed to the Victorian Transport Association, reflecting the changed Association structure and more diverse nature of industry representation.
Today there is just as much misunderstanding and ignorance about the industry and how vital it is to business and the community. Freight and logistics connect everyone to everything – it is seamless and silent – but growing and changing and we still do not understand or measure it.
We link our customers to their customers. We are but part of a chain – a vital chain to business and community services.
Today there are so many issues affecting the industry that the Association works on:
Rising costs, congestion, productivity, rail, people, intermodalism, new legislation, Government inquiries, specialist industry issues such as waste, waterfront, containers, training, dangerous goods, bulk tanker and customer issues.
Without an effective and active industry Association the freight and logistics sector will have to profile, be stripped of its ability to coordinate and change Government direction.
We are the leaders of tomorrow’s future – join and be part of the successful companies.
The Association over its 100 plus years has been lead by some of the greatest Australian and Industry characters.
The VTA honour board clearly shows the professional commitment by representatives from small family companies, from big transport groups and from Executive staff who have dedicated their entire lives for the betterment of the industry – many go unrecognised and with little or no personal gain – they saw the bigger picture and tried to make a difference.
The VTA Board works collaboratively with the VTA executive to give advice and feedback on Industry Issues and VTA projects. The 2009 VTA Board comprises a diverse range of companies from the Transport Industry.
These include:
To find out more about the VTA Board or to express interest please contact the VTA.
Services of the VTA - Solutions for freight and logistics business
Click here to view the Services of the VTA brochure
Industry Regulations & Compliance - Supporting Our Members
The VTA has the experience and expertise to provide valuable information and advice in areas such as:
- Development of company specific fuel levies
- Chain of Responsibility
- Load Restraint
- Driving Hours
- Fatigue Management information
- Mass Limits
- B-double routes
- WorkCover
- Diesel fuel grant scheme
- Local Government restrictions
- Drug and alcohol issues
Industrial Relations - Experienced advice and support
The VTA provides specialist industry advice on such matters as:
- Award & EBA information
- Dispute settling – Boards of Reference
- Superannuation matters
- Long service leave
- Termination and redundancy
- Sub-contractor rates, agreements and compliance
- WorkCover/OH&S advice
- Australian Industrial Relations Commission representation
- Award interpretation
- Specialist papers on management issues
- Workshops for industry issues
Training - Addressing the needs of the industry
The VTA conducts various industry courses, such as:
- Industrial Relations
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Prescribed Waste
- Dangerous Goods
Business Management - Specialist training and consulting
In addition to basic industry training, our joint venture business, LATUS Business Solutions, a registered Training Organisation (RTO), offers specialist training and consulting in areas such as:
- Sector Specific Business consulting – Freight & Logistics, Warehousing, Manufacturing etc
- Occupational Health & Safety & Risk management
- General fleet management
- Transport costing
- Logistics Management Systems
- Workplace safety audits
- Warehouse design and racking evaluation
- Company manual composition and printing
- Chain of Responsibility – advice, training and systems implementation
- Fatigue Management Systems – Licensed Faid Safe associates
The Freight Industry
- We are experiencing rising costs, and so are our customers and suppliers with the cost of everything going up along the supply chain. No longer can customers rely on efficiency gains to meet their savings budgets and their senior management must respond to that!
- Fuel prices are at unprecedented levels, fluctuating up and down and making cost models and fuel levies work overtime. The most important consequence of this rise and fall is that it causes uncertainty in businesses & makes it extremely difficult to manage cash flows.
- Businesses also have to deal with Carbon Trading & learn how to calculate & control their exposures.
Safety is also a number one issue – Zero Tolerance is the only acceptable level! There is a total industry commitment on workplace safety. The VTA has been actively working on many major items on the safety agenda, including:
- The launch of the Driver Distraction Campaign
- Improving rail crossing safety
- Addressing the implementation of the new Fatigue laws
- Drug & Alcohol management
- Developing Industry codes of conduct.
A key factor in the safety agenda is the partnership taken between Industry and the Transport Workers Union in working towards a Zero Tolerance level. This is unique and vital if safety is to be adopted across the industry.
Other important issues confronting the industry include:
- The need for identifying infrastructure improvements
- The promotion of the industry both through the media and other PR initiatives. We must get a change in the public and media perception of the industry
- Assessing and understanding the State Governments Freight Strategy.
We must change the way we do business. There are many projects that are going to be put forward, with immediate and low cost options a key component, though some are long term issues.
The industry can do a lot for itself now. The significant things we achieve now are:
- Working with customers to get the best possible outcomes
- Sharing information with others in the industry, including competitors
- Maximize our effective use of technologies, and sharing all the efficiencies it brings to us
- Managing the impact of the industry and its actions on the community
- Changing the way we do things and measuring the outcomes.