CTAA participated in a National Industry Advisory Group meeting on 20 March, along with other national industry bodies and larger transport companies, at which the Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure & Cities, Paul Fletcher MP, addressed the need to trial and analyse potential ways to develop a more direct heavy vehicle user charging mechanism for road access and infrastructure delivery.
CTAA is of the view that existing Federal Road User Charges (Fuel Excise) and State-based registration fees discriminate against container road transport logistics in Australia.
This is because the existing pricing model is heavily averaged, meaning that container trucks operating over relatively shorter distances than linehaul trucks (i.e. mainly metropolitan deliveries), predominately on arterial and urban local roads, and carrying medium gross weights (on average), pay more than their fair share.
The trials are set to proceed over the next few years, and CTAA will be encouraging container transport operators in all States to participate.