The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) is urging for a more inclusive approach to freight movement, emphasising the need for intermodal connectivity and stronger logistics policies to meet future demands.
In his opening remarks at State Conference 2025, VTA CEO, Peter Anderson, highlighted the importance of integrating various modes of transport to ensure efficient and safe freight delivery.
“As much as we will focus on road freight and the road transport industry, we must not forget that our future includes a greater inclusion of other modes in moving the volumes of freight that will be available to meet our customers’ demands,” he said.
“Intermodal connectivity between road and rail, road and air and road and sea will be vital to improve from where we are today to ensure that the standard of living does not diminish for all Australians.”
Calling upon specific industry bodies for this delivery, Anderson directed criticism towards Austroads and the National Transport Commission to improve their processes in assisting road transport.
“Austroads needs to lift its game,” he said.
“The amalgam of state road agencies needs to understand what intermodal connectivity is about and it needs to engage with the industry, with operators, with associations, in such a way as to deliver policy and regulation that improves the working environment for the industry.
“The National Transport Commission, empowered to do the five-year review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, started their review in 2017. The first review is still going, has very little change and has no clear pathway for improvement.
“We want heavy vehicle drivers that are well trained and competent from day one of their working careers within our industry, and we want them to be trained at 18 years of age.”
Additionally, Anderson stressed the unique role of heavy vehicles in freight.
“We must come to terms with the fact that ships, trains and planes carry freight but only trucks deliver,” he said.
“Volumes are not going to decrease, and you cannot deliver freight from a computer at home or by AI. We must touch and feel the goods we handle and be able to move them in the most productive, efficient, and safe manner possible.”
In other news, Port of Melbourne achieved the highest annual container trade volume ever recorded in 2024.
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