DESPITE successive years of record heavy vehicle sales, Australia's truck fleet remains one of the oldest in operation globally, says Tony McMullan, CEO of the Truck Industry Council (TIC).
In a market review summarising the record-setting 2024 sales result, Mr McMullan said the upcoming Federal election was an opportunity for government to take positive action on renewing operator fleets.
Comparing truck registrations with countries around the world, analysis showed the Australian truck fleet has an average age of 14.8 years, older than Russia and on a par with New Zealand.
Modelling showed nearly one-third of the Australian fleet would be more than 21 years old by 2030, raising concerns over the lack of modern safety and emission systems.
"An old truck has basic safety features and emits far greater amounts of exhaust emissions than current technologically advanced trucks, this has a direct and immediate impact on the Australia community," Mr McMullan said.
As part of TIC's 2025-2030 National Truck Plan, Mr McMullan said they are targeting a number of outcomes, including a safer, cleaner and more productive fleet.
"The immediate benefits in doing so will see a greater adoption of the latest safety technology, significantly improved environmental outcomes given the highest level of emission standards employed in today’s trucks and the creation of pathways to Low and Zero emission vehicle take up," he said.
"These approaches will result in improved safety for all road users resulting in fewer crashes and fatalities, reduced carbon and harmful noxious emissions for a given freight task, enhanced freight productivity and improved economic performance."
A raft of incentives could be employed, Mr McMullan said, including financial, regulatory and technical options, to reduce the average age of the national truck park.
This includes 100% instant asset write-off depreciation allowance on new low and zero emission trucks, as well as diesel-only trucks meeting the ADR 80/04 (Euro VI and equivalent) standard.
For operators wanting to update from ADR 80/02 and earlier emission standard trucks, Mr McMullan said there could be a 50% depreciation allowance if the replacement is a used truck meeting the ADR 80/03 (Euro V and equivalent) standard.
With hybrid and electric-only trucks out-weighing current diesel-only equivalent models, Mr McMullan said TIC would like to see uniformity across all States and Territories in regulations governing higher axle masses, restoring parity and maintaining operator productivity.
TIC is calling for National Cabinet to remove regulatory and infrastructure barriers preventing the uptake of Higher Productivity Vehicles, for example, B-triple, A-double, and Performance Based Standards (PBS) heavy vehicle combinations, in combination with the uptake of specific vehicle advanced safety features.
"A priority should be to incentivise the transition from semi-trailer to B-double combinations, by reducing registration charges for B-double vehicles with advanced safety features," he said.
In line with its calls for support with the transition to full-electric models, Mr McMullan said TIC would like the Federal Government to implement policies stimulating the provision of key infrastructure for the transition and uptake of low and zero emission heavy vehicles.
"For example, the provision of public electric vehicle infrastructure suitable for use by heavy vehicles, improve the national electrical grid infrastructure capacity and fast-tracking infrastructure to facilitate the manufacture and distribution of green hydrogen," he said.
States and Territories should also be compensated by the Federal Government for introducing low emission zones, defined by road, tunnel, port infrastructure or geographical parameters, preferencing low and zero emission vehicles and ADR 80/04 diesel vehicles with reduced government charges such as road tolls, Mr McMullan said.
A similar scheme was launched by the Port of Long Beach in 2008, progressively banning older and less environmentally efficient trucks, this scheme now prevents any trucks more than
"Trucks are essential to Australia’s way of life, and underpin our economic and social well-being, Mr McMullan said.
"With its high average age, the Australian truck fleet is not as safe or as environmentally friendly as it could be given the advanced technologies now available in today’s modern trucks."
While Mr McMullan is keen to see newer trucks in service, he acknowledged external factors could still prove to be a barrier to fleet upgrades, particularly changing economic conditions.
"How the economy performs is always of concern for all industry sectors, particularly interest rates, we have had three years of record truck sales brought about, in part, by a 100 per cent instant asset write off depreciation allowance and a strong growing freight task.
"I believe demand for freight will continue despite the economic conditions and that truck sales while not as strong as previous years will nonetheless be sound, particularly in light of the fact that OEMs will be bringing to market this year new fuel efficient and low emission vehicles," Mr McMullan said.
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