Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Road freight industry group Transporting New Zealand is calling on the Government to reverse its decision to end an ACC levy discount for truck drivers, saying the move will jeopardise road safety.
The ACC Fleet Saver package closes to new entrants from 1 July this year and will end on 20 June 2029.
Fleet Saver can save accredited businesses that demonstrate their commitment to road and workplace safety up to 40 per cent on the ACC portion of their annual motor vehicle license fees.
Chief executive Dom Kalasih says the savings from the programme helps businesses to deliver better safety outcomes for staff and customers.
“The proposed closure would jeopardise this progress. The Government needs to make it easier for businesses to sign up by reducing barriers.”
He says currently the programme is only open to businesses that own five or more heavy goods vehicles. However, data from the Ministry of Transport shows 55 per cent of heavy vehicles in the road freight industry operate in fleets of five vehicles or less.
“We want to work with ACC to reform and improve the scheme,” Kalasih says.
“ACC’s claim that the programme is not delivering is based on an assessment they made in 2018, and there have been no improvements or substantial promotion of the programme since that date.
“The closure of the programme will not support improved safety and recovery outcomes, nor will it produce any material financial savings for ACC.”
Kalasih says even more puzzling is that while ACC is shutting its Fleet Saver system down, NZTA is signaling its intent to reward transport operators with a variety of accredited management systems.
“How one part of government can be closing down this approach just as another one starts off on that path is baffling.”
“The industry deserves some joined up government thinking on this otherwise it appears inevitable there will be an increased compliance cost to industry and ultimately that will show up as an increased cost of living.”
Kalasih says he welcomes the opportunity to meet with the ACC Minister Scott Simpson to discuss how ACC and the road freight industry can work to protect and improve the safety benefits offered by Fleet Saver,
Transporting New Zealand encourages any eligible road freight companies to apply to join ACC Fleet Saver by June 30 and will help members with the application process.
