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Transport & Logistics Jun 12, 2026

Working Together for a Stronger Road Transport Sector: ISA at Trucking Australia 2026

Industry Skills Australia (ISA) joined industry leaders at the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) annual Trucking Australia 2026 conference, contributing to discussions on the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Australia’s road transport industry.

Held last week on Hamilton Island, the national conference brought together operators, suppliers, peak bodies, and regulators, to explore priorities including safety, workforce development, productivity and sustainability across the sector.

Camilla Elmes, Senior Engagement Manager, represented ISA at the conference, engaging in discussions closely aligned with ISA’s current priorities and projects, including workforce development, leadership capability, safety reform, and mental health and wellbeing. 

Conference sessions highlighted a shared focus on progressing a safer, more productive and sustainable transport industry.

Key Safety and Workforce Challenges Highlighted
Research presented by Ben Selwyn from Fifth Quadrant revealed the industry’s top safety concerns, based on recent ATA survey findings, including:

  • Driver fatigue
  • Inexperienced or undertrained drivers
  • Driver behaviour
  • Vehicle maintenance issues
  • Driver distraction
  • Load restraint issues

External pressures impacting operators included poor road user behaviour, road infrastructure quality and increasing traffic congestion.

Survey findings also highlighted the growing administrative burden of compliance management, particularly for owner-drivers.

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the need to move away from tenure-based licensing arrangements towards competency-based training models that focus on practical skill development, mentoring and hands-on experience.

Industry leaders stressed the importance of improving driver competency development through structured training pathways and stronger supervision practices to support safer road operations.

 

 

Leadership, Team Culture and Workforce Development
Keynote speaker Rachael Robertson shared insights from her experiences leading teams in Antarctica, highlighting the importance of recruiting based on personal attributes rather than qualifications or technical experience alone.

She encouraged organisations to focus on building respectful workplace cultures grounded in honesty and integrity, noting that successful teams should strive for “respect rather than harmony”. Robertson also spoke about the importance of celebrating wins to improve morale and inspire high-performing teams.

Sessions throughout the conference reinforced the need to encourage leadership and management capability across the transport and logistics workforce. Discussions also highlighted the importance of promoting non-tertiary career pathways and strengthening messaging around transport and logistics as a rewarding long-term career option.

Workshop participants emphasised that the industry collectively needs to do more to tell the story of the benefits and opportunities available within the sector.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Safety
Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds (HHTS) presented on the importance of managing psychosocial hazards in transport workplaces, linking psychological health directly to road safety outcomes.

The conference heard that when psychosocial risks are actively managed, workers are more alert, resilient and capable of making safer decisions behind the wheel.

Reform, Technology and Data Sharing
Road transport reform discussions focused on the growing importance of telematics, data sharing and evidence-based decision making to identify industry risks and improve safety outcomes.

ISA’s National Heavy Vehicle Driver Action Plan Recognised
Senator Glenn Sterle delivered a pre-recorded address acknowledging ISA’s work on the development of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Action Plan, alongside broader workforce initiatives aimed at addressing driver shortages.

The Action Plan is part of ISA’s Addressing Heavy Vehicle Driver Shortages project. 

Fuel Security and Sustainability
A dedicated session on fuel security highlighted the critical role transport plays in supporting mining, agriculture and national defence, with presenters emphasising that “when fuel fails, everything fails”.

Renewable diesel was identified as a viable option to reduce emissions by up to 80 per cent. However, affordability remains a significant barrier, with production costs currently two to three times higher than conventional diesel.

 

 

Celebrating Industry Excellence
The conference concluded with the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner, celebrating outstanding contributions to the trucking industry.

Congratulations to the 2026 National Trucking Industry Award winners:

  • TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award: K&S Freighters
  • National Trucking Industry Workforce Award: Formula Chemicals NSW Pty Ltd
  • National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year: Jodie Jarratt, Jarratt Transport Solutions
  • National Professional Driver of the Year: John Parry, IOR
  • Outstanding Contributions to the Trucking Industry: Michael Edmonds, NTI
  • Don Watson Memorial Award: David Simon

ISA congratulates all award winners and finalists for their achievements and commitment to advancing the transport and logistics industry.

ISA’s participation at Trucking Australia 2026 reinforces its ongoing commitment to maintaining strong relationships with the ATA, state associations and industry stakeholders across the transport and logistics sector, supporting collaborative efforts to address shared challenges and drive positive industry outcomes.

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