Melbourne Terminal Road Receivals
Recently there has been a significant increase in road freight deliveries to the ABA Melbourne terminal, at times resulting in long delays, traffic management issues and parking congestion in and around the terminal.
It is ABA’s policy to comply with all laws and regulations that apply to our business, and so with consultation from the Victoria Police Road Safety Task Force, we have developed a structured response to deal with road safety and in particular, fatigue issues.
Under the Chain of Responsibility laws, everyone in the supply chain must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent driver fatigue and ensure a driver does not drive a heavy vehicle while impaired by fatigue – an approach consistent with existing Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) laws.
ABA’s new structured approach includes:
· Allocation timeslots for individual trucks
By defining time-slots for individual trucks, the driver will be able to time their arrival more accurately and need not be concerned about having to secure an early place in a long line up.
· Providing timeslots that allow adequate time to process the truck.
The time taken to process individual trucks depends on factors such as sampling /classification requirements, location of stocks, special customer instruction, awaiting instruction for problem loads etc. ABA will take into account these factors when determining the length of time-slots that will be allocated for individual orders.
· Providing information about truck parking areas close to the ABA terminal.
Truck drivers must obey the road laws and park accordingly. Under this new timeslot arrangement trucks will need to arrive at the terminal no earlier than 30 minutes before their allocated slot and no later than their allocated slot, so within a 30 minute window. ABA does not provide a truck parking lot but will continue to keep drivers and customers informed about parking issues around the terminal. ABA accepts no responsibility for any accidents, incidents, fines or any issues that result from failure to abide by the law.
· Permitting the reasonable use of the amenities for truck drivers.
At ABA we have always made our amenities available for the reasonable use of trucks drivers during terminal operating hours, and we shall continue to do so.
These are the arrangements for all Receivals into the ABA Melbourne Terminal: Amended as of the 21st October 2009.
1. Carriers need to contact ABA to book timeslot’s. Timeslots will only be booked up to 7 days in advance, and it is advised that you try to book slot as early as possible to avoid disappointment. You will need to contact Andrea Warren on 03 9680 6223 or 03 9687 9253.
2. To secure a booking you will need to have the following information ready:
*Clients Order No.
*Name & Contact Phone No.
*Estimated time of arrival, (it is advised that you over estimate to reduce the risk of missing your booking & need to rebook)
ABA will than issue carriers with booking numbers for each individual slot that is booked.
Drivers will need to provide:
When drivers arrive at ABA they will need to have paper work showing the following.
· ABA Unique booking number (provided when timeslots are booked.)
· Client’s order number.
Please note: If this paperwork is not supplied, drivers may be asked to pull aside until the correct paperwork is available.
Notes to remember:
· At all times shipping operations have precedence over other terminal operations. This may result in re-scheduling of deliveries or delays in discharging trucks.
· At the terminal, trucks will generally be attended to in their order of booked time-slot.
· Please allow approximately 1.5 hour turnaround from arrival (We endeavour to process deliveries a lot quicker but from time to time there are unexpected delays)
· If a timeslot is unavailable ABA will then provide you with the closest available timeslot.
· Where a truck is likely to miss a timeslot, the driver or carrier must contact ABA as soon as possible to discuss whether alternative arrangements can be made to accommodate the truck. If a timeslot is missed, the truck will not be able to tip off until another time can be allocated. Trucks turning up at the terminal after a timeslot is missed will be turned away.
· If the incidences of non-arrival during a booked timeslot increases ABA may at it sole discretion introduce a non-refundable booking fee or a missed timeslot fee payable by the marketer.
· If we are unable to unload a truck within the designated time- slot we will contact the customer to discuss alternative arrangements.
· To maximise terminal efficiency timeslots for any customer may be restricted to certain hours. When this occurs, ABA will liaise with the customer in advance.
· The customer needs to ensure that their carrier is aware of the need to book time-slots and of any conditions of hours.
· Trucks waiting to enter the terminal should park in designated parking areas outside the terminal – see attached map – and not on vacant land adjacent to the terminal.
Drivers who park illegally in non designated parking areas may be fined. ABA accepts no reasonability for drivers being fined for illegal parking. This includes trucks facing the wrong way on the wrong side of the road and in non designated parking areas.
· The amenities at the terminal are located at the rear of the main office. Truck drivers who abuse these facilities shall be permanently excluded from the ABA terminal.
· Truck drivers are required to wear Hi visibility clothing and protective footwear whenever they are outside of their truck on ABA property. Unenclosed footwear such as thongs or sandals is not permitted.
Should you have any queries regarding this new procedure please contact ABA Operations Manager Mr Glen Collison or the Terminal Supervisor Ali Abdou on (03) 9687 9253.