Western Roads Federation

A new regulatory system for heavy haulage movements on the east coast is costing the Western Australian economy millions, according to local trucking players, who are warning that the introduction of a similar model here would cause major problems.

SPECIAL REPORT: WA could be about 1,000 truck drivers short at a time the industry believes there are signs of an upswing.

Premier Mark McGowan and Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti attacked opposition leader Liza Harvey today for her support of the Perth Freight Link, criticising the previous Liberal government and Ms Harvey's stance on tolls.

The widening of Mitchell Freeway near Joondalup and a train station at Lakelands are some of the new projects to be funded from a $940 million, four-year infrastructure stimulus package announced today.

The Western Roads Federation has called for truckies to be included in the federal goverment's business assistance package, as it emerged today the two-week closure of the Eyre Highway would continue after bushfires were upgraded to emergency level.

National advisory body Infrastructure Australia has added regional roads upgrades in WA and Perth’s water security to its listing of high priority initiatives that need more attention, and notably has kept the proposed Morley Ellenbrook rail link near the bottom of its priority list.

Western Australia’s construction and commercial property sectors are bracing for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with imports of building materials likely to be disrupted and retail activity expected to plunge in coming weeks

Health Minister Roger Cook said testing criteria for COVID-19 would expand as of tomorrow, 28 new cases in WA overnight; Premier Mark McGowan aired his grievances with the Artania cruise ship, and Andrew Forrest pledged $160 million towards procuring medical supplies and increasing testing in WA.

The resources sector has enthusiastically embraced a new government-backed app designed to facilitate travel across Western Australia but the freight sector has been lukewarm in its response, despite being touted as a major beneficiary.

The state’s peak trucking body is pushing for a meeting between industry and government amid a major truck driver shortage.

The state-wide truck driver shortage has officially reached the mining industry, with Mineral Resources announcing this morning that iron ore was sitting idle amid 'haulage constraints'.

Resources companies need workers, while the state has the most job vacancies since 2012.

Half of the state’s heavy vehicle fleet could be brought to a standstill in a matter of weeks amid a global shortage of high-grade urea, WA’s peak trucking body has warned.

The state has just more than a month to prepare for multi-million dollar supply chain disruptions similar to those hitting Australia’s east coast.

Worker shortages and supply chain issues could disrupt major projects in WA worth more than $50 billion. Click for our updated list of major projects.

The state government has cracked down on councils obstructing the around-the-clock delivery of goods to supermarkets, as concerns mount about supply chain disruptions.

Shortages on Perth supermarket shelves could last until late March, although the reconnection of the state’s rail link with the east is now expected next week.

Business groups are calling for a more holistic response across all tiers of government to infrastructure and supply chain pressures.

Perth shoppers may continue to see product shortages for weeks, after flooding knocked out a major rail link for the second time this year.

Businesses are being urged to stock up inventories as the prospect of more freight disruptions looms over WA coming into the wet season up north and fire season down south.

Myriad issues are crippling WA's road freight network. It is leaving truckies with hefty damage bills, towns with no produce and governments with huge headaches.

Local government truck movements and port terminal operations need to be standardised to improve supply chain resilience, according to the boss of a WA freight-forwarding company.

Curfews imposed by local governments are among the constraints affecting freight productivity by as much as 20 per cent, according to WA’s peak trucking lobby.

Western Australia is on the cusp of being cut off from the rest of the nation again due to flooding in northern, southern and central parts of the state.

Australia’s interstate rail is now expected to be out of action until at least late next week, heaping more pressure on WA’s logistics network.

WA’s best steak sandwich has been temporarily removed from the menu because flooding has led to a shortage of Turkish bread at the nation’s major supermarkets.

Empty supermarket shelves and product shortages for businesses are continuing to impact consumers more than one month after the interstate rail was flooded.