Cost outweighs benefit Trucking giants toll message to drivers

By Tom Rabe September 28, 2021 â€" 5.21pm

Trucking giant Toll has warned its drivers against using toll roads because the costs outweigh any benefit in most cases, according to a briefing note presented to a NSW government inquiry.

Toll, one of Australia’s largest trucking road transport companies, advised drivers in May to opt against using tolls unless they were authorised to do so.

A truck moves through Sydney’s M5 East.Credit:Edwina Pickles

“In most cases, the cost of the toll roads outweighs any benefit we receive from using them,” the briefing, which was tabled to a NSW parliamentary inquiry into tolling on Tuesday, said.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns seized on the document as evidence the state government’s expansive tolling regime was not taking trucks off Sydney roads, and instead funnelling more of the heavy vehicles onto suburban streets.

Both the state government and tolling operator Transurban have spruiked the efficiencies toll roads provide truck drivers and freight companies as a justification for fees.

“One of our biggest freight companies and individual drivers have come to the same conclusion, the cost of using Sydney toll roads is just too high. The result is truck chaos on suburban streets,” Mr Minns said.

“These toll roads were supposed to get traffic off our streets, instead we have more trucks, more congestion and more noise.”

Transport Workers Union chief legal officer Gavin Webb said the advice was contained in a ‘Toolbox Briefing’ document for a Woolworths site in Minchinbury, dated May 2021.

Mr Webb said if a large freight company couldn’t find worthwhile benefits from the city’s tolling regime, smaller companies and private operators wouldn’t either.

“They’ve clearly made a decision that in most cases, the cost that is imposed by taking the toll outweighs any other efficiencies that they might receive from using them,” he told the inquiry.

Thousands of vehicles, including trucks, began circumventing the tollways and using local roads when a new charge was implemented on the M5 tunnel as the M8 opened last year.

The Herald revealed in January that an extra 7500 vehicles were recorded per day on average at a Bexley intersection after a toll was introduced on the M5 East in mid-2020.

Opposition roads spokesman John Graham said the Toll memo was further proof why more trucks were flooding onto local roads in southern Sydney.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said the freight industry was a “key beneficiary” of the toll road investment in NSW.

“Toll roads contribute $14 billion in benefits to NSW each year and helps the freight industry save time and money by reducing congestion, increasing delivery reliability and reducing overall vehicle operating costs,” the spokesman said.

Toll has been contacted for comment.

The inquiry also heard from Legal Aid NSW, which in a submission said vulnerable Sydneysiders were under financial strain caused in part by unpaid tolls.

“This is because where a toll road user is travelling without an e-tag, each trip incurs a $10 fee when a toll notice is issued,” the submission said.

“In our experience, this type debt is often accrued when other aspects of our client’s lives are in crisis and clients are struggling with managing day to day affairs.”

The Legal Aid submission said one of its clients was a single mother with mental health issues after a family bereavement who had accumulated $30,000 in debt. The matter was eventually settled with the toll debt collection agency.

Legal Aid recommended NSW adopt a code of practice for all toll operators, which includes a framework for managing debt of vulnerable consumers.

A Transurban spokesman said the company had been working with Legal Aid and was open to considering industry-wide standards.

“Transurban has already moved proactively to implement support for vulnerable customers. We would be keen to see other tolling operators introduce these hardship services and adhere to similar standards,” the spokesman said.

“Our dedicated Linkt Assist team provides tailored support for customers going through tough times.”

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