“Eclipsed our wildest dreams:” Trucking industry starts to embrace electric future

Todd Hacking, CEO of Australia’s trucking industry association Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has told The Driven that Australia’s first zero emission trucking conference has eclipsed his wildest expectations.

Held at Cape Shank in southern Victoria, and hosted by the HVIA, the two-day event drew hundreds of attendees who heard from speakers on topics ranging from battery electric trucks and truck charging infrastructure to government funding opportunities, as well as updates on state and federal policy directions.

One of the standout sessions was an hour long Q&A with Heather Bone from Team Global Express and Alex Bowler from Jet Charge. Among other insights, Bone mentioned that TGE saved $17,000 in a single hour at it’s new electric last-mile delivery hub in Western Sydney.

Other speakers at the conference included E-mobility Solutions Manager at Volvo Group Australia Tim Camilleri, General Manager at Eurocold Revora EV Nathan Gore-Brown, and Chief Advocacy Officer at HVIA Dr Adele Lausberg.

Attendees also heard from representatives of government agencies, including Susie Smith from the Climate Change Authority and Ian Porter who is the First Assistant Secretary Net Zero for the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development.

“This has eclipsed our wildest expectations and dreams” says trucking industry group CEO

Hacking told The Driven the idea for the zero emission truck show originally came from attending other conferences and hearing ” pie-in-the-sky, unrealistic, almost negligent comments” being thrown around, and becoming concerned that bad ideas would lead government stakeholders to to make silly decisions.

“And so we thought, ok, let’s try and be real. Try and get honest conversations and try to foster a community,” he said.

“We need to do a lot more education, we need a lot more work as an industry to try and raise the bar. I think the industry understands that it needs to decarbonise. It’s just a matter of who’s gonna pay for that because there’s a cost and when is it the right time to move over and what is the solution that’s going to best suit me.”

The Driven asked Hacking what feedback he’d had from attendees over the two day event.

“This has eclipsed our wildest expectations and dreams.”

Hacking says the conference has attracted a broad range of people from various backgrounds including people who don’t normally attend trucking shows.

“When we were putting together the very early framework for the event we didn’t expect half of the people that we’ve ended up getting. And it’s not only the numbers, it’s where they’re from. People that have never been to a trucking event have come to this which is really cool. I really think that’s an amazing achievement.

Australia’s entire economy depends on trucks

Most people don’t think about it but our entire economy essentially runs on trucking, it’s critical to everything we do so gaining a good understanding of the industry is crucial to a successful transition.

“I always say, find something in your immediate vicinity that hasn’t arrived on a truck or at some point in its journey hasn’t been on a truck,” says Hacking. “Usually multiple times in a supply chain.

“It is the feeder industry for the top five industries. Without it, those industries stop. It is crucial the role that we play, and I think the community understands that now, government understands that now, COVID did that.

“The panic from toilet paper not being on the shelves really instilled the feebleness of the supply chain and the risk involved if one of those cogs doesn’t work as well as it should. It gave us a higher profile than we’ve ever had before.”

“Hardest step change for the industry in over 120 years”

While Hacking is optimistic about the ability of the industry to transition, he’s realistic about the scale of the challenge ahead.

“This is without doubt, the biggest and hardest step change for the industry in over 120 years.” Hacking told The Driven.

“So it would be nice to plan it, it would be nice to structure and coordinate it.

“It’s also quite exhilarating to see it happening so fast. It’s this melting pot of innovation and tech and commercial and that’s really cool and it’s exciting to see.”

“You can feel the buzz in there, you can feel the energy and it’s super cool to be involved.”

The Driven asked Hacking if a lot of the drive for decarbonising trucks is coming from the end customer.

“There must be some kind of evidence for groups like IKEA and Coles and Woolworths that have made public commitments. These big fleet companies are making big investments over time, because they must be getting feedback from their customers that they want they want this.”

“You have to think that the community push for this is super strong, and will only get stronger.”

During his panel session at the conference on Day 2, Ian Porter who is the First Assistant Secretary Net Zero for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, told the trucking industry audience that by 2030, the transport sector will be the highest emitting sector in Australia.

Hacking says he understands the task required for the trucking industry.

“Transport is going to play a major role in that, as you heard from government today, without intervention we’re likely to be the highest emitting industry. From an industry role like mine, that scares me because it’s hard enough to attract people into the industry now, and I know that future generations they’re passionate about this.”

Government has a critical role to play in decarbonising Australia’s trucking industry

The decarbonisation of the trucking industry faces complexities that aren’t faced by the passenger vehicle industry. Trucking companies generally run on margins of around 2-3% so the industry hesitant to take risks on new technologies.

Despite having lower operating costs than their diesel equivalents, upfront costs of new BETs (Battery Electric Trucks) remain a barrier for freight operators. The industry needs a third player such as government to step in and help facilitate the transition.

“It does just make commercial sense. As much as I want to do for the community and for the environment, business and social licence for all that other stuff out there.”

“We have to find a sustainable solution and I think that government will have to play a role. I think the question is, what role does government play and the speed and I think that’s where there’s probably going to be stages to this.

“Sometimes we get pigeonholed as laggards but I actually think the truck is the easy bit.

“I look out there and there’s 19 vehicles that you can buy, notwithstanding that the cost might be a bit higher, the technology the solutions are available. It’s the other stuff that’s the hard part and that’s where that ecosystem comes in.

“You’ve got a roadmap coming, and I think that’s when government shows its hand and I think that’s what industry is waiting for, because that’ll flag some of the wins and some of the government’s thinking and that’s important for investment decision.

“I think government has to play a role, industry has to play role, industry associations have to play a role and that’s why events such as these are so important.

“Because it’s the conversations that you’re having. It’s not only the content of the presentations, which has been outstanding, but it’s the off-to-the-side chats that you can have with someone who can help you. That’s where the rubber hits the road.”

After successfully bringing together the trucking industry, government representatives and clean transport experts, Truck Show X may be the catalyst for change Australia’s road freight industry has been waiting for.