Freight Week 2013 gets under way

Freight Week 2013, a signature gathering of the Australian freight business calendar, is off to a great start with delegates turning out during the first three days of the five-day event being held at the Melbourne Park Function Centre.

Freight Week consists of a series of stand-alone sessions staged over the five days, bringing together the who’s who of the freight transport community, industry leaders and government representatives to discuss a range of issues that will shape the future of freight transport in Australia.

Hosted by Neil Chambers, CEO of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), Freight Week thus far has featured a number of keynote speakers and major stakeholders including Victorian Minister for Ports, David Hodgett; Gary Blackwood MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport; Gary Liddle, Chief Executive of VicRoads; Stephen Bradford, CEO of the Port of Melbourne Corporation; Dr Peter Hart, ARTSA Chairman; Chris Riddell of MARS Australia and New Zealand; and Donna Findlay, Policy Director for Roads Australia.

One of the sessions already held included addressing the issues regarding port supply chains and productivity. “The freight logistics industry, which we are all a part of really plays a vital role in the success of Australia,” said John Begley, Chairman of the Victorian Ministerial Freight Advisory Council.

“Change is a significant part of our industry and there is always enormous opportunity for improvement and that’s starts with better communication on all fronts of the supply chain.”

Freight Week is also featuring a number of stands from transport technology experts Fleet Effect, TomTom Business Solutions, RTL FleetSeek, MTData and Ctrack. A ‘Technology Village’ session was held on Monday for delegates featuring a number of hands-on demonstrations showing off the latest technology from the companies exhibiting.

Hosted and organised by the VTA and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, Freight Week will conclude this Friday, 6th September.