86 AUGUST 2019 ownerdriver.com.au
aregoingtouseaselectronicworkdiariesinourbusiness.
Whywouldyouwaitwhenthetechnology’salreadythere
andproven?”
Ontheotherhand,it’sa definitePeterFoxwhocontends
thatwhiletechnologyforitsownsakeis“awasteoftime”,
someaspectsofadvancedtechnologyneedtimetomature.
Automateddriverlesstrucks,forinstance.
“Webelieveinautomation,”heattests,“butI certainlydon’t
seeinthenextdecadea driverlesstruckontheroad.
“We’vetalkedaboutregulation,soimaginehowyou’dgo
tryingtoputa driverlesstruckontheroad?”
Besides,driverlesstechnologystillhasmanyhurdles
toovercome,Peteragrees.Nonetheless,“There’sa massiveAbove: Clean energy. Linfox will
start trials with two Volvo FE
electric trucks within the next
12 months
Below: The other Swede. More than
100 Scanias have joined Linfox
in recent times. “We like having a
back-up provider,” says Peter Fox
amount happening through new and highly automated
warehousing operations.
“Automation is not just about trucks. Warehousing
and distribution is a major part of our industry and the
technology of RF scanners and automated guided vehicles
has huge potential in bringing efficiency and productivity
gains into our broader industry.”Real Concerns
Yet as the conversation drew to a close, it was blatantly
apparent that political procrastination and the apparent
apathy of those in power to implement programs of national
benefit remain sources of frustration and even annoyance
to Peter Fox.
Like, the continuing absence of an inland rail freight
corridor linking Victoria to northern Queensland. “We’ve had
this discussion for two decades, but what infrastructure has
been built?” he asks.
“The need for our industry to have a line between Victoria
and Queensland to take traffic off the Newell (Highway) is
a no-brainer but even if the button was pressed on it today,
you’re not going to have that train set operating for another
10 years.
“And what about electricity? We’ve got an endless supply of
natural gas but it all goes to Japan and Korea. Why wouldn’t
we be self-sufficient with our own gas supply to generate
electricity? It’s a clean source of energy.
“If you looked at it afresh, in terms of powering this
country for the next 100 years, you’d go for gas all day long.”
Much the same, Peter believes, can be said about water
management, or rather, the lack of it.
“Where’s the plan for what the country requires for the
next 20 to 30 years?” he questions with a shrug.
“We need to be at the forefront of using the technology
that’s available to us, but I fear this country will get
left behind.
“We can’t rely on ‘she’ll be right mate’ or ‘we’re the
luc k y cou nt r y ’.
“We have to be open and adaptive, productive and
extremely efficient, and we need governments prepared to
make things happen.
“Otherwise, in the next 10 or 15 years, we will definitely get
left behind,” a resolute Peter Fox concluded.