Australia’s heavy transport industry will put regulation, safety, electrification, artificial intelligence and fleet strategy under the spotlight when industry leaders gather for TechDRIVE Connect Brisbane on 20 August.
The executive-focused forum at The Bethnal in Brisbane will bring together representatives from transport operators, vehicle manufacturers, regulators, technology providers and the energy sector to discuss some of the decisions likely to shape freight and heavy vehicle operations through to 2030.
Speakers confirmed for the program include representatives from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Transport Certification Australia (TCA), as well as senior leaders from Daimler Truck, Volvo Group Australia, Viva Energy Australia, ITS Australia, FBT Transwest, WHG and other organisations.
Heavy transport priorities to 2030
One of the central discussions will be Leading Transport Strategies: The Road to 2030, bringing together Daimler Truck Head of Regulatory Affairs and Emerging Mobility Sales Romesh Rodrigo, ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris, FBT Transwest Managing Director Cameron Dunn and WHG CEO Dylan Hartley.
Moderated by HVIA’s Harrison Hunkin, the session will examine the impact of AI, connected transport, regulation, investment, workforce pressures and emerging vehicle technologies.
Rodrigo will bring a commercial vehicle manufacturer’s perspective informed by experience across engineering, product development, homologation, regulation and future mobility.
Harris will provide insight into intelligent transport and connected vehicle technology, including lessons from ITS Australia’s recent US Connected and Automated Vehicle Study Tour.
Dunn will contribute the perspective of an established fleet operator, drawing on decades of experience in bulk transport, safety, governance and industry policy, while Hartley will focus on the growing role of telematics, AI and real-time fleet intelligence.
Beyond diesel
The transition away from conventional diesel operations will also be a major part of the program.
The Beyond Diesel: Powering The Next Era Of Transport panel will feature Viva Energy Australia Head of Hydrogen and EVs Sandra Lau alongside Volvo Group Australia Director of E-Mobility Solutions Tim Camilleri.
The discussion is expected to cover hydrogen, renewable diesel, electric vehicle infrastructure and the challenge of developing energy networks capable of supporting commercial heavy vehicle fleets.
Camilleri will provide insight into Volvo Group Australia’s e-mobility strategy, including electric truck technology, Australian EV production and some of the practical challenges fleets face when introducing electric heavy vehicles.
Lau will examine the broader energy picture and the pathway towards alternative fuel and charging networks that can operate at commercial scale.
Moving safety beyond compliance
Another key session will examine how heavy vehicle businesses can move beyond simply meeting their regulatory obligations to develop stronger safety cultures.
Safety Beyond Compliance will bring together Hartley, Polymer Connect General Manager Jason Razumic, Garmin Head of Sales – Garmin Health and B2B Harry Gasiamis, and a senior representative from the NHVR.
The discussion will explore predictive safety, fatigue management, wearable technology, telematics and the importance of gaining driver trust when introducing new monitoring systems.
Hartley will draw on WHG’s national FleetPREDICT trial, which is being delivered with support from the NHVR Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative and is investigating the potential for predictive technology, AI and connected fleet systems to support fatigue management.
Gasiamis will discuss the use of wearable technology and health data, while Razumic will provide an operator perspective on using connected technology to improve compliance, visibility and efficiency without losing sight of driver privacy and workplace culture.
The panel will also consider how leadership, early intervention and open communication can influence safety outcomes beyond what can be achieved through policies and systems alone.
Industry looking for practical answers
WHG CEO Dylan Hartley said interest in the Brisbane event reflected the transport sector’s appetite for practical conversations about the changes ahead.
“The speakers joining us bring direct experience across regulation, fleet operations, energy, vehicle technology and safety,” Hartley said.
“Each is contributing to the decisions, technologies and strategies that will shape the next chapter of Australian transport.”
Hartley said bringing those perspectives together was intended to help industry participants examine what they need to be doing now to prepare for 2030.
Following the Brisbane event, the TechDRIVE Roadshow will return to Melbourne on 21 October at Seaworks in Williamstown.
