Aussie truck drivers have been left fuming after the Labor government helped the country’s largest private logistics company buy a new fleet of electric trucks.
Transport giant Linfox rolled out the first of its 26 battery-powered prime movers this week with the help of $19.63 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its Driving the Nation Program, which aims to accelerate the uptake of “zero emission vehicles”.
The Volvo FM trucks will cover about 500km per day and replace diesel vehicles on existing routes, with the rollout starting at the company’s hub in Laverton North, Melbourne, before being expanded to Willawong in Brisbane and the Adelaide rail freight terminal.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen shared a photo of himself cutting a ribbon in front of one of the trucks, and said: “Australia relies on trucking. And today our biggest trucking company, Linfox, rolled out new electric trucks with support from the Albanese Government.”
He said the new fleet was “better for energy security, with each truck saving 30,000 litres of diesel a year”, “better for local air pollution”, “quieter, better to drive, cheaper to run”, had lower emissions, and were made in Brisbane.
But truck drivers on popular Facebook page Road Trains Australia were critical of the funding decision, and many asked why the government wasn’t helping smaller companies or owner operators instead of Linfox, which is owned by Melbourne billionaire Lindsay Fox.
“What chance has anyone got up against this Victorian copping a huge hand out of taxpayers’ money from the Labor government?” asked one man.
“If it is good enough for Bowen to buy Lindsay Fox free trucks, he should buy every transport company in Australia free electric trucks,” said another.
“Let’s waste more money, why doesn’t the government fix the roads instead?” asked a third.
Others criticised Mr Bowen’s renewable energy policies, and said they supported One Nation’s plan to scrap his whole ministry.
“Another dream by Blackout Bowen costing taxpayers plenty, for what?” asked one man.
“I’m with Pauline Hanson, dump Chris Bowen and his whole department,” said another, while a third joked “just plug it in to the diesel generator when it needs charging”.
The Linfox Heavy Truck Electrification Project is expected to cost $50.18 million, of which $19.63 is funded by ARENA, and will provide the 26 prime movers along with 25 chargers and enabling infrastructure at the three Linfox hubs by 2030.
The battery-powered vehicles will service particular existing customers on primarily metropolitan and regional routes, and operate between to two to three shifts a day, covering 500km daily, with charging scheduled between shifts and overnight.
The Albanese government said another $70 million was being put towards helping truck drivers transition to the Volvo heavy electric vehicles, and support jobs at the company’s truck manufacturing plant in Queensland.
Header image: Chris Bowen cutting a ribbon at the truck launch (Australian government).
The post Truck drivers furious as Labor helps transport giant buy new electric fleet first appeared on The Noticer.
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