Here’s the latest update from MyTrucking’s Victoria Sales & Account Manager, Nikola Berryman, to kick off 2026. Nikola shares insights from the NRFA Conference and what’s happening across the transport industry in Australia.
What a great weekend! On Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending my very first NRFA (National Road Freighters Association) Conference – and this time, MyTrucking wasn’t just attending, we also had our very own stand.
Last month, MyTrucking became proud members of the NRFA, who play a vital role in strengthening the road freight sector. The conference itself was incredibly well run, with an excellent mix of speakers covering everything from safety and compliance, to the future of road transport.
A few standouts for me:
- Senator Glenn Sterle – Senator for WA
A former truckie turned politician, he brought the perfect mix of humour and passion. He’s a fierce advocate for the transport industry, especially around tackling sham contracting and the ongoing cost pressures operators are facing. He encouraged everyone in the industry to keep speaking up.
- David Driver – Assistant Commissioner, Traffic & Highway Patrol
David presented a sobering session on road fatalities and what police are doing to reduce them. He also shared the summer holiday drink and drug driving statistics for NSW, and honestly the numbers were shocking: 29302 random drug tests conducted, 2415 drug driving offences detected, and 597703 drink driving tests conducted with 939 offences detected. A real eye-opener for the room.
- True Ross – Ross Transport, Wollongong
True spoke candidly about the harsh realities of running a transport business today, soaring costs, falling rates, and the ongoing fight against sham contracting. With growing parliamentary attention on the issue, it’s something we’ll be hearing a lot more about.
For context: sham contracting is when drivers enter (sometimes forced into) “independent contractor” arrangements so employers can avoid paying minimum entitlements like superannuation, sick leave, annual leave, and workers compensation. It undercuts compliant businesses and drives rates down across the board.
MyTrucking tackles industry challenges
What really stood out across the day was how much pressure operators are under. Whether it’s rising costs, compliance demands, or the need to find and keep good people.
That’s where MyTrucking can make a genuine difference.
By simplifying job management, reducing paperwork, and saving hours in admin every week, we’re helping operators focus on what matters most. That’s running efficient, profitable, and safe businesses.
Many conversations at the event reinforced that technology like transport management software is no longer just a “nice to have” – it’s becoming essential for tackling the daily challenges.
Thank you, NRFA!
The NRFA team were brilliant hosts, it was a fantastic event to be part of. A huge thanks to the NRFA crew for putting together such an engaging conference. Also for the ongoing leadership and hard work you do for our industry.
I left feeling inspired, connected, and already looking forward to next year’s one!
