ATA Chair Noelene Watson today urged trucking businesses to contact their ATA member associations to get information on the unfair contract terms legislation before it comes into force tomorrow.
Designed to protect small businesses from unfair terms in standard form contracts, this new law will apply to contracts entered into or renewed on or after 12 November 2016.
The protections will apply to businesses with fewer than 20 employees that agree to standard contracts where the upfront price is no more than either $300,000, or $1 million if the contract is for more than 12 months.
Mrs Watson said the protections would apply to almost 98 per cent of trucking businesses.
“These protections have the potential to be extremely important for the trucking industry,” Mrs Watson said.
“Every small business in our industry and every larger business that uses standard form contracts needs to understand the impact of the law.
“The ATA released a contract checklist and comprehensive general information in September 2016 about the new protections.
“The contract checklist and the information are available exclusively from the ATA’s member associations.
“The ACCC has published excellent general information about the protections, including a review of unfair terms in selected industries, but the information released by the ATA focuses on the terms that are commonly found in trucking industry contracts.
“I urge every trucking business to contact their ATA member association to get this vital information, and if you are not a member, I urge you to join one of our associations now,” she said.
About ATA contract checklist and unfair contract terms information
The contract checklist released by the ATA in September 2016 provides trucking businesses and their legal advisers with information about the contract issues they should consider before they sign.
The ATA has also released information about the unfair contract terms protections. This information is essential for any small trucking businesses that is considering signing a standard form contract; and for larger trucking businesses that are looking to review their standard form contracts to comply with the new requirements.
The contract checklist and unfair contract terms information were prepared by Cooper Grace Ward exclusively for the ATA and the members of its member associations. Contact your ATA member association to get a copy.