The Tasmanian government has decided to amend its licensing requirements to allow car license holders to operate electric delivery vehicles (eDVs) while delivering for Australia Post. This will eliminate the need for Australia Post’s Tasmanian team members to hold a motorcycle license to operate an eDV, making these jobs more widely accessible.
Australia Post managing director and CEO Paul Graham commended the Tasmanian government and called on other state governments to review their licensing requirements.
“Our eDVs can carry up to 100 small parcels and 1,200 letters at a time, which is significantly more than a traditional motorcycle,” he said. “We’re responding to higher demand for parcel deliveries, with 83% of Tasmanians making an online purchase in the past year. For every Tasmanian candidate who has a motorcycle license, there are eight who have car licenses, so we should be able to fill positions faster from a larger pool.”
Michael Ferguson, the Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, said the move was another example of the Rockliff Liberal government’s work to enable businesses to flourish: “We have listened to advice that, as eDVs can only be ridden at low speeds and have appropriate operating and handling characteristics as a three-wheeled vehicle, they can be ridden by Australia Post employees on a car license.
“Investment in eDVs is an integral part of Australia Post’s target to reduce carbon emissions by 15% by 2025 (against an FY19 baseline), ahead of targeting net zero emissions by 2050. Electric delivery vehicles and electric motorbikes are already used on more than half of all postal rounds in Tasmania.”