Comment: Times are Changing – Lets Step Up
The New Zealand Log Transport Accord has been updated and a renewed commitment to log truck safety has been signed off.
Let us take you back in history...in fact to 2001 when a Log Transport Safety Accord was signed between operators, forest owners, government regulators. Public concerns about log truck safety were borne out in a 1997 study that found log trucks were four times more likely than the average heavy vehicle to roll over.
If off-highway log trucks were included, one logging truck in every 11 was rolling over each year. Fast forward a few years to August 7, 2008, when log truck operators and forest owners on that day signed an updated Log Transport Safety Accord designed to further improve the safety of all road users.
Since the accord was first signed in 2001, there has been a 65% reduction in log truck crashes, and a 75% reduction in rollover crashes, during a time of rapid growth in the logging industry.
Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) chair Warwick Wilshier said the accord has been updated with the aim of reducing the rollover crash rate even further. Nevertheless, LTSC felt there was potential to improve safety even further, and with the numbers of heavy vehicles on the road increasingly steadily, this had to be a priority.
In the late 1990s there were several high-profile fatal crashes involving log trucks rolling over into the path of on-coming traffic. "Set up by forest owners, the Road Transport Forum, government agencies and other groups with an interest in log transport, it embarked on a number of initiatives that have doubtless saved many lives."
These included improved driver training, regular safety awareness campaigns and the 0800 LOGTRUCK compliments and complaints system. Better vehicle design, including lower deck heights, lower loads and "roll-stiff" suspensions have greatly improved vehicle stability and handling.
"The introduction of 22-metre trucks was a big breakthrough. By increasing the length of trucks by 2 metres beyond the previous maximum, without increasing overall weight, vehicles could carry two packets of logs on their trailers at a significantly reduced height. Rollovers of 22 metre trucks are virtually unheard of."
"Forest owners and transport operators supported the LTSC reviewing and revising truck and trailer manufacturing standards to improve safety, with any changes adopted as quickly as practicable."
Now 13 years later, in 2021 the New Zealand Log Transport Accord has been updated and a renewed commitment to log truck safety was signed off between the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA), Road Transport Forum New Zealand (RTFNZ), Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC), New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA), Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC), and the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA).
"The log transport industry was and still is fully committed to the safety of all road users and will not allow its greatly improved safety performance to be compromised. Indeed, they have been looking to improve safety further as we explore modifications designed to improve the productivity and fuel efficiency of the industry and to reduce its environmental impact.
"There is also a place for improved education of truck drivers and the public, so there is a better awareness of things like overtaking safely and the distance a loaded truck needs to slow or stop."
The objective of this accord is to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of log transport across the industry, whilst enhancing the safety for all road users on both public and private roads.
"We will expect the members of our respective organisations to support and abide by the fourteen initiative principles of this accord and the goals and objectives of the Annual Log Transport Safety Improvement Plan," said Wilshier.
Two of the key areas that LTSC wish to remind you all that are included in the plan are:
Truck and Trailer Design and Manufacture
The parties acknowledge the part truck and trailer manufacturing, and specifications play in log transport safety and support the LTSC in reviewing and revising these to improve safety.
The parties will work to implement any agreed revised truck and trailer specifications, including technical enhancements, as quickly as practicable. The parties will consider and actively support, where appropriate, the implementation of mechanical and technical solutions to improve the productivity, competitiveness, or fuel efficiency of the industry and to reduce environmental impact, providing safety is not compromised and where possible improved. This includes any new concessions which may arise, whilst recognising capital investment required.
Loading / Unloading Equipment and Trailer Lifting
The parties acknowledge the need to review loading and unloading equipment and procedures to match developments in best practice truck and trailer design and associated compliance as prescribed in the LTSC Industry Standards.
The parties’ members will take all practicable steps to ensure compliant trailer lifting facilities are provided where logs are loaded or discharged. There is a POLICY for Trailer Lifting Chain Check and Compliance Certificate which LTSC administer and WorkSafe support and these can be found on the LTSC website under Industry Standards.
The purpose of this policy is to further ensure the safety and wellbeing of those involved in loading and unloading trailers and to maintain a professional, regulated industry sector.
The policy involves an annual renewal process at the end of each calendar year, including evidence from the operator through a Statutory Declaration signed by a Justice of the Peace, confirming all trailer lifting systems are compliant. This is followed by the issuing of a compliance sticker for each vehicle, which remains current for the following year.
In the past, the requirement around only paid members requesting and receiving stickers has not been made clear so therefore we are making sure everyone is aware going forward that in order to receive a Compliance Sticker, operators are required to be a current financial member of the LTSC. The issuing of trailer lifting stickers comes free of charge to LTSC members.
Are you aware of the policy for the Trailer Lifting Chain Check and Compliance Certificate?
The Trailer Lifting Chain Check and Compliance Certificate was introduced by the LTSC and provides process and protocols to maintain the integrity of trailer lifting systems against design and build criteria, ensuring the safety of these lifting systems remains uncompromised.
This policy has been created in the absence of existing codes of practice and has the support of WorkSafe NZ. This policy is to help manage the Compliance Certificate that was developed through the collaboration, cooperation, and coordination of gantry owners, LTSC, Forest Owners/Managers and Transport operators.
Please note all trucks must carry a current trailer lifting compliance sticker. Transport operators who receive trailer lifting stickers direct from engineers/manufacturers must be members – please get in touch if you are unsure admin@logtruck.co.nz
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