Higher productivity trucks can improve safety and halve the number of trips required to move goods, the Australian Trucking Association’s Senior Engineering Adviser, Chris Loose, said today.
Mr Loose was releasing the second edition of the ATA’s Truck Impact Chart, which includes guidance on the impacts of using different truck combinations. The chart and its associated technical advisory procedure was developed by the ATA’s Industry Technical Council.
“The updated truck impact chart clearly shows that larger trucks can reduce the number of truck trips required to move a load of goods, reduce fuel needs, reduce emissions and reduce the amount of road space needed to move goods from A to B,” Mr Loose said.
“When deciding what truck combination to use or allow on our roads to do a particular job we need to pay attention to the wide range of truck impacts in order to make the right call.”
The updated truck impact chart compares different truck combinations and includes information on the number of trips required to move 1,000 tonnes, fuel use, driver requirements, overall length, emissions, and the amount of road space required.
Mr Loose said the document also provided a range of supporting and related information including on emissions, fuel quality, license requirements, safety statistics, and impacts such as low speed swept paths.
“Not only can bigger trucks move more with less, but they can do it with less emissions, less fuel consumption, a better safety record and with more experienced drivers who have to meet tougher licensing requirements,” Mr Loose said.
This is the latest in the ATA’s series of technical advisory procedures, which provide best practice guidance for trucking operators, maintainers and suppliers about key technical issues.
