Grain transport: Move to ban ‘old’ trucks from carting grain hits end of road

[kscarbel2]

Emma Field, The Weekly Times  /  September 27, 2017

A BID to ban “old” trucks from being part of a new harvest mass management scheme has left the plan in tatters.

Two major bulk handlers were this week refusing to sign up to the plan, declaring serious concerns about the Victorian Government’s move to omit trucks older than 15 years old.

The scheme was due to start in four days, but is now in limbo without the grain companies’ support.

A fortnight ago The Weekly Times revealed the Victorian Government plans to introduce the scheme, scheduled to start on October 1, which would allow participating grain trucks a 5 per cent tolerance over their maximum weight thresholds.

This allowed for the natural variation of grain density when trucks are loaded on-farm and when growers do not have on-farm weighbridges. It was also designed to reduce the number of truck movements over harvest.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the truck age limit be scrapped? Comment below.

Under the scheme, only trucks delivering grain to receival sites registered with the VicRoads-run program would be granted a weight tolerance. Without the participation of all bulk handlers the effectiveness of the scheme would be seriously curtailed.

Cargill, which operates four GrainFlow grain sites in Victoria, told The Weekly Times it would “hold off” implementing the scheme at its sites unless the Government removes plans to omit trucks more than 15 years old.

“The best way forward for the (scheme) to be implemented this harvest would be to remove the condition regarding trucks manufactured before January 1, 2002, not being allowed to participate,” Cargill spokesman Peter McBride said.

Victoria’s biggest bulk handling company, GrainCorp, which operates 38 up-country silos and two ports in the state, was reviewing whether it would participate in this year’s trial.

“We do have reservations over the model being proposed for the Victorian trial, which excludes a large number of vehicles,” GrainCorp spokesman Angus Trigg said.

VicRoads heavy vehicle services director Eric Henderson said trucks built after 2002 were “more compliant with safety and environmental standards than those built before this time”.

“This scheme will give the industry a boost during its busiest time of year and importantly, will encourage the use of newer and safer heavy vehicles on Victorian roads,” he said.

However, VicRoads data has revealed the average age of heavy vehicle in country Victoria is 29 years old, leaving many trucks unable to be part of the scheme.

This means trucks in Victoria more than 15 years old will have no leeway if they are carrying any extra weight when carting grain from farm to silo.

Both bulk handling companies claim the announcement of the scheme less than five weeks before harvest starts would also make it difficult to introduce this season.

Industry sources have told The Weekly Times about half of the 200 casual harvest GrainCorp staff had already been trained before the announcement, which would not have included details of the new scheme.

And The Weekly Times understands the proposed scheme would put bulk handlers in a precarious legal position, with chain of responsibility obligations requiring they ban any overloaded truck from their sites.

“Given how close we are to harvest and the transition for growers and (our) systems we believe it is important industry is able to transition with minimum confusion,” Mr Trigg said.

“Heavy vehicle safety remains a core priority for us and we strongly support a harvest management scheme in line with the NSW system, which operates well.”

Victoria is the last grain-growing state to introduce such a scheme. Queensland’s scheme, which allowed up to 7.5 per cent tolerance on mass limits, has been in place for almost 20 years.

NSW, South Australia and Western Australia also have programs in place plus. There is also a National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, which allows a 5 per cent weight limit tolerance, but has high registration, compliance costs and audit requirements.

However, not all bulk handlers are opposed to the proposed Victorian scheme. Emerald Group, which operates six grain sites in Victoria plus the Melbourne port, and Viterra, which has three country Victoria sites and a packing facility in Laverton, support the plan.

Emerald Grain planning and operations manager Bill Thompson said his company was supportive of the scheme and would be able to implement it for the coming harvest.

“We are confident we can meet all of VicRoads requirements ... and provide what allowance we can to growers which are loading (grain) in the paddock,” he said.

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[HeavyGunner]

What a crock that is. A well maintained 20 year old truck with an experienced driver is far safer than a poorly maintained new truck. I hate it anytime a government tries to force capitalism in the direction it thinks you should go. It may be different here than  Australia but most farms still have late 40's to 70's era 2 1/2 ton trucks carting seed grain and fertilizer to the air drills. Most couldn't justify the cost of new trucks every 15 years just because the government said so. 

[david wild]

You forget we are making so much money that buying new trucks that don't run, continue to break down way more often than the older maintained trucks is better for your wallet. If you purchase a newer truck with all latest EPA mandated crap then it will spend more time in the shop, that in turn means that you pump money into the repair shops pocket who inturn can hire more people to work on more trucks that spend more time not running. It's a ponzi scheme, and while your spending all that extra money you made from Obama's great recovery you will helping our polluted enviroment and the polar bears will ice cubes to float around on. I think that's how it goes.  

[Timmyb]

Anything the government sticks it nose in usually turns to shit. A 20 yo truck would have a series 60, n14 or c15 in it now days. Hardly the black smoke pumping things the politicians are thinking of when they say around watching "dual" and came up with these ideas. 

[mrsmackpaul]

how can a truck thats new do less damage to our roads than one thats over 15 years old 
Thats what the government are saying by saying they can cart more weight 
And what about the mass management BS, you do this crappy course and you can cart more weight do this other fatigue management course and you can drive  more hours  

It's still the same truck and the same driver

 

The whole things a crock to squeeze out the little guy and support the big guy who already operates out side the rules with the governments blessings 

Tiz a bloody disgrace 

Paul