Productivity by the truckload

Federated Farmers welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Transport, the Hon Steven Joyce, of a permit scheme allowing trucks to carry heavier loads on some routes.

Heavy vehicles currently only carry loads of up to 44 tonne. However, the proposed Land Transport Rule (Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment), out for consultation now, would allow heavy vehicles to carry up to 50 tonne.

“With the primary sector contributing 64 percent of the country’s exports, an efficient transport system is critical,” says Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers Transport spokesperson.

“That’s why permitting heavy vehicles to carry larger loads would boost productivity and make the journey from the farm to processing and then to port far more efficient.

“If the rule is changed, the Road Transport Forum predicts freight rates will drop by as much as 12 percent. This would save most farmers thousands of dollars.

“Decreasing the number of trucks on the road would also improve road safety and as a result, the well being of all New Zealanders. Add this to the reduction in fuel consumption and the rule change seems the logical choice.

“But the Federation challenges the Government to go a step further and allow agricultural vehicles such as tractors and combine harvesters to operate on roads during weekends and public holidays.

“Tractors and other agricultural vehicles have to obtain a permit to travel on public roads over the Christmas break. For farmers this is one of their busiest times of year – harvest. It is simply ridiculous that this occurs in a country founded on agriculture.

“Nearly every agricultural vehicle that applies for a permit receives one. It goes without saying that this fact alone renders the permit system a complete waste of time and money.

“A blanket exemption for all agricultural vehicles would achieve the same result without the hassle of compliance costs,” Mr Aubrey concluded.