Livestock Loading - CML Trial
During the last week in November a livestock loading trial was held in Dubbo testing the load calculator we are confident can help deliver more on road legal weight for livestock transporters under the proposed NSW Livestock Loading Scheme. This was a major exercise and involved many people who participated on a good will basis and at their own cost. I know it's easy to take a pot shot at some people but the fact is that they do help when we ask - and they do have an alternative ie they can just say no when we do ask..
Luckily they said yes to helping with the Dubbo exercise where many logistical nightmares were solved as we managed the weighing event with the RTA without too many difficulties. The groups involved included Wingham Meats, Fletcher Abattoirs, Martins Stock Transport, Dickinson's Transport and Dubbo Saleyards - all played their part by either contributing the stock, their time and/or their equipment. Of course, this also came down to individuals being there on the day including LBCA President Jim Savage, LBCA Committee member Bob Richardson (plus a Martin's driver), RTA staff, John Zeitsch and Chris (the designer of the calculator, from Concept Economics), Andrew Stanton (Dubbo Saleyards Manager) and RTA staff.
What was particularly pleasing was to hear the RTA staff in the hook up thanking everyone involved in the trial and their acknowledgement that the trial had improved their understanding of how difficult it is to get the livestock transport task right. We have another Working Group meeting in Sydney in early December where we'll look at the next steps required to bring this initiative to life in the field so our members and the industry as a whole can obtain the benefits of the proposed Scheme - and the Minister and RTA are more confident that they have a realistic livestock loading scheme in place that embraces the uniqueness of the job and delivers better safety and efficiency outcomes. With Christmas just around the corner, this would be a great way to finish the year and deliver an outcome which justifies the work put into the project.
If you have any questions, please contact the LBCA:
Phone| 02 6230 6290
Fax| 02 6247 0476
Email|office@lbca.org.au
Post| PO Box 617, Belconnen ACT 2616