Contingency plan aids operations, staff and customer needs
Another fleet-owner caught up in the recent bushfire crisis has spoken about the disruption it has faced, this time in Victoria.
Bairnsdale-based vegetable, grain and livestock producer Bonaccord, which owns more than 50 trucks, was crippled by the bushfire crisis for more than a month.
Its experience emerges as south-coastt New South Wales comapny Bobbins recounted its concerns about the recovery.
“We have not been directly impacted by fire but the only two roads – Princes Highway and Monaro Highway – that are suitable for our vehicles were closed for five weeks,” a company spokesperson for the Gippsland company says.
“Our usual freight path is Hillside to Sydney via Princes Hwy, Monaro Highway and Hume Highway.
“Our return trip from Sydney is via NSW South Coast via Hume Highway and Princes Highway.
“The road closures have had a major impact on the business, effectively cutting the business capacity in half due to having to re-route trucks through Melbourne and has also increased operations costs by 50 per cent.”
Read Bobbins Transport’s concern for progress on bushfire recovery, here
Bonaccord had to resort to its contingency business plan to best manage operations, staff wellbeing and customers’ needs.
“The greatest impact has been on the drivers with extra travelling time, and also the operations team with scheduling to manage this.
“Customers have also been impacted with earlier despatched times of loads
“Longer travel times have impacted our capacity for freight for our customers. Our customers have worked hard to achieve the earlier despatch times.
“Some customers have been unable to send freight as we have not been able to pick up freight en-route due to road closures.”
Relying on updates from its state local member on roads conditions as they occurred, operations are now returning to normal as the roads suitable for Bonaccord’s vehicles re-open.