PBS can alleviate the public's concerns about trucks, Fonterra National Milk Transport Manager Tony Miller says
By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | September 3, 2013
The Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme can alleviate the public’s concerns about trucks, according to Fonterra National Milk Transport Manager Tony Miller.
Miller addressed the Debating Community Issues session at Freight Week 2013 today and touched on his company’s use of PBS-accredited vehicles.
PBS allows the use of innovative combinations, such as 30-metre trucks, as long as the vehicles meet a number of stringent safety and infrastructure requirements.
Fonterra has been using a 26-metre dual milk tanker for a number of years under PBS.
“Most people want less trucks on roads and Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles can deliver this safer outcome,” Miller says.
Access to PBS vehicles has reduced Fonterra’s truck volume by 30 percent in the past 15 years, Miller says.
“Without access we load 25,000 litres max,” he says.
However, gaining access approvals takes some work. Miller says Fonterra liaises with 13 shires for access permit reviews each year, including general compliance groups and bodies.
“Recent wins have been three local shires working with three dairy competitors to allow common permit systems – with more shires wanting to engage with larger transport operators,” he says.
“Our biggest frustration however is the number of groups we have to liaise with and road groups’ fear of public comment – monster trucks. People want less trucks on the road and safer trucks.”
Fonterra drivers collect milk from 1,300 farms across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales.
