The Victorian government has responded to recent drought issues that are challenging members of the state’s livestock industry by relaxing weight limits on transporting grain and fodder.
Eligible operators will now be allowed to transport higher weights of grain and fodder along key freight routes in Victoria’s south-west after farmers recently have had to switch to getting supply from interstate.
To respond to this critical fodder shortage, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning has unveiled its Drought Network that will increase the weight limit of fodder and grain transport loads to 84 tonnes, up 15 tonnes from the standard limit.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) says the network reduces exposure to the state’s bridge infrastructure while allowing truckies to access safe drop-off points where fodder and grain can be distributed directly to farms by smaller vehicles.
“This means more feed can be delivered in fewer trips, getting vital supplies to farmers more efficiently, as well as relaxed requirements for road trains for the drought network to support bulk movement of fodder and grain,” the NHVR says.
The Department of Transport and Planning has combined with the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Victoria (LRTAV), with the NHVR saying the bulk of fodder moved in Victoria is done so via B-double combinations.
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This change in rules then allows two trailer road trains capped at 84 tonnes, 36.5m long, 4.6m high and 2.83m wide to access the bulk of fodder.
“The new Drought Network will allow operators to deliver grain and fodder to central pick-up points where farmers can then collect and transport to their properties in smaller vehicle combinations,” the department says.
“It will be reviewed over time, with access expanded where deemed appropriate, subject to road and bridge conditions.”
There are still no restrictions or permit requirements for fodder coming from the Northern Territory and Tasmania, but all other jurisdictions require either a plant health certificate or an Agriculture Victoria permit.
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