The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has published a new draft Code of Practice to help improve safety outcomes in the transport of logs from forest to mill or port.
The new Log Haulage Industry Code of Practice (LHC) provides guidance for businesses involved at every level of the forest log haulage task.
Developed in collaboration with the Australian Forest Products Association, the Australian Forest Contractor’s Association and industry representatives, it outlines the range of transport activities that are involved when logs are transported from the forest.
The LHC also identifies hazards and the effective measures that can control them.
“The LHC is a practical guide of interest to anybody who conducts business in the forestry sector,” said NHVR Acting Chief Safety and Productivity Officer, Paul Sariban.
“It supports parties in the Chain of Responsibility to understand and meet their primary duty and other obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).”
In addition, the Code also assists businesses to assess training needs for drivers and other workers.
“Like all heavy vehicle drivers, drivers of log haulage vehicles must comply with numerous obligations under the HVNL, including loading requirements, mass and dimension requirements, and fatigue management,” Sariban said.
“Additionally, log haulage drivers confront particular challenges operating off-road or on primitive dirt roads, in all weather and with vehicles loaded near to their maximum capacity.
“High-quality on-going training must be provided to ensure that drivers are sufficiently skilled to carry out these operations safely and efficiently.”
According to the NHVR, the new LHC is relevant to anyone who owns a forestry area where logs are harvested, harvests or stockpiles logs for transport or loads, operates or contracts heavy vehicles to transport logs or manages a facility such as a mill where logs are delivered.
The new Code will be available for public feedback for the next eight weeks.
All feedback received from any stakeholder within the logging sector will be considered by the NHVR as part of the assessment process to determine whether the Code is suitable for registration.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the forestry and haulage industry members and other parties who have given their time to helping to improve the log haulage transport task for all road users,” Sariban said.
“By collectively embracing a safety-first approach, we can protect lives and infrastructure and maintain a productive industry.”
The new Code of Practice can be viewed here.
In other news, Lindsay Australia has released its financial results for the first half of financial year 2025.
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