Improved Access for High Productivity Livestock Vehicles
The Livestock and Rural Transport Association Victoria (LRTAV) and the Department of Transport Victoria (DOTV) engaged Tiger Spider to help develop an extended road train network for livestock vehicles in Victoria.
LRTAV’s goal is to achieve better road train access for rural operators in Victoria by expanding the currently 36.5 m Type II Road Train network.
After consultation with the LTRAV and detailed analysis we have proposed an extended livestock road train network for B-triples, A-double and AB-Triples which will better connect farms and interstate networks to Victorian saleyards, abattoirs and ports.
The proposed map can be viewed online at NHVR maps in Victoria under HPLVs. Proposed network is due for use at the end of the year and is a network based on the points of interest for livestock vehicles.
We believe Livestock B-triples can be safety operated on an extended road train network without requiring a PBS approval. The worst-case B-triple Static Rollover Threshold (SRT) result is 0.33 g for pigs and 0.34 g for larger cattle, sheep and goats which is slightly below PBS requirements. However, their inherent stability due to roll-coupling means that the SRT non-compliance for some load conditions can be managed effectively and offset with the additional operating conditions proposed for these vehicles. A-doubles and AB-triples are inherently less stable, with SRT values as low as 0.31 g.
LRTAV have requested in increase in tare weights for prime movers and trailers. This benefits stability but may result in increased pavement and bridge impacts which may reduce the scope of the livestock road train network.
We recommended that DOTV assess bridges on the basis that livestock road trains are volumetrically constrained and apply appropriate bridge assessment safety factors. Deck length limits and penning density requirements volumetrically constrained livestock vehicles under this scheme. We have proposed various dimension sets for each livestock road train configuration.
We believe overloading risks will reduce with a strengthened livestock loading scheme which incorporates elements of NHVAS mass management module and improved enforcement of penning density limits. An improved livestock loading scheme should remove the need for additional constraints imposed on other classes of vehicles, particularly OBM and NHVAS.
To offset overloading and other risks we propose operating conditions tailored to the livestock industry. This includes, GPS tracking with Intelligent Access Program (IAP) or Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA), road-friendly suspensions, a PBS-compliant braking system and a minimum of ADR 80/02 emissions.