I agree with larger trucks and increase in tonnage and I am not in the transpotation business to me it just make more sense. That said the trucking industry needs to clean up some of its operators/drivers with drug taking and speed with fatigue also being a major issue. The rated speed is 90km's and to meet deadlines this is well exceeded 'brother in law is a truckie'not having a dig just a few ratbags ruin the rep of the good guys
About time these new regs came into being. As everyone knows rail is not a viable option in a little country like NZ, where do you have massive tonnage being hauled 1000 miles plus in any given direction. Triple handling of goods is a non efficiency. Seems to be plenty of negativity regarding larger trucks, these won't even be noticed by the average Joe public. Most haven't even noticed the longer log units which have been here for several years. Perhaps a better investment of time for you of the anti-truck brigade would be spent on looking into your own driving habits when around trucks....I see some pretty stupid idiots on the road trying to kill themselves every day with overtaking after passing lanes have finished and with trying to beat the truck. The truck will always win. Truck operator.
Morgan, your staement is typical of someone who obviously has no experience in the industry of freight and bulk goods cartage. 25 years ago I used to cart timber and mdf plyco board destined for the south island from Taupo to the Tokoroa Rail depot. From there it took up to 5 days to reach the actual south island customer once it reached the closest rail depot and was transfered from trains to trucks for delivery and thats only if eveything went right. After several years of this they realised that trucks could deliver that freight to the same customer in 2 days which increased productivity and meant they could fulfill their orders some much more efficiently. Tokoroa rail depot and many others like it were closed down 20 or so years ago due to being too inefficient.Good luck with your idea's mate.
Morgan, There are some good cases for train freight but your trains can't get to all our supermarkets, factories and farms that require efficient, just in time pickups and deliveries! Just imagine all those ugly train tracks everywhere if they tried that.
Morgan you are just repeating a tired old mantra which would be valid if 90% of freight carried by trucks in NZ wasn't carried less than 100kms and on that basis rail would never be able to compete unless of course you want to contribute to a substantial tax increase to pay the subsidy.
How would you get freight to districts who do not have a rail service? Would you be happy to collect your Groceries and other supplies you may need from a Railway station Mr Nichol? Do you think your groceries arrive at a Supermarket by horse and cart? If you have a look out your window everything is delivered by Truck. If Post travelled by Rail it would take an extra two days by the time the wagons were loaded, travelled to the destination and were unloaded. Maybe you should have a long think about it before you comment.
Morgan MAAATE yeah rail sounds good but do you really wana wait 2 weeks 2 a month before your chosen product arrives thats if dosent get lost or buried in a sea of containers. Without trucks N.Z stops.
You know what is vastly more efficient, and takes a far greater number of trucks off the road? Rail.
good job and hopefully it's just safe concerning other vehicles at intersections and roundabouts and traffic lights...