LOG TRANSPORT SAFETY COUNCIL AT A GLANCE
The Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) is a pan industry collaborative of Truck operators, Transport Researchers, Trailer Manufacturers, Forest Owners, Legislators and Enforcement agencies.
It is recognised as the premier source of Log Transport research and industry knowledge that leads the world in innovative, sustainable and safe best practice log transport operations.
Our Story
The Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) called a meeting in late 1996 inviting the Forest Owners Association, selected Log Transport Operators, Road Transport Forum, Trailer manufacturers, Transport Engineers and the Logging Industry Research Organisation (LIRO).
Those at the meeting were notified that the rollover rate of the logging fleet was at an unacceptably high level (averaging 1 per week), and since it was identified as being a Forest industry problem what were the Industry’s strategy for addressing this unacceptable situation. This placed the issue of solving this clearly on the Industries shoulders.
This clearly highlighted the need for the Log Transport Sector to have a single unified entity that could canvas opinions, seek input, co-ordinate and formulate the sectors views, ideas and opinions on industry issues and initiatives that encompassed the views of all major industry sectors. This saw the formation of the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) as the vehicle by which the differing groups within the industry’s transportation sector could combine to address such issues in a structured and unified manner.
Following on from those early meetings and the initial development work in the three main areas identified as strategic in order to achieve the sectors target of zero rollovers:
- Education
- Vehicle Dimensions
- Logistics’ and Operations
Through a concerted effort in these three key areas, the efforts of the LTSC have had significant positive impact not only on the rate of trailer roll-overs, but on the overall safety of the sector as a whole.
SECTOR GROUP
Since 1996, the LTSC has undertaken considerable ground breaking work in several areas within the Log Transport Sector.
Recent and relevant projects undertaken by LTSC include:
- Load Security
- Log Transport Safety Accord
- Heavy Vehicle braking
- Central Tyre Inflation
- Fatigue Management
- Chain of responsibility
- Off Highway Vehicle operating guidelines
- NZ Qualification in Log Truck Driving
- 0800 signage
- bolster attachment code
- Load and dimensions (22 metre rule)
- Static Rollover Threshold (SRT) 0.35 to 0.42 / 0.45
The result of such work has resulted in the LTSC having now been accepted by the NZTA as a credible industry organization to work with and are invited to make comment on any new laws/rules the Government are planning to introduce or change. The LTSC only comment on issues relating to safety and are not seen as a Political organization.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), Department of Labour and Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) also attend LTSC meetings and work with the Industry on issues they believe will improve the performance of the Log Transport Sector.
