More Productive Trucks Will Benefit Economy

More Productive Trucks Will Benefit Economy, Environment And Road Safety

Road Transport Forum NZ (RTF) has welcomed the release of the Government issues paper proposing the introduction of heavier, more productive trucks on New Zealand roads.

RTF chief executive Tony Friedlander said the economic, environmental and road safety benefits of such trucks were far too significant to ignore and would have a positive impact on every New Zealander.

“Research we had completed last year by Infometrics Consulting showed that a 10 percent reduction in freight rates would lead to a 3.7 percent increase in GDP, 33,000 new jobs and export growth of 1.5 billion dollars.”

Mr Friedlander said the introduction of these more productive trucks would bring freight rates down by at least this amount, and lead to all these benefits being realised.

He said road safety would also benefit because fewer truck movements would be needed as more goods could be loaded onto less vehicles, reducing the public’s exposure to risk.

“These more productive vehicles, as well as others, would also have to meet new stability and performance-based standards being developed by the LTSA and drivers would have to pass rigorous driver training courses before they could drive the more productive trucks.”

Mr Friedlander said that such a policy change would also help the Government meet its obligations to reduce CO2 emissions. “Fewer trucks would release fewer emissions, while encouraging operators to replace old inefficient vehicles with new ones would also create a direct environmental benefit.”

“All of these benefits would be realised with heavier, more productive trucks on our roads. They are far too significant to ignore and would have a positive impact for every New Zealander.”

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