Hay Restraint a Big Issue
16 Apr 2003
By Colin Peace
AFIA Plans Action
Whether we like it or not, the issue of hay restraint and load dimensions is becoming a big issue nationally. Transport enforcement officers in many areas are limiting the efficient cartage of hay. The AFIA has heard complaints from many members from all states including producers, contractors, carriers, exporters and consumers.
In a nutshell, we are being faced with road transport regulations that will impose significant financial penalties on our industry. This is happening when we believe our industry is capable of transporting hay both safely and efficiently.
In South Australia and Western Australia, carriers are now unable to carry 4’x4’x8’ bales three high on a drop deck semi trailer and Victorians are unable to carry these bales on a drop deck B-double.
Loads are restricted to 4.6 m high and 2.5 m wide. With these limits, the efficient transport of the larger and popular bale size, the 4’x4’ bale, would not be possible. These bales typically vary from 1.30 to 1.35 m wide and require a load width of 2.7 m.
The fodder industry also needs to be aware of safety issues that occur with hay transport. Fatalities have occurred from hay falling from trucks as was the case in this accident in Seville near Melbourne in 2000.
 Unrestrained hay such as this can lead to some restrictive consequences for the whole hay transport industry and need to be addressed. To be proactive on this issue, the AFIA is progressing a project to demonstrate the compliance of our loads against the new Performance Based Standards (PBS) that are to be introduced nationally in June this year. New Code of Responsibility legislation is also being introduced into all states of the Commonwealth starting with Victoria and NSW early nest year.
Initial testing such as this has illustrated the safety of hay transport.
 The AFIA is confident that the loading regimes we suggest will be compliant with the PBS. As an industry association, we are seeking project funding to meet the objectives.
The adoption of an agreed and proven industry code will also help protect the industry against litigation in the event of an accident with hay transport. Our involvement in this area has evolved from concerns members have regarding:
- The inconsistency of hay load dimensions between the states
- The restrictive load dimensions applied to hay that limits increases the cost of freight
- The recorded and anecdotal reports of hay falling from trucks will lead to governments applying restrictive legislation on the industry without any direction/involvement from the industry
- The incoming NRTC load restraint guide that mandates rear steel gates and edge protectors
- The concern that members are exposed to litigation with the incoming legislation of ‘Chain of Responsibility
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