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ROADS Services Training Group LOCAL AUTHORITY ROADS CONFERENCE 2014

Reforms, Challenges and Safety

Treacys West County Hotel, Ennis, May 2014.

Reforms, Challenges and Safety

Managing Timber Transport, Good Practice Guide

John Lyons (Coillte)Chair, Forest Industry Transport Group

Republic of Ireland, Forestry

Forest Cover, % land areaCoillte, 7%Private, 4%

Timber Production (2012) Coillte, 2.35 mi m3 Private Forests, 0.49 mi m3

Private sector supply set to increase significantly

Timber Production Trends

All available timber is utilised domestically in; Sawmills Panelboards Wood energy, incl firewood.

Exports; Major increase in timber product exports since 2007.

Approx 60% of Sawmill output is exported.

Close to 90% of output from the panelboard sector. (Leading supplier to UK of MDF (Clonmel) and second for OSB (Waterford)

Timber Processing.

Slide Title

Timber Haulage infrastructure

Over 300 Trucks in use, but not all artics ‘dedicated’ to timber haulage.

Survey (15/1/2014) showed 199 trucks entering mills, of which;

74% Artics (148)49% had cranes fitted51% Flats, w/o cranes, loaded by Artic double

drives or other local arrangements.

26% Rigids and Trailers (51)

Haulage Management

Coillte…… own no trucks, but manages the haulage delivery to panel boardmills, i.e. 1mi m3, small dimensioned, thinnings mainly.

Sawmills…. purchase standing timber via auction system and engage own hauliers.

Private sector…. timber supply increasing, no co-ordination of haulage.

Rail haulage from NW to Smartply in Waterford, small amount.

Haulage Procurement (Coillte)

Subject to;

Code Practice for Governance State Bodies

EU Procurement Directives

Public Procurement Guidelines

Group Procurement Policy

Forest Industry Transport Group

Over 10 years in existencePartnership approach by industry Stakeholders, comprising;

Dept Ag, Food and Marine, Forest Service, COFORDCoillteTeagascIrish Forestry and Forests Products Association (IFFPA)UCD, School of Biosystems Eng.IFA,ITC, ITGAHaulage ContractorsUCD, School of Biosystems Eng.

Group was expanded in 2012/2013 to include DTTS and LA reps

FITG, interest areas.

1. Good Practice Guide for Timber Transport…..

2. Agreed Routes….

3. Submission re 46T GVW to apply for Rigids and Trailers…

4. Submission on Variable Tyre Pressure, seeking stimulus funding…

5. Forest Entrances, planning permissions….

Good Practice Guide (GPG)

GPG for Managing Timber Transport focuses on 3 general areas;

Good Communication, planning and Management

Optimum Vehicle Selection

Compliance with Legislation and Guidelines

Agreed routes project

€180k funding secured via UCD for 2 yr National project, 2014/2015.

To consider;Coillte activities and its designated routes

Local Authorities road condition survey

Private Forestry (age, location)

Pilot being planned in 2 locations, (Donegal, Sth Tipp)

Agreed routes project (contd)

Develop 4 classifications;

1.Unrestricted Routes

2. Consultation Routes

3. Restricted Routes

4. Excluded Routes

Further Options for consideration ------Poor Roads-----

More preparatory work such as selective road upgrade on bends etc, cutting back vegetation/trees, drainage works.

Reduced payload

Avoiding convoys

Reduced speeds

Variable Tyre Pressure, wide tyres, twin tyres Temp suspension of activities

Vehicle Selection

Vehicle Type and Road Wear

Vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight

Road Wear Number Index

Six axle rigid and trailer combination

44 7.0 100

Six axle articulated combination

44 7.1 101

Six axle articulated combination

46 7.5 107

Five axle articulated combination

42 10.1 144

3 axle rigid at 26 tonnes 26 10.7 153

Timber Haulage Management, Coillte

Ongoing monitoring of load weights, with penalty system.

Haulier Workshops re Coillte policy on Training, Certification and Compliance (2014).

GPS tracking of Timber Trucks and Trailers (over 200 fitted)

Central Dispatch System

Future?

Increasing volumes of timber, private sector

Increased ‘interest’ and focus on part of; Health and Safety AuthorityRoad Safety AuthorityLocal Authorities

Communities

Increased collaboration required

FITG aiming for full regulatory compliance and Best PracticeThus

------ ‘Managing Timber Transport, Good Practice Guide’ -------