Vic govt examining triple trucks proposal
Posted
The State Government is considering whether to allow larger trucks on more Victorian roads.
The proposal is part of a transport plan to improve freight delivery and is due to be unveiled at the end of the year.
Under the plan, B-triple trucks could be allowed to carry freight on more routes.
But the Roads Minister, Tim Pallas, says that would have to come with strict conditions.
"The Government is not prepared to go down this track unless and until we're satisfied about the costs, the maintenance issues associated with our road network and, of course, safety issues," he said.
"But we do need to recognise that our freight task is growing and that the State has a responsibility to the community to ensure that it's managed safely and efficiently."
Stuart St Clair from the Australian Trucking Association says allowing B-triples would reduce the number of trucks on the roads.
"The freight task is growing so fast, over the next 20 years it will double, and what we don't want is to simply double the number of trucks," he said.
"We want bigger, safer trucks but we want them on the roads that are quite capable of coping with them and of course sharing the road with motorcars, motorbikes, pushbikes and pedestrians."
