ROADS Services Training Group
LOCAL AUTHORITY ROADS CONFERENCE 2014
Reforms, Challenges and Safety
Treacys West County Hotel, Ennis, May 2014.
1
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 area
Coillte, 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
Timber Processing.
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)
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 fitted
51% 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 existence
Partnership approach by industry Stakeholders, comprising;
Dept Ag, Food and Marine, Forest Service, COFORD
Coillte
Teagasc
Irish Forestry and Forests Products Association (IFFPA)
UCD, School of Biosystems Eng.
IFA,
ITC, ITGA
Haulage Contractors
UCD, 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 Authority
Road Safety Authority
Local Authorities
Communities
Increased collaboration required
FITG aiming for full regulatory compliance and Best Practice
Thus
------ ‘Managing Timber Transport, Good Practice Guide’ -------