PROJECTS
Safer Loading:
Crate P.A.L Trial Proves Feasibility of User-Pay Model
Loading and unloading livestock is high-risk
But the installation of moveable gantries can greatly reduce these risks by providing safe access to livestock crates and loading ramps. To encourage the adoption of this safety infrastructure, ALRTA investigated the feasibility of a user-pay cost recovery model in 2019. The 12-week trial brought together industry, government, and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to improve the safety of drivers unloading cattle at feedlots, saleyards, and processors. The $102,000 project was funded through the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Infrastructure Initiative, supported by the Federal Government. Designed and installed by ProWay, the Crate Parallel Access Landing (P.A.L.) provides a safe working platform along the length of a B-double set of trailers. When using the Crate P.A.L. drivers no longer need to climb up and down along the side of the crate, reducing the risk of falling from height or being struck by livestock. Feedback about using the unloading platform was positive with drivers reporting that the Crate P.A.L. is much safer as well as quick and easy to use. Data collected and analysed for this project included daily truck numbers delivered to KGF, Crate P.A.L usage rates, unloading times before and after the installation of the Crate P.A.L and driver feedback. Usage data was sourced from the Avdata charging system.
The feasibility study demonstrated that:
- It is possible to operate a Crate P.A.L. on a user-pay basis.
- There is a typical supply/demand relationship between user prices and usage rates (i.e. usage rates increase as the price per use is decreased).
- At the KGF site, the optimum price was $10.00 per use with a cost recovery period of 2.6 years.
- At other sites, installation, maintenance and charging costs could typically be fully recovered in less than three years.
- User-pay is likely to be feasible at all sites with more than 15 truck deliveries per day.
- Installation of a Crate P.A.L. improves unloading safety without reducing efficiency.