This story first appeared in the May issue of DieselTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
Kiwi transport firms are switching to high productivity motor vehicles including 50MAX as network access continues to grow.
A 50MAX permit allows freight operators to carry increased payloads on parts of the road network that, while economically important to New Zealand, are unable to carry high productivity motor vehicles
Two more local councils have just been added to the 50MAX-1Network permit system, meaning access is now on approved access local roads from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
The Southland and Far North district councils have allowed 50MAX access from April 1 and May 1 respectively, meaning 61 local councils have now signed up to the single permit system.
“This is a great milestone for the 50MAX programme, completing the jigsaw of major and local freight routes from the top to the bottom New Zealand,” NZ Transport Agency freight strategy manager Marinus La Rooij says.
“It’s also a reminder that access for 50MAX can and will change so operators need to ensure they keep checking our online maps regularly to ensure they know exactly which routes they can use.”
The new generation of 50MAX trucks can carry a heavier load on an additional axle, which means no additional impact on roads and bridges.
An increased payload means they can deliver more freight with each trip, reducing overall truck travel on the roads by around 15%. They are also more efficient and have more advanced safety features than the older vehicles they replace.
The popularity of the safer, more productive trucks has been demonstrated in the latest quarterly figures from January through to March with around 112 million kilometres travelled by 50MAX vehicles. That’s up from 82 million kilometres travelled during the same period in 2016, a 36% rise.
That uptake means that in the first three months of 2017 an estimated 10-15 million kilometres of travel have been saved with benefits to the economy of around $20-$30 million.
