The New Zealand Transport Agency and the Road Transport Association are rolling out a new planning app called “TruckR” for drivers traveling along the alternative SH1 Picton to Christchurch route, via the Lewis Pass.
Truck drivers may use the TruckR app to plan where they can stop for rest breaks and fuel, identify trailer swap areas and get information on road conditions.
The new app is highlighting stopping areas suitable for 20-metre trucks, passing lanes, trailer exchange areas, one lane bridges, and places with limited cellular coverage along the route, along with petrol stations, food outlets, and public toilets.
It also connects to the NZTA road alert system, giving users up to date information on road works, crashes and road closures.
Truck drivers can open the app and plan their journey before they start or pull over and check information during their trip as the app’s map features can operate without mobile phone coverage.
TruckR will be trialed by the freight industry for three months, with plans underway to include State Highway 1 along the Kaikoura Coast once it reopens.
RTANZ representative John Bond has been working with the Transport Agency on the app. He says it will make a real difference to truck drivers negotiating the Alternate Route.
“This app has been designed and tested by truckies, for truckies,” he says.
“Most drivers traveling on the Alternate Route are not familiar with it, and as drivers know, you can’t just park a 20-metre truck wherever you want to, and it is hard just to stop suddenly, even if you do spot somewhere on your travels,” says Bond.
“This app will let users plan and get the local knowledge they need to make the drive easier and safer,” he says.
TruckR is funded by the Transport Agency and was built by two New Zealand companies, Webtools and Green Signal in partnership, with the Road Transport Association NZ.
The team at Hilton Haulage tested TruckR briefly before the trial started, and Alle Worner, General Manager – people, safety, and quality, says an app is a great tool for drivers.
“At Hilton Haulage we hold safety and the protection of our people as a core value, so the TruckR app is a great tool for us,” she says.
“Although we have been doing a few km up that road of late, it’s reasonably unchartered territory for our team so having instant and practical information at our fingertips is awesome,” says Worner.
NZTA journey manager Lee Wright says TruckR is just one tool from that aims to address safety and delays on the Alternate Route as work continues to reopen the SH1 Kaikoura route.
“After the earthquake, the South Island’s Truck Crashes/Rollover Prevention Team got together to brainstorm ways of reducing single heavy vehicle rollover crashes on the alternate route,” she says.
“We aim to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes and minimise closures and delays for all travelers,” says Wright.
“TruckR is one of many actions from that plan, and it is exciting to see the app being trialed by the freight industry. We are continuously learning as we test new technology and we want as much feedback as possible to get TruckR just right,” she says.
In addition to the plan, the Transport Agency has reviewed, and reduced speed limits along the alternate route to make it safer, and has a $60 million improvement package to improve safety and resilience well underway.
These improvements include guardrails, pull over areas for heavy vehicles, slow vehicle bays and road widening. There is also an increased Police presence on the route this year.
TruckR has been designed for truck drivers and includes accurate freight information such as where trailer swap areas are and sites where drivers can park a 25 metre-rig, however, anyone can download the app to get journey and safety information about the alternate route.
