Safer roads for trucks

The freight task is expected to double over the next 15 years in Australia and by 2020 it is estimated that one in four vehicles in Melbourne will be carrying freight. Trucks and light commercial vehicles carrying freight will be competing with other vehicles on often congested roads, especially in urban areas around freight terminals, wharves and distribution centres. Overall, 80 per cent of all road freight moves less than 100 kilometres and interstate road freight is only around 4 per cent of the total freight moved. As most of the increase in the freight task will be in road freight - as opposed to air and rail - it is very important that state and local governments, road authorities, developers and urban planners factor in the vital role that road freight, is now, and will in future, play in the economic well being of local communities and the nation as a whole. This paper flags some of the issues relevant to local government involving road safety, infrastructure and planning that need to be addressed to enable the transport industry achieve its goal of being both safe and efficient. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214930.