Queensland’s decision to approve access for PBS 2B vehicles from Toowoomba to the Port of Brisbane will deliver significant benefits, Transport Certification Australia says.
The organisation that administers the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) acknowledges that opening up access to the higher productivity PBS 2B vehicles, offers significant opportunities for more efficient road freight transport. TMR has allowed transport companies to carry two 40-foot containers on a PBS vehicle instead of a single combination.
Access for higher productivity vehicles is expected to result in fewer trips lessening the burden on Queensland’s roads and contributing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the transport route from Toowoomba to the Port of Brisbane is particularly important to the regional Queensland economy, the new access arrangements for higher productivity vehicles is expected to bring benefits for industry, community and environment.
Modelling undertaken by TMR has indicated that a transport operator would have needed to make 4800 trips between Toowoomba and the Port of Brisbane to carry 120,000 tonne per annum. With a PBS 2B vehicle the number of trips could be reduced up to 50 percent to 2400 trips. Considering that a round trip from Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane is around 260km, the TMR modelling also indicates that the introduction of PBS vehicles could result in a reduction of up to 624,000 truck kilometres. This equates to an estimated saving of approximately 230,000 litres of fuel and a greenhouse emissions reduction of around 490 tonnes or 40 percent.
TCA CEO Chris Koniditsiotis commented that, “Australia’s freight task is growing so it is important that we look at innovative ways to drive improved productivity, efficiency and safety. Access for PBS vehicles will help the transport industry to better service the needs of its customers and meet the challenge of large wheat crops and growing commodity exports from the Port of Brisbane.”