Ryans Freighters stick with 90 kph limit

Warrnambool-based transport company, Ryans Freighters, has announced it will limit the speed of its truck fleet to 90 kph.

The program already commenced in February 2012, when Ryans took delivery of several new prime movers that were limited to the lower speed, and the roll out has continued with every new addition to the fleet being pre-set to the 90 kph maximum. Existing vehicles have been adjusted as well where possible.

Managing Director, Graham Ryan, said that in addition to the obvious safety advantages, the lower top speed had measurable economic and environmental dividends.

“We run 35 trucks out of Warrnambool into Melbourne every day and you can drive down that road fully loaded and you don’t have to brake at any corner,” Graham said. “At 90 kph, the fuel consumption speaks for itself; plus there is less wear and tear and brake maintenance.”

Graham said that running at ten kph under the permitted speed actually only added around 15 minutes to what was usually around a three hour trip. Built up areas with posted limits of 60 and 80 kph meant that the truck’s permitted top speed was in many places immaterial and delays when loading and unloading can often negate any time saved by running at a faster speed anyway.

“I think that the drivers are better off,” he said. “The drivers are not as fatigued at 90 kph and I think they get out of the trucks as better people at the end of the day.”

This was certainly confirmed by two of the drivers that CRTNews spoke to, with one quipping that the only difference was to pack a few extra CD’s each week to listen to while driving.
Graham said that the lower top speed was now well accepted by his drivers.

“When we announced we were going to do it there was no one going to drive our trucks and they were all going to leave and half a dozen did. They were the ‘big gun truckers’, so to speak. The rest stayed on – and we don’t hear about it anymore,” Graham said.

“When someone new starts, that’s the rules you start with. Plus I think it is better when we have younger drivers step up. It’s better for them to get into something doing 90 kph.”

Ryans Freighters operates more than 100 vehicles ranging from small delivery vans to B-doubles and the company has a reputation of being serious about making the workplace safer.

“The world’s going too fast. Come to work, do your job and go home relaxed,” Graham said.

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