The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporter’s Association (ALRTA) has supported calls for the mandatory introduction of electronic stability control (ESC) for heavy trucks and roll stability control (RSC) for heavy trailers.

The ALRTA National Council says it supports a move to mandatory ESC and RSC with appropriate exemptions for converter dollies and provision for an off-switch for speeds below 40km per hour to negotiate difficult low-speed conditions such as creek crossing and gate entry.

An Australian Government regulation impact statement (RIS) proposed mandatory ESC for all trailers (Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) over 4.5t Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) and Roll Stability Control over 10t GTM).

The Federal Government has recommended that mandatory ESC apply only to prime movers.

After meeting last week the ALRTA Executive unanimously agreed that ESC should become mandatory for all trucks over 4.5t Gross Vehicle Mass.

“This is the safest option, saving 148 lives and avoiding 1,496 serious injuries over 15 years,” the ALRTA said in a statement to members following the meeting. “This option would also result in net benefits of at least $167m.”

If agreed, the following implementation dates are proposed for trucks and trailers:

• 1 Nov 2019 for new model vehicles; and
• 1 Nov 2021 for all new vehicles.

The new rules would not be retrospective.

The ALRTA said operators should be aware the new rules will also mandate automatic slack adjustors and require that trucks and trailers designed for use in road train combinations be equipped with 24v electrical connectors.

The issue of mandatory electronic stability control technology for transporters in rural areas was discussed in detail at last year’s ALRTA annual conference in Toowoomba, with livestock transporters speaking both for and against the technology – more details here