QUEENSLAND livestock transporters have unveiled a new purpose-built trailer to help the industry better respond to rollover emergencies in the more populated areas of the state.

With hundreds of cattle trucks heading into the south-east corner of Qld each week to service some of the country’s biggest processors, the need for purpose-built equipment to safely unload cattle in emergencies was raised to the Livestock & Rural Transporters Association of Queensland.

Working with Hans Trailers & Livestock Equipment, the LRTAQ have come up with a compact set of portable yards and loading ramp that is stored on a trailer – which will be held at the HLE Smith & Co Transport yards at Harlin in the Brisbane Valley.

“This was born out of an animal welfare, driver safety and the need to look after the livestock transport industry,” LRTAQ chair Jared Seiler said.

LRTAQ president Jared Seiler

“If we are in a rural area we can put the cattle in a paddock, put them a yard and get them out – but in South-East Qld we do not have those options.

“We do not want to ever have to use this trailer, but if we do it is comforting to know it is here.”

The portable yards are entirely funded by members of the LRTAQ, with member companies purchasing individual panels at auction to help fund its construction and ongoing maintenance.

Plenty of work has gone into making the trailer workable, making sure it is suitable weight, having everything welded together to make sure parts are not lost and GPS tracking fitted to deter theft.

“It is a practical solution built by people who know what needs to happen. We are proud of what we have built and proud of the industry that has made it happen.”

More issues than rollovers

Many of the transport companies attending demonstration at Swalling’s Livestock Transport in Toowoomba today noted that the majority of incidents in south-east Qld are caused by other traffic – with rollovers and crashes sometimes happening on a monthly basis.

Fraser’s Central Qld compliance manager Athol Carter said the trailer will also come in handy for other emergency events that close motorways.

“This about more than accidents, it is an emergency response trailer that can respond to any incident in south-east Queensland.”

“Our drivers and our trucks are often held up through no fault of their own, for environmental and other associated incidents that can occur on our highways and freeways – this can respond to any of these incidents.”

• The trailer is available to both members and non-members of the LRTAQ and can be found by calling the LRTAQ office on 0493 669 551

Click here to access Beef Central’s recent Top 25 Livestock Transporters feature.