The Irish Forest Industry Chain (IFIC) and the Forest Industry Transport Group have produced a best practice guide for log transport.
This code of practise provides guidance for the best practices to be adopted when transporting round timber. Key drivers behind the development of the document were the safety of the truck drivers and the public, as well as the protection of road infrastructure. The document covers the following areas:
- Vehicle specifications: Maximum weights, maximum dimensions, vehicle restrictions, load weighing devices, vehicle maintenance, road freight licences, and other guidelines are included.
- Safety and health: The aspects covered are safety and health in forest operations, and driving hours, breaks and rest periods.
- Road networks: This section deals with forest roads, raising the non-drive axles of tractor units, roadside facilities, road defect reporting and extraction and stockpiling of timber.
- Loading timber: This is the most comprehensive part and includes lifting equipment, load stability, personal protection, overhead lines, anchorage points, the headboard, lashings, stacks on the longitudinal axis, supports, stacks on the transverse axis, and the environment and pollutants.
- Route planning when transporting timber
- Unloading timber at the destination