Wood Transport & Logistics 2024

The industry was buzzing once again for Wood Transport & Logistics 2024. Over 200 forestry and log transport companies from across Australasia, America and Europe, joined the two-day technology programme in Rotorua, New Zealand.

The event covered the rapid and ongoing developments in a wide range of technologies, including; alternate fuels, hydrogen, electric and dual-fuel that are being trialled for trucking fleets, including log transport operations and the rolling out of infrastructure for refuelling. With so much effort going into larger transport companies decarbonising their fleets and ramp up in commercial and operational trials of these alternate fuels in this part of the world, the place, as expected, was humming.

In addition to the move into alternate fuels, local log transport and haulage companies were able to detail how they’ve developed their own systems and configurations to meet the ever increasing environmental and roading challenges of extracting logs off steep, unstable and more remote forest sites.  And for the first time in New Zealand, progress being made by log harvesting operations switching from diesel powered machines to these same alternate fuels were made.

The sheer pace of change, with presentations and demonstrations made on these new and emerging technologies and the rapid deployment of this technology into forests and wood cartage operations, meant a busy couple of days. And the action wasn’t just on-stage or in the car park full of brand-new trucks, loaders and refuelling options that have been developed but also on the sidelines with many one-on-one meetings taking place throughout the event.

The push to adopt new technologies within the logging and transport sector is only growing louder. And based on the level of discussion between attendees over the last two days, the future is bright.