Wood Transport & Logistics 2024

Insights into wood handling & transport innovations, automation, log scheduling & logistics being employed by leading forestry, wood harvesting and log transport companies

22-23 May 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand

22-23 May 2024, Event Virtual

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Latest News & Technologies

Recent spike in log truck & trailer rollovers

Recent industry discussions and safety incident data have highlighted a concerning increase in log truck and trailer rollover events across New Zealand. Industry leaders, Forest Owners, Transport Operators, and the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) have acknowledged that this trend requires ...

Driver fatigue: What half a billion kms has taught us

The launch of Transporting New Zealand’s Fatigue Management: Road Freight Update at their recent 60th Anniversary Conference provides an opportunity to reflect on how our understanding of driver fatigue is evolving. AutoSense was proud to support the report because it brings together ...

Excavator fleet at iron ore mine now fully electric

The first of Andrew Forrest’s giant iron ore mines in the Pilbara is now operating with an entirely electric fleet of huge excavators, as testing continues nearby on the first of its in-house 6 MW fast chargers, likely the biggest ...

HarvestTECH & Wood Transport Logistics 2026 programme released

The programme has now been released for HarvestTECH & Wood Transport Logistics 2026, bringing together two days of presentations focused on the latest developments in forest harvesting, wood transport and supply chain logistics. Running in Rotorua, New Zealand on 10–11 ...

Linfox rolls out 26 heavy-duty electric trucks

Australia’s biggest private logistics company is rolling out a fleet of 26 heavy-duty Volvo electric trucks across Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide on some of the country’s busiest urban freight routes. Linfox said it is putting the first of its battery-powered ...

We’re targeting 35% electrification in 10 years – but 35% of what?

When Australia’s Chris Bowen and Turkey’s Murat Kurum unveiled their “35 by 35” flagship target at Bonn this month – raising electricity’s share of global Final Energy from around 20 per cent today to 35 per cent by 2035 – it was ...

Government backs major North Island freight hub

The Government has approved up to $22.4 million in funding to support the rail component of Te Utanganui – a major new freight hub in Palmerston North, Rail Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. Te Utanganui ...

Transport cost index – Unprecedented impact of fuel pricing

We recently released our Grant Thornton Transport Cost Index for the March quarter and that includes forecasting for the following quarter. The magnitude of the rise forecast is unprecedented in the Index’s history and demonstrates the downstream impact of the geopolitical ...

Call for Speakers: HarvestTECH & Wood Transport Logistics 2026

Do you have a new technology, operational case study, or innovation that could help shape the future of harvesting and wood transport across Australasia? Join industry leaders at HarvestTECH & Wood Transport Logistics 2026 and present to senior forestry, harvesting, ...

Australia at “tipping point” for switch to electric trucks as half its diesel fleet nears replacement

Australia is at a tipping point for electrifying transport as more than half of the country’s trucking fleet is due for replacement, and needs to act to avoid a repeat of the current fossil fuel crisis, a leading transport and ...

EV shift needs systems: Toll

Mandatory climate reporting requirements are changing how the heavy vehicle industry approaches decarbonisation with pressure building across entire supply chains to measure and reduce emissions. Speaking at TruckShowX in the Hunter Valley last month, Nanae Kii of Toll Group said the company’s ...

Diesel powertrains vs battery electric powertrains explained

Diesel powertrains and battery electric powertrains each offer distinct advantages depending on the application. Diesel excels in long-distance travel, durability and versatility across industries like trucking, agriculture and mining, while electric powertrains are best suited for urban stop-and-go driving and ...

King’s Birthday Honours 2026: Warwick Wilshier’s work on transforming log truck safety on NZ roads

Wilshier had been a log truck operator for more than four decades. The 65-year-old has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for his service to the industry and his ...

Electric vehicle truck conversions surge as fuel crisis pushes freight industry to reinvent itself

Electric trucks could soon become a common sight on Australian roads as industry players race to cut reliance on diesel and strengthen the nation’s fuel security. An Australian company is now converting traditional diesel trucks into fully electric vehicles — ...

Tesla Semi Truck has officially started mass production

For almost a decade, Tesla has been working to launch one of its most impactful products to reduce transport emissions: the Tesla Semi electric truck. Now, the first Tesla Semi has officially been produced off a high-volume production line in ...

Shredded wood for roading: Innovative use of harvesting residues

FGR assisted Hamish Scown of Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd with recent trials of using shredded wood from forestry debris as temporary roading aggregate. Three test roads were built using shredded wood in layers half a metre deep (500mm) to ...

Forestry company parks electric truck despite spike in diesel prices

An electric truck trial in South Australia’s south-east has shown the vehicles are fit for some use in the forestry industry, but are not financially viable — even with diesel prices soaring. Fennell Forestry launched a trial using a truck converted ...

FICA fuel adjustment factor calculation

As you are well aware as a result of the conflict in the Middle East fuel prices have risen rapidly over the past two weeks. FICA has been talking with FOA and MPI regarding the situation and has been asked ...

A key reason 84% of fleets are investing in safety tech

The ‘Mobilizing the Future of Fleets Report: 2026 Risk and Exoneration Edition’ uncovered that a third (34%) of fleets reported being impacted by fraudulent motor claims. 77% of respondents also agreed that increasing litigation and legal costs are now a ...

Historic first at Eastland Port

Recently, the Norse Antwerp came in smoothly alongside the Yangtze Keeper at Eastland Port – and history was made. For the very first time, two 180-metre long vessels were able to berth next to each other on Wharves 7 and ...

New tool to help road managers and industry understand the impact of heavy vehicle assets

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released Freight PASS, a new online tool designed to help users compare the productivity, asset impact, safety and sustainability trade-offs of different heavy vehicle configurations. The new web app enables users to compare ...

Understanding real-world driver behaviour

Every day, thousands of professional drivers navigate New Zealand’s roads, delivering goods, keeping communities connected, and carrying the nation’s economy forward. Behind the wheel, however driver fatigue and distraction remain silent risks with the potential for devastating consequences. AutoSense has ...

The Patchell Group expands options through Australian joint venture

With decades of experience designing and building transport solutions for New Zealand conditions, The Patchell Group continues to focus on what it does best — producing robust, New Zealand-built trailers engineered to last. The Patchell Group has always been at ...

Horse powertrain joins scania electric timber truck pilot

Horse Powertrain has been selected by Scania to provide its advanced range-extender system for the pilot vehicle, currently operating as a heavy-duty timber truck in Sweden. The collaboration marks an important step in testing hybrid powertrain solutions for demanding transport ...

Changes to NZ forestry earthworks training standards

A New Zealand Certificate in Infrastructure Works, comprising Forestry earthworks unit standards, has just been launched. The qualification, approved by the NZ Qualifications Authority is specifically for Earthworks Excavator Operators, as to date, there has been no suitable Level 3 qualification ...

7 supply chain tech breakthroughs from CES 2026

From AI-driven digital twins to autonomous robots, CES 2026 highlighted practical technologies reshaping how goods are made, moved and delivered. Every January, the global technology sector converges on Las Vegas for CES, billed as the “most powerful tech event in the ...

Future in motion: Canadian zero-emission truck trials

Future in Motion is a technical series presenting the key findings from the completed Zero–Emission Trucking Testbed Project led by the PIT Group and FPInnovations. This project was conducted with support from Transport Canada’s Zero–Emission Trucking Program and in collaboration ...

Austroads releases recommendations to update its guides for large freight vehicles

A new report examines how existing Austroads guidance addresses the geometric design requirements needed to accommodate large freight vehicles (LFVs). The report focuses on the physical space and layout required for safe and efficient LFV operations, rather than vehicle mass. “Innovation ...

Australia’s national biofuel strategy – future for heavy vehicles

Peak bodies have welcomed the landmark step taken to begin locally producing low-carbon liquid fuels for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry. The federal government has taken another step towards locally producing low-carbon liquid fuels for Australian trucks and vehicles, opening submissions ...

Online tool aims to reduce road freight emissions

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand are announcing the launch of an online tool that aims to help the industry decarbonise. The Green Fleet Self-Assessment Tool is a ten-question survey that allows transport businesses to estimate their emissions and identify opportunities ...

FWPA-backed research to safeguard Australia’s log exports

Safeguarding Australia’s log export market as methyl bromide faces increasing restrictions globally. Australia’s log export industry faces growing pressure to reduce its reliance on methyl bromide (MB), a fumigant under increasing global scrutiny. New research funded by Forest & Wood ...

Log haulage safety strengthened through industry collaboration

Many experts across the forest supply chain participated in the development of the Log Haulage Code of Practice (LHC) and they are collaborating again to support the development of an online tool and guidance for its implementation. “Consultation sessions are ...

Log transport AFMS trial a safety & productivity success

The Advanced Fatigue Management Scheme (AFMS) trials have gained traction across the trucking sector and is beginning to show tangible operational and safety benefits for the forest industry. The Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) Log Transport AFMS trial has included approximately 520 ...

Viability of electric trucks in forestry

FPInnovations has conducted a case study assessing the viability and cost of integrating battery electric trucks into fleet operations. With their high energy efficiency and zero emissions, BEVs offer a low-carbon alternative to diesel. The study examines operational constraints, such as shift ...

Daylight savings sleep shift increases health risk for drivers

As daylight saving begins, Kiwis may welcome the brighter evenings and promise of summer BBQs, but the switch comes with a darker side. Health data shows the sudden disruption to body clocks has measurable consequences: hospitals in Michigan, US found heart ...

Fortescue Metals has brought 400 giant electric haul trucks

Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals has brought in a new supplier to help deliver the up to 400 giant electric vault trucks that his company will need to meet its ambitious target of reaching “real zero” emissions at its Pilbara iron ...

Trump’s 10% tariff on NZ timber and lumber will impact industry

A new tariff of 10 percent on most New Zealand timber and lumber exported to the United States will have a direct financial impact on the New Zealand wood processing industry, with finer details to be worked through once more ...

Biofuel innovation set to make waves in marine shipping

Biofuel technology that promises to help reduce the marine shipping industry’s carbon footprint is a step closer, with the launch of a company set up to lead its commercialisation. Start-up venture Biowave, launched in Wellington on August 13, will focus ...

Trailer lifting chain safety – important reminder!

There have been two recent incidents where trailer lifting chains failed while a trailer was being lifted onto the truck, including one serious near miss that could have resulted in serious harm. Following these events, the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) ...

Reducing emissions during transport of timber

Electric harvesters and forwarders at work in the forest, less noisy timber lorries being loaded on a logging road. Is this just a pipe dream or a development we should take seriously? By the end of the decade, the above ...

New report: Australian forestry must reduce diesel reliance

In a new report, Australia’s leading tech and engineering academy has highlighted the urgent need for Australia to reduce reliance on diesel in mining, road freight, agriculture, fisheries and forestry. The report, released this week by the Australian Academy of ...

Austroads and Esri Australia to revolutionise geospatial insights for smarter transport solutions

Austroads is advancing its geospatial capabilities to unlock smarter, data-driven solutions for road and transport management across Australia and New Zealand. Key to this initiative is the telematics data collected by Transport Certification Australia (TCA), a business unit of Austroads. ...

Update to Successful demo of automated leader-follower platooning on forest roads

In collaboration with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, FPInnovations successfully completed a three-week demonstration of Kratos Class 8 automated trucks in leader-follower mode in Quebec. The purpose of the trial was to assess the ability of the Kratos leader-follower platoon ...

Alternative Fatigue Management Scheme: Martinborough Transport 2024

The alternative fatigue management scheme (AFMS), is a risk management scheme that, once approved by the NZ Transport Agency, allows commercial transport operators greater flexibility in their operations. The AFMS was developed after consultation with industry and sleep management experts. ...

Australia’s trucking labour shortage

Australia’s trucking labour shortage is now reaching critical levels. Calls for major legislative reform in the industry from individuals, companies and organisations have often fallen on deaf ears. But is it about to change? The trucking industry is the backbone ...

Choosing the right DMS for your fleet

In the demanding world of New Zealand transport, where long hours and challenging road conditions are a constant, ensuring driver and freight safety is more than just a priority—it’s essential. With the ongoing risks of driver fatigue and distraction, businesses ...

New electric timber truck in operation

SCA’s new electric timber truck with a crane is finally rolling in the Östavall area. The truck, which is a collaborative project between SCA and Scania, is the first in Europe to collect timber in the forest for further transport to ...

Mainfreight rolls out 560+ cameras in Australian fleet

Mainfreight Australia is powering up their driver safety efforts with the installation of 560 MiTAC units from AutoSense in their rigid, local fleet vehicles by February 2025. With around 180 Guardian by Seeing Machines cameras already installed in their line haul (interstate) trucks, ...

Road freight sector facing barriers in efforts to decarbonise

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand says that an industry survey commissioned by Ministry of Transport shows that road freight businesses are committed to emissions reduction, but support from government and freight customers will be essential overcoming regulatory and cost barriers. The survey ...

Canadian developed Hydrogen-diesel system secured

HVMS, a leading provider in the decarbonisation of transportation, has announced the establishment of its partnership with Canadian company Diesel Tech Industries, to establish installation facilities for the Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System. This initiative marks a significant step towards advancing sustainable ...

First long-range electric trucks to New Zealand

Windrose Technology will work with Auckland based Etrucks® to bring the first long-range electric trucks to New Zealand. The Windrose E1400 6×4 semi tractor features extreme aerodynamic efficiency, with an industry low coefficient of drag of 0.2755. Combined with the ...

Kenworth unveils futuristic SuperTruck 2

Kenworth showcased its SuperTruck 2 demonstrator vehicle at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas last month, a project developed over six years in collaboration with the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) SuperTruck programme. The aim of the project ...

Key drivers to decarbonise heavy transport fleets

The industry was buzzing once again for the Wood Transport & Logistics 2024 event that ran last week in Rotorua, New Zealand. Well over 200 forestry and log transport companies from across Australasia, America and Europe, came to Rotorua to ...

Hiringa launches hydrogen refuelling network

Taranaki-based green hydrogen developer Hiringa Energy has marked the opening of New Zealand’s first zero-emission green hydrogen refuelling network set to service heavy freight across the North Island. The initiative is the first of its kind in Australasia and was officially ...

Tasmania’s first major hydrogen producer

Countrywide Hydrogen, part of ReNu Energy, will become Tasmania’s first major green hydrogen producer after locking in an $8 million funding deal with the Tasmanian Liberal Government. Premier and Minister for Trade and Major Investment, Jeremy Rockliff, said the Tasmanian Liberal ...

Call on startups to retrofit Australia’s EVs

The second annual Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge, “Retrofit Nation”, launched on 16 May 2024 in Sydney during the Climate Action Week. The Challenge is calling on startups to rapidly convert half the Australian vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (EVs), which is over ...

Decarbonising transport & logistics

New Zealand environmental specialist, Toitū, recently held a panel to discuss how New Zealand’s transportation and logistics industry, the nation’s second-largest emissions source, can take effective climate action. They shed light on the critical pressures facing supply chains and how to respond ...

Electrifying all trucks will cost less

The Clean Freight Coalition recently released a report suggesting a staggering US$1 trillion investment would be required to electrify 100% of the US truck fleet. However, a critical analysis reveals serious flaws in this estimation. Daimler Truck North America, a ...

Transport: Hydrogen still has advantage over batteries

It’s April 2024 and some of Australia’s fossil fuel majors are still touting hydrogen powered vehicles as a solution for decarbonising transport.In a recent article, the ABC quoted Dr Steven Percy, a senior research fellow at the Victorian Hydrogen Hub, ...

China launches world’s largest electric container ship

State-owned China Ocean Shipping Group (COSCO) has launched the world’s largest electric container ship, which will begin a regular service between Shanghai and Nanjing and save 3,900kg of fuel for every 100 nautical miles sailed. The Greenwater 01 arrived at ...

Pacifica Shipping introduces battery swap e-trucks

NZ coastal shipping operator Pacifica Shipping is introducing fully electric battery swap trucks to create one of New Zealand’s lowest emission supply chains for heavy freight. The company, a division of Swire Shipping (NZ), received NZ$252,000 in co-funding from the Energy Efficiency ...

Next-gen heavy duty truck charging

Global efforts to decarbonise medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) freight vehicles are crucial for reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the medium- to heavy-duty electric truck market forecast to reach NZ$335 billion (US$207b) by 2044. So says IDTechEx in its ...

Shortage in EV mechanics

Australia is on the cusp of a significant shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads. The impetus for this change is the government’s plan to introduce a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. This policy aims to compel car manufacturers to significantly ...

Electric log truck gears up for phase two

Fenell Forestry will receive an AU$200,000 cash injection from the South Australian state government to commence phase two of an electric log truck trial. The funding for phase two the Fennell Forestry project will examine how heavy vehicle decarbonisation can contribute ...

Kiwi firm spearheading heavy fleet green transition

Bay of Plenty-based company Heavy Vehicle Machinery Solutions (HVMS) is forging global partnerships to help drive decarbonisation efforts in New Zealand’s road transport industry. Formed in October 2022 through parent company East Coast Heavy Diesel (ECHD) in Whakatane, HVMS is ...

1500km HD electric truck road test completed

Electric truck maker Windrose has posted a time-lapse video showing a 1593 km test run completed by its all-electric semi-truck. The electric semi gets 600 km range out of its 729 kWh battery pack and can pull a whopping 49 tonnes. Windrose chairman ...

Pacifica Shipping introduces battery swap e-trucks

NZ coastal shipping operator Pacifica Shipping is introducing fully electric battery swap trucks to create one of New Zealand’s lowest emission supply chains for heavy freight. The company, a division of Swire Shipping (NZ), received NZ$252,000 in co-funding from the ...

“Worlds-first” drive-by wireless charging for electric trucks

A world-first project will attempt to recharge heavy-duty electric trucks as they drive along roads in regional Australia, in a development researchers say could help accelerate adoption of low-emission transport. The AU$8.2 million project could also be used to wirelessly ...

Boost to electrify Australian trucking fleets

Australian start-up NewVolt has revealed plans to build an electric truck charging network along the east coast of Australia, enabling the decarbonisation of the country’s major road freight routes and potentially saving billions of dollars spent on imported diesel a ...

Komatsu & Williams Racing reignite partnership

Leading heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu has signed a multi-year deal with Williams Racing to become the Principal Partner of the British team from the start of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship (F1) season. Komatsu was a key partner ...

Who needs skidders? – elephant logging in Burma

An extract from Ross Lockyer’s book, That’s What Elephants are For appears in the February 2024 issue of NZ Logger. It’s an amazing read – and an amazing story. In mid-1984, Ross Lockyer was offered a consultancy with the Asian ...

In-forest electric or electric hybrid machines

On-site and virtual registrations to this year’s Wood Transport & Logistics 2024 event are now streaming in. Interest in the pre-conference workshops including the LTSC Driver Certification and the Trimble Forestry using integrated e-docket workflows workshops likewise continue to flow ...

Record turnout of Kenworths at 100th global anniversary

Kenworth enthusiasts in New Zealand gathered at Waikato’s Mystery Creek to celebrate the brand’s 100th global anniversary with a record-breaking 756 mighty rigs on display. The event, organised by local distributor Southpac Trucks, took place over Waitangi weekend and saw ...

Zero emission trucks need a boost

The NZ Government’s announcement that the Road User Charges (RUC) exemption for light electric vehicles and plug in hybrids will end in April is good news for the state of the roads. But it also highlights the challenges to zero ...

NZ forestry industry establishing pan sector body

Ten organisations have signed an accord establishing as a pan sector body. Called the NZ Forest & Wood Sector Forum (NZFWSF), NZ sector associations will engage on issues of common interest or concern to the national industry and act as a ...

Wood Transport & Logistics 2024 programme out

Last year, well over 250 forestry and log transport delegates from companies across Australasia, North and South America and Europe met up in Rotorua, New Zealand. The occasion? The long overdue Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 conference, workshops and exhibitions. ...

Electric trucks best bet to cut transport emissions

Transport is likely the hardest economic sector to decarbonise. And road vehicles produce the most greenhouse gas emissions of the Australian transport sector – 85% of its total. Freight trucks account for only 8% of travel on our roads but ...

Cut surfaces as fingerprints – marker-free tracing of logs

Until now, reliably tracing logs to their origin has been difficult to achieve. Researchers at Fraunhofer IPM and their partners have now shown that logs and trunk sections can be identified based on the structure of the cut surfaces. The ...

First Volvo electric log truck in UK

New Volvo electric log truck, said to first of its kind in the UK, is now in trial operation in the Scottish Highlands to decarbonize the sector. A new electric log truck, believed to be the first of its kind ...

Which will be the engine of the future?

Truck manufacturers are under immense pressure to cut emissions. But should they bet on fully electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells or even both? Multinationals are reaching different conclusions. And the wrong choice could be expensive. Check out the video below. ...

Robot rollout begins in NZ

DHL Supply Chain has deployed a warehouse automation solution at its distribution centre in Highbrook, Auckland, NZ. Using technology from US-based company Locus Robotics, the project will be used to streamline the product supply chain for DHL’s major customer Schneider ...

Developing world’s first hydrogen vertical lift off plane

A Sydney-based aerospace company founded by a husband and wife designer team has received AU$5.43 million to develop a world-first hydrogen vertical take-off and landing aircraft that could be used in regional Australia for emergency services, freight and transport. The ...

Autonomous trucks cutting a path in forestry sector

In an untamed Quebec forest, a Canada lynx watches curiously from the bush as a platoon of Mack Granite logging trucks, one of them operated autonomously, passes by on a remote logging road. Meanwhile in Maryland, engineers from Robotic Research ...

Wood Transport & Logistics 2024 dates announced

Last year, well over 250 forestry and log transport delegates from companies across Australasia, North and South America and Europe met up in Rotorua, New Zealand. The occasion? The long overdue Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 conference, workshops and exhibitions. ...

TR Group revises hydrogen truck deal with Hyzon

TR Group has signed a revised commercial agreement with US-based hydrogen truck startup Hyzon Motors for the delivery of up to 20 hydrogen fuel cell trucks (FCEVs). The first two trucks with single stack 200kW fuel cell systems are scheduled ...

Isuzu showcases future of transport at Mobility Show

Isuzu Motors displayed its heavy-duty Giga Fuel Cell truck and N Series battery electric model at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo along with battery-swap concepts and new product development processes. It follows hot off the heels of Isuzu Australia’s ...

Benefits of improved connectivity and telematics

Connectivity and telematic technologies used in the trucking industry have advanced significantly in recent years – and with them, other key advancements. Vehicles and components are smarter than ever thanks to smaller, more advanced electronics and widespread communications infrastructure. Digital ...

Mercedes-Benz premieres long-haul eActros

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has unveiled the series version battery electric long-haul eActros 600 which, according to the company, is set to replace the majority of diesel trucks in the segment over the long term. The model made its global debut on ...

Five hydrogen trucks for Ikea Australian operations

Furniture giant Ikea has revealed plans to use hydrogen trucks to cut its transport emissions, just one week after adding electric vehicle recharging stations at another of its Australian stores. The five hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, announced, will join the company’s ...

Tesla Semi e truck does 1,732 km in a single day

Tesla Semi is one of the most innovative products to hit the market in the heavy trucking sector in recent years. It launched last year, and PepsiCo was one of the first big customers, and at the time Tesla made ...

Semi-truck same turning circle as Tesla Model Y

Tesla has been a pivotal part of changing the perception of EVs by getting millions of attractive zero-emission vehicles on the roads. The Tesla Semi is one of these less-discussed vehicle programs from the brand but promises to do much ...

New standards to make Australian trucks safer

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) welcomes the announcement by the Australian Government of increased width limits for trucks fitted with the most modern safety technologies. The Safer Freight Vehicles package will see an increase to the overall width limit ...

Emissions calculator for NZ transport fleets

EROAD’s latest Sustainability Survey shows business fleets are still lagging on emission reduction and that access to better data through tools like this will help. EROAD, in collaboration with EECA (the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority), is proud to introduce ...

Battery factory opened to meet 50% electric target

Whilst Scania are not the only truck manufacturer moving towards electrification of their model range, they are one of the leaders. In fact, they are targeting 50% of their vehicle sales to be battery-powered by 2030. TheDriven reported back in ...

Early EOI – Wood Transport & Logistics 2024

This year, well over 250 forestry and log transport delegates from companies across Australasia, North and South America and Europe met up in Rotorua, New Zealand. The occasion? The long overdue Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 conference, workshops and exhibitions. ...

Fabrum to supply 1MW hydrogen refuelling station

Fabrum to supply 1MW electrolyser Hydrogen Refuelling Station package for hydrogen production and dispensing, with a unique double pressure system for cars and trucks – a first for New Zealand New Zealand company Fabrum, a world leader in zero-emission transition ...

The commercial transport revolution – it’s underway

Advanced technology will pave the way to exceed what was previously thought possible. The commercial transportation industry faces rapidly changing regulations and evolving customer needs. Cummins examines the future of commercial transportation, and indicates that it will be shaped by ...

Powering vehicles of the future – hydrogen vs electric

Trelleborg enters the discussion on which technologies will be appropriate to power the vehicles of the future. Pick any data point and the growth of electric cars looks like a wildly successful phenomenon. The number of electric cars on the ...

Hydrogen engines -a viable alternative to electric

JCB has made a second major breakthrough in proving the wider appeal of hydrogen combustion technology. This has been achieved by installing one of its super-efficient hydrogen engines into a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. The white van retrofit was completed in ...

All new German trucks battery-electric by 2035?

All new trucks being registered in Germany from 2035 could be battery-electric if a broad-scale charging network is available by then, according to the Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut). “The key entry point for ensuring the market success of zero-emission ...

EV graveyards in China – what’s up?

Something isn’t quite right over in China. Footage has emerged showing fields of cars, predominantly electric vehicles, just sitting there. It’s a bit eerie, and quite confusing considering how China is a massive market for EVs, so what’s going on? ...

Accelerating Australia’s hydrogen-transport future

A new report released by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and GHD Advisory calls for Australia to focus on hydrogen-powered transport – alongside electric vehicles – or risk being left behind our international counterparts. While battery electric vehicles will drive ...

Battery swapping boosts Chinese electric truck market

China is widely known as the world’s largest market for electric cars and buses, but did you know that it’s also leading in the race to electric trucks? Indeed, based on data from EV-volumes.com, in 2022, China sold 36,000 electric ...

Mercedes-Benz eActros begins NZ testing

A fully electric 19-tonne Mercedes-Benz eActros has arrived in New Zealand for validation testing with Daimler Truck dealer network partners. The eActros 300 4×2 cab chassis model, with a reported range of up to 330km, is now being put through ...

MAN long distance e-trucks production starts in 2024

Long-distance trucks should be able to be fully charged during the drivers’ 45-minute driving time break. MAN will start production of its electric long-haul truck in 2024. There are already more than 500 order enquiries. As early as 2030, half ...

Volvo delivers 74 tonnes electric truck

More haulage companies are now starting to invest in electric trucks, including for heavy transport. Volvo Trucks has delivered an electric truck for heavy transport to a haulier in Gothenburg, Sweden. The truck can handle a total weight of 74 ...

First Australian hydrogen refuelling for heavy trucks

Industrial gas company Coregas has installed a hydrogen refuelling station for heavy trucks in Port Kembla, NSW to fuel up to 10 trucks per day.The company says it will be the first heavy vehicle hydrogen refuelling station in Australia, and ...

Huge electric and hydrogen haul trucks tested

Iron ore and green energy giant Fortescue Metals says it is rolling out its first prototype three megawatt fast charger as it continues trials of its first electric heavy haulage truck – dubbed the Road Runner – at one of ...

Hydrogen truck – second in world for commercial operations

It sails up the Bombay Hills, accelerates faster than fossil fuel vehicles, and incurs less driver fatigue – some of the key findings from a trial of NZ Post’s new zero emission, hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck. The zero emission, cutting-edge ...

Successful testing for truck platooning project

FPInnovations has announced the completion of the baseline phase for its truck platooning tests. The truck platooning project aims to accelerate the adoption of the off-highway, automated vehicle technology to support the sustainable development of Northern communities and to address ...

Discover Forestry NZ launched

New Zealand’s eight Wood Councils have joined forces to launch the joint forest education organisation – Discover Forestry New Zealand. Work around the country has already been undertaken with school engagement programmes Wood is Good (primary), and Grow Me (secondary). ...

Tesla cybertruck lands in NZ for winter testing

And for all you vehicle or ute enthusiasts out there, Tesla’s Cybertruck is one of the most talked about vehicles to hit the market in recent years, thanks to its unique angular design and exposed steel outer body – and ...

Faster than diesel? Battery swaping electric trucks!

Electric trucks take too long to recharge, right? Well, not if you swap out the batteries! As part of the recent Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 event, forestry and log haulage companies got a look into the conversion from diesel ...

Australia urged to electrify truck fleets before cars

An articulated truck will burn through 40 times more fuel and generate 50 times more CO2 than a passenger car. They represent 1% of all vehicles on Australian roads but 15% of all transport emissions. These are the findings of ...

Australia’s road rules hampering electric trucks

Australia’s archaic road rules, and its unique weight restrictions on trucks, have emerged as a major stumbling block to moves to transform the country’s heavy duty truck fleet to fully electric. Volvo Trucks – the world’s biggest maker of heavy-duty ...

NZ$450m fully automated warehouse investment

Cardinal Logistics is investing more than NZ$450 million in developing New Zealand’s first fully automated third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse in Drury, South Auckland. Cardinal, the country’s largest privately-owned 3PL company, expects the first stage of the project to be online ...

AU$10m to build Australia’s first movable hydrogen generator

Australia needs hydrogen to help reach net zero emissions by 2050, and ground-breaking new technology could help reshape the nation’s energy landscape by safely generating hydrogen at off-grid locations. A new project led by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will ...

Event Summary – Wood Transport & Logistics 2023

Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 returned to a packed audience, a car park full of large rigs and a range of next-gen technologies on display. Over 250 forestry and log transport companies from across Australasia, North and South America and ...

Methods for Measuring Wood Fiber: Key Points and Benefits of Choosing Wisely

TRT Made Possible Brand Promise

Overcoming challenges is precisely how TRT got started. Clever, practical people solving complex engineering problems with ingenuity and relentless hard work. Making something from nothing, and then making it better. It’s this competitive ethos of solving the unsolvable, finding a ...

HW Richardson green hydrogen gains oxygen

There’s a lot riding on what will be the first green hydrogen production and refuelling station in the South Island. That’s as New Zealand’s largest private transport operator, HW Richardson (HWR), targets getting its pilot hydrogen station in Gore, Southland, ...

Metsä Group looks to rail for log transport

VR’s first train with an electric locomotive transporting roundwood arrived for test runs at Metsä Group’s new Euro2.02 billion Kemi bioproduct mill. This marked a major step in Metsä Group and VR’s long-term cooperation, ensuring the Kemi bioproduct mill’s wood ...

New automatic chain throwing & tensioning system

WASP, has developed new technology that removes the truck driver from the hazards of throwing chains over their load, allowing for heavier chains to be used. The benefits of this are not just related to health and safety and the ...

First trainload of timber arrives for snowy region mills

The first trainload of Walcha softwood sawlogs has arrived by rail in Wagga, bound for timber mills in the snowy region, who have seen their local timber supplies significantly reduced after the Black Summer bushfires. The rail transport initiative will ...

Hydrogen – part of a greener use for forestry residues

David Robinson is the business development manager for Taylors Contracting and has 18 years of experience in senior management roles in the forestry industry in Nelson Tasman. OPINION: Toyota NZ has recently been showcasing its hydrogen fuel cell electric car ...

Dual fuel truck powered by diesel and hydrogen gas

New Zealand’s largest privately owned transport company has launched what is believed to be Australasia’s first dual fuel truck which is powered by hydrogen gas and diesel. The HW Richardson Group, which has 1400 trucks in its fleet, revealed its ...

Log Haulage Skills resources being created

ForestWorks has commenced work on a project to update the forest industry’s Log Haulage Manual and produce instructional videos to support some important knowledge and skills required to transport harvested timber safely. These resources are being created for industry, by ...

Green hydrogen powering NZ’s future

Is New Zealand the next Glass Onion? The famous movie depicts a false idea of the future, using tiny particles of crystallised hydrogen for energy. The idea of using green hydrogen to power the world is nearly everywhere – it ...

Seeds planted for greener trucking future

As we’ve reported recently, an innovative SA operator is taking charge, putting the first battery electric logging truck operating in Australia through its paces in the Green Triangle. Fennell Forestry boss Wendy Fennell knows it could be up to two ...

Rising costs driving fleet management evolution

A Teletrac Navman survey of more than 1,800 global fleet operators has revealed that rising fuel costs (39%), disruption due to the impact of COVID-19 (32%), and supply chain pressure (31%), are the top challenges they currently face. “The last ...

World’s second electric log truck launched in Australia

Australia’s first electric log truck has arrived in Mount Gambier, as Fennell Forestry cuts a new path towards a carbon-free future for the sector. The truck is just the second electric log truck in the world and has been commissioned ...

A unique opportunity for young foresters

This new opportunity comes with a free conference registration – up to about five of them in fact for – for this year’s Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 event running in Rotorua, New Zealand on 24-25 May 2023. The Forest ...

The future of electric semi trucks

Canadian Company takes the transportation industry by storm. Edison Motors is a revolutionary company that specializes in the design, development, and production of electric semi-trucks. Founded by Chace Barber and Eric Little, this privately owned Canadian clean technology company has ...

Brazilian log transport options being showcased

Raptor® is a forestry product line made of steel components, produced by a Brazilian company called Unylaser. Unylaser will be exhibiting this year, along with other key equipment and technology suppliers to the log transport industry as part of the ...

Tevva hydrogen-electric truck clocks 560km

While Tevva’s laser-guided focus remains trained on building and delivering its battery-electric 7.5-ton vehicle, testing, and development of its hydrogen-electric counterpart continues. Four Tevva engineers: Charlie Cordell, Byron Dolman, Ryan Clark, and Toby Hurst were doing exactly that recently, with ...

Practical log transport & measurement workshops

As detailed in earlier issues, has been set up for forestry, log transport and wood logistics companies from across Australasia. Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 is being run on 24-25 May 2023 – live in Rotorua with live streaming set ...

Kenworth celebrates century of truck making

From logging truck beginnings to battery-electric trucks and fuel cell pilots Kenworth, which began as a maker of logging trucks in 1923, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Kenworth Truck Co. will spend the next 12 months celebrating its 100th anniversary ...

New consortium set up for zero-emission aviation

Six international businesses have launched a new consortium to bring zero-emission aviation to life in New Zealand. The Hydrogen Consortium’s vision is to support the country to pioneer the commercial deployment of green hydrogen-powered aircraft. The partners are international aerospace ...

$23M raised to advance hydrogen technologies

New Zealand company Fabrum, a world leader in zero-emission transition technologies to enable a lower-carbon economy, announced its $23M Series A financing led by London-headquartered AP Ventures with participation from Australia-based Fortescue Future Industries, Japan-based Obayashi Corporation and New Zealand-based ...

Local testing draws near for Mercedes-Benz

The first all-electric Mercedes-Benz trucks bound for Australia and New Zealand have rolled off the production line. Mercedes-Benz Trucks will begin a local validation programme for the zero emission eActros in Australia and New Zealand this year. An all-electric eEconic ...

Hydrogen technology to debut on international stage

JCB will feature its new hydrogen combustion engine—the company’s solution for zero carbon emissions for construction and agricultural equipment on the international stage at North America’s largest construction show, CONEXPO/CON-AGG (CONEXPO) 2023 in mid-March. The hydrogen combustion engine from JCB ...

NZ supply chain grappling with 40,000 empty containers

New Zealand is currently facing a problem with the de-hiring of empty shipping containers with an estimated 40,000 unused containers awaiting transportation out of the country. The issue is causing frustration among clients in the supply chain as containers sit ...

AU$1b deal to electrify 8500 Toyotas for mining

SEA Electric has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with systems integrator MEVCO, which specialises in battery electric light commercial vehicles, to provide electric Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser models for the mining industry. Under the deal valued at nearly ...

Transport trends fleet companies can’t ignore in 2023

Global transport is on the cusp of substantial changes driven by constant innovation in technology, the need to deliver more, a powerful surge in customer expectations, and pricing. In New Zealand, the industry has seen a wide range of ups ...

Biggest order for electric trucks in Australia

Australian freight giant Team Global Express has made the biggest order for electric trucks in Australia after landing an AU$20 million deal with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to fund the purchase. The deal involves the purchase of 36 medium ...

Hydrogen fuel cell-powered Toyota Hilux

A consortium of British engineering and industry bodies is developing a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the Toyota Hilux Led by Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (TMUK) and funded by the UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), ...

Major log transport event planned for May 2023

In log transport, we continue to ramp up coverage of an array of new innovations in electric, hydrogen and diesel-hybrid powered vehicles, truck automation and platooning. Right now, there’s a huge amount of interest by larger fleet operators. Already, a ...

Mining industry electrification accelerated under deal

NZX-listed Scott Technology has an agreement with construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar to develop an automated connection system to support stationary charging of electrified machines. Under the collaboration, Scott Technology will apply its Robofuel product technology, which successfully automates ...

Tesla truck completes 800km trip with full load

Tesla has completed an 800-kilometre drive of its soon-to-be-delivered electric Semi with more than 36 tonnes in gross vehicle weight. That’s according to a tweet by chief executive Elon Musk on 27 November. This follows an earlier tweet by Musk ...

Södra launches electric transport initiative

Södra is launching a major initiative to electrify the operation’s transportation. A new project will study the future potential to operate electric-powered trucks, forklifts and loaders that can help further reduce the association’s fossil-fuel emissions. Södra is currently a net ...

Forestry industry’s first driver drop in day

Softwood forest growers of Southern NSW and North East Victoria joined forces with one of their major customers, Hyne Timber, to host a driver safety day and start a conversation with the forestry transport industry. All truck drivers leaving the ...

OneFortyOne’s woodchips set sail for Japan

In New Zealand, OneFortyOne’s Kaituna Sawmill and its partners celebrated its first export shipment of woodchip out of Port Marlborough last week, as part of a new export initiative with partner Marusumi Whangarei Co Ltd. Woodchip has been accumulating at ...

Natural gas versus hydrogen as a transport fuel

Many commercial fleet operators are thinking about transitioning their vehicles to hydrogen or natural gas engines. These fuels can be great ways to reduce emissions. Both fuel options present similarities and differences across a variety of areas. For example, both ...

Volvo shocks with 2026 electric car deadline

Car giant Volvo has shocked the motoring industry, announcing plans to stop selling petrol vehicles in Australia by 2026, with a top executive calling the older technology a “shrinking business”. Volvo’s Australian deadline will come four years before its worldwide ...

Volvo Group to produce battery modules at truck plant

Volvo Group is investing 75 million euro (NZ$126m) to develop battery module production at its truck plant in Ghent, Belgium. It expects to be in production by 2025 and will strengthen the manufacturer’s battery system supply chain which currently relies ...

World trucking experience to be changed forever!

Tesla Semi Hitting the Market. The Tesla Semi Truck is a fully electric vehicle that features an “autopilot” mode to help with semi-autonomous driving. This truck is soon to change the whole trucking experience. Elon Musk twitted that he is ...

Stark warning to NZ trucking businesses

Costs for NZ road transport businesses have risen almost four times higher than inflation in the last quarter, according to the latest Grant Thornton Cost Index. The quarterly index shows that there has been an overall quarterly increase to June ...

Charging into the future with electric vehicles

Lots of excitement and lots of challenges. Talk to manufacturers engaged in the fast-moving electric vehicle industry and both descriptions quickly work their way into the conversation. Such was the case Tuesday afternoon at the 2022 IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology ...

Log load measurements –green metric tonnes to m3

Logmeter, is an automatic system that delivers in real-time high-precision volume measurements and estimates biometrics characteristics of wood logs loaded on a truck before entering the mill. Forestry companies are increasing the application of technological tools in their industrial processes. ...

AFPA committee drives transport safety initiatives

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Growers Chamber’s Work, Health and Safety Subcommittee (WHSS) has helped drive two new initiatives to improve safety across forest industries transport. The initiatives, funded under Round 7 of the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety ...

Diesel-electric hybrid trucks for Canadian logging industry

If one guy can call his electric-car company Tesla, why not call theirs Edison, a couple of Merritt entrepreneurs figured. While the real-life Tesla and Edison, ground-breaking inventors, became fierce rivals, Edison Motors has a way to go before catching ...

New methanol-capable vessel announced

MOVE Logistics Group (MOVE) is going full steam ahead on green coastal shipping solutions for New Zealand with procurement approved and underway for a new methanol-capable vessel. Earlier this year, MOVE successfully secured NZ$10 million in co-investment funds from transport agency Waka Kotahi to support coastal shipping initiatives that improve the competitiveness of domestic coastal shipping, reduce freight sector greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience. Waka Kotahi has endorsed the proposal by MOVE for its roll-on, roll-off (RORO) vessel design ...

Volvo marks series production on heavy-duty EVs

Swedish manufacturer Volvo Trucks is beginning series production of its heavy-duty electric models with global deliveries set to ramp up. And customers in Australia and New Zealand can expect to see the vehicles on local roads in the near future. ...

Fennell Forestry commissions world’s 2nd electric log truck

Fennell Forestry, the Mount Gambier based harvest and haulage company has commissioned the world’s second ever electric log truck, in the hope of providing a realistic carbon-zero solution for the industry. Transport is Australia’s second highest contributor to carbon emissions. ...

Battery or hydrogen? Truck makers battle it out

Soaring fuel prices and greener policies have given electric vehicles (EVs) a serious boost in recent years. Now the attention is turning to trucks, but manufacturers still face a dilemma over which technology can best do the job. Some companies ...