Safety Alert from Log Transport Safety Council

Please find attached a Safety Alert update following a serious log transport incident on SH30 Atiamuri in the South Waikato on January 21^st involving the trailer of a self-loading truck detaching while driving on a public road.

The details of the incident are  covered in further detail in this NZ Herald Article 

An investigation has been conducted involving the NZ Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team, New Zealand Transport Agency, and members of the LTSC including a self-loader specialist.  

Many thanks to the LTSC members involved for their work on the investigation.

The investigation identified that the truck was fitted with an electronic ring feeder system to assist with attaching and detaching the trailer remotely from the cab of the self-loader crane. The system had been installed with a simple switch. 

During the journey a recently installed RT became dislodged and struck the electronic ring feeder switch, releasing the ring feeder and allowing the trailer to detach while the truck was moving.  

LTSC has identified that there are five self-loader trucks in the country running this system. The other four trucks have been recalled immediately by the installer for inspection and any necessary modification required.

The Safety Alert recommends that any electronic release system for a ring feeder must have safety redundancy incorporated. It is recommended that a two-step stitch is installed, and that the switch is only enabled when the PTO of the crane is engaged. 

Please see the Safety Alert for further details.