Projects

Ranging from small to large operations, including many multi-generational family successions and influences, forest contracting businesses have an important role in sustaining a viable forest industry.  To increase the business outcomes for forest contracting businesses, AFCA works in partnership on health, safety and sustainability initiatives, projects and programs.

Forest haulage innovation

Industry led innovation continues with key safety tools for forest haulers.

AFCA, with funding support from the Australian Government, is developing and delivering new technology to improve haulage safety outcomes and to assist forest contracting businesses to assess load crowning to improve load restraint outcomes and real time measurement of log load stability to reduce rollover risk.

Leveraging industry expertise through an Industry Reference Group, AFCA has also engaged Engistics and other partners to assist in the development of the tools. The project will be completed in two phases:

• Phase 1: Log load crowning tool - ability to measure crowning angles of logs on vehicles.
• Phase 2: Log truck stability tool - using augmented reality to analyse log sizes, process dimensions and total weight to determine centre of gravity for load stability.

Work is underway to develop the Log load crowning tool prototype that will be tested onsite with members of the IRG. Post testing, feedback sessions will be arranged to gather insights and input.

AFCA's Forestry Haulage Gap Analysis System endorsed

The Australian Forest Contractors Association’s (AFCA) Forestry Haulage Gap Analysis System will receive key funding through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Federal Government.

The Forestry Haulage Gap Analysis System will allow for industry participants to effectively understand their relative transport risks resulting from the industry-endorsed Forestry Log Haulage Registered Code of Practice (LHC) (under active consideration by NHVR for registration) and the actions that are required to reduce these risks. This project is one of 28 successful heavy vehicle safety initiatives to receive funding from Round 6 of the HVSI.

Forest contractors leading best practice

Creating the future of training and certification for forest contractors in Australia, ForestFit will deliver two major outcomes for the forest industry, a:

• nationally recognised and endorsed forest contractor pilot training program
• pilot certification for contracting businesses to deliver quality services in accordance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

The training and certification pilots will form the basis for a voluntary program to be rolled out nationally to industry.

For more information and updates visit the ForestFit website.

Professional Ownership and Driver Wellbeing program

AFCA is pleased to be partnering with Australian Trucking Safety Services & Solutions (ATSSS) and KJ Training and Consulting to develop, improve and deliver a completely new program, combining our previous PODW Program and the ATSSS Heavy Vehicle Crash & Rollover Awareness Program which we will be launching to industry in the very near future.

To sign up or for more information view our PODW Program page.

Webinar Series

AFCA hold monthly webinar events which are offered to our members. Each session is usually a 45-minute presentation, including Q & A at the end of each session.

These are offered to our sponsors to discuss topics, events and products that may be of interest to our members.

These webinars are promoted within our newsletter the Log and on our social media platforms also.

For more information visit our Webinar page