An array of new innovations around electric, hydrogen and diesel-hybrid powered vehicles, truck automation and platooning continue to roll out in the area of log transport.  Right now, there’s a huge amount of interest by larger fleet operators and already, a number of firsts for fuelling log trucks in this part of the world are underway and have been planned for early 2023.  

The Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) says it’s for this reason that a major Wood Transport & Logistics event has been set up with support from all of the key trucking associations and log transport companies for 24-25 May 2023.  

As well as being the first dedicated log transport event run for over five years, FIEA says the event (conference, trade exhibits and pre-and post-conference workshops) will be covering industry technology firsts including:

 - the first Australasian electric log truck using exchangeable batteries,

 - operations of the first hydrogen powered log and timber haulage trucks, 

 - trial results on running diesel-hydrogen hybrid transport fleets,

 - rolling out scalable hydrogen refuelling networks across New Zealand,

 - development of the first off-road in-forest log truck platooning, 

 - robotic and mobile log scaling measurements, and

 - operations of new automated chain throwing & tensioning

The event will be run in Rotorua, New Zealand and will also be live-streamed for Australian companies unable to travel into New Zealand or for international delegates from outside the region. Programme details and registrations have just gone live. Other information can be found on the event website: www.woodtransport.events