¶ Two-Stage trucking using log trucks
Recommended Technology
Description: This report (Best et al., 2026) examines the productivity and operational viability of two‑stage trucking using off‑highway log trucks in steep‑land forestry operations in New Zealand, where direct access for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs) is unsafe, impractical, or environmentally unacceptable. Two‑stage trucking involves transporting stems or logs from the primary extraction landing to a secondary storage and loadout landing using dedicated off‑highway trucks, thereby avoiding extensive mid‑slope roading or costly road upgrades. The study reflects a broader industry shift, with adoption of two‑stage systems increasing from approximately 8% of operations in 2016 to around 24% by 2024, driven by safety, environmental, and cost considerations.
Elemental time studies were conducted across four operational case studies using Astra HD9 8×8 and Scania 6×8 off‑highway log trucks on haul distances ranging from 530 m to 5.4 km. The results show productivities between 19 and 41 tonnes per productive machine hour (PMH), with performance largely influenced by haul distance, payload capacity, and loading/unloading delays, rather than truck configuration itself. In all cases, two‑stage trucking enabled safe access to harvest areas that were otherwise inaccessible to HPMVs. Importantly, when well-integrated into the harvesting system, two‑stage trucking did not impose a productivity or financial penalty and, in many cases, reduced overall costs by lowering roading length, construction expense, and environmental risk.
The study concludes that two‑stage trucking using off‑highway log trucks is a mature, flexible, and effective solution for steep and erosion‑prone terrain. It offers forest owners and planners a practical means of balancing safety, environmental stewardship, and cost control, particularly as harvest areas become more constrained and HPMV access more difficult.
Category: Autonomous Machinery & Robotics
FWPA RD&E: 4.3
¶ Details
| Company | Country | Type | Website | Available in Australia? | Year | Status | Remarks | TRL | Employees | Colour | Inventors | Patent Model. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FGR | New Zealand | Company | Link | Green |