The success of large-scale industries, such as mining, agriculture, oil, and more, delivers impressive gains on a country’s economy—case in point: Australia. However, these industries require heavy capital assets, colossal infrastructure, and massive manpower to operate. In addition, they also need productive collaborations with other sectors such as logistics and transportation.
That being said, providing transportation services for these large-scale industries is not as simple as getting a flat-bed truck and a truck driver. More often than not, the transportation of materials for agriculture, mining, construction, and other industries requires custom equipment and containment. In some cases, materials in transit are dangerous chemicals that require specialised handling and high amounts of caution.
Indeed, businesses that handle transportation for large-scale industrial companies require industrial solutions that will level up their operations and make a positive impact on their bottom line. Here are a few examples.
Specialized Equipment and Trailers
Transporting heavy, oversized, fragile, or hazardous cargo requires specialised equipment such as flatbeds, lowboys, and tankers are essential for safe transportation. Utilizing custom-made trailer parts and accessories ensures that the equipment is tailored to handle specific cargo requirements, providing additional safety and stability during transit. These custom solutions help prevent accidents, reduce wear and tear on the vehicles, and increase the overall efficiency of transporting complex loads.
For long and tall freight, for instance, transport companies will need removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers. Meanwhile, frozen goods will require the use of a refrigerated truck. These trailers and trucks are equipped with features like hydraulic lifts and refrigeration, ensuring that the products will stay in good condition while being ferried from point A to point B.
On the other hand, some industries like mining and construction may need specialised equipment like a sediment tank. This can be used to conveniently treat wastewater from mining and construction on-site, ensuring compliance with environmental regulators. Transport companies can also benefit from diesel storage and transfer solutions to provide their fleets easy access to fuel.
Load Management Solutions
Efficient load management is crucial for maximising the capacity and safety of transport vehicles. It encompasses load planning, weight distribution optimization, and cargo tracking.
Through the use of load management tools like load planning software, the person in charge of the delivery operations will have a guide on where to strategically place certain cargo to achieve a balanced load. This system also takes into account the route the driver will be taking to ensure fuel efficiency, as well as the safety of the vehicle carrying heavy freight.
With the right load management solutions, transport companies can ensure seamless day-to-day operations, as well as reduce costs associated with underutilised capacity and inefficient load distribution.
This is the best way to ensure your industrial bulk materials handling system operates at full efficiency and remains scalable. Well-managed loads also contribute to safer transport conditions and optimised resource use.
Comprehensive Fleet Management Systems
For transport companies operating fleets of heavy-duty vehicles, robust fleet management systems are indispensable. These systems provide features such as fuel consumption monitoring, maintenance tracking, and route optimisation, which can all be tailored to specific requirements.
There are a variety of these fleet management systems in the market, with some designed for small to medium fleets and others more suited for larger fleets of 100 or more units.
The data gathered from vehicle sensors, GPS data, and personal GPS trackers used in these fleet management systems can also help transport companies optimize operations, minimize downtime, and enhance overall efficiency.
Compliance and Safety Solutions for Hazardous Materials
The transportation of hazardous materials encompasses a wide range of safety and compliance solutions. From tracking hazardous cargo to ensuring proper labelling and handling, these systems enable transport companies to operate safely and responsibly.
This is crucial in Australia, where transportation companies must comply with the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADG Code) to legally transport hazardous materials. In the code, special packaging requirements and containment are specified depending on the hazardous material to be transported.
Industrial Packaging and Handling Solutions
Efficient packaging and handling are essential for protecting fragile or high-value goods during transportation. As many transport companies work within industrial sectors, they require specialised packaging materials and handling equipment to ensure the safe and secure transportation of cargo. This is especially true when transporting hazardous materials.
Some examples of packaging solutions used by different industries include boxes, crates, dunnage, void fills, flexible packaging, and specialised containers. Meanwhile, handling solutions may include forklifts, conveyors, personal protective equipment (PPE), and automated warehouse systems. These protective packaging and handling solutions can help logistics companies minimise the risk of damage or loss.
Environmental Management and Sustainability Solutions
With increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate environmental impact, some logistics and transport companies are taking the initiative to incorporate sustainability within their corporate operations.
In Australia, for instance, transport and logistics company Centurion has recently unveiled 30 electric vehicles, making up their fleet of Mercedes-Benz 16-tonne eActros trucks. These are powered by off-grid 100 per cent renewable energy.
Environmental management solutions help transport companies monitor and reduce emissions, optimise fuel efficiency, and adopt eco-friendly transportation practices. This, in turn, will help them attract eco-conscious clients, comply with regulatory requirements, and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
Efficiency is the lifeblood of the transport industry, and industrial solutions are instrumental in driving operational excellence. With these solutions and tools at hand, transport companies can streamline operations, reduce costs, enhance safety, and deliver superior service to their clients.
