SUPPLY CHAIN IS YOUR TRANSPORTER TR “Drivers are trained in how to prevent disease, stress and contamination when moving livestock, as well as making sure the ‘paddock‑to‑plate’ traceability is supported during the journey, which ultimately protects the eating quality of the final product,” Melissa said. “Producers can be confident a TruckSafe operator has considered every risk possible. However, if something goes wrong, highly trained TruckSafe members can handle the incident and maintain animal welfare.” ■ Alana Boulton MLA Northern Beef Adoption Project Manager E: aboulton@mla.com.au Look for the TruckSafe sticker on the side of your livestock carrier’s truck. Find out if your livestock transporter is TruckSafe Loading livestock onto a members must meet multiple standards: accredited by visiting the ‘Accredited Members’ page at truck shouldn’t be the end • business management practices trucksafe.com.au or phone of the line for best practice • risk management (02) 6253 6900. management. • driver health Use MLA’s Fit to load guide to Taking care of livestock during transit is• speed and fatigue management determine if livestock are in important to maintain the quality of red • mass and dimension including loading suitable condition for transport – meat, as optimum eating quality can be and load restraint download it from reduced by inappropriate handling in mla.com.au/isitfittoload the two weeks before slaughter. • vehicle standards Read more about how handling • animal welfare. livestock can affect eating quality TruckSafe provides a best practice standard for trucking operators when “TruckSafe members don’t pick and in the Meat Standards Australia transporting livestock. choose what areas of accreditation information kit: to complete, they take on the whole Beef cattle (page 7): It underpins industry programs such as system which uses a rigorous, mla.com.au/msa‑beef‑info‑kit Meat Standards Australia and Livestock independent audit approach,” Sheepmeat (page 5): Production Assurance to maintain Melissa said. supply chain integrity. mla.com.au/msa‑sheepmeat‑ “This gives producers info‑kit Currently, 210 transport companies with Livestock Production Assurance more than 15,000 trucks and trailers are peace of mind they’re integritysystems.com.au/lpa accredited with TruckSafe. working with a professional TruckSafe’s Safety, Health and operator focused on risk Wellbeing Director Melissa Weller said a TruckSafe‑accredited livestock management, safety and operator looks after livestock when they animal welfare. leave the farm gate, giving producers confidence their livestock are in the “There’s no point having well‑prepared best hands during transit. livestock ready to load if you’re going “TruckSafe was established 28 years to put them at risk during transit. Losing agoot unite the transport industry stock in transit affects producers’ anddemonstrate it’s serious about bottom line and can damage the entire improving heavy vehicle safety,” industry’s reputation.” Melissa said. Animal welfare TruckSafe is the only freight industry TruckSafe’s animal welfare module TruckSafe’s Melissa Weller, pictured with accreditation which addresses human focuses on the humane transportation Chris Sutton, driver trainer at the Transport safety factors and animal welfare. Its of livestock. Industries Skills Centre. 34