16/03/2023
This case study first appeared in the Autumn 2023 edition of Meat & Livestock Australia's Feedback magazine.
Livestock transporters are unique – they’re part truck driver, part stockperson, with a bit of tyre-fitter and mechanic thrown in for good measure.
Steve Beatty, the NT Manager for Road Trains of Australia, knows this better than most, as he’s been driving livestock trucks since 1979.
He currently manages a team of about 15 drivers and 15 mechanical staff, out of their base near Darwin. The company also has depots in Longreach and Mt Isa in Queensland, and Broome, Geraldton and Perth in WA.
“We transport cattle all over the NT and from northern Queensland, between properties, to pre-export quarantine yards and to Darwin port,” Steve said.
“The trucks average 120,000–150,000km a year, and it’s pretty slow going on outback roads so the hours are long, with trips lasting days or even weeks as the drivers go from station to station.”
The average load of feeder steers bound for Indonesia is about 180 head/truck.
Live export work comprises about 30–40% of RTA’s business and it can be quite seasonal in the north, where very little moves during the wet season.
“Transporting livestock is all about planning, so the cattle reach their destination in the shortest possible time and the drivers get the right breaks.
It’s not like moving freight, as we stop at least every two hours to check the cattle and make sure they’re travelling okay, and more often if they’re restless.
“Producers want their animals moved as quickly as possible and with the least stress. We rely on them to help us out by ensuring the cattle are curfewed and drafted correctly and ready to load onto the trucks when we arrive,” Steve said.
“It’s all about communication and staying in touch to get the job done.
“Most of the stations are also great if there is a breakdown or another issue, helping us manage the cattle while we wait for another truck or repairs.”
When it’s time to load cattle onto a ship for export, multiple trucks need to work in convoy.
“Depending on how close the yards are to the port, you need anything from four trucks to as many as 14 shuttling between the pre-export quarantine yard and the port.
Learning how to manage livestock is critical for animal welfare and effective transport – and not every driver grew up around livestock like Steve did.
With fewer people entering the industry, retaining drivers and providing them with effective on-the-job training has been essential for his company.
“When new drivers start, we pair them with someone more experienced who can show them how to safely load and work around livestock. They learn how to work quietly and not rush the cattle and also how to identify animals that may not be fit to travel.
“After a few months they progress to driving on their own, but even then we pick and choose the routes which have multiple trucks driving together, so they have support around them.
“There are a few nuances to transporting cattle that you’ve got to learn – you have to remember there are animals on board and drive them with care.”