A jump in the amount of milk that Fonterra Australia collects had led it to upgrade its fleet with two new types of tanker – a 26-metre tanker capable of carrying 43,000 litres, or 26 per cent more milk than the previous tankers, and the “Truck and Dog” tanker – a truck and trailer that can carry 37,000 litres of milk.

Fonterra Australia said the new trucks, which will eventually total 14, would improve efficiency from farm to factory and reduce the number of trucks on country roads.

It also said the increase in its milk collection had led it to take on 26 new drivers to service its four collection regions centred at Cobden, Darnum and Tongala in Victoria and Wynyard in Tasmania.

Fonterra Logistics and Distribution general manager Justin Ryan said both of the bigger trucks had a smaller turning circle than other truck and trailer units, allowing them to access more farms and local roads.

“We’ve had over 20 per cent growth in the volume of milk we collect over the past 18 months, and our new drivers and the upgraded fleet have been crucial to supporting that growth,” Mr Ryan said.

“The new fleet has helped us to lift our payload – the amount of milk we can carry – an average of eight per cent, meaning fewer vehicle movements on the rural and regional roads on which we collect milk,” he said.

“This number is expected to rise to a 30 per cent improvement at the completion of the fleet upgrade, improving traffic flows and reducing wear and tear on rural roads.”

The Midfield Group has also put a 34.5 metre-long A double refrigerated truck on the road to take meat from Warrnambool to Laverton.

Midfield transport manager Mark Leggett said the A double could carry 79.5 tonnes gross. 

“It means less trucks we need to run up the road,” Mr Leggett said. He said the company planned to run more of the A doubles in future.