Pig hauliers to save journeys
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• Pig hauliers will be able to reduce around 30% of truck journeys they make without full loads, when their transport rules are relaxed this summer.
From July, the carriers will be allowed to fill their trucks with pigs from more than one slaughter market or collection point.
And they will be allowed to collect pigs in several small trucks and transfer them into a 38-tonner for their journey to the slaughterhouse.
However, in both circumstances the haulier will be restricted to unloading the pigs only once for resting, watering and feeding. And to transfer pigs at their own depots, hauliers will have to obtain a licence from their local authority.
Lancashire-based pig haulier W Gibson & Son at Garstang welcomes the deregulation of the Movement and Sale of Pigs Order 1975. It believes it may be able to cut two of seven journeys a week, by using one instead of two trucks for pickups from more than one market. However, the Road Haulage Association also wants hauliers to have freedom to deliver a truck load of pigs to more than one abattoir.