THE Fiji Sugar Corporation says it will look into finding portable weigh pads to help cane lorry operators stay within the new weight restrictions.
During a press conference in Lautoka on Thursday, chief executive officer Graham Clark said while most cane lorry operators were managing to keep their loads within the 16.5 tonne gross limit, some continued to face challenges.
“We had a very good suggestion from the Fiji Cane Lorry Transport Association to see if we can come up with portable weigh pads to stick out in the sector areas to give lorries a heads up before they head to the mill or on to the highway so that they aren’t overloaded,” he said.
“We are going to do an exercise to determine the cost because that is something we obviously have to worry about – who is going to pay for it.
“Maybe we are all going to have to chip in or go to the Government and ask for help, we will do the exercise and come up with the total bill.”
Land Transport Authority chief executive officer Samuel Simpson, who was also at the press conference, said the units cost “hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece”.
“What we have seen from early results of checks, where lorry drivers keep the loads within the dimensions — 4.2 metres high measured from the ground, 3 metres wide, generally speaking the loads are there or thereabouts in terms of compliance,” he said.
Mr Simpson said the LTA had begun fining cane lorries $1000 per tonne for weights in excess of the 16.5 tonne gross weight limit.
