Hauling livestock requires more than understanding of health and
safety issues, hard work and willingness to help in handling animals,
it requires special livestock trucks. When people think of livestock
trucks, the usual idea they get about them is gigantic and smelly
trucks driving down the road, full of livestock. Livestock trucks and
trailers can be seen on Australian highways too often, since
livestock is very important for the Australian economy in general.
Operating a livestock truck is different than driving a truck. You
have the responsibility to assist with loading and unloading of the
animals, and also to make sure that they are not overcrowded. Also,
you need to always keep in mind the weather condition, because
extremely hot or cold temperatures may seriously injure the animals
you are transporting. Injured or dead livestock at delivery is not
only inhuman, but it may hurt your business.
When buying
livestock trucks for sale in Australia, there are few
important things to consider in order to ensure that you will get
value for your money. The first consideration is what type of trailer
you need, which depends on the type and total weight of livestock you
will be transporting. Also, consider if you will be traveling on
highways with the livestock truck or on back roads.
Once you have considered these factors, make sure that your truck
is designed to haul that trailer and if it is properly set up to
handle the trailer. Check if the hitch, which needs to be securely
attached to the livestock truck's frame, is in good condition. If
there's no hitch, ask your supplier to add one to your livestock
truck for increased safety, if possible.
If purchasing a used livestock truck or trailer, ask your seller
for truck's
inspection history. In most countries, there are laws and
regulations that require livestock trucks to be inspected on a yearly
basis, just like all other vehicles. Check if the livestock truck has
passed the most recent check-ups and if not, you will probably need
to spend additional money on repairs to pass the inspection.
Before making your final decision, inspect the livestock truck
thoroughly. Most livestock trucks for sale Australia have
tires-related problems, so you should definitely check the tires if
they have been poorly maintained. Also, check the lighting equipment
(tail lights, blinkers and brake lights) on the truck if they are
functioning properly. Then, check if everything else is working
properly. Follow these guidelines and you will avoid any sort of bad
experience with shopping livestock trucks.