PRICE & Speed is working alongside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to speed up rural tailgate inspections as biosecurity threats evolve.
The container services provider announced last week it is now able to provide 14.4 Rural Tailgate Inspections during the day and night though accredited staff working closely with DAFF.
Price & Speed depot operations manager Anthony Wasson told DCN the new service provides greater flexibility in how the depot is operated, allowing accredited staff to carry out inspections around the clock.
“This service will also minimise the carriers having to leave the containers overnight avoiding the need to do a return trip the following day,” Mr Wasson said.
“I believe it will also reduce yard congestion as we won’t have stacks of containers waiting to be inspected as they will be done ‘live’.
“There is also a reduction in administrative interactions with officers to they can concentrate on other inspections within the depot.”
Mr Wasson said the introduction of the service was prompted by bottlenecks and congestion in the rural tailgate inspection process.
“The number of containers requiring biosecurity intervention has increased, based on the significant pest and disease issues DAFF is managing, along with the increase of biosecurity threats to Australia which has seen DAFF having to re-direct front line officers away from performing low risk inspection to higher risk, high value work,” he said.
According to Mr Wasson, one of the outcomes for carriers will be fewer futile trips.
“Carriers won’t have to return empty later to collect a rural tailgate, and a shorter lead time to get the containers to the importer or consignee possibly reduces the detention costs.”
He said accrediting staff to perform rural tailgate inspections demonstrated DAFF’s willingness to work with industry to create efficiency in supply chains, as well as managing pest and disease risks.
