Transport industry
Weeds can be spread hundreds of kilometres if left unchecked. If a vehicle passes through a weed infested area seeds can become lodged in tyre treads and other crevices on the vehicle, only to be dislodged and dispersed in to new areas.
Some states and territories may have legal requirements which apply to the transport industry. There may also be operating procedures or codes of practice relating to the management of weed spread, such as vehicle wash down.
Steps you should take to reduce the spread of weeds include:
- Be aware of the legal requirements in your state or territory.
- Consult standard operating procedures or codes of practice governing your industry/organisation.
- Be aware of the weed issues relevant to your routes. Check the weeds list.
- Find out about washdown locations in your state/territory.
When cleaning your vehicle
When cleaning your vehicle, follow these steps to reduce the spread of weeds:
- If you have been in a weed-infested area, clean your vehicle in a washdown facility or location where weed seeds cannot escape into waterways or surrounding bushland.
- Inspect the whole vehicle to determine extent of mud, dust and plant material build up, paying particular attention to places where weed seeds can hide, such as behind guards, wheel arches, flares and step treads.
- Don't forget to check your spare tyre if it has been used recently.
- Check your tool box and any other muddy equipment.
- Inspect the engine bay, especially the radiator and grill.
- Inspect the interior of the vehicle.
- Identify areas that may require cleaning with compressed air rather than water. Do these first.
- Remove necessary guards/belly plates to access areas for cleaning.
- Clean under guards and underneath the vehicle and then do the cabin and upper body.
- Carry out a final inspection to ensure all areas have been cleaned.
Further information
- Central Queensland washdown facilities
- Queensland washdown/cleandown procedures
- Queensland Codes of Practice
- Queensland legal requirements
- Northern Territory vehicle/plant or equipment washdown facilities (PDF - 136 KB)
- Tasmanian Washdown Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control
Quick links
Weed web sites
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window
Accessibility | Disclaimer | Privacy | © Commonwealth of Australia
Last updated: Monday, 15-Nov-2010 13:41:36 EST
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
+61 (0)2 6274 1111
| DAFF | Australian Government
The weeds web site is jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities