Current Work

The agreed minutes of the Timber Transport Forum can be viewed below:

TTF Minutes January 28th 2010

 The Forum's work is defined by its strategic objectives.  We are currently working in the following areas:

Stakeholder involvement - maintaining and strengthening our existing links and ensuring that the appropriate stakeholders are involved in our work.

We continue to engage with a wide range of interested parties.  Details of regional and national meetings can be found on our events page.

Events >>

If you would like to become more involved then follow this link.

Getting involved >>

Economic growth - supporting timber transport as a key part of growing the contribution of forestry to the economy.

The Forum works with the Timber Development Programme of Forestry Commission Scotland.  The main aim of the TDP is:

'to improve the timber supply chain to positively contribute to the sustainable development of Scotland's economy by enabling the timber growing and processing sectors to find the highest value and most appropriate end market for Scotland's timber.'

Timber Development Programme >>

Through the Strategic Timber Transport Fund, and with Scottish Enterprise, the Forum is engaged with the LIFT project in SW Scotland.  The poject aims to optimise timber haulage, reducing costs and the impacts of haulage.

LIFT project >>

Social and Environmental sustainability - at both local and national levels, including reduced carbon emissions and improved quality of life.

The Forum works with Forestry Commission Scotland in administering the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.  The fund aims to facilitate the sustainable transport of timber in rural areas for the benefit of local communities and the environment.  Projects should minimise the impact of timber transportation on Scotland's fragile rural and public roads, for example, through the development of in-forest roads in appropriate situations, or through work that helps link forests to sea and rail loading facilities.

Strategic Timber Transport Fund >>

Health and safety - promoting a safe operating environment and safe road usage.

A working group is currently revising the Code of Practice on the road haulage of round timber to keep pace with developments in the industry.  The current version of the document is available in the Knowledge Bank.

Code of Practice >>

Infrastructure - promoting an efficient and effective timber transport network.

The Agreed Route maps are managed at a regional level and play an important role in managing the timber transport network.

Agreed Route Maps >>

We are also working with relevant governement departments in Scotland and Wales, and with specific freight management plans in England, e.g. Gloucester.

Supporting modal shift opportunities - working on opportunities to reduce timber miles through modal shift and to improve accessibility of some timber stocks.

The Forum maintains close relationships with relevant bodies such as the Rail Freight Group and the Road Haulage Association, both of which are represented on the Forum.  Timberlink is funded through the Strategic Timber Transport Fund, and both rail and marine projects have been funded through the STTS.

Learning and skills - working to promote good practice and to retain and develop a skilled workforce.

A timber hauliers' training programme has been prepared to meet the needs of Driver CPC legislation on large goods vehicle driver training. The course material and accompanying powerpoint presentation is available

Regional Timber Transport Groups arrange haulier liaison days to ensure that hauliers have an opportunity to feed back to policy makers on their needs and so that the hauliers are able to keep abreast of the latest changes in the industry. 

Networking and influencing - informing policy makers to help us achieve our aims.

The Forum works with partners to ensure that policy makers are kept up-to-date on issues relating to timber transport in developing their policy.

Promotion of industry best practice - reaching out to keep the sector at the leading edge.

The Forum maintains links with other relevant bodies such as the Forestry Engineering Group, the e-Business Forum.  In addition to this website and specific communications, we arrange an annual conference to share best practice.