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Posted by David Sexton
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28 Oct, 2026
MOUNTING delays along critical New South Wales freight corridors are impacting both productivity and safety, the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) says.
The LBRCA has talked of cumulative delays across the Golden, New England, Pacific and Castlereagh highways connected with oversize, overmass (OSOM) cargoes.
President Wade Lewis said the latest warnings from Transport for NSW were concerning.
"We have been raising these very concerns with the NSW Government for some time. LBRCA has written directly to NSW government ministers and met with departmental officials to highlight the growing impacts of OSOM movements on established freight routes," Mr Lewis said.
"We have consistently warned about the potential for significant delays, increased safety risks and the cumulative impact on livestock, bulk and rural freight operators who depend on these roads every day."
The LBRCA has described the Golden Highway as “a critical freight connection” between the Hunter and Central West, supporting the movement of livestock, grain, agricultural inputs and other essential commodities.
It said the increasing frequency of OSOM movements, combined with ongoing roadworks, limited overtaking opportunities and existing infrastructure constraints, was placing additional pressure on operators already managing tight delivery schedules.
"A ten-minute delay at one location might sound manageable, but when operators encounter multiple disruptions across a single journey, those delays quickly compound, impacting driver welfare," Mr Lewis said.
"For livestock carriers, these disruptions are particularly concerning. Delays can affect animal welfare, journey planning and driver fatigue management, while also increasing operating costs that transport businesses have limited capacity to absorb."
Mr Lewis said LBRCA recognised the importance of infrastructure development and the need to safely transport large components associated with renewable energy projects.
However, he stressed that the additional freight task must be properly planned.
