Transport operators who need to apply for the pre-permit have until May 16

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has given approval for Type 2 road trains to travel through the township of Roma to load or unload at the saleyards under a new monthly permit, and guidelines.

Previously Type 2 operators could only travel from the west through the town to the saleyards after 6pm and before 6am from Monday to Saturday and any time on Sunday.

Under the new permit, operators can now travel in daylight hours if they attach a flashing wide load light to their vehicle, except between the school zone hours of 7am to 9am and 2pm to 4pm.

Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Queensland vice president Mark Collins, Frasers Livestock Transport, said this decision was made with animal welfare and work place health and safety issues carefully in mind.

"There were so many cattle being transferred and back-loaded from trailers at the break down pad situated 10 kilometres west of Roma," Mr Collins said.

"What we are trying to avoid was the disruption and breakage in the network in the last few kilometres of travel.

"This now gives livestock operators a complete Type 2 road train network from the Roma Saleyards through to the Port of Darwin without having to split trailer combinations.

"We see this new permit as a significant achievement in the livestock transport industry's high productivity network."

Former Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Queensland president and local Roma business operator, David Scott, Scott's Haulage, has also welcomed the decision and said it has huge advantages for the beef industry.

"This decision is fantastic step forward in cutting through the red tape, and there is no driver who would want to drive a road train past a school zone during those hours," Mr Scott said.

Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon said he was pleased with the new curfew permit restrictions.

"It certainly is a plus for the beef industry, and for those beef producers travelling from the west to have daylight access to the Roma Saleyards," Mr Mahon said.

Mr Mahon said road train operators really needed to be diligent and value this decision.

"It would only take one operator to be a few minutes out by their clock to ruin it for all - and hopefully there will be no issues in this regard."

Transport operators who need to apply for the pre-permit have until May 16 to make an application to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and once the permit is issued it has a time span of one month.

Those operators who have any questions should contact the stakeholder engagement officer Daniel Casey, at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator by email to daniel.casey@nhvr.gov.au or visit the website www.nhvr.gov.au