Harvest is well and truly underway across the region, with a record number of trucks transporting grain to local silos.
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Drivers are being reminded about the extra truck movements with 20 new signs installed on roads throughout the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas.
The Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that the signs were the first of their kind in NSW.
"The fold-down harvest truck warning signs were designed and approved by Transport for NSW.
"They are a pilot and based on the feedback we receive, may be rolled out in other locations on the regional road network next harvest," Ms Suitor said.
The 'caution grain trucks' signs have been installed on roads where grain trucks travel and near silos in Parkes, Forbes, Trundle, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham.
"The safety of all road users during harvest is very important, especially this year as we see record numbers of truck movements following many years of drought.
NSW, the state that contributed just 15 per cent of a drought hit national wheat crop of 15.1 million tonnes last year could produce over 80pc of the entire national 2019-20 crop this year.
Analysts such as Market Check have NSW wheat production pegged at 12.5m tonnes, while Australian Crop Forecasters and StoneX have a figure of 12.1m tonnes.
"The signs are currently opened (displayed) and will be closed at the end of harvest," Ms Suitor said.
"By displaying the sign only at times when trucks are likely to be present, the credibility and hence the effectiveness of the sign is maintained," Ms Suitor said.
