Abnormal truckers call for action on TPT penalties

Abnormal truck operators

in Durban have levelled

criticism at the imposition

by Transnet Port Terminals

(TPT) of penalties on

abnormal

vehicles

failing to

leave its port

premises

within four

hours.

But,

efforts by

the truckers’

representative

to meet with

TPT to try

to get the

matter sorted

out have continually been

thwarted by unwillingness

at TPT to discuss the issue,

according to abnormal

specialist Carl Webb,

MD of Project Logistics

Management (PLM).

“Nothing further

has happened,” he told

FTW. “The trouble is the

continuous changes in

management at TPT, so

the penalty is still being

imposed despite our

complaints.”

Representing the

abnormal truckers is Dave

Watts, who also acts as

maritime adviser to the

SA Association of Freight

Forwarders (Saaff). The

most common reason for

truckers failing to adhere

to TPT’s deadline, he told

FTW, is a combination of

restricted travel times for

abnormal loads, and the fact

they have to be accompanied

by a police escort – which

takes time to arrange.

The police escort issue,

Watts added, is complicated

by the fact that there is no

in-port parking area for

abnormals waiting for their

escort – unlike Richards

Bay and Cape Town where

parking

facilities are

available.

“And these

abnormals

can’t legally

turn a wheel

outside the

port before

that escort

arrives,” he

added. “So,

trying to

find parking

outside will

almost inevitably result in

a hefty fine from the Metro

traffic police.”

This is exacerbated by

late-in-the-day loading when

the rush-hour comes into

play and when, even with

an escort, abnormals aren’t

allowed to be on the roads.

“You can add to that the

fact that abnormals are only

allowed to move during

daylight hours,” Watts

said. “So, with late loading

they have to wait until the

following morning before

being allowed to move. But

here they get caught in a

Catch 22 situation, again

facing the TPT penalty

despite there being nowhere

for them to legally go.”

There have been rumours

that TPT is about to offer a

compromise. “We have heard

that they have put a process

into place where you could

apply to them saying you

can’t move – either because

of travel restrictions or the

unavailability of a police

escort,” Watts said. “And

they are supposedly willing

to grant an extension. But

we still haven’t been able to

confirm this with Transnet.”

The matter is still on hold

until a discussion can be

arranged with the roll-on,

roll-off (ro-ro) and multipurpose

terminal, he added.

FTW was awaiting

comment from TPT when

this issue went to press.

INSERT & CAPTION

Abnormals can’t

legally turn a wheel

outside the port

before an escort

arrives.

– Carl Webb