Abnormal truckers push for action on weekend dispensation

THE ABNORMAL load committee of the Road Freight Association (RFA) is still battling to get national clearance for abnormal loads up to 3.35-metres wide by 4.69-m high to be allowed on the roads over weekends, public holidays and at night. And the tactics are being more aggressively applied following hesitancy among most of the provincial authorities to relax the current restrictions, according to committee member Carl Webb of Natro Freight, a major SA abnormal road transporter. The point is that vehicles of this size don’t need an escort and have no adverse effect on traffic volumes. “They’re well within single lane width,” said Webb, “and can travel on the country’s main highway network. The fact that the traffic volumes on the highways are at their lowest over weekends lends credence to this request. “ To prove the point, the RFA last year commissioned a traffic flow survey from consulting engineering company, Vela VKE. “The report should be ready by the middle of February,” Webb told FTW, “and should be available to present to the abnormal load technical committee (ALTC) of the department of transport by mid-March.” The abnormal truckers’ campaign has already been heeded by the Kwa Zulu Natal traffic authorities, who have relaxed certain of their restrictions under a successful pilot project implemented in June 2007. “From June last year, we have run these abnormal loads over the weekends in KZN, although we’re still restricted at night-time and public holidays,” said Webb – a move, however, which has somewhat improved the current usage/productivity rate for abnormal vehicles. “Abnormal vehicles can only travel on about 140 days a year, weather permitting. Any additional travel periods permitted will greatly increase the productivity of abnormal vehicles. At this stage SA is some 20% under-subscribed with abnormal vehicles, and any assistance will increase the probability of 2010 projects being completed timeously.” But, although most of the other provinces have stated that they are considering the RFA’s proposals, and some have hinted that they will relax the restrictions, nothing is being done to make this productivity gain a national event.