Alarming cost implications spelt out

Terry Bantock, executive
chairman of Diesel Power
Open Cast Mining, said
it was essential that the
industry speak up on the
truck ban proposal.
“We have been involved
in a project in Sandton
where hundreds of loads of
material is moved off site
with small tipper trucks
daily. This operation is
currently 24 hours a day.
The cost implication if we
take six working hours out
of the equation is massive,”
he said. “This may seem like
a small and insignificant
example but the fact is
it is one of many. Nearly
every single operator has
an example of how their
business will be negatively
affected if their trucks are
banned.”
Hauliers have maintained
that the proposal, if pushed
through, will have little or
no impact on the accident
statistics but rather push
up transport and logistics
costs significantly.
“We are already seeing
congestion at the ports.
This will only increase
that while we have not
even begun to look at the
security issues around
trucks parking along the
side of the road during
the banned periods,” said
a haulier. “As an industry
we must ensure our voice
is heard clearly on this
matter."