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."