DoT won't budge on 'archaic' abnormal load rules

The department of transport (DoT) is still persisting in sticking to an “archaic” abnormal permit system, and refusing to further discuss change with the private sector, according to Carl Webb, MD of Project Logistics Management and a member of the Road Freight Association (RFA) abnormal loads committee. “We are still stuck in the status quo,” he told FTW, “with an out-of-date system where the original abnormal permits have to be in the vehicle, and there is the demand for a new permit for each load.” Also, he added, this remains the case even though SA is supposed to be matching the efficiencies of the rest of the world in transport logistics. And for the private sector to try to make its case about this impractical system has proved utterly impossible. “The department has an abnormal loads committee running, but the private sector has no say in its deliberations,” said Webb. “They unilaterally make all the rules, without anything being considered about the practical needs of the abnormal transporters.” When foreign logistics companies try to lay down certain conditions that they want fulfilled on the local abnormal transport leg, and are told that these are impossible under the current system, they are utterly amazed, Webb added. “We are trying to head towards first world efficiency levels,” he said, “but we can’t even get the basics right.” As a persuasive tactic, Webb has forwarded details of the Australian permit system to the DoT. Under the local system, he added, there is a massive cost to the industry – and indirectly to the SA economy – in the applying, collecting and transporting of printed permits to the vehicles, which can be many hundreds of kilometres from their base and the issuing authority’s office. “But in Australia,” he said, “you e-mail an application for your permit to the authorities along with your credit card details. They issue the permit electronically, debit your CC and the document is forwarded to the vehicle’s on-board computer. “If the traffic authorities stop the vehicle, they can download the permit details from the on-board computer.” But, he told FTW, this has not triggered any sort of response from the DoT officials. INSERT & CAPTION Private sector has no say in deliberations of DoT’s abnormal loads committee. – Carl Webb