Hauliers await DoT’s response to truck ban concerns

Industry remains in the dark over proposed regulations that will see trucks over 9 tons banned from all public roads during peak hour. Several organisations and industry experts have voiced their concerns over the proposal by the Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters. The proposed amendment of the National Road Traffic Act gazetted on May 11 includes a proposal that all drivers be re-tested when their drivers’ licences are renewed and that speed limits be reduced across the country to 40km per hour in urban areas. The Road Freight Association (RFA) submitted a lengthy response to the government’s proposed amendments but to date has had no response from the Department of Transport. RFA spokesman Gavin Kelly said unlike many other government departments who acknowledge receipt of documents, they were still in the dark as to where the process was. The DoT has said it wants to see the proposed amendments come into effect before the end of the year. The impact of the truck ban is expected to have massive economic repercussions. “There has been no acknowledgement of our responses or requests for a meeting to discuss this matter,” said Kelly.