Hauliers hike rates as toll fees rise

Durban - Jo’burg run the most heavily tolled Alan Peat INCREASED TOLL fees have seen truckers who carry containers on the Durban-Johannesburg run increasing their fees during the past month, a forwarder told FTW. These were “substantial hikes” in the toll fees levied along the length of the N3 between the two cities. “This route is one of the busiest in the country but it is now also the most heavily tolled.” According to his reckoning, cartage rates have been increased by R42 for a twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) weighing less than 12 tons. “The increase for all other containers is R84,” he said. At the same time, the forwarder pointed to truckers also having just imposed a 2% fuel surcharge following the latest round of fuel price increases. But, added another industry observer, with substantial fuel price decreases expected at the end of this month - following the plunge in international oil prices due to the near end of the Iraqi conflict - it should be expected that the truckers will review the surcharge. “With luck, that should go next month,” he said, “and might even see an easing in rates if the drop is big enough.”