'It's a costly
curtailment of
freedom of
movement'
Alan Peat
A BAN is proposed on trucks using Johannesburg's highway network during peak hours, according to information released to FTW by Dorothy Lotter of
the Jo'burg Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JMCCI).
"The Gauteng Province has suggested the idea of keeping all heavy vehicles over 3.5-tons off the roads between 07:00-09:00 hours and 16:00-18:00 hrs," she said.
As these hours are high points for departure and arrival of trucks, this will be a costly curtailment of freedom of movement for road transport companies, Lotter added.
"We are focusing on this matter," she told FTW, "and will be making a submission of our members' views to the provincial authorities."
The SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) is also disturbed at the possible ban, and its repercussions on scheduling of truck movements and has informed its members of the proposed action by the authorities, according to executive director, Edward Little.
The Road Freight Association (RFA) also has strong objections to the plan, according to executive director Herman Lemmer, with the high costs for the road transport industry and its users a primary concern.
"We are engaged with Gauteng's MEC transport," he said, "and have already made one submission.
"We are due to meet again on February 11 to take this further."
One of the RFA's most basic arguments is that it is not the trucks that are at fault for increasing congestion on Gauteng highways.
"The numbers in the truck park have remained relatively stable in recent years," said Lemmer.
"But SA adds 300 000 new cars to the car park number every year, and - as it contributes 60% of all activity in the country - a large part of this growth is in Gauteng."
