Kelly calls for dedicated freight routes

With South African road freight set to increase by a staggering 7.7% over the next five years, efficient transport systems will be a necessity for the continuous success of the industry, said Gavin Kelly: technical and operations manager for the Road Freight Association. Speaking on ‘The Future of South African Freight’ at the monthly Transport Forum in Woodmead, Johannesburg last week, Kelly said the industry needed to overcome several challenges in the near future. “Safety is becoming a major problem – there are very few safe truck stops in the country. Add to that the fact that many small towns don’t allow trucks to park within their boundaries, and we have a problem on our hands.” Another major issue is hijackings and theft, said Kelly. “Trucks are disappearing and we cannot trace them. With the expected growth, that will mean an increase in these crimes, but will also lead to more congestion on the roads,” he added. These issues are compounded by the skills shortage as well as the loss of some 3000 employees annually due to illness. “In the new playing field freight transport will equal economic development. For future success it will be imperative that we bring transport costs in line with the rest of the world. More efficient transport systems will have to be put in place and safety will have to be addressed.” Kelly said the development of transport corridors was also vital. “The most simple solutions to the challenges we face would be to implement dedicated freight routes, to increase efficiency of cross border processes and to ensure severe penalties are paid by those individuals/companies who do not comply with legislation.” But, said Kelly, more long-term solutions were also needed. These included identifying goods for rail transport in conjunction with the private sector, improving infrastructure and addressing crime by prioritising the issues. “Our ultimate goal must be to see freight moved through South Africa, that should be seen as more of a PTY Ltd than just a country. It is about seeing less regulation and more determination to facilitate the transportation of goods.”