Modified truck appointment system planned

Transnet general manager
KZN Containers, Julani
Dube, has disputed claims of
severe delays for truckers at
Durban port.
He told FTW that the
port had “not experienced
any extreme congestion”
in recent months and had
processed up to 4000 truck
transactions in 24 hours.
However, transporter
Kevin Martin said the moving
of 4000 containers was an
exception and it had been
mostly empties that had been
moved in one day.
“Pier 1 is in the process of
converting the current truck
staging area at IVS to a fully
automated truck staging
facility dedicated to Pier 1
traffic. It is envisaged that
this project will be complete
by end of June 2017. The
land-side operations are
fully resourced and we are
not experiencing shortage of
equipment. We do experience
high volumes of traffic when
Pier 1 has two big vessels
berthed,” Dube said.
Responding to concerns
that a logistics hub at
Cato Ridge was counterproductive,
Dube said:
“Transnet’s long-term
strategy is to move cargo
from road to rail and
the project is still in its
early stages. DCT Pier
2 is currently working
on resuscitating the old
rail terminal to create
throughput capacity at the
terminal,” he said. However,
Martin said this had resulted
in eight-day dwell time
for rail, five days over the
acceptable windows.
Dube said the port’s truck
appointment system was
being modified to provide
customers with a better
experience than the previous
system. It is expected to be
switched back on by June 1,
2017.
He added that TPT
took the allegations of
bribery “very seriously”
and had engaged with the
Durban Harbour Carriers’
Association regarding the
issue but had not received
any prima facie evidence to
substantiate the claims.
“There is a permanent
senior management presence
at the staging area to improve
the truck release process from
staging into the terminal,
which will eliminate the
alleged bribery element. We
have addressed this matter
with our staff and stated that
should evidence be presented
we will not hesitate to act
decisively,” Dube said.
“TPT encourages anybody
in possession of reliable
evidence to report it on our
toll-free tip-offs anonymous
hotline 0800 003 056.”