NPA plans truck stops to address landside congestion

Proposals to be called for later this year JOY ORLEK IN LINE with its strategy to address port congestion issues by addressing the entire logistics chain, National Ports Authority is planning a series of truck stops outside the Durban port area which will act as staging posts for hauliers collecting import cargo. IT systems will be put in place to enable hauliers to establish the status of the cargo they are collecting before proceeding to the port. This will avoid the current landside congestion as vessel delays impact on roadfreight operators. NPA plans to outsource the project and will call for proposals from the private sector later this year, GM landlord services, Thulani Ngcobo, told FTW in Johannesburg last week. The ‘Truck Stop Inns’ as they will be known are likely to be established in Bayhead Road, Mariannhill Toll Plaza and Mooi River. Ngcobo stepped into the role as GM landlord services six months ago, and while he is mindful of the many challenges that lie ahead, he is also optimistic about the progress that has already been made towards achieving terminal efficiency. “The recent lifting of the port congestion surcharge is evidence of our success,” he said.