Proposed truck ban would kill overnight delivery market

The express parcel industry has added its opposition to the proposed legislation banning 9000kg trucks from the road during peak hours, noting that it would seriously impact the overnight delivery promises made to its customers. An industry representative told FTW: “The three hours between 06h00 and 09h00 as well as 17h00 to 20h00 may not mean much for a two-week eventual oceanfreight delivery, but would seriously impact an express delivery. We charge premium rates for sameday or overnight deliveries, but what happens when we can no longer deliver on those customer expectations?” South African Express Parcel Association (Saepa) CEO Garry Marshall agrees, commenting: “The time periods mentioned are vital for inter-city linehaul, collection and delivery operations. The regulations envisaged would interrupt express parcel industry operations as well as the work of our colleagues in freight forwarding, harbour deliveries and haulage.” The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said in a statement recently that the proposed legislation was “illconceived and not clearly thought through and would damage the freight industry and the economy at large.” According to Saepa, the most pressing questions around this new legislation are: • What happens when the clock strikes – where does a truck in transit park? • Who will protect the driver and his load from hijackers? • What will be the effect on driver hours? • How will consumers absorb the higher costs resulting from overtime or more drivers replacing one 9 000-kg truck with 2 x 4 500 kg)? • How will the roads – and other motorists – cope with the sudden convoy of trucks when the curfew ends? In its latest industry newsletter, Saepa expressed hope that these questions would be addressed by deputy minister of transport, Sindiswe Chikunga, at the Road Freight Association (RFA) conference, but as FTW reported earlier this month, she cancelled her key-note speaking appearance at the last minute. The RFA and other industry associations have taken the matter up with the department of transport and the ministry. INSERT & CAPTION The time periods mentioned are vital for inter-city linehaul, collection and delivery operations. – Garry Marshall