RFA’s anti-axle mass reduction petition gains momentum

More than 250 people have signed the Road Freight Association’s (RFA) online petition against the Department of Transport’s proposed reduction in rear axle mass loads (See page 1). The RFA called on organisations and individuals to sign the petition in an effort to gain as much support against the DoT, which towards the end of 2009 indicated its intention to reduce single rear axle mass loads from 9000kg to 8000kg while also wanting to prohibit the movement of certain goods on the secondary road network. While the DoT has remained silent following its initial communication to the RFA about what it has dubbed the Road Freight Strategy, a project that is aimed at addressing the deteriorating road network by reducing rear axle mass loads, reducing loads on the secondary road network and revitalising rail in the country, the RFA has been lobbying for support not just from transporters and freight forwarders in South Africa but also their counterparts in neighbouring countries. “Without trucks, South Africa stops,” says the RFA’s Gavin Kelly. He said the petition, which can be found online on the RFA’s website, will be included in its motivation against the proposed reduction in rear axle mass loads. He said they would also like to include figures on the financial impact of the proposal on operators and have called on their members and all other role-players to provide annual figures in rands on the cost to their business of reduced loads.