THE INCREASE in the legal maximum payload mass for heavy commercial road vehicles (from 35 to 38 tons) last year has made road freight more competitive against rail transport, according to Deon Blignaut, c.e.o. of Trencor's transport division.
According to The Star's Business Report this has been indicated by the latest figures from the Central Statistical Services (CSS). These showed that volumes carried by road hauliers had increased by 5,2% (1,8-million tons) in June this year compared to the same month last year; idle days for vehicles had fallen by 9,2%; and total earnings had risen by 11,6% (to R735,7-m).
It has also led to a restructuring of the wholesale rates charged to private companies contracted to Spoornet for rail transport of containers by the CX division of the railways, according to CX executive manager Jan Rhoodie.
Basically, this is because Interlink road vehicles can now legally carry three fairly-well-loaded containers instead of two, he said. And we had to combat this somehow. The price adjustment has been made by dividing container rates into three separate cost areas - superlights (of 10 tons gross mass or less); light (under 15 tons); and heavy for all those over the 15-t level.
Not that Rhoodie is happy about road vehicles getting a legal payload boost from the new regulation.
For years, road authorities have been complaining about the massive amount of damage - some R400-m to R500-m a year- caused by overloaded vehicles, he said. Now, what was illegal before, and breaking the roads, is quite legal - and backed by the government.
I can't understand the thinking. Our roads are just not built for this type of load.
