Survey outlines truck stop requirements on Walvis Bay Corridor

Driver fatigue and security are two prime issues for truckers hauling cargoes to and from the Namibian Port of Walvis Bay along the far reaches of the corridors linking Namibia with its overborder neighbours. This has motivated an extensive feasibility study on potential truck-stops on these routes, conducted by a student team from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts, USA, on behalf of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG). And the findings have seen WBCG supporting the establishment of truck stops along the Walvis Bay corridors as a matter of priority, according to business development officer, Agnetha Mouton. The goal of the project, according to the students’ report, was to determine what services should be available for truck drivers along Namibia’s northern corridors – and to recommend potential locations that would be best for installation of these services. It was also to establish a means by which to analyse the expansion capacity of service stations, and outline the benefits of a truck-stop system. Gilbert Boois, who handles WBCG’s projects and funding, told FTW that the initial sites identified, using the study as the guideline, are developing current service stations at Gobabis on the trans-Kalahari corridor; Oshikango on the trans-Cunene corridor; Katima Mulilo on the trans-Caprivi corridor; and within Walvis Bay itself. Boois also expects to see the current truck-stop operator in Windhoek making a R28-million extension to his present premises to add full truck servicing facilities, and bring it up to WBCG standards.