SA increasingly aligned with international standards KEVIN MAYHEW WITH SUCH strict laws governing the transportation of dangerous goods, the only avenue for added value by transporters is in the level of security provided to secure the cargo in transit, according to chief executive officer of Kodiak Shipping, Colin Bowring. He says different classes of dangerous goods have clearly defined handling requirements that are increasingly becoming international in nature, so there is no room to legally deviate from safe transportation requirements. “If there is a weakness in the system it is in the level of understanding about these different requirements by the traffic enforcement personnel. They do not have a thorough knowledge of them and this can result in unscrupulous and illegal hauliers taking a chance which is to the detriment of the reputable industry players. “The reputable dealers in dangerous goods really only differentiate themselves with a high level of added value in the form of securing the cargo while in transport and during loading processes,” he said. South African legislation is increasingly being aligned with international standards as its trade network extends globally. This forces it to conform to practices that are universally acceptable for safety of employees, public and cargo affected by such movement, he added.
