NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Strategy approved to manage
overloading on CT roads
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Overloading and freight-related
transgressions are not adequately
addressed, penalties are low, and
self-regulation is rarely embraced.
Noise and air pollution from
freight operations are a reason for
concern.
The transportation of dangerous
goods (hazardous materials) is
uncontrolled and insufficiently
regulated.
As such, TCT has developed a Freight
Management Strategy in accordance
with the National Land Transport Act,
2009 (Act No. 5 of 2009), which requires
certain interventions to reduce the
impact of road-based freight on our
roads and environment. The strategy
mainly focuses on the following:
the transportation of dangerous
goods; congestion; freight demand;
road safety; freight emissions; and,
importantly, overloading.
“Overloading is currently not
adequately controlled because
weighbridges are located on major
highways on the outskirts of Cape
Town. They are not staffed 24/7
and are easily bypassed by using
alternative routes. In fact, the Centre
for Scientific and Industrial Research
estimates that overloading causes
up to 60% of all road damage,” said
Herron.
Given the limited resources for
overload control enforcement,
TCT will over the next three years
investigate and implement innovative
technologies to address this challenge.
TCT is considering the use of
weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology
at key locations in Cape Town. WIM
technology can capture and record
heavy vehicle axle weights and gross
vehicle weights while the vehicle is
traveling along a route. It thus prescreens vehicles in motion in comparison
to static weighing at weighbridges. The
data collected with WIM systems can
then be used for enforcement.
In keeping with the strategy, TCT
will investigate, initiate, and test a WIM
device on a suitable segment of the
road network and use the outcome of
this pilot study for further rollouts.
While there is a need to preserve the
current existing infrastructure, the city is
also under obligation to plan for future
freight growth and to reduce the cost
of doing business in Cape Town.
“New road infrastructure is costly
and takes years to construct. We must
respond to the predicted growth in
road-based freight, in part with new
infrastructure, but also by improving the
location of the main logistics centres,
warehousing, depots, and distribution
centres across the city so that freight
operators can reduce the number of
trips needed,” said Herron.
Furthermore, much of the freight
moving to and from Cape Town is
transported along the N1, N2 and N7.
“Currently, up to 20% of the vehicles
on the N1 are heavy vehicles. TCT will
facilitate efficient freight movement
through optimising existing road
infrastructure, dedicated freight routes,
and promoting off-peak or night-time
deliveries and operations,” said Herron.
TCT has, over the past two years and
during the recent public participation
process, liaised with Cape Town’s
Chamber of Commerce, the Southern
Africa Shippers Transport and Logistics
Council, Transnet Freight Rail, the
Transnet Ports Authority, Transnet Port
Operators, the Airports Company of
South Africa, and many of the major
logistics companies and retailers about
the strategy.
“It is our intention to keep
on liaising with them and other
stakeholders to address ongoing
concerns and proposals. What is
very clear is that rail must be part of
the plan. We will have to implement
innovative solutions to preserve our
road network and to reduce the
overall cost of doing business in Cape
Town,” said Herron. CLA
GRW
he City of Cape Town’s Council
approved a freight management
strategy to ensure that freight
transport within Cape Town is safe,
efficient and it serves the needs of the
economy without compromising the
access and mobility of other road users,
and that freight operators comply with
weight regulations.
“Our local and regional economy
is firmly vested in global trade, and
depends largely on the road-based
transport of cargo to and from the
port, airport, and between cities and
towns. However, as much as the city
is responsible for the provision of an
efficient and reliable road network, we
cannot ignore the impact of roadbased freight on Cape Town’s roads
and the urban environment. Counting
among the effects are carbon
emissions, congestion, and road
accidents. Furthermore, the city spends
approximately R1-billion per annum
on road maintenance,” said the city’s
mayoral committee member: transport
for Cape Town, councillor Brett Herron.
Last year, Transport for Cape Town
(TCT), the City’s transport authority,
conducted a status assessment of
freight transport, which revealed that:
• There is significant growth in roadbased freight along Cape Town’s
major roads, due to the growth
in fast-moving consumer goods
worldwide.
• Rail’s share of freight has declined
dramatically.
• The Port of Cape Town — the
major generator of freight — has
expansion plans to roughly triple its
current container handling services
in the next 20 years.
• Overloading of freight vehicles has
a significant impact on the road
network, leading to premature
roads deterioration.
• The city’s roads are congested
for many hours of the day and
freight transport exacerbates
the situation.
Cape Town currently spends approximately R1-billion per annum on road maintenance.
COLD LINK AFRICA • November | December 2016
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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