Initiatives aim to keep the economy moving
Road Freight Association acts to resolve problems the lockdown poses for trucking companies
ALTHOUGH road freight operators were delivering essential products during the lockdown, it was not business as usual as there was much operational confusion, said Gavin Kelly, chief executive of the Road Freight Association (RFA), yesterday.
“Business is not as usual, and there is much confusion surrounding operations – especially at ports and borders, but the stringent lockdown measures introduced must be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. These are not normal times,” Kelly said.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula last month announced various restrictions on ports and harbours, but said it was vital to keep supplies coming in and the economy running.
“All of our eight seaport operations and cargo-handling work will continue. The regulations and measures do not prohibit trade,” he said.
South Africa has also implemented roadblocks during the lockdown.
To overcome this confusion, Kelly said the RFA, representing the road freight industry, would issue regular social media posts to keep truckers up to date with operational challenges, while the organisation would use its network to try to resolve issues to ensure essential goods were delivered.
“Over the coming weeks, we will no doubt face more challenges, but we are confident that by working together with even greater collaboration, the trucking industry will continue to keep the wheels of the economy turning,” Kelly said.
He added that in the past few weeks the RFA had set up WhatsApp groups comprising road freight operators and other key stakeholders, including the Department of Transport, Sars, Customs, the SAPS, the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission, media, toll concessionaires and the ports authorities.
This initiative had proved highly effective, creating a powerful network for truckers and enabling accurate information to be shared timeously, as well as clarifying misunderstandings, removing bottlenecks, providing updates and sharing key contacts.
The RFA had developed and issued guidelines for the many new regulations that had been introduced in the past few weeks relating to Covid-19, and the Disaster Management Act.
“These regulations cover matters such as additions to essential services, the extension of the validity of licences (learner’s and driver’s), professional driving permits, vehicle licences, road worthiness certificates, as well as temporary permits. Our guidelines have simplified regulations, making them easier to understand and therefore quicker to implement,” he said.
The RFA had shared legal opinions and guidelines to assist trucking companies with surviving the lockdown, as well as being able to access various initiatives, such as the Temporary
Employer/Employee Relief Scheme.
It had also partnered with industry and business organisations to document and share incidents in the South African Development Community (SADC) region, so that these could be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Meanwhile, the RFA had intervened where its members had various challenges in delivering goods.
Kelly said the issues that truckers have had to deal with included obtaining permits to operate, being stuck at roadblocks and stopped in towns despite having the required documents, and congestion at border posts.
“We have also been able to clarify numerous matters such as whether all types of cargo can move in and out of ports,” he said.
The RFA had resolved challenges being encountered in KwaZuluNatal
and Limpopo, which closed their exemption permit offices days before the lockdown, without making plans to deal with essential abnormal goods permits that are essential goods.
He said the RFA had engaged with the departments of transport in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, and they quickly made plans to address the need for permits, which were now being issued.
But the RFA was still trying to resolve this matter in North West, which closed its offices on March 24 without making contingency plans for the issuing of permits.
Kelly said the RFA had been engaging with departmental staff since March 27 on this matter, but with no success. The matter has now been escalated to North West’s premier for urgent intervention.