Introducing a mandatory truck booking system at South Africa’s port terminal operations has yielded benefits that the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) and Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal (CTMPT) will soon enjoy, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says in a statement.
“There are many challenges introduced when trucks all call the terminal at the same time unannounced, hence our roll out of the mandatory truck booking system, which we are pleading with industry to fully exploit,” says Cape Terminals managing executive Wandisa Vazi.
She adds that this initiative will ease the congestion often experienced on Duncan road and the central business district.
The CTCT and CTMPT handle an average of 1 400 trucks a day.
Using the terminal operating system Navis, customers will now be able to book their containers online.
They are also able to input the correct data and track the cargo beyond having ensured container security from the gate to the yard and then to the vessel.
Employed globally as a way of reducing truck turnaround times, the truck appointment system will enable transporters to book delivery slots 48 hours in advance or cancel a booking within two hours prior to the time slot.
Training is under way for all transporters to ensure their ability to manage day-to-day troubleshooting.
In February, the terminals introduced another initiative to reduce congestion – railing containers from the Belcon Inland Terminal that would have otherwise been transported by road.
“We are currently averaging 260 containers a week in partnership with our sister division Transnet Freight Rail,” says Vazi, adding that all initiatives in place were a response to raised customer and community concerns.
CTCT and CTMPT are the latest of the network of 16 terminals operated by TPT to employ the mandatory truck booking system after the three Durban terminals.
The system will go live on October 5.