Author:focus-on-transport
Bearing the load: safety for goods vehicles January 23, 2024 Loads and persons must be carried on goods vehicles with due regard paid to the relevant regulations, as per the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR). Regulations 246, 247, and 224 are provided here, extracted directly from the National Road Traffic Act, Act 93 of 1996 (NRTA) and its NRTR, with some comments and insights from the Road Freight Association (RFA) into their application, where applicable. Compliance with these three regulations […]
Is 2024 the end of air freightβs rollercoaster ride? January 29, 2024 The air freight market has been on a rollercoaster ride of late β but 2024 could see a return of βclassic seasonalityβ, writes Niall van de Wouw, chief airfreight officer at Oslo-based market analytics platform, Xeneta. As the leading ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform for the shipping and logistics industry, Xenetaβs powerful reporting and analytics platform provides liner-shipping stakeholders the data they need […]
(Re)treading wisely January 30, 2024 Retreads are widely used in the South African transport industry. Get the hang of them and they can save transport operators a small fortune by slashing their tyre bill. Bearing this in mind, we asked Brian Clarke, sales manager at Bandag, to explain the ins and outs of retreading. Letβs start at the very beginning. At the heart of retreading is the so-called βretreadability ratioβ, or the average number of times a new tyre is […]
Cleaning up our act for Africa February 1, 2024 In Africa, climate change contributes to mounting food insecurity, poverty, and displacement. Luckily, many companies are facing these challenges head on. Climate change, including rising sea levels and the melting of East Africaβs iconic glaciers, has severe ramifications across Africa. βIn sub-Saharan Africa, climate change could further lower gross domestic product by up to 3% by 2050,β says Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, commissioner for rural economy and agriculture at the African […]
MAN: focusing on sustainable and profitable growth February 2, 2024 Last year was an excellent year for MAN Automotive South Africa. MD Jan Aichinger is predicting a challenging 2024 but β as he tells CHARLEEN CLARKE β he relishes this scenario.Β Aichinger took the reins of MAN Automotive on 1 May 2023. He was no stranger to South Africa, having spent many previous years in the country, but, as he says, he encountered a completely different market. βWhen I arrived […]
How can we fix rail and transportation sector challenges? February 2, 2024 Despite having Africa’s most advanced railway system, with about 30,000km of track, South Africa’s rail and transportation sector faces significant challenges. ACTOM Signalling GM: engineering projects and contracts, Leonard de Villiers, discusses potential solutions. State-owned enterprise (SOE) Transnet, which operates a freight rail division, is currently struggling with issues such as rampant vandalism, insufficient infrastructure and a lack of capacity and skills within its workforce. These challenges have […]
Legal pitfalls in hazardous goods transportation January 30, 2024 The transportation of dangerous goods by road is heavily regulated under South African law. Norton Rose Fulbright admiralty and shipping team director PETER LAMB says these laws need to be understood by all involved in the sector. The National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 (NRTA) regulates the transportation of dangerous goods by road. The National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR), 2000 published thereunder incorporate the South African National Standards (SANS). All […]
Are your drivers dry? January 30, 2024 Just as intoxicated workers are a danger β especially when operating power tools or heavy machinery β intoxicated delivery drivers endanger both themselves and other road users. Ensuring both in-house and outsourced drivers remain alcohol-free on the road is a critical risk mitigation measure companies must take, writes RHYS EVANS, MD of Alco-Safe. Whether on the road or in the workplace, alcohol testing is a legal requirement for the safety of others. When […]
Trucking into Gaza: bottlenecks mean starvation January 30, 2024 Bottlenecks at the Rafah crossing in Egypt are stopping the well-oiled wheels of the World Food Programme’s (WFPβs) supply chain in its tracks. SUZANNE FENTON joins a convoy. Colleagues tell us Hepatitis A is the number one disease in Gaza. Diarrhoeal illness is also rife due to the lack of any kind of sanitation. People β including babies, children, and pregnant women β are forced to drink dirty water or collect […]
Red Sea attacks send freight rates through the roof January 30, 2024 The Red Sea has become a focal point of concern for international trade. The ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels are disrupting vital shipping routes, compelling shipping companies to reassess their operational strategies. The increased risk of hijackings and attacks is not only endangering the safety of vessels and their crews but is also triggering a domino effect on trade, leading to rerouting, heightened insurance costs, and delays. βThe […]
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