Author:nick-poree
Will private rail operators unlock SA’s rail potential? November 11, 2021 The South African government’s proposed reforms to the rail sector, which will see private rail operators operating on the country’s core rail network, will breathe new life into an industry that is currently under severe pressure. That’s according to African Rail Industry Association (ARIA). But NICK PORÉE warns that this is no quick and easy fix. The reforms, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2020 as part of […]
What the logistics crisis has done to trucks October 13, 2021 Transport costs and volumes provide very reliable barometers of industrial performance and the state of the economy. So, it is clear that the South African logistics sector is facing enormous challenges. NICK PORÉE reveals that the consequences of this situation are dire – and the number of registered heavy goods vehicles has plummeted. South Africa’s real GDP growth was 0,2% in 2019, according to the African Development Bank, which […]
Jurassic regulators must go! September 16, 2021 Outdated regulations are in place and government departments appear to be doing little to address them. Meanwhile, transport operators run the legal gauntlet. This situation is totally unacceptable, points out NICK PORÉE. First, some background. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) containers arrived in South Africa over 40 years ago and road vehicle dimensions were changed to accommodate the new “normal”. The maximum height was increased from 4,1 to 4,3 metres. Enter the […]
Road freight regulations in SA: change desperately needed August 19, 2021 Some road freight regulations in South Africa are in desperate need of change! So says NICK PORÉE, who also has some suggestions about how these rules can be fixed. There are several aspects of the road freight regulations in South Africa that are either anomalous or illogical and pose limitations on optimum productivity. Unfortunately there has been no single dedicated competent body to address these issues since the demise […]
South African freight logistics in crisis July 19, 2021 Want to know how healthy South Africa’s economy is? Then look no further than its freight logistics performance. However, as NICK PORÉE warns, it’s not a pretty picture. Freight logistics performance is the “barometer” of the economy. This is true for all modes of transport as well as for countries, regions or global trade. In South Africa, the current levels of economic activity are reflected in the corporate results of the […]
Commercial road freight regulation in SA: what a mess! June 17, 2021 The rules and regulations governing the movement of road freight in South Africa are decidedly messy, writes NICK PORÉE. Internationally, various regulations are issued that provide standards for commercial transport operators. These are defined by multinational bodies, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), in regions such as the European Union, or national organisations such as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency […]
Road to rail: a “Holy Grail” May 14, 2021 The often-stated but somewhat nebulous objective of the South African government was to reverse the dramatic shift of long haul freight transport from rail to road in the period 1985 to 2000. What happened? NICK PORÉE reports. During that period, the railways – having a total monopoly on rail freight transport – withdrew all breakbulk services by closing stations and sidings and reducing locos, wagons and staff. Why? So as to […]
Border Trade in Danger at Beitbridge March 22, 2021 In the wake of all the damage caused by the border authorities trying to block Covid-19, the freight transport industry faces yet another series of administrative crossed wires in the development of a One-Stop Border Post Policy (OSBP) focused on Beitbridge, warns NICK PORÉE. The Border Management Act 2 of 2020 (BMA) (Gazette No. 43536) was a dubious policy measure to shift the control of borders to the Department of Home […]
Transport costs strangle economic growth February 19, 2021 The administered costs of input factors to road freight transport (and many industries) are contributing to the poor economic performance of the countries using South African transport services. So says NICK PORÉE, who warns that consequences of these excessive costs can be dire. These transport costs will have an obstructive influence on the various treaties to increase the current proportions of interstate trade in Africa. Within the ambit of South African road […]
Anarchy and control in commercial road transport December 16, 2020 It hasn’t been a good year for road transport in southern Africa, writes NICK PORÉE… In South Africa, there are 380 000 registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) operating within the country, of which about 70% are operated by businesses for own account, or by owner-drivers, which are not subject to the industry Bargaining Council. This partially explains why the Bargaining Council only records 44 021 local and 6 756 foreign […]
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