Post on 12-Jan-2016
transcript
BARNEY CURTISExecutive Director
FESARTA (Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations)
Road Freight Transport Workshop, Johannesburg. 27th-28th September 2011
OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESENTATION
To detail the main challenges faced by road transporters operating in the region (including East Africa)
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CONTENTS
What is FESARTAChallengesPhotos
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WHAT IS FESARTAA regional association, set up in 1993,
according to Article 13.13 of the SADC Protocol on Transport Communications and Meteorology, to: represent the road transport private sector at
regional road transport forumsWork with the National Road Transport
Associations (NRTAs) to remove non-tariff barriers along the road transport routes
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WHAT IS FESARTAA Section 21 company (association not for
gain) registered in South AfricaIts membership is the 12 or so NRTAs in East
and Southern AfricaIt is the road transporter’s and other
interested parties’ voice at regional COMESA, EAC and SADC forums
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NON-TARIFF BARRIER SYSTEM
COMESA/EAC/SADC Tripartite system to eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade
Hosted in each of the three RECs, though SADC is the most active
Anyone can raise an NTBREC will confirm, then take up with StateDon’t exactly correlate with problems
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REGIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations agreed at REC level. Some are now annexes to the Protocol
Member States are required to implement the recommendations, but don’t always comply
The Protocol does not have “teeth”, like the EAC Acts, which are supra-national
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INTER-STATE RECOGNITION
One Member State may not recognize the arrangement that another State may have with its transporters Eg Tanzania customs requires
transporters to license with it; not recognizing the home customs licence
A transporter’s own customs will know the transporter better
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CHARGES, LEVIES, TAXES
Transporters are seen as “cash cows”Charges are summarily introduced
without consultation with those who are paying the charges
Charges are not transparent, eg CBRTA permits, GFIP toll system, entry fees into Zambia and Swaziland, DRC border charges
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OVERLOADING CONTROLLoad limits not harmonized. Eg 9 to 10
tons single axle, 48 to 49 tons artic. Weighbridge allowances on gvm/gcm.
Eg SA 2%, Zim 0%, Malawi 5%Weighbridge calibration not always
done regularly and/or accuratelyWeighing of empty trucks
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INFRASTRUCTURE
Borders. Many were built decades ago and have not been upgraded
Bridges. There are ferries where there should be bridges eg Kazungula. The Tete bridge is limited to 48 tons gcm
Road design. Many need upgrading eg Dar to Chalinze
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INFRASTRUCTURE
Bypasses. Eg Lusaka, LubumbashiRoad maintenance well below standard.
Eg Kapiri – Nakonde, Nata – KazungulaWeighbridges. Many are still single axle,
are not suited to multi-axle units and should be phased out
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BORDER POSTS PROCEDURES, DOCSVery little joint management of bordersMost are still two-stop borders. Only
Chirundu is one-stopAuthorities at borders often don’t
communicate, with duplication and inefficiencies
Operating hours insufficient for traffic
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BRIBERY AND CORRUPTIONBorders. Delays, smuggling, complex
and excessive documentation . Drivers are not “saints” and can be involved in smuggling
Weighbridges. Readings differ along a corridor
Road blocks. Often illegal and there to earn private income
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MARKET ACCESSBi-lateral agreements not managed wellThird Country Rule in place in most StatesCOMESA carrier licence to liberalize cross-
border transport, but some States don’t comply. Eg Kenya’s restrictions
Overlapping between COMESA and SADC creates confusion
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IMMIGRATION CONTROL OF DRIVERS
Unfair application of visitors visas and work permits. Eg South Africa
Visitors visas can be very expensive and difficult to obtain. Eg Angola
Limit of annual stay by a driver in a State. Eg Botswana and Zambia limit 90 days total in a year
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OTHER DRIVER ISSUESGeneral Health. Bad eating and exercise
habits, leading to diabetes, etc. HIV/AIDS. Being away from home
encourages bad sexual behaviourDriving licence. The professional driving
permit (PrDP), or equivalent, is not harmonized and sometimes not acceptable
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ROAD SAFETY
Advanced driver training probably the most important factor in road safety
Poor management of drivers and their driving hours on trips
Inadequate truck stops. To link with Wellness Centres and emergency services
Left-hand drive trucks questionable
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HIJACKING
Not well publicizedEspecially with high value loads, eg
copper, cigarettes, liquor, TVsDrivers’ trips to be better managed with
vehicle tracking and direct phone contactDrivers don’t manage stops well enoughInsufficient truck stops
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FITNESS OF VEHICLES
Importation of old trucks compromises the ability to maintain a good level of fitness
Rate-cutters do not maintain their vehicles to the required standard
Enforcement of standards by authorities not effective enough
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LEFT-HAND DRIVE TRUCKS
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ROAD USER CHARGES
Not harmonized and some countries very high, eg DRC USD300 for 180 kms
South Africa does not implementToll road fees complicate the matterCOMESA recommended US$10/100 kms.
SADC recommended country-specificSADC process is struggling
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3RD PARTY INSURANCE
Three systems. Yellow Card, Fuel Levy, Cash
Systems not harmonized, drivers have to carry cash
Some States Yellow Card fees very highOverlapping of COMESA and SADC
complicate the matter
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DIMENSIONS OF VEHICLESOverall height. SADC recommended 4.3
metres. States vary between 4.1 and 4.6. A high-cube 12-metre ISO container on a standard trailer requires 4.5 metres.
Overall width varies between 2.5 and 2.6 metres
Artic length varies between 16.5 and 18 metres
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DANGEROUS GOODS
Lack of knowledge and regulationsBecoming a serious problem for road
safetyStates introducing restrictions which
may not be reasonable. Eg ZimbabweInsufficient and unprofessional
emergency services
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ABNORMAL LOADS
No harmonized regulationsStates apply punitive charges without
professional calculationsEscorts a problem across borders
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CUSTOMS DOCS AND PROCEDURESNot really a transporters issue, but can
create serious problemsLicensing by foreign statesBond payment delays at borders, due to
“briefcase” agentsContinually changing requirementsDelay in implementing a transit bond
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RELATIONSHIP WITH AUTHORITIES
In some states, relationship is not good, eg in East Africa
Authorities apply tough and punitive measures. Transporters try to outsmart them. Stalemate
Self-regulation not yet far enough forward to make a difference
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TRIPARTITE ACTION PLAN
Many initiatives to try and solve the problems
Most notable is the Tripartite Trade and Transport Facilitation Programme
FESARTA works with TMSA on itUSAID programme fits with this plan
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IRTE AGM, 15th July 2010 30
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THANK YOU
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