The Truckers Association of South Africa has said the lengthy queues of trucks on the N2 to the Richards Bay port continue to be a problem, leading to a rise in operational costs.
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Truck congestion near Richards Bay continues to disrupt transport operations, with long queues of trucks parked along the N2.
Stakeholders from the trucking industry, the uMhlathuze Municipality, and freight associations say the congestion stems from failures in the railway system and port infrastructure, which was not designed to accommodate such high volumes of road freight.
The uMhlathuze Municipality has acknowledged the issue, saying that its traffic department has been operating on 24-hour shifts since 2023 to manage truck movement. While the municipality has implemented a Truck Contingency Plan since 2022, control of truck volumes near the port now falls primarily under Transnet and Gate 0 Management.
“The traffic department is playing a supporting role by clearing any congestion that may occur,” the municipality added.
Long-term infrastructure solutions are in place, with two truck stops established along the R34 (John Ross Highway). The municipality has been engaging with Transnet and business stakeholders to find a sustainable solution.
The trucking sector say they are struggling with increasing costs and operational inefficiencies.
According to Tonny Molise, deputy president of the Truckers Association of South Africa, the situation is worsening. “The lengthy queues along the N2 have resulted in significant delays, which disrupt our delivery schedules and increase operational costs,” he said.
He noted that the congestion is primarily caused by “limited access to loading and unloading facilities, logistical inefficiencies at the ports, and inconsistent communication regarding port operations and delays”.
Molise said there was no structured congestion management plan to guide them. “Many drivers and companies remain in the dark about port operations,” he added.
The trucking industry is calling for improved scheduling systems, real-time traffic updates, and additional entry and exit points at the port. “Engaging with industry stakeholders to develop a structured congestion management plan would also help,” said Molise.
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association (RFA), said: “Road freight operators who have contracts with mines for the delivery of bulk minerals to the Port of Richards Bay have all been affected by the operational challenges of the port, especially those in the coal sub-sector,” he said.
He said the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) and the railway line serving it have struggled to meet demand, forcing large volumes of coal on to trucks instead.
“This has resulted in congestion due to the facilities not having been designed to accommodate the number of trucks arriving at the port daily.” He stressed that a return to full rail service is essential.
Economists warn that the ongoing truck congestion in Richards Bay is having serious economic consequences.
Independent economist Professor Bonke Dumisa said: “The economy suffers when hundreds of trucks spend many days waiting to offload their cargo at the Port of Richards Bay,” Dumisa said.
“Unfortunately, the cargo movements based on road transport cannot revert back to rail transport because of the built-in inefficiencies of rail transport in South Africa.”
Economist Professor Waldo Krugel said delays in freight movement increase costs, which impact businesses and consumers. He warned that an inefficient logistics system could harm economic growth.
“A costly and unpredictable business environment is bad for investment.”