Abstract:
Operations at Traffic Control Centres (TCCs) are not optimal. Issues are experienced with
geometric design (queuing times and space in particular), effectiveness and accuracy of
Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) screening equipment, availability and cooperation from traffic
police, slow weighing procedures, errors caused by the human element, potential for
bribery and corruption, ageing technology and lack of integration of interrelated processes
and systems. The negative effects of these issues are amplified by significant growth in
heavy vehicle volumes, particularly on the major freight corridors, and consequent
pressure on weighbridge throughput. A further major concern is that overload control
efforts are limited to specific weighbridge locations while the remainder of the road network
remains unmonitored and uncontrolled.
Time wastage of law-abiding, compliant freight companies due to congestion at
weighbridges, inaccurate WIM screening, repeated weighing at several weighbridges on
the same route during a single journey etc. are detrimental to freight logistics, the economy
at large and create negative sentiment within the freight industry.
It is evident that the current overload control methods in South Africa need to be
scientifically assessed to determine how they can be optimised and better integrated and
to quantify what improvements could be realistically achieved. Furthermore, the use of
technology has lagged behind over the years and innovative ways need to be explored
using the latest technology and automation to not only improve weighbridge operations but
also cover a much wider area of the road network and find alternative and more efficient
and effective approaches to law enforcement.
