VicRoads curfews and container park operations high on agenda
Early optimism has been expressed that Melbourne container transport operators (CTOs) and empty container depots can work through issues an improve efficiencies.
The positive vibe comes as VicRoads, CTOs and depot operators engaged in “frank discussions” about port-related issue at a meeting this week organised by Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA).
Victorian Container Management (VCM) owner Cheryl Valneris is seeking greater coordination.
“We’ve changed our opening hours in the past to accommodate individual container transport operators seeking to bulk run boxes in or out of our park,” Valneris says.
“However this has been done on the basis of ad hoc phone calls between managers.
“We need to have a system where multiple CTOs can register interest in bulk running containers at a select time.”
CTAA reports that the meeting discussed the practical and commercial opportunity for bulk running empty containers to and from container parks, particularly after hours.
VicRoads was questioned on the practical application of the latest truck curfews in the inner west of Melbourne, particularly how the exemptions to the night and weekend curfew in Moore Street Footscray will work in practice.
A number of companies just outside the exemption zone expressed concern about the additional cost in fuel, travel times and tolls resulting from the curfew.
CTAA says it is working with companies to quantify the additional costs and to seek their equitable inclusion in the exemption zone.
“For years there have been calls for increased empty container park opening hours,” CTAA director Neil Chambers says.
The stumbling block has always been finding a solution that is practical and commercial for all parties.
“With some system changes to the current Containerchain notification system, the industry has the opportunity to formalise a more flexible set of arrangements which will increase efficiencies and cost effectiveness for both container transport operators and the empty container parks.”