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RHA calls Southampton meeting
Page 7
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N Escalating problems at the
Southampton Container Terminal have led the Road Haulage Association to call a meeting in an effort to resolve the delays drivers are regularly facing.
Last month queues at the terminal were worse than ever, leaving many drivers at the end of their tether. In an attempt to thrash out a solution the RHA arranged for terminal directors and senior managers to sit down wfth hauliers using the port. The RHA's David Orrell says it gave members and non-members alike a chance to get their views across.
"The problems have been caused by the VBS [fasttrack booking system], recent storms and it being a busy time of year," he explains. "Also, shipping lines are not giving sufficient notification to hauliers."
Orrell says the terminal's MD admits It cannot cope with the peaks and high volumes at certain times and
agreed that VBS was not providing a solution for the hauliers, the shipping lines or the container terminal Itself.
Derek Smith, the port's business development director, agrees that the recent storms that hit Britain have made matters worse. More than 60 containers were blown over and caused blockages to drivers.
A further meeting, also organised by the RHA and involving the shipping lines, is due to take place next week.