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A Truck Stop of Note (July 1999)

At last truckers are getting some just rewards! A new R20-million truckstop facility situated in Harrismith - officially opened last month by the immediate past Minister of Transport Mac Maharaj - would probably qualify for at least four out of five stars if such were handed out to truckstops writes Andrew Parker.

Aptly named Highway Junction, the new facility is situated on the intersection of the N3 route between Durban, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. With 100 parking bays provided free of charge, the truck-only ‘Junction’ is currently South Africa’s largest truckstop as far as amenities are concerned and goes way beyond similar facilities we have seen established along the major routes to date.

These include:

• A proper restaurant providing home-cooked nutritious food
• A shop selling groceries
• Outside braai facilities
• Pool, TV lounge and video arcade
• 24 hour re-fuelling
• Decent restrooms, showers and toilets
• ATM
• Coin operated laundry service
• SABS-approved COF test station
• Breakdown and call-out service
• Driver training facility (includes HIV/AIDS awareness training)
• Fully-equipped six bay workshop, including tyre shop, wheel balancing and alignment service.
• Truck cleaning facilities; and
• A 20 room ‘hotel!’

No expense has been spared to provide the best possible security of vehicles, crew and cargo. In addition to proper access control, a series of 13 video cameras monitor the entire complex. Security lighting is in place and checks are carried out on all vehicles entering and leaving the premises.

Every effort has been made to eliminate drunkenness and prostitution and the complex is surround by steel security fencing. Contingency plans are in place to provide for any medical emergency that may arise. In addition to site security, vehicle-tracking specialist C-Track has established a control room at the complex. Office space is available for transport related businesses to set up shop on site or for operators requiring satellite offices.

Overnight comfort is assured as casual and overnight parking is separated to allow overnight truckers an undisturbed night's rest. In addition to parking facilities, 20 hotel rooms are available for truckers who may need accommodation for longer periods such as when repairs are being carried out to their vehicles.

The site has a fully-fledged Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealership with comprehensive spares facility (including Freightliner parts), a workshop and lubrication facility. This is geared to provide round the clock seven day a week service and repairs. Towing facilities have been contracted out to a professional operator.

A comprehensive tyre depot is also in place operating under the name Junction Tyres. It supplies all leading tyre brands including Goodyear, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone and Dunlop - and related services. A retread facility is included and covers Bandag, Maxiprest and Leadertread brands.

Vandalism
Vandalism of amenities has been a notable feature of existing truckstops resulting in an obvious reluctance on the part of owners to invest in repairs and upgrades. When we talk of vandalism, truck drivers take it to the n’th degree and could show the renowned English soccer hooligans a thing or two! Our guy’s remove complete ablution systems, toilets, sinks, taps and all removable fittings inclusive of light bulbs and mirrors. What can’t be carried is destroyed. This is reportedly said to be in retaliation of the provision of ‘poor’ or ‘unsuitable’ services.

In this respect, it is interesting to see that the toilets and washbasins at the Junction are made of steel and, video cameras aside, are firmly bolted down. A slightly more prestigious shower and toilet block is available to drivers who pay an annual fee for an electronic access card. However, even in here the cistern lids are securely bolted down!

While some may raise the question: Why Harrismith? Research shows that in the region of 3 000 heavy vehicles move along the N3 corridor every day. Of these some 1 300 require overnight parking. Prior to the development of the Junction, only 420 ‘proper’ overnight parking bays were available. This left the remainder of trucks to park where they could at informal truck stops and at toll plazas which, while offering a modicum of safety in numbers, leaves the drivers and their rigs somewhat exposed to the vagaries of prostitution, dagga, drunkenness, hijackers and thieves.

The Junction, developed in a unique partnership with Engen Petroleum, Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Digicore, Nashua and ABSA ATM Bankteller, certainly ranks high on the ‘must stop here’ scale for truckers on the busy N3 route.

FleetWatch is pleased to witness the establishment of Highway Junction and notes that at least five other sites have been identified for possible future development of similar facilities. As Engen’s GM John Kennedy stated at the opening ceremony, this is dependent on success of the Harrismith facility. Time will tell if it is indeed a viable proposition. To a large extent, this rests on the shoulders of the management in situ at the Harrismith complex. They need to communicate with their customers on an on-going basis and address any problems as they arise.

Slight flaw
Without being unduly critical, this magazine ‘phoned the Junction on election day and found no-one on site available to answer a simple query. OK, it was election day but it certainly puts paid to any claims of seven day a week round the clock service.

Of more concern is the fact the security personnel on site to whom we spoke had no contact numbers of management to whom we could address our query. The only thing they could offer was the number of the local police station who, no doubt, had their hands full keeping the potentially volatile electorate in well-behaved lines! This reporter sincerely doubts if the cops could be bothered to deal with a burst tyre or a blown engine on a lonely truck somewhere on a windswept Free State highway!

That’s why Highway Junction gets four out of five. We believe you have to pay attention to the small details before you find yourself on the winner’s podium or wearing that coveted Springbok jersey.

That aside, it's a magnificent facility and FleetWatch extends congratulations to all parties involved. May it be a resounding success!

A rallying call
At what was one of his last official functions, immediate past Minister of Transport, Mac Maharaj, used the opportunity of the opening of Highway Junction to further address the issue of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impact on the transport industry.

Commenting on the provision of the HIV/AIDS awareness program in operation at the Harrismith Highway Junction, Maharaj said he was pleased to report that transport is the first industry sector in South Africa to join hands with the government to tackle the crisis of HIV/AIDS

"Even if we succeed in preventing the further spread of the disease, HIV/AIDS will continue to have an impact on families and the country’s labour force for generations to come," he said. "We must remember that even if we are not infected we are affected. In this respect, facilities like the Highway Junction can play a significant role. We must be under no illusions as to how tough or serious the challenge is for the government and the private sector. All employers must link arms on this issue and prevent society from driving the problem underground.

"HIV/AIDS must not be seen as a political issue," Maharaj concluded, "but a fundamental rallying call on how we build our nation for each and every South African."

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