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KZNDoT Launches Freight Transport Data Bank The
unavailability of consolidated statistics about the movement of freight has been
a long-standing problem in South Africa, for all modes of transport. Railway,
pipeline, port and airfreight data are recorded and are available from the
relevant operating entities of the parastatal, Transnet. There is however, no
central statistical source of road freight data and apart from some ad hoc study
reports, there is very little information about the large volumes of cargo
carried countrywide by road transport.
To address this need, in partnership with the National Department of Transport, the Freight Directorate of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport (KZNDOT) commissioned the development of this Freight Transport Data Bank. The project is effectively a Pilot Project covering freight transport in KwaZulu-Natal, through which province more than 75% of South Africa’s imports and exports are transported. The databank could be replicated in other Provinces in modular form, which modules could eventually combine to create a National Data Bank.
Research was focused on providing a broad overview of the major transportation activities within KwaZulu-Natal, using best available information sources. In South Africa there is no legislation forcing the provision of freight data and the Data Bank created in this project is accordingly unique, with much of the information gathered not previously available or, integrated into a single system. Future updates will permit the inclusion of more detail, wider coverage, the effects of seasonality and correlations with national and provincial economic statistics. The Freight Transport Data Bank has been copiously illustrated with maps, photographs and tables to provide a user friendly, interesting and informative overview of the total freight transport activities of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, within one integrated electronic network. Enhanced system development planned for next year, will also facilitate limited Internet access.
Contents of the Data Bank The Data Bank covers freight transport in the Province, under the following main headings: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport
Road Freight
Pipelines
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