The Port of Felixstowe will review its controversial Container Booking System (CBS) after criticism from hauliers and trade associations.
- The Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Felixstowe Port Users’ Association expressed concerns about the lack of consultation prior to CBS implementation.
- Hauliers face operational challenges and potential increased costs due to the new system, which has been described as ‘challenging’.
- A meeting with RHA and other stakeholders led to the agreement on a review and another meeting is set for 4th September.
- The RHA is urging the port to consider feedback from the trial period before the CBS is fully implemented.
Following the introduction of the new Container Booking System (CBS), the Port of Felixstowe has agreed to re-evaluate its approach amidst widespread industry critique. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) highlighted that the system, installed without industry consultation, presents significant operational hurdles for hauliers. Operators have voiced their frustrations regarding unexpected costs and inefficiencies attributable to this system.
The RHA, alongside the Felixstowe Port Users’ Association and the British International Freight Association (BIFA), participated in a significant dialogue with the port’s representatives. During this discourse, numerous operators communicated their apprehensions about difficulties faced during both the delivery and pick-up of goods due to the CBS’s procedural changes.
Richard Smith, Managing Director of the RHA, remarked on the concerning lack of transparency from the port regarding these transitions. He emphasised that hauliers might incur increased expenses due to factors largely beyond their control, such as congestion and inevitable delays. This situation has left many operators feeling unjustly burdened by these systemic modifications.
The upcoming meeting scheduled for 4th September signifies the port’s willingness to reassess the booking system before its final roll-out. The RHA has reiterated its stance by encouraging Felixstowe to incorporate every piece of feedback garnered from the trial into its evaluation process.
The need for this review comes in light of the RHA’s warning that the CBS, as it stands, may lead to exacerbated financial strains for hauliers. Such warnings underscore the need for more inclusive consultations on systems affecting logistics and transport operations at nationally significant ports.
The Port of Felixstowe is actively engaging with stakeholders to ensure that its container booking system is effectively refined.
