Felixstowe Port said it would suspend some charges for a new container booking system (CBS) for hauliers that started on 1 January in order to give companies “a period of adjustment to the new system parameters”.
The port said that it would not charge operators for late notification changes or peak time bookings during January.
The RHA said it welcomed the move in principle, but criticised the port for the short notice provided to hauliers, which would increase administration workloads.
Tim Wray, RHA vice chair and MD of Multimodal Logistics, said: “The Port only told us of this decision the day before the new charges were due to come in, which has meant hauliers have had to go back to their customers and amend charge schedules worked on over Christmas in anticipation of the planned changes as previously advised.
“It’s frustrating that they didn’t inform the industry of this decision at least two weeks earlier which would have meant operators, and their customers, wouldn’t have had to duplicate work at the last minute. The port must have known they had planned to do this before the date of notification.
“We urge the Port to listen to what operators need and be better at communicating with our industry.”
Felixstowe Port said its new CBS is “an evolution” of the previous vehicle booking system and part of a wider plan to improve its container handling strategy.
In a letter to hauliers explaining the last minute adjustments, the Port said: “Charges for guaranteed bookings and no-shows will still apply, with invoicing and collection for January applied as normal in February.
“The new charges will apply from February 1st, with invoicing in March.”
