Latest news with #Clemens
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Port Of Auckland Fee Increases Cause Concern For Industry
Press Release – Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand National road freight association Transporting New Zealand is voicing strong concerns over the Port of Auckland's (POAL) announced increases to Vehicle Booking System (VBS) fees, warning these price hikes at the country's largest import port will have major repercussions for businesses and consumers. Trucks have been charged $130 per visit in access fees to the container terminal during peak hours since January 2025. This will increase to $180 in January 2026, $230 by July 2026 and $350 by January 2027. These fees are levied each time a truck accesses the terminal to deliver or collect a container. Billy Clemens, Head of Policy & Advocacy at Transporting New Zealand, is questioning the justification for these large increases, noting that POAL's productivity improvements have been minimal. 'Our road freight members and their customers haven't seen an associated increase in Port productivity,' he says. 'In fact, from financial year 2023 to 2024 POAL's average truck turnaround time improved by only 1.5 per cent, or 17 seconds. I don't know of any road freight companies who could hike their prices by 170 per cent over two years following that level of performance.' Clemens also challenges POAL's rationale that higher peak-time fees will incentivise off-peak deliveries. ' Traffic data confirms that our members already do their best to avoid peak traffic because it's a nightmare in Auckland as it is. If they could, they would.' 'A survey by one of our major North Island members revealed that only 12 per cent of their customers could accept night-time deliveries of containers.' Transporting New Zealand is warning that these increased costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers and exporters, making New Zealand goods less competitive on the international stage. All at a time when the Port is already comfortably surpassing its profit targets. Productive alternatives Clemens urges POAL and its owner, Auckland Council, to focus on enhancing productivity and performance rather than imposing higher fees on industry stakeholders. 'One practical option we've previously raised with POAL is to lower VBS charges for dual bookings, where a freighter both drops off and picks up containers on the same trip.' 'If POAL wants to improve productivity, it should also look to its 2024 Annual Report. POAL was comfortably meeting its peak vs off-peak truck target, but failing on crane rate, ship rate, and import dwell time, amongst others.' Cargo owners share concern at price increases Mike Knowles, chair of the New Zealand Cargo Owners Council, says the time-of-use approach is too simplistic to achieve significant behaviour change as the port is just one part of a complex supply chain. The Cargo Owners Council believes it is time for benchmarking of NZ port productivity against their charge structures. 'We think the time is long overdue for a closer look at arbitrary fee increases that do not result in measurable service or infrastructure improvement – as things stand the ultimate loser here is NZ Inc.' About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Port Of Auckland Fee Increases Cause Concern For Industry
National road freight association Transporting New Zealand is voicing strong concerns over the Port of Auckland's (POAL) announced increases to Vehicle Booking System (VBS) fees, warning these price hikes at the country's largest import port will have major repercussions for businesses and consumers. Trucks have been charged $130 per visit in access fees to the container terminal during peak hours since January 2025. This will increase to $180 in January 2026, $230 by July 2026 and $350 by January 2027. These fees are levied each time a truck accesses the terminal to deliver or collect a container. Billy Clemens, Head of Policy & Advocacy at Transporting New Zealand, is questioning the justification for these large increases, noting that POAL's productivity improvements have been minimal. "Our road freight members and their customers haven't seen an associated increase in Port productivity," he says. "In fact, from financial year 2023 to 2024 POAL's average truck turnaround time improved by only 1.5 per cent, or 17 seconds. I don't know of any road freight companies who could hike their prices by 170 per cent over two years following that level of performance." Clemens also challenges POAL's rationale that higher peak-time fees will incentivise off-peak deliveries. " Traffic data confirms that our members already do their best to avoid peak traffic because it's a nightmare in Auckland as it is. If they could, they would." "A survey by one of our major North Island members revealed that only 12 per cent of their customers could accept night-time deliveries of containers." Transporting New Zealand is warning that these increased costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers and exporters, making New Zealand goods less competitive on the international stage. All at a time when the Port is already comfortably surpassing its profit targets. Productive alternatives Clemens urges POAL and its owner, Auckland Council, to focus on enhancing productivity and performance rather than imposing higher fees on industry stakeholders. "One practical option we've previously raised with POAL is to lower VBS charges for dual bookings, where a freighter both drops off and picks up containers on the same trip." "If POAL wants to improve productivity, it should also look to its 2024 Annual Report. POAL was comfortably meeting its peak vs off-peak truck target, but failing on crane rate, ship rate, and import dwell time, amongst others." Cargo owners share concern at price increases Mike Knowles, chair of the New Zealand Cargo Owners Council, says the time-of-use approach is too simplistic to achieve significant behaviour change as the port is just one part of a complex supply chain. The Cargo Owners Council believes it is time for benchmarking of NZ port productivity against their charge structures. "We think the time is long overdue for a closer look at arbitrary fee increases that do not result in measurable service or infrastructure improvement - as things stand the ultimate loser here is NZ Inc." About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
Poor Roads And Ferry Delays A Major Risk To Safety And The Economy
Press Release – Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of nearly 200 road freight businesses was conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association … The road freight industry is warning the poor state of New Zealand's roads are having a serious impact on the safety of road users. And there are major concerns delays over replacements for the Interislander Cook Strait ferries could have a big negative flow-on effect for the economy. Billy Clemens, the Policy and Advocacy Head at Transporting New Zealand, says the vast majority (93 per cent) of respondents in the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey agreed poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. As well, a significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent). (The survey was done before the announcement that the Aratere is to be retired in August.) The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of nearly 200 road freight businesses was conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ. It represents the most extensive industry snapshot in over a decade. 'The survey painted a gloomy financial picture for business – only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins,' Clemens says. Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the industry, with 78 per cent of respondents calling for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent saying it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
Poor Roads And Ferry Delays A Major Risk To Safety And The Economy
The road freight industry is warning the poor state of New Zealand's roads are having a serious impact on the safety of road users. And there are major concerns delays over replacements for the Interislander Cook Strait ferries could have a big negative flow-on effect for the economy. Billy Clemens, the Policy and Advocacy Head at Transporting New Zealand, says the vast majority (93 per cent) of respondents in the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey agreed poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. As well, a significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent). (The survey was done before the announcement that the Aratere is to be retired in August.) The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of nearly 200 road freight businesses was conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ. It represents the most extensive industry snapshot in over a decade. "The survey painted a gloomy financial picture for business - only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins," Clemens says. Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the industry, with 78 per cent of respondents calling for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent saying it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police hope falling car theft trend continue in Sioux Falls
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The number of stolen cars in Sioux Falls dropped from 2023 to last year. However, police still warn people that car thieves are very active in the city. On Sunday, someone broke into two apartments at the Dow Rummel Village and stole cash and two cars. One car was recovered, the other is still missing. 'Masks and vests': Witnesses describe ICE in Madison 8 out of 10 cars stolen in Sioux Falls are left unlocked with the keys inside. It's easy pickings for criminals. Sioux Falls Police say there are thieves, sometimes working in groups, just looking for this kind of opportunity. However, there is positive news: for the first time since 2018, car thefts dropped in Sioux Falls. In 2023, a record 1,600 vehicles were stolen, but in 2024 that number dropped to less than 1300. That is significant because stolen cars are often used in other crimes. 'I think people have a misperception that these cars are stolen and get sent to a chop shop or parted out, that's the thing that you see in TV and movies. That's not what we are seeing in Sioux Falls. What we are seeing is people stealing these cars, primarily using them to commit other crimes, said Police Spokesman Sam Clemens. In February, a suspect fired shots at a police officer while burglarizing a vape shop before running away. Turns out both the vehicle and the gun were stolen. And in April a man accused of shooting and wounding a Sioux Falls police officer on west 12th street and was later wounded by Highway Patrol troopers was driving a stolen SUV. Clemens says the city of Sioux Falls's campaign to encourage people to Lock It and Pocket may be working. 'But we are talking 80 to 90 percent of the cars that are stolen are unlocked with the keys left in them,' said Clemens. 'Sometimes people leave it in a center console, under the floor mat, in a cup holder, it could be a spare key they keep their primary key with them, there's any number of different reason but people leaving keys in the car, somebody is going to come by and steal it that's what it really comes down to.' Full-size pick-ups are a primary target for car thieves, but they will take any make or model if the keys are left in them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
