Sometimes, you need a spark from a tinderbox to bring attention to a long-seated problem. This is what has happened recently in our highway weighbridges. For years, we have been complaining about the hiked costs of doing business inflicted by these weighbridges. Now, a woman truck driver on her way back home carrying tons of copper from Zambia could be our rescuer. But will she be? Her ordeal in the hands of operators of weigh bridges has pricked many important questions of more significance of whether we still need them to begin with. This article dives deep into issues surrounding highway weigh bridges.
In Tanzania, the history of highway weighbridges is linked to the Road Traffic Act of 1973 and the Road Traffic (Maximum Weight of Vehicles) Regulations of 2001, which mandate weighing for vehicles carrying cargo of 3.5 tonnes and above. TANROADS, the Tanzania National Roads Agency, manages key routes with weighbridges to ensure road safety and prevent overloading.
The underlying assumptions were that weighbridges would pivot towards profitability and that road user data collection for future road construction planning, design, and construction would thwart overweight trucks that contribute to a higher rate of road deterioration. The profitability of Tanzania’s weighbridges hinges on several factors, balancing potential revenue against operational challenges. Here’s the analysis behind the wholesale adoption of the weighbridges in Tanzania:
Revenue Streams.
- Weighing Fees.
Charged per truck for using the weighbridge. High traffic volume, especially along key trade routes and near ports like Dar es Salaam, boosts revenue.
- Overload Fines:
Significant revenue from penalties for overweight trucks. Tanzania increased fines in 2020, which could have enhanced profitability if enforced strictly.
- Data Monetization:
Potential secondary income from logistics data, though this is likely underutilized currently.
Cost Considerations.
- Initial Investment:
High setup costs for infrastructure and technology (e.g., automated systems).
- Maintenance:
Regular calibration and repairs are necessary to ensure accuracy and uptime.
- Operational Costs:
Staff salaries, administrative expenses, and anti-corruption measures.
Challenges Impacting Profitability.
- Corruption:
Bribes to bypass fines or fees reduce revenue. Effective governance and transparency are critical.
- Enforcement Gaps:
Inconsistent enforcement of weight limits can lead to revenue leakage and dissatisfaction.
- Infrastructure Reliability:
Poorly maintained weighbridges may face downtime, lowering revenue.
Contextual Factors.
Trade Volume:
Tanzania’s strategic position as a trade hub for landlocked neighbors ensures high truck traffic, supporting revenue potential.
Policy Environment:
Government initiatives, like stricter fines and road safety campaigns, positively impact revenue if implemented effectively.
Road Maintenance Savings:
While not directly profitable, effective weighbridges reduce road repair costs, offering indirect economic benefits.
Conclusion.
Due to high traffic and enforceable fines, Tanzania’s weighbridges have strong profitability potential. However, realizing this potential depends on:
Robust Enforcement to minimize corruption and ensure compliance. Investment in technology to improve efficiency and reduce human error or graft. Effective Management by entities like TANROADS to balance costs and revenue.
In essence, profitability is achievable but contingent on addressing systemic challenges like corruption and ensuring consistent operational efficiency.
From the above analysis it is abundantly clear that most of the problems cited above are due to overreliance of manpower to run weighbridges. Still, we have good news that pilotless technology for the management of weighbridges is now available and widely used. Once applied in Tanzania, it means less staff in the department of weighbridges at TANROADS. It implies no more unnecessary delays of trucks chipping on the burden of added cost of doing business and overall more cash to the government coffers. Let us peek at the data available on pilotless weighbridges’ cost-benefit considerations.
Welcome to fully automated weighbridge systems.
Pilotless (fully automated) weighbridge systems are an emerging technology increasingly adopted globally to improve efficiency, reduce corruption, and cut operational costs. These systems eliminate the need for human intervention during the weighing process, relying instead on advanced sensors, AI, and IoT (Internet of Things) integration. Here’s how they work and their relevance to Tanzania:
Key Technologies in Pilotless Weighbridges.
Automated Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) Systems:
Trucks are weighed without stopping, using embedded sensors in the road. Data is transmitted to a central system for analysis. Example: Low-speed WIM for static weighing and high-speed WIM for dynamic weighing on highways.
AI-Powered Cameras & License Plate Recognition:
Cameras capture truck license plates and cross-reference them with databases to verify compliance and issue fines automatically.
RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification):
Trucks are tagged with RFID chips linked to ownership and load data. Sensors at weighbridges scan these chips to automate record-keeping.
Automated Barriers & Signage:
Overweight trucks are flagged by the system, and barriers/electronic signs direct them to detention areas or penalty payment kiosks.
Cloud-Based Data Management:
Real-time data is stored in the cloud, accessible to authorities for auditing and analytics. Alerts are generated for overloaded vehicles.
Benefits of Pilotless Systems.
Elimination of Corruption:
Eliminates human interaction, minimizing opportunities for bribes to bypass fines or alter weight records.
24/7 Operation:
No reliance on shift workers; systems operate continuously, even in remote locations.
Cost Savings:
Lower labor costs and reduced revenue leakage from corruption or errors.
Improved Compliance:
Instant fines and automated enforcement deter overloaded trucks.
Data Accuracy:
Digital records are tamper-proof, aiding transparency and logistics planning.
Challenges in Implementation:
High Initial Costs:
Installing sensors, AI cameras, and IoT infrastructure requires significant upfront investment.
Power & Connectivity:
Remote weighbridges may lack reliable electricity or internet for real-time data transmission.
Maintenance:
Advanced systems need regular calibration and technical support, which may be scarce in rural areas.
Resistance to Change:
Truckers or officials accustomed to manual systems might resist automation. But given the current temperature and mood of truck drivers in Tanzania the opposition will be to those affected by the chain saw slashing their jobs and their dependants together with those who intensively lobbied for them to get those gravy train jobs.
Case Study: Success in Other African Countries.
South Africa:
Uses automated weigh-in-motion systems on major highways like the N3 corridor, reducing overloads by 30%.
Kenya:
Piloting AI-powered weighbridges at the Mombasa port to streamline cross-border trade.
Botswana:
RFID-based systems automate fines for overloaded trucks, improving compliance.
Relevance to Tanzania:
Tanzania’s weighbridges (managed by TANROADS) could benefit from pilotless technology, given:
High Traffic Volumes:
Strategic routes like the Central Corridor (Dar es Salaam to DRC/Rwanda) handle thousands of trucks daily.
Corruption and harassment Concerns:
Automation would address long-standing bribery, revenue loss and hazing issues to foster extortion.
Government Priorities:
Tanzania’s push for digitalization (e.g., Tanzania National ICT Policy) aligns with innovative weighbridge solutions. However, successful adoption would require:
Partnerships with tech providers (e.g., Siemens, Kistler) for affordable solutions. Investment in power backups (solar energy) and internet connectivity (4G/5G). Training programs for TANROADS staff to manage automated systems.
Future Outlook.
Mobile Enforcement Units:
Portable weighpads and drone surveillance could complement fixed weighbridges.
Blockchain Integration:
Secure, transparent record-keeping for fines and payments.
Regional Harmonization:
Linking Tanzania’s systems with neighboring countries (e.g., EAC) to streamline cross-border trade.
Conclusion.
Pilotless weighbridge technology already exists and is scalable in Tanzania. While upfront costs and infrastructure gaps are hurdles, the long-term benefits—reduced corruption, higher revenue, and improved road safety—make it a viable solution. With proper planning and investment, we could modernize our weighbridges to become both profitable and efficient.
What really had happened at the Viwaza weighbridge?
According to the affected woman, she was coming home carrying tons of Zambian copper. She had passed three weighbridges inside Tanzania, and everything was fine. Still, once she arrived at the Viwaza weighbridge, the operators there claimed she had overloaded and was required to pay extra cash!
The female truck driver couldn’t believe what she was told because her cargo had already been weighed several times and was found to be carrying the correct weight. Not overweight. It was when she wanted to contact the weighbridge supervisor that she was insulted and her gender trolled. The supervisor told her she had no business driving long-haul trucks. As a woman, she should stick to domestic chores and let real men do men’s jobs. Looks like a case of he was crying for split milk: no bribes, so to speak.
After being abused because of her gender and refusing to pay to play, she called the press, who video recorded her recount. The video went viral, and the Minister in charge of works suspended all supervisors in every weighbridge the woman had passed to find out what really had happened.
The minister may be well intentioned, but he shouldn’t have suspended the supervisors because he is not their employer. This is where politicians get it wrong, and nobody has alerted them of the legal pitfalls of interfering with the onus of disciplinary and recruitment authority. These suspended workers have the right to be heard by a proper disciplinary organ, and one of those rights is to be interdicted by a proper authority. If you didn’t hire them, you can’t suspend or fire them. Similarly, it is wrong for the Minister to form a probe team. Whatever findings and recommendations from the probe team touching on disciplinary issues of the suspended employees would have no legal effect. The reason is just the same: the minister lacks the disciplinary jurisdiction over the TANROADS employees. TANROADS Board of directors should appropriately deal with them, period!
Assuming some of the supervisors will be fired, they will march to the courts, and the grounds of reinstatement will be that they were suspended and investigated by a wrong forum. As a result, their rights to a fair hearing were irretrievably taken away. There are many precedents to lean on in such situations. Good intentions sometimes lead to unexpected results. This could be one of them: Letting off the hook employees who should have suffered according to their deeds hurts most by reopening healed wounds to fester.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
