An overview of the performance-based standards pilot project in South Africa

Abstract

The Performance-Based Standards or “Smart Truck” pilot project is a national research initiative that is trialling the introduction of high productivity road freight transport in South Africa. This initiative is being led by stakeholders from the CSIR, government, industry and academia. These “Smart Trucks” are developed and regulated according to a Performance-Based Standards (PBS) framework, which has proven highly effective in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of Europe. The pilot project was initiated in 2004, and has since grown to include 245 demonstration vehicles in various industries, which are closely monitored for impact and performance. Over 100 million km of data have been collected and processed to date, indicating overall net benefits of the PBS framework, including: a 12% reduction in fuel use and emissions, a 13% reduction in road wear impact, 39% reduced road crashes, and 22% fewer truck kms travelled on South African roads. The PBS project is on the verge of transitioning from Phase 1 (proof of concept, initial data collection) into Phase 2 (increased participation and data collection and formalisation of an implementation strategy). This paper summarises the project to date, presenting an overview of the research approach, monitoring data and other outputs and findings.