News

The long-awaited introduction of a vehicle booking system (VBS) at Felixstowe port began last week, with a trial limited to a select number of container hauliers. The system works along the same lines as VBS at Southampton port, but operators will not be charged for booking a slot. However, a no-show fee of £21 will eventually be introduced.

The Suffolk port hopes to have expanded the number of companies that can use it, as well as tightening up delivery time slots, by Spring 2008. A port  spokesman stresses that it won't affect the number of vehicles being handled, but it should smooth the flow of lorries entering the port and provide certainty to operators regarding delivery times. The spokesman adds: "The trial involves volunteers, locally-based hauliers and people we have working relationships with. Once everything is working well, we will be rolling it out to all hauliers. It gives hauliers certainty about when they are handled."