This is a proper truck jam due to snow.
Yesterday and last night a decent blanket of snow fell shutting down the N3 Highway between Durban and Johannesburg. All this meant besides the motorists who were stranded overnight is that the 3 containers we were expecting to be delivered this morning will most likely only be delivered on Monday or Tuesday next week.
This definitely puts a spanner in the works as we have booking slots already set up with various clients and this is never going to be achieved. Our job is to unpack the containers and then process the orders that need to be dispatched which was planed for Monday. I hate it when poor planning is the big problem as these containers should have been here at least 2 weeks ago. The quick turn around time seems to be the norm these days and I don't believe it is a realistic or a fair expectation. All it takes is high winds at the port to delay the off loading of the containers from the vessels or snow in this case and you miss the deadlines. This is the new way business is done with tighter time lines.
South Africa is not geared up for dealing with snow like other countries in the Northern Hemisphere and you will not find gritting trucks out or snow ploughs helping free the trapped vehicles. This is actually quite a serious scenario because you are quite literally on your own. Only this afternoon was one lane opened on the freeway to help stranded cars and trucks move, but the N3 Highway is closed until further notice. This is the main route from the Port of Durban to Johannesburg. You would think they would use the railway instead ,but trucking along the 550 km route is the only option.
I am meant to be travelling down this route very early on Monday morning and I guess that is now postponed as well. There is still more chance of more snow and I am hoping I can travel some time next week still. I need to visit the textile waste plant which is about 200 Km past the snowy part of this route. doubt the route will be open for a few days because they are relying on farmers and road building/grading trucks to help clear the snow.
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I would not be happy having to spend the night in the car like what these people have just endured without food or water or even warm clothing. I don't normally even take a jersey with me mainly due to winters not being that bad and this is spring.