Since last year, truck operators that want to load or unload containers at the inland terminals of ITG Rotterdam, CTVrede Amsterdam and CTVrede Hoogtij have been able to submit their pre-notifications through the Portbase service HCN Road. Not only does this allow the terminals to better streamline visiting truck traffic, but it offers numerous advantages to the truck operator as well. In this article, we outline the benefits for both parties.
Benefits of using HCN Road for inland terminals
Until recently, only deepsea terminals were able to receive pre-notifications via HCN Road. However, the inland terminals of ITG Rotterdam and CTVrede, which service many third-party drivers, needed greater insight into the visits of road hauliers. If the terminal knows in advance which road hauliers to expect and when, it can prepare the correct containers and reduce the number of handlings. This also helps to prevent unnecessary delays at the gate, for example due to incorrect reference numbers or because a container has not yet been released. Since road hauliers specify a time slot or window when registering, it also becomes easier to anticipate peak traffic moments.
Benefits of using HCN Road for truck operators
Many road hauliers are already familiar with the submission of pre-notifications via HCN Road for the collection and delivery of containers at deepsea terminals. When the inland operator submits a ‘pre-notification’, updates are automatically sent whenever the status of the pre-notified container changes. As a result, road hauliers can be confident that a container has actually been released when they come to collect it. Upon submitting the definitive pre-notification, the truck operator specifies a time for their visit and subsequently receives the TAR (Truck Appointment Registration) number. This TAR number serves as the appointment confirmation and is valid for the entire day. Use of the TAR code is mandatory at CTVrede, which also uses EAN validation at the gate. The EAN number is a unique number that is associated with the road hauliers; if transport is outsourced to another road hauliers, the final road hauliers with the correct associated EAN number must be specified in the pre-notification. This control method is also already used at ECT.
Incidentally, use of the TAR code is not yet mandatory at ITG Rotterdam. Since the start of this year, CTVrede has made the use of this code mandatory for all terminal visits.
Since the start of this year, CTVrede has made the use of this code mandatory for all terminal visits.
Intensive test process with Portbase and terminal
Inland terminals with limited insight into visiting truck traffic stand to benefit from HCN Road in various ways. However, both the terminal and the software supplier must be certified by Portbase before they can use the service. This involves a combination of terminal and software supplier. Each new terminal that wants to start using HCN Road must complete the test process with Portbase again and conclude various test scenarios. The same applies to Modality, which needs to go through the entire procedure for each new participant. This is a lengthy process, but once the system goes live it ensures a much more efficient registration and handling process for truck traffic – after all, any possible scenario has been extensively tested beforehand.
Would you like to learn more about submitting pre-notifications via HCN Road? We will gladly provide you with more details and guide you through the process!
