Truck drivers calling at the Sohar Port and Freezone in Oman will soon be able to schedule collection and delivery of cargo through a new appointment system.
The truck appointment system will be launched next month at the Oman International Container Terminal (OICT), according to a statement.
“The truck appointment system will provide a number of time and cost savings for logistics service providers and the broader Omani economy. Perhaps the biggest benefit will be the ability for drivers to monitor traffic flows remotely and schedule their arrival,” said Albert Pang, CEO of OICT.
“This extra visibility should lead to better traffic flow in the port and on local roads as well as fewer empty trips between Muscat and Sohar.”
The OICT, a joint venture between the Omani government and UK-based Hutchinson Port Holdings, has invested $184 million in developing terminal operations at Sohar.
The logistics sector in Oman has grown rapidly in the past decade, and aims to create 80,000 jobs by 2020.
The new truck appointment system is expected to make the industry more competitive, and has been designed with end-users in mind, Pang said. Drivers will have three options to book arrival times at the port: a mobile app, a website, and an IVR (Interactive Voice Recognition) number.
“We are aware of the need for flexibility and that the mobile devices drivers have access to will vary significantly,” the chief executive noted.