A potential ban in South Africa on the use of high cube containers on standard trailers could cause "chaos" and damage fruit export industries, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned.

The Department of Transport is planning to implement heavy restrictions on road vehicles exceeding 4.3 meters as of next January.

In effect, this will prohibit ordinary transport vehicles from moving high cube containers over the road in South Africa.

Cape Chamber president Janine Myburgh said standard trailers carrying high cube containers would exceed the maximum height limit by 30 centimeters and that the department wants to see the vehicles replaced with special low-bed trailers.

"The original concern with the containers was that because they were higher than the old ones there could be a problem with unstable loads, especially in cross winds," Myburgh said in a letter to the Department.

"However, these containers have been in use for more than seven years and we are unaware of any incidents or accidents involving unstable loads in the new containers. It would therefore seem that there is no justification for the original fears."

There would also be a high cost involved with converting to low-bed trailers - around R300,000 - that many businesses would not be able to afford, he said.

"In addition, packing sheds and loading facilities have been designed for standard trailers and converting them to serve low-bed trailers is another high cost that drought-stricken farmers cannot afford," he said.

"It’s not practically possible to convert all the trailers in the remaining few months before implementation date. If the regulation is strictly enforced there will be chaos on our roads with queues of trucks several kilometres long."

Another issue is that as high cube containers on standard trailers are legal in neighboring countries, trucks entering South Africa could be stopped at the border, which could lead to international incidents.

"The result could be that neighbouring countries would choose to export through Namibia and Mozambique, denying our ports much-needed revenue," he said.

"The solution to the problem is to grant an exemption to the height regulations for high cube containers in exactly the same way as exemptions have already been granted for car carriers and double-decker buses. These vehicles are even higher/taller than the high cube containers on standard trailers. This would be a “no cost” solution for all."

"The Chamber strongly believes that the safety of high cube containers on standard trailers has been demonstrated over the last seven years and there was no reason why they should not be granted an exemption from the maximum height regulations."

In January this year Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) CEO Justin Chadwick told FTW Online: "As it stands, the fruit industry faces a massive dilemma if the Department of Transport does not act promptly."