The Law, and Then What?
How many times have we observed a truck carrying dangerous goods performing risky maneuvers on our roads?
Morocco has indeed adopted a TDG (Transport of Dangerous Goods) law, but in the absence of implementing decrees, the sector is plagued by anarchy. Our country is significantly behind in terms of road transport of dangerous goods.
This was highlighted at a conference organized on February 19th in Casablanca about this crucial segment which represents, according to Mr. Hadi, president of the Moroccan Association of International Road Transport (AMTRI), 1/1000 of national imports. "No Moroccan driver has an ADR certificate, which is mandatory for transporting dangerous goods.
"No organization issues these cards in the country"
laments Jamal Hadi
"This means that our drivers cannot travel between Morocco and Europe, and only European carriers are authorized to do so".
It has been thirteen years since Morocco joined the 48 countries that have ratified the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Adopted on June 2, 2011, Law 30-05, known as the TDG law, which regulates this sector, is still waiting for its implementing decree.
In the meantime, Mohamed Talal, president of the National Federation of Road Transport (FNRT), suggests that "companies adhere to a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) approach and make the effort themselves to comply with the law.
But should we really rely on the goodwill of companies regarding such a sensitive subject? Isn't this utopian? Driss Herrati from Avenir formation consultancy, organizer of the event, is optimistic. He assures that a training project for drivers and operators is being studied in partnership with the French Association for the Prevention in Hydrocarbon Transport (APTH).
Its president Jean-Paul Millereau takes the opportunity to present the technical center of Le Creusot, European leader in driver and operating personnel training, through a 22-hectare site including a 4-kilometer track, loading and delivery stations for liquids and hydrocarbons, slopes, roundabouts, and maneuvering platforms.
In practice, reality could be much more constraining. Several participants fear, for example, that the language barrier might prevent drivers from being properly trained in ADR.
Reassuringly, Khalid Cherkaoui, Director of Strategy at the Ministry of Transport, indicates that the manual is being translated into Arabic.
Other difficulties discussed during the meeting include a delayed upgrade of transport equipment and storage facilities, the absence of a labeling system for cleaning and degassing stations (Foreign carriers are reluctant to clean their tanks in Morocco and prefer to ship them uncleaned), non-compliant and uncontrolled packaging and documents, almost non-existent hazardous waste management, etc.
As we can see, the task is enormous and will require many years of upgrading. Morocco should, without delay, seize this opportunity and make TDG a growth lever. "The legal framework will be ready in two years," promises the representative of the Ministry of Transport.