Quick answer
Delays at the Port of Durban mean loaded and empty trucks spend hours, sometimes most of a day, queuing on public roads around the harbour. For transporters that is more than lost time: it is extra exposure to theft and hijacking, and to spoiling for refrigerated loads. Check that your goods in transit (GIT) policy covers a truck while it is stationary in a queue, what its unattended-vehicle and parking rules say, and whether you have deterioration cover for reefer loads.
Where the delays stand in September 2026
| Measure | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Vessel waiting time | An average of 61 hours at DCT Pier 1 and 99 hours at DCT Pier 2, on statistics up to July 2026 (TNPA, via IOL, 22 September 2026) |
| Truck waiting time at DGT | Hauliers report trucks with valid bookings spending between four and 22 hours to collect (Freight News, 25 September 2026) |
| Full collection cycle | One to two days to secure a booking, a day at the terminal and another day to unpack and return empties |
| Knock-on delay | An estimated 18 to 20 extra days through affected supply chains |
| Truck queues | TNPA is investigating congestion on Bayhead Road, with queues reported on Umbilo Road, Sydney Road, South Coast Junction and Solomon Mahlangu Drive |
| Relief | New container-handling equipment has been ordered, but delivery lead times are 12 to 18 months |
Why port queues are a GIT risk
A truck in a queue is stationary, often at night, on public roads, with a driver who may need to leave the cab. That combination is exactly what theft and hijacking conditions in GIT policies are written around. Research presented at the Southern African Transport Conference also flagged stretches of the N2 and N3 around eThekwini as truck hijacking hotspots.
Refrigerated loads face a second risk. Long waits strain reefer units and fuel, and a breakdown can spoil the load. Deterioration of stock is not covered by every GIT policy.
What to check in your policy
- Whether cover continues while a loaded truck is stationary in a port queue
- The unattended-vehicle rule, and what counts as attended
- Any overnight parking requirements, and whether a port queue meets them
- Cover for containers and sealed loads, including seal checks at collection
- Deterioration cover for refrigerated goods, and whether reefer breakdown is included
- Riot and strike (SASRIA) cover, in case of labour action at or near the port
Practical steps for drivers and dispatchers
- Book slots as early as possible and avoid arriving hours before the slot.
- Stage trucks at a secure truck stop instead of queuing overnight on the road.
- Keep tracking live and agree check-in times with your control room.
- Photograph container numbers and seals at collection, and record any damage.
- For reefers, log temperatures and carry enough fuel for long waits.
- Report any theft or hijacking to SAPS immediately and get a case number.
For more on hijacking hotspots, see our truck hijacking trends article. For the wider risk picture in 2026, read GIT insurance in South Africa for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Often, but it depends on the wording. Some policies limit cover for stationary or unattended vehicles, so ask your broker to confirm cover for port queues.
GIT can cover containerised cargo on the road leg. Check how the policy treats sealed containers and record seal numbers at collection.
Only if your policy includes deterioration of stock, and sometimes only if the cooling unit breaks down. Ask whether this extension is available for your goods.
If the goods are in your care and the theft is covered by your GIT policy, your insurer pays up to the load limit, less the excess, provided the conditions were met.
Hauliers reported waits of four to 22 hours for trucks with valid bookings at Durban Gateway Terminal in late September 2026.
Related reading
- Top risks to goods in transit
- Why GIT claims get declined
- GIT cover by cargo type
- Peak season GIT insurance checklist for Black Friday and the festive season
Sources
- IOL: TNPA flags delays and equipment failures at Durban port, 22 September 2026
- Freight News: DGT reports recovery, landside bottlenecks persist, 25 September 2026
- Freight News: Study identifies SA’s truck hijacking hotspots, 7 July 2026
This article is general information, not financial advice. Cover depends on underwriting and the policy wording. Cross-Cover Insurance Brokers is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 14628).