The Saudi Company for Exchanging Digital Information (Tabadul), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced Thursday the launch of the second phase of the Truck Management System through the FASAH platform. The second phase, which marks the success achieved by the first phase of the Truck Management System that was unveiled in October 2019, will provide import and export services from the King Abdulaziz Port Dammam and will be applied successively in several other ports. Exporters will be able to reserve appointments via the FASAH e-platform for pre-coordination of truck transit — a step aimed at providing better logistical services and raising the efficiency of operational ports. "The launch of the second phase of the Truck Management System at King Abdulaziz Port Dammam follows the remarkable success of the first phase as the system intends to reduce time and effort by processing the electronically pre-issued customs clearance for trucks before they arrive at the port of export, a mandatory procedure for the issuing party," Eng. Saad Alkhalb, president of Saudi Ports Authority, said. The Truck Management System assists in organizing the truck flow procedures at the ports in order to speed up customs clearance, application of the mandatory pre-reservation of trucks, as well as reduce the waiting time of trucks, he noted. The Truck Management System contributes to managing and organizing the capacity of the ports using the latest technologies to book appointments, monitor and manage the truck movements, in addition to linking all government agencies, including Saudi Ports Authority, Saudi Customs, The Public Transport Authority, and the General Directorate of Border Guard, and related parties on an ad hoc basis. "The services offered through the FASAH electronic platform is the single e-window for import and export in Saudi Arabia and will enhance the competitiveness of Saudi ports in their transition to becoming regional and international logistic hubs," Al-Khalb pointed out. — SG
