App set to end truck drivers’ time on the road

The East Africa Community (EAC) secretariat has launched a web-based mobile application for long haul trucks.

The Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking System (RECDTS) provides a surveillance service to monitor long distance truckers and enable contact tracing.

It allows partner States to electronically share truck drivers’ Covid-19 test results, minimising the need for multiple tests in a single trip.

The app was launched virtually at the EAC headquarters in Arusha on Tuesday in a meeting that brought together leaders from across the region. “RECDTS is a great collective effort by EAC as part of the bigger target towards East African integration,” Kenya’s EAC Affairs Permanent Secretary Kevit Desai said.

Reliance on manual Covid-19 certificates and delayed test results have been blamed for the long delays at border crossing points. EAC is confident that traffic snarl-ups at the borders will be eliminated through use of the app.

EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector Christophe Bazivamo said the app would support health related protocols and facilitate safe trade in the region.

European Union Ambassador Simon Mordue said the app would also help solve cross-border wrangles sparked by testing of truck drivers for Covid-19.

Once a driver has been tested, the results are keyed into the app with digital certificates, which will permit the drivers to transit seamlessly.

Member States will be able to track truck drivers and share their Covid-19 certificates throughout their journey. The app will also provide an inventory of drivers’ Covid-19 tests, enabling faster clearance on transit routes to control of the spread of the virus.

So far 40,000 truck drivers have been registered and 18,000 digital certificates issued.