Vehicle Booking System (VBS / 1-Stop)
A Vehicle Booking System (VBS) schedules and manages the arrival of trucks at Australian container terminals, allocating time-slots (zones) for the pick-up and drop-off of containers. At most major Australian ports the VBS is operated by 1-Stop Connections, whose platform also handles container release, empty-container-park bookings and terminal notifications.
By requiring transport operators to book a slot, the VBS smooths truck flow across the day, reduces gate congestion, and lets stevedores match landside demand to yard capacity. Missing or being late for a booked slot can incur fees, so slot management is a core part of container transport operations.
Terminal capacity is finite, and trucks arriving unmanaged create queues that cost everyone. The VBS turns landside movements into a scheduled system — but it also means a transport operator's day is built around securing and hitting slots. Booking discipline directly drives truck utilisation and detention exposure.
Who runs the VBS in Australia?
1-Stop Connections operates the Vehicle Booking System at most major Australian container terminals.
What happens if I miss a slot?
Missed or late slots can attract fees and mean re-booking, delaying the container and risking detention costs.