THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

March 2008

THE FLEETWATCH Brake & Tyre Watch team set off in November for KwaZulu-Natal to check out the state of trucks using the N3, South Africa’s busiest trucking route. As opposed to previous exercises where we took trucks off the road during the day, this time the team worked with the cops throughout the night and the results were far from ideal. Indeed, shocking, in some instance writes Patrick O’Leary. 

Soon after our first Brake & Tyre Watch project was completed at City Deep some years back, FleetWatch was approached by the N3TC to do an exercise whereby the condition of trucks using the N3 could be checked out. It seemed like a good idea given that the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate under John Schnell has, for many years, implemented a Zero Tolerance policy to road traffic offenders. Surely then, operators would ensure that vehicles using this road would be 100% roadworthy. Not so. 

Out of a total of 23 trucks taken off the road for testing by our experts, 10 were taken off the road with Discontinuation of Service notices and eight were issued with fines for one or other defect. So out of a total of 26 trucks tested, 18 were found with roadworthy problems – 10 of which were serious enough to be suspended.

What was pleasing to note is that of the 36 vehicles weighed on the Midway weighbridge, only one was found to be overloaded. So that’s a good sign. However, while overloading seems to be under control, unroadworthy vehicles are running riot out there – and that is serious stuff given the number of vehicles that use this road. 

On the following pages, we highlight some of the faults found. I urge operators to please take note of these and ensure your vehicles do not  have similar flaws and defects. What we have found is that if proper maintenance were conducted by all operators on their trucks, our roads would be a lot safer. Many of the faults we pick up can be prevented if maintenance schedules and procedures are adhered to. It’s all a case of preventative maintenance - and this is not being done. 

I would once again like to thank our partners for the sterling work they do on these exercises. They are Wabco Automotive, Bridgestone South Africa, Alfa International, Control Instruments and, in this case, the N3TC who came on board with us for this exercise. The unstinting support and dedicated service the men and women from these companies give in the interest of road safety is truly outstanding and the industry should lift its hat in tribute and thanks to these fine companies and people. FleetWatch certainly does. 

The Midway Traffic Test Centre situated alongside the N3 was a 24-hour hive of activity with training of the KZN RTI cops taking place during the day and testing of trucks during the night.