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Copyright © 1999 FleetWatch magazine and FleetWatch On-Line. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission from the publishers. Views published are not necessarily those of the publishers. |
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October
1999
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There's an insurance broking company down Pietermaritzburg way that FleetWatch really admires - not solely for its commitment to sound business practices but more for its commitment to improving the lot of the transport operator by disseminating information that can lead to better performance and profitability writes Patrick O'Leary. The company is called Purdon Murdoch and it disseminates information and tips via a weekly newsletter called The Fifth Wheel. It is a fascinating document that never ceases to amaze us with the depth of its content put across in a simple and humane manner to which we can all relate. It oozes empathy and in that way embraces the personal touch which is so often missing in today's business world. With driver fatigue being widely discussed both within the industry and in the general media over the past few weeks following the many bus accidents that have taken place, FleetWatch finds it apt to reproduce for our readers the content of one of the recent editions of The Fifth Wheel. It relates to driver fatigue and although it doesn't cover the subject in full scientific detail, it is written in such a way that it throws a whole new personal perspective onto the subject. In that way, there's enough in it to enable any sound minded and reasonable operator to emphasise and relate to what is being said. We urge all operators to really think about what Purdon Murdoch is trying to get across. Here goes: * * * "This weeks major incident was an accident on the N2 South near Scottburgh. The vehicle left the road and rolled down a steep embankment resulting in extensive damage to the rig combination. The cause: Driver Fatigue - and it's full marks to the driver who admitted to having fallen asleep: The truth shall set you free (and help others to prevent a reoccurrence)! What are the causes of fatigue and how do we combat this problem which, if everyone told the truth, is probably the primary cause of the majority of heavy commercial accidents? Cause "Heavy Weekends": Often drivers fall asleep behind the wheel on a Sunday or Monday night after a weekend off. Presumably this is as a result of keeping heavy weekend commitments which do not allow much time for rest and recuperation from a rigorous schedule of driving the previous week - or five! Who knows how long since his last weekend off? Solutions Make sure management is present when the truck rolls out of the yard after the driver has taken a break/weekend off. The manager needs to communicate effectively with the driver in order to establish whether or not the driver is in a condition conducive to commencing a long trip behind the wheel. When last did you, Mr Manager, have a heavy weekend, sit down on a Sunday night and fall asleep in front of the TV before 9pm? Remember that time? Now think about your driver who has had the same weekend as you but he is not sitting in your armchair. Rather, he is three hours into his journey but is feeling exactly like you are - tired and worn out. And guess what? That is only the start of his week. Tomorrow night he is coming back from Johannesburg and will probably go back to Johannesburg another once or twice that week. Not easy! That is precisely why we need to be very careful before the driver picks up the keys to our truck which costs three times as much as our precious BMW in the garage. (Okay we are being a little facetious but hope that the point is taken) Drivers should be subject to routine breathalyser and urine tests for alcohol and drugs as both may cause drowsiness. We believe it should be part of any transporters armoury to have a breathalyser on hand for testing drivers after periods of absence. Take an honest look at yourself. Could you sustain the kind of hours and driving schedules that you expect your drivers to; not day in and day out, not even weekly, but year in and year out. Would you and your family survive on your drivers' 'time off' schedule? They are not machines and perhaps we sometimes all expect too much of them." Hear, hear! Well said! Keep up the excellent work you are doing through The Fifth Wheel. Alternative Articles |
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Goodnight
Sweet Road