Johannesburg - For every ten heavy trucks you see on South African roads, between six or seven of them are unroadworthy, and this shocking statistic isn’t an estimation pulled from thin air.
Specialist trucking magazine Fleetwatch, with the help of provincial governments nationwide, has been staging hands-on heavy-vehicle testing multiple times a year since 2006, and these are the findings it’s witnessed first-hand.
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The initiative, called Brake & Tyre Watch, has hosted 30 test days at various vehicle-testing stations across the country over the past nine years, where trucks were pulled randomly from roads in the areas to undergo rigorous inspections. The campaign is designed to raise awareness for heavy-truck operators around the subject of brakes, tyres, lights, overloading and general maintenance of safety critical components – all areas which the majority of hauling companies are reportedly guilty of overlooking in the name of stretching profits.
Fleetwatch editor Patrick O’Leary says that there are only around seven major trucking companies which faithfully maintain their fleet, but thousands of small to medium sized operators are skipping scheduled services. The ‘Big Seven’ as he calls them represent around 30 000 trucks out of a rough total of 300 000 on SA’s roads right now.
For the drivers stopped in these tests, the events might take on the appearance of massive roadblocks with swarms of police crawling in, out and underneath trucks in hopes of nabbing mechanical defects, but for the hundreds of cops involved the project is also an educational experience, as without these practical test days most are only equipped with the ability to check licence discs and lights.
EMPOWERING THE POLICE
The idea is to empower traffic officials with the know-how to dig deeper into a truck’s inner workings and effectively create a more efficient roadworthiness filter out in the real world.
Any mechanical issues discovered at Brake & Tyre Watch test days come with proper consequences, and drivers either leave with fines for minor infringements or are issued with Discontinuation of Service Notices.
Owners of trucks with serious safety defects can choose to fix them on site, tow them away, or in some cases drive at 30km/h to the nearest repair facility.
The latest Brake & Tyre Watch test day took place at the Langlaagte Vehicle Testing Station in Johannesburg last week and, of the 15 trucks stopped 11 were deemed unroadworthy. I was invited to witness the exercise, and spent a good few hours shadowing a group of ten police officers (there was a total of 70 in training on the day) who were for the most part enthusiastic about getting their hands dirty inspecting the giant juggernauts. I interviewed one Roodepoort-based cop, who said he couldn’t wait to get back on his beat to use his new knowledge.
“Most truck drivers know that we (metro cops) aren’t all that clued up on trucking, and use it to their advantage,” he said. “Now I know what to look for, and if their brakes are not working I’m not letting them go.”
DRIVERS REACT TO ROADBLOCK
I also got a chance to speak to some truck drivers and was surprised with some of their reactions to the roadblock. Most were concerned with how long the inspections would take, as delays can sometimes mean pay penalties, but others showed signs of relief. One in particular seemed quite happy that his truck was impounded for non-functional brakes.
“The owner of my truck knows the brakes don’t work nicely,” he said. “But I cannot say anything. If I complain, he just pays someone else to drive it. My hands are tied. I need the money.”
Another driver, whose truck was clearly unroadworthy, was adamant that it was in proper working order.
He was en route to Zimbabwe from Krugersdorp, and said if his load wasn’t delivered by the following morning he’d be docked pay.
Officials then put his truck on Langlaagte’s rolling brake test machine and discovered the brake shoes were completely worn. The driver had only been using engine brakes to slow the giant 18-wheeler.
Star Motoring