Estcourt Protection Service uncovers deadly truck hazards
Senior Manager in the Protection Service Dumisani Zuma explained the faults uncovered as well as the high risk it poses to the driver,
In the past six months about 95 percent of the trucks using roads in and around Estcourt have serious faults.
Some of these faults render the vehicles unfit to operate on the road however; the lucrative trucking business keeps the wheels turning.
SEE THIS: WATCH: Estcourt traffic officers expose deadly truck dangers
Such was the case that traffic officers from the municipal Protection Service encountered on Wednesday. During a routine examination of passing vehicles, traffic officer Mr Mazibuko stopped a Scania truck, registered in the North West province.
While inspecting the truck, he found a number of deadly faults, which resulted in him pulling the vehicle off the road and taking it back to the testing station in Loskop Road.
Speaking frankly on Thursday morning, Senior Manager in the Protection Service Dumisani Zuma explained the faults uncovered as well as the high risk it poses to the driver and other road users.
READ MORE: Uncovering truck hazards
A thorough inspection of the truck revealed cracks in the chasis load, several of the fifth wheel bolts were loose and the load sensing valve was missing.
“The loose bolts are attached to the trailer, if it falls off, the trailer would become unattached from the horse. This could cause a big, big accident,” said Mr Zuma.
He added that further investigation about the truck led them to an interesting find. Both the truck’s trailers were suspended in July 2017.
On March 9, 2018 the vehicle was tested and passed. However among the driver’s paperwork was a note that indicated that he loaded the truck on March 8 and off-loaded on March 10.
READ THIS: JUST IN: No injuries reported at truck crash in Nottingham Road
Traffic officers are skeptical that the vehicle was at a testing station during that period. In addition, Mr Zuma said that they received a call from a ‘person in a high position’ within the Transport Department requesting that they release the truck.
Without going into details, Mr Zuma said traffic officers will not be strong-armed and will continue to do their work diligently.
He explained that the truck will have to be towed to the owner’s yard and repaired before going back on the road. Mr Zuma also made a plea to truck drivers.
“If you feel that your vehicle is not safe, report it to the testing station. Tell an officer who can then test your vehicle. If there is an accident and the driver dies, the owner claims from insurance and the driver’s family suffers. We want truck drivers to know we are here to help them,” he added.
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