The state of the heavy haulage industry in SA
The past 18 months have not been any easier for the sector. The continuance of sporadic torching of trucks and attacks on truck drivers,
service
delivery protests and looting, the lockdown and various restrictions
associated with the Covid 19 pandemic have further crippled the
industry.
Due to the restrictions and limitation of
transportation of essential goods during the hard lockdown, transporters
have seen a massive drop in their turnovers, with most having to
downsize and some even permanently closing. Those who are lucky enough
to still be operational now have to stretch their staff and chase
deadlines, which places further pressure and fatigue on drivers due to
the long hours on the road – a major concern.
Proactively mitigating risks
With these challenges, Santam Heavy Haulage, as an insurance partner to the trucking industry, for example, has sought to educate both clients and brokers on how to better manage and mitigate risk in order to keep insurance premiums at a minimum. Insurance has traditionally been viewed as a grudge purchase, but recent events have highlighted the critical role it can play in minimising financial loss.
Being in the
digital age, technology has become an important part of any business and
the trucking industry is no exception. Telematics should be a necessity
for transporters, not only for data collection but also for proactive
risk management, with various safety features being incorporated in most
new model trucks.
Route planning, which requires information
gathering, is also important. Where intel has been collected on planned
attacks on trucks, Santam has always tried to share the information with
our stakeholders to enable them to avoid certain routes. We also rely
on law enforcement and private security companies to offer security in
identified hot spots.
To be successful, businesses need to
prioritise their people’s wellbeing. Drivers are the driving force
behind the trucking industry. Entrusting them with assets and cargo
worth millions requires that they are equipped with the necessary
skills, a conducive working environment, and regular access to medical
check-ups to help them make better health choices.
With the rapid
advancement of technology, driver training has become vital not only to
sharpen driving skills, but also to familiarise drivers with the new
model trucks that are constantly being introduced to the market.
Encouraging drivers to take regular stops during trips helps to reduce
fatigue, which in turn minimises the chances of collision, which may
lead to unwanted downtime in an already strained economic environment.
Whilst
we consider ourselves specialists in HCV and cargo insurance, we are
operating in an ever-changing landscape that present new challenges on a
daily basis, some never experienced before. This has compelled us to be
flexible in our thinking and the way we do insurance. With various
interactions, discussions, and collaboration with all stakeholders, we
can ensure the sustainability of the industry. We must adopt a
partnership, future-fit approach.
With the recent extensions in
the validity of expired driver’s licenses, most of the drivers have not
had to do their medical check-ups in a while in order to renew their
professional driving permits (PRDPs), which is a health and safety
hazard. These factors are highlighted by the rise in the number of
single-vehicle accidents, which can be attributed mainly to driver
error. This has been the main reason why, over the past few years,
Santam has collaborated with the Road Traffic Management Corporation
(RTMC) to advocate for driver wellness.
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