Arrive Alive figures suggest that 27.5 % of accidents on our roads are caused by trucks and light delivery vehicles , of which truck accidents accounted for 4.8 %. Although relatively few in number , some truck accidents have made headlines because of the high number of fatalities when a large vehicle loses control . The direct cost to the economy was recently estimated at R306-billion , which includes clearing accident scenes , hospital care , and police time . There are also the indirect costs of work hours lost , delayed delivery , and damaged cargos .
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This cost is materialising in higher vehicle insurance premiums charged by insurance companies .
Road freight remains the preferred method of transportation for many South African companies , because in comparison to the rail industry , road transport still offers better availability , reliability , and cost efficiency .
“ Heavy vehicles are therefore integral to efficient supply chains . Without them , the supply chain would be compromised , as goods would not reach their markets timeously . Improving the safety record of this vital industry is clearly important . In essence ,
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having trucks on the road will always be beneficial to the country ’ s economy . The large number of heavy vehicles on our roads makes it imperative that measures are put in place to reduce the number of accidents involving trucks ,” says Arnoux Maré , managing director of Innovative Staffing Solutions . The company permanently employs over 7 500 employees , of which 5 500 are truck drivers who are outsourced to various transportation companies .
While no single approach can improve truck driver competency , there are solutions to reducing the number of accidents involving commercial vehicles . This includes
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a combination of regular driver evaluation and corrective training , fleet technology monitoring systems , and close management of driver schedules to prevent fatigue and negligence .
“ The safety of our employees and our clients ’ equipment is of the utmost importance to Innovative Staffing Solutions , which is why we constantly find new and innovative ways to improve driver competence . It is for this reason that our holding company recently invested in a Renault Kerax truck to conduct truck driver training for our own drivers and that of our clients . Our process allows us to train a driver
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