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News to inspire professional drivers of all size vehicles in southern Africa
Nr 33, June 201 5
Can good come from Fields Hill Crash? Sanele May, the trucker who crashed into and killed 24 people on Fields Hill nearly two years ago, has a massive support group. Jonathan Erasmus reports for Media24 the 25-year-old Swazinational May, who is serving a 10 year jail term at the Umzinto Correctional Services facility, has since the outset of the accident enjoyed the support of a large, mainly female, middleclass upper highway support group. They supply him with everything from clothes, tuck, phonecards and regular visits. The reason they support him is mixed, but largely has to with the belief that May is a victim of poor enforcement and neglected safety standards of trucks in South African roads. This despite May having used forged papers and a fraudulent license to cause the largest single death toll yet in the KwaZulu-Natal province, Founder of the Sanele May Support Group, Peach Piche, said what has set May’s story apart was that he “accepted
Swazi driver Sanele May wants to leave prison a better man.
Photo: News24
responsibility”, he was “remorseful” and they believe he wasn’t soley responsible. “This has never been one dimensional. The impact on the community has been massive. The accident was the largest of its kind in KZN and Sanele is paying his price. But now we need greater pressure on the trucking industry to comply with the law,” said Piche. In September 2012 the truck hurtled down Fields Hill after its brakes failed. May took the first off-ramp towards Richmond Rd, Pinetown. It is here his truck
went through the intersection, smashing into two cars and four minibus taxis killing 22 people immediately. Another two people later died in hospital. He was sentenced to eight years and 10 months. He had already spent 12 months in custody. He pleaded guilty to 31 charges in the Durban High Court in November 2014 including culpable homicide, fraud, entering South Africa illegally, possession of fake driver’s licence and one charge of failing to comply with a road traffic sign. He was 23 years-old at the
time. “There are three levels he has to deal with; he is an orphan, he is in a foreign jail and he lives with the trauma every day,” said Piche, a mother of two. She said without the support of more than 30 people his “journey would be a lot harder”.
“He maintains he wants to leave prison a better man than what he came in. He wants to become an advocate for road beter safety.” Piche, a successful businesswoman in her own right, said running the organisation, which was started out of impulse, became all consuming. “For six months I went to visit him in jail every day. I got involved because I saw a need. We can’t help everyone but we can make a difference for one person.” * See page 3 for Sagekal Logistics' reaction.
Taxi drivers show they care Colt invests become involved in stopping uMGUNGUNDLOVU Regional Taxi Council held a youth from becoming addicted in new Volvos schools’ outreach last week at to drugs. Pietermaritzburg City Hall to donate school uniforms to needy pupils from different schools. uMgungundlovu region bought 527 full school uniforms and business partners added another 550 sets. Regional chairperson Bheki Sokhela said at the event all 40 associations in Pietermaritzburg had contributed to donate the uniforms, and the council had also paid for a pupil who needed a blood transfusion. “Please study hard so that you may be able to change the situation in your homes,” Sohhela exhorted the pupils. He said the council hoped to donate many more school uniforms and also wanted to
“We are doing this to bring back hope and confidence to you learners so that you may feel like the learners that come from wealthy homes.” Msunduzi Mayor Chris
FROM Georgia in the U.S., WTUC reports lawmakers have already said they are working on legislation that will restrict truck drivers more, lower their speed, and reduce the hours allowed on the road. “They are wanting to put stipulations on us as the drivers, but really they need to be harder on these companies," said John Jackson, truck driver. “These companies are greedy,
these companies have enough money they could pay us a decent wage." Right now, the Department of Transportation rules of the road are drivers can be "on duty" for 14 hours, but only drive for 11 of those. Within the first eigh hours of driving, they are supposed to take a 30 minute break. And after your on duty shift, you must take a 10 hour break.” -- DR.
Ndlela thanked the taxi owners and drivers for going the extra mile without expecting anything in return. At an earlier donation in May in eThekwini, Santaco-KZN manager Sifiso Shangase said the council’s outreach to schools started last year and has already donated uniforms to 9 810 learners in KZN. -- DR.
Georgia time on truckers' minds
Page 2, June 2015
COLT Transport his month took ownership of eight new Volvo trucks that were fully imported from Sweden with Europe’s latest safety technologies on board. Marketing and operations manager Ebrahim Joosab said the 32-year-old family business opted to go the fully-imported route because the full safety pack on the Volvos now working at Colt Transport is not yet available from the local assembly plant in KZN. Joosab said the deal cost Colt Transport some R20 million, but it formed part of the company’s commitment to promote road safety. ‘One cannot put a price on safety of road users,’ said Joosab. To this end all drivers also received driver training on the new rigs and are constantly
Ebrahim Joosab (left), operations director of Colt Transport, Christian Coolsaet, MD of Volvo Trucks SA and Muhammad Arshad Joosab, fleet manager at Colt Transport. Photo: Supplied
monitored and mentored on the road with Volvo’s DynaFleet to ensure they deliver loads as cost-effectively as possible. Joosab said Colt Transport drivers were part of the family business, which was started in 1983 by the husband and wife team formed by his parents,
using just an old MercedesBenz truck. Today Colt Transport has more than 60 trucks that haul freight mainly along the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg. The company also maintains a loading docks and a depot at Mkondeni. -- DR.
Bakers Transport defies the slow economy with Defy
BAKERS Transport in Pietermaritz-burg took delivery of over 30 new Atego 1518 closed body trucks from Garden City Commercials. The trucks will make secondary leg deliveries of Defy appliances across South Africa. Shabir Tayob, director of
marketing and logistics at Bakers SA Limited, told The Driver the company have been using Merce-des-Benz for over 30 years. Greg Vaughan, national marketing executive at Bakers, said the trucks will continue to deliver Defy appliances, which Bakers has done for more than
“Wisdom is wealth. ” – Swahili proverb,
20 years. The new trucks were higher to accommodate more volume. Each truck has a wind deflector on the roof and an aluminium tail lift customised for Bakers to ensure careful onand off-loading of white goods. Tayob said 22 new drivers had been recruited and trained for the contract. -- DR.
Chocolate load hijacked
SIX English drivers each face four years in jail for stealing three trailers carrying chocolates and whiskey in Kent in the UK. Kent Police said the drivers used false plates to drive off in lorries with goods that could be sold quickly. One container carried Toblerone chocolate bars retailing for over R3,8 million while the the other two containers had whisky with a retail price of over R440,000. Police said the theft of the whisky from a yard in Lydden was discovered when the lorry driver arrived at the Port of Dover en route to the Continent. A second lorry was taken from a haulage yard in Whitfield and discovered four days later with false number plates in Eythorne. The third lorry, which contained the chocolate, was stolen from the haulage yard in Lydden and later found abandoned in Tarleton, Lancashire. The men were arrested after police searched properties in Kent, Merseyside, Lancashire and North Wales. All of them were sentended to at least four years in jail for the thefts by the Maidstone Crown Court, which took place in April 2013. Some ot the drivers received up to eight months extra on top of the fouu years. -- DR.
Sagekal owner ruined by Fields Hill crash Owner of the truck that killed 24 people on Field’s Hill has lost his friends, business and reputation.
GREGORY Govender, owner of the now defunct Sagekal Lositsics that send out hardworking Sanele May in a Volvo truck without training, still don't know how the young driver failed to brake at the top of the steep Fields Hill. Govender told East Coast Radio in the first filmed interview since the crash that the telemetrics showed May was driving perfectly until that point. In court, it did emerged what happened was May was appointed in good faith, based on his experience, and never mind the dubious papers he proffered. Young drivers across southern Africa know this is the benefit of a shortage of experienced drivers. If you can demonstrate your ability to drive a super link smoothly and use a retarder to conserve diesel, you stand to be hired by any of the low-paying fleet operators in KZN. Tragically for the willing but inexperienced May and 24 dead people, Volvo trucks do not
a reasonable employer would have done a better check on May's abilities before entrusting him with a truck on South Africa's busiest highway and steeply hilled province If the answer is yes, Govender can also be found guilty of contributing to the neglect that caused two score deaths. The Sanele May Support Group believes Govender should shoudler part of the blame, but the National Prosecuting Authority . confirmed that Govender’s Photo: YouTube, East Coast Radio News Watch matter was still under and that a have retarders, but an engine my worst enemy. It has taken investigation decision is still to be taken by brake, which he forgot all about its toll on me and my family the office of the DPP. as his rig ran away with him and I could still face Last year the Mercury down that long hill. prosecution,” said Govender. reported at least Govender has not been He said his blue-chip clients newpspaper four experts could testified the formally charged, but he stopped using Sagekal Volvo May drove Jonathan Erasmus ofThe Logistics after the considerable unroadwort-hy andwas had faulty Witness newspaper the media press coverage the accident brakes. A distraught May has coverage after the accident was received. pleaded guilty to 31 charges, something he “wouldn’t wish “They just called and said including culpable homicide on his worst enemy”. they could no longer use us. possession of a fake “There is nothing left. I had There was no talk of entering and licence, in the Durban 15 trucks, almost all Volvo, into business again when this driver’s high court in November 2014. running prior to the accident, matter was cleared either. Govender he had not but now everything is gone. “This was a family business, spoken to hissaid former employee “After the accident we didn’t started by in-laws, and having and convicted driver Sanele get any work. We haven’t run for about 15 years.” May, nor to any of the victims, officially closed our doors but Govender said truck driver that this was on the we have no workshop, no office Sanele May had deceived him stating advice of his lawyer and said and no vehicles,” Govender by providing fraudulent has lost “millions of rands”. told The Witness. documents when he applied for he I know who my friends “This has been a long hard his job, but the question fleet “Now are,” said Govender. -- DR time. I wouldn’t wish this upon operators are asking is whether
“A man who uses force is afraid ofreasoning. ” ~Kenyan proverb
Page 3, June 2015
Pay rise in the USA
SENIOR editor of logistics News site Joc.com, William B. Cassidy, reports payment for truck drivers is one of the main topics at this year’s NASSTRAC conference, which is being If U.S. trends come to held in Orlando, Africa, trucking could be a good career for Florida. these youngsters. In the U.S. driver pay has increased by 1 0% to 1 5% percent since 201 3. Werner, the fifth-largest U.S. truckload carrier ranked by revenue in 201 4, on average increased its driver pay by 1 0% in 201 4. Specialised drivers got as up to 30% increases. CEO of Werner Enterprises Derek Leathers expects a similar increase this year, as truckload carriers compete fiercely for experienced drivers. At large truckload carriers, driver turnover rates have been stuck above 90% since 201 2, American Trucking Associations data show. He said it costs $5,000 or more to replace a truck driver. To make the job more attractive carriers say shippers must treat truckers like first class citizens at depots and loading docks, not treat them like second class citizens. This can start with something as basic as clean toilets, Leathers said.
Page 4, June 2015
Angry truckers blockade Brazil's roads
Samsung has released a new take on a 2009 idea by Russian design house Art Lebedev to make trucks see through. Vlad Savov reports for the Verve Samsuns calls their see-through system Transparentius, but the screens are not yet for sale as the company tested the concept to improve road safety. Despite the grand name, Transparentius is a camera on the front of a trucks feeding a video display on the back, to show drivers in cars when it's safe to overtake the big rig. Samsung added a few screens and to crate a wireless video wall with lifesize displays of the view inn front. Most impressive is that the screens work in sunlight, and do not shine back a useless glare as laptops and television do.. Lots of promises Truck drivers in Brazil resumed a national road blockade to protest diesel and tolls The Curutiba newspaper reports Miguel price increases after agreements from February were reneged upon this month. Rossetway operator Rota do Oeste said striking truckers resumed blocking the See-through trucks to help Russian motorists movement of cargo on three roads in the main grain state of Mato Grosso, where the company is based, causing mile-long Vlad Savov reports for The Verge that Samsung has a new takes on a 2009 lines of trucks on the sides of roads. idea by Russian design house Art Passenger cars and critical services Lebedev, to make trucks transparent. such as police, fire and ambulances are They called it Transparentius moving normally through the blockades, concept to improve road safety, but in with striking truckers typically parked essence it was a camera on the front of along the shoulder of roads near towns, Rota do Oeste said. Trucks carrying dry a trucks feeding a video display on the back, to show drivers in cars when it's bulk such as soybeans, corn, fertilizer and other non-perishables risk vandalism safe to overtake during the day or night. to their vehicles if they attempt to drive As can be seen on the right, the past protest lines. screens create a wireless video wall Brazil is one of the world's largest with lifesize displays of the view in exporters of agricultural commodities front. Most impressive is that the and the blockades have lost the farmers screens work in sunlight. -- DR. billions. - DR. “To get lost is to learn the way. ” ~ African proverb