Fleet Operators Must Be Held Accountable for Unroadworthy Vehicles: Continuing the Legacy of Chris Barry

The safety of South African roads has been a growing concern for many years, and the condition of heavy vehicles plays a significant role in road accidents. With unroadworthy and overloaded trucks still posing a substantial risk, the call for fleet operators to ensure their vehicles are safe and compliant is more urgent than ever. Back in 2010, Chris Barry, founder of Beqfin, director at Heavy Commercial Vehicle Underwriters (HCV), and a respected figure in the heavy vehicle industry, voiced his concerns in an article for Freight News. He highlighted that unroadworthy vehicles were a serious problem on our roads – one that needed immediate attention. Today, 14 years later, the situation remains largely the same. By resharing Chris Barry’s words and adding to them, we hope to continue his mission and highlight the need for greater discipline, integrity, and responsibility in the trucking industry. For the original article, you can read it https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/fleet-operators-called-account-over-unroadworthy-vehicles.  

A System Designed, but Not Enforced

The Road Transport Quality System (RTQS) was designed to hold fleet operators accountable, requiring them to register as operators when licensing vehicles, oversee driver safety, monitor professional driver permits (PrDPs), and ensure that loading restrictions and vehicle fitness are maintained. The RTQS provides the government with the ability to suspend or cancel registrations, issue discontinuation notices for unroadworthy vehicles, and retest drivers when necessary. However, despite the existence of this system, the enforcement of RTQS has been minimal. In 2009, it was found that 54,000 trucks on South African roads were unroadworthy. As Barry noted, unroadworthy and overloaded vehicles, along with reckless driving, remain serious issues, leading to countless avoidable fatalities.  

The Need for Accountability and Action

During a Fleetwatch police training initiative, Heavy Commercial Vehicle Underwriters (HCV), was involved in assessing fleet vehicles. Shockingly, two trucks owned by an HCV policyholder were found to be unroadworthy due to basic maintenance neglect. The operator, instead of addressing the issue, claimed the experts were mistaken. This incident underscores a larger problem: many fleet operators fail to prioritise the roadworthiness of their vehicles until they are forced to. Barry urged fleet owners to consider the potentially devastating consequences of allowing such vehicles to remain on the road. Had those unroadworthy vehicles continued to operate, they could have caused accidents, risking lives and further damaging the already fragile state of South Africa’s roads. Chris Barry was a man of discipline, integrity, and strong values, qualities we believe our road users need. His words still serve as a powerful reminder to fleet operators and drivers that the responsibility for road safety starts with them. It’s time for all fleet operators to recognise the importance of roadworthiness – not just for their business, but for the lives they impact on a daily basis.  

Unroadworthy Vehicles Still Pose a Threat in 2024

The issues that Chris highlighted 14 years ago remain just as pressing today. Unroadworthy and overloaded vehicles are still rampant on our roads, endangering the lives of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. The RTQS has not been enforced to the degree necessary to make a real impact, and it’s time for a renewed focus on accountability. At Beqfin, we continue to honour Chris Barry’s legacy by advocating for stricter adherence to road safety standards. As a company founded on the principles of discipline and integrity, we believe that fleet operators must take responsibility for the safety of their vehicles. We are committed to supporting the industry through our expertise in truck parts, financing, and insurance, ensuring that fleet operators have the tools they need to maintain roadworthy vehicles. Let’s not wait for another tragedy before we act. Fleet operators must step up and be held accountable for the condition of their vehicles. It’s not just about following the law – it’s about saving lives. By resharing Chris Barry’s insights, we hope to continue spreading his message and push for a future where roadworthiness and safety are paramount in the heavy vehicle industry. For more information on how Beqfin can help fleet operators maintain their vehicles and stay compliant, contact us today. You can reach us on 011 872 1000 or send an email to sales@beqfin.co.za