Call to increase overloading fines

Overloading remains a major problem on South African highways, with too many road hauliers not obeying the law. According to Mutshutshu Nxumalo, president of the South African Road Federation, it is an issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. “One of our biggest challenges is overloading. The road network cannot handle it for much longer,” he told FTW. “A problem, of course, is that the fines for overloading are minuscule and not really a deterrent to hauliers to stop doing it. We need to seriously address the issue. It is pointless fining someone R1000 when they have caused damage of millions of rands.” According to Nxumalo it is important to increase the fines for overloading. “The hauliers guilty of overloading are doing it again and again and again just because they can. They pay the fine, which is not really hurting their pocket because it is such a low penalty, and just continue. In the meantime the road network is taking serious strain.” He said many people in South Africa didn’t appreciate the road infrastructure of the country and even the impact of road freight on the economy. “If our trucks can no longer move on our highways because there is no infrastructure, we are going to be in a terrible position. We are therefore focusing on asset management and bringing the critical message to people that our roads are assets and should be appreciated, maintained and treated as such.”