THE roadworthiness of SA’s trucks is set to come under closer scrutiny, with the state government putting out a tender for a new phase of the heavy vehicle inspection scheme to be run.
A pilot scheme was introduced earlier this year, with heavy vehicles more than three years old and registered in SA required to undergo an inspection during a change of ownership.
The pilot scheme produced alarming results – of the 900 vehicles inspected in the first half of 2017, 58 per cent of them were found to be non-compliant.
Of the non-compliance, 29pc was found to be faults with lights and reflectors.
A fifth of non-compliance incidents were related to brakes.
With the new scheme, heavy vehicles will require an inspection at four, six and eight years after manufacture, then every year from 10 years of age onwards.
The new scheme is expected to reach 62,000 inspections a year.
It has been developed by the state government through working with the SA Road Transport Association, the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of SA and the Motor Trades Association.
SARTA executive officer Steve Shearer said one area he was seeking more information on was whether the scheme would apply to farm registrations.
“Our view is that it should apply,” he said.
“Farmers shouldn’t be able to run non-compliant vehicles.”
Mr Shearer said a benefit of the new scheme was a range of inspection stations being located across the state.
“This scheme is going to expand the number of inspection facilities, to ensure there’s plenty of services available in rural areas, as well as the metropolitan area,” he said.
“It will benefit rural operators because rather than having to wait months to get an inspection done, under the new regime there will be a lot more options.”
Bee Jays Haulage owner Barry Jungfer, whose business is based in Mount Barker and covers areas including the Mallee, hopes common sense is used when policing the new scheme.
“The new laws need to take into account what we do and the fact that nothing stays brand spanking new,” he said.
Mr Jungfer believes the standard of trucks run by transport operators across SA was generally very good.
He said sometimes it was minor issues that could make a vehicle non-compliant.
“Overall, I think the transport industry had really lifted its game in recent years,” he said.
“Some of the figures put out make it sound like we’re running plenty of unsafe trucks, but that’s not right.”
