Located on the southernmost
tip of the African continent, South Africa is a moderately sized nation with
a population of just under 60 million people. As the fifth most populous country in Africa
and one of its major economic powerhouses, it’s no surprise that there are 4.9 million
licensed heavy duty drivers in the country, 450,000 of which are currently employed. A nation
home to a diverse series of separate ecosystems, South African truck drivers face a range of
challenges in their profession, from tackling treacherous mountain passes to navigating the
open deserts of the country’s interior. There is no shortage of excitement, or danger, in
the life of a South African truck driver. Welcome to the fourth episode of
Trucking World - South Africa. South Africa is home to the tenth largest road
network in the world that spans over 750,000 kilometers. The network includes 12,978km of
National Roads, a system of freeways intended to connect all major population centers in
the country, 394,000km of Provincial Roads that either feed into National Roads or serve as
secondary trunk roads between cities, and 16,000km of Metropolitan Routes which are controlled
by individual city governments. The remaining roads in the network are mostly rural and are
either made up of gravel or dirt. While many of the major highways are in good condition, some of
the smaller rural roads are in need of repair and maintenance. The country has made significant
investments in upgrading and expanding its road infrastructure, with several major projects
currently underway, including the construction of some new highways and the expansion of existing
ones. However, traffic congestion remains a major issue in some urban areas, particularly
around Johannesburg and Cape Town. As a result, South African truck drivers must navigate a
complex and often-challenging road network, one which requires ample skill and patience.
As of 2016, South Africa has limited the speed of heavy goods vehicles to a maximum of
100kmh on certain highways, so long as they’re hauling less than 9000kg, in which case
the maximum speed limit is reduced to 80kmh. South Africa has a wide range of truck brands
available in the market from around the world, including European brands such as Volvo, Scania,
Mercedes, MAN, DAF, and Iveco, as well as certain Asian branded trucks such as FAW and Tata. Of
course, South Africa’s own Powerstar trucks are a common sight here as they’re produced domestically
and their purchase benefits the local economy. Select American branded trucks can be
found here too from companies such as Kenworth, Freightliner, or International.
The availability of such a wide range of brands and models means that trucking companies
in South Africa have a variety of options to choose from when selecting their fleets.
South Africa’s economy is driven by a number of sectors, including mining,
manufacturing, and agriculture, producing crops such as maize, wheat, citrus
fruits, as well as the raising of livestock. All of these main industries require
trucks to transport goods, most of which are exported to China, the United
States, Japan, Germany, and Mozambique. Considering the dismal state
of the country’s rail network, almost all land exports are handled by truck, with
the rest taken care of mostly via sea transport. Truck size in South Africa is regulated by the
National Road Traffic Act of 1996. According to this legislation, the maximum length of a
semi-truck and trailer combination is 22 meters, the maximum height is limited to 4.3 meters,
and the total mass of the vehicle and its load must not exceed 56 metric tonnes.
However, as with most countries, there are exceptions to these rules, such
as in South African road trains. Known as Long Combination Vehicles, or “B Doubles”, these
vehicles boast a total length of up to 26 meters. Overloading is a common problem on South
African roads, which can cause damage to the road surface and increase the risk
of accidents. To combat this issue, the South African government has implemented
a system of weighbridges and other enforcement measures to ensure that trucks
are not carrying excessive loads. On average, South African truckers make 200,760
Rand per year, the equivalent of 10,796 US dollars, giving the country the highest salary
for truckers out of any other African nation. South African truckers are limited to
14 hours working in a 24 hour period, 11 hours of which can be spent driving. In a
7 day period, truck drivers can be on duty for a total of 60 hours, though this can be
expanded to 70 hours in an 8 day period. Trucking in South Africa is considered a
dangerous profession for multiple different reasons. Firstly, truck hijackings have
become quite a large issue in the country, particularly in the provinces of
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. These jackings not only put a truck driver’s life
at risk but end up costing trucking companies significantly as most jackings are performed
with the sole intention of stealing the cargo. Other drivers can also pose a great
risk to South African truckers, as the country consistently ranks the seventh
worst in the world and the fourth worst in Africa when it comes to traffic safety. As
traffic regulations are loosely enforced, it’s not uncommon to see reckless driving,
speeding, or sudden lane changes, especially on smaller streets and in less controlled areas.
Reckless truckers pose a major risk to both other truckers and cars, unfortunately crazy truck
drivers have been an issue in South Africa and though some are caught for violating the
law, there are plenty that continue to drive. South Africa is so reliant on those who drive
trucks that their contribution to the economy is essential for the continued development of
the country. Despite all hangups, South African truckers still get to experience some of the most
beautiful natural landscapes in the world and though the state of their industry isn’t perfect,
we should thank them all for the work they do. Thanks for watching, don’t
forget to like, subscribe, and check out the channel’s discord linked
in the description below. Keep your eyes peeled for more Trucking World content
dropping soon and have a wonderful day.
