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As South Africa marks Transport Month this October, JC Auditors (JCA) emphasises that safety on our roads should be a priority every day of the year, not just during designated months. With decades of experience in the transport and logistics sector, JC Auditors recognizes that a consistent, proactive approach to fleet management is key to ensuring safety, minimising crashes, and reducing business disruptions.
The importance of safety cannot be overstated in the road freight industry, where accidents and breakdowns not only endanger lives, but can also cause costly interruptions to business operations. A well-managed commercial fleet reduces these risks significantly. To support fleet owners and operators in managing road safety, JC Auditors recommends focusing on the following key areas including preventive maintenance, payload management, driver mentoring, and fatigue management, with consistent monitoring of the related key performance indicators.
Fleet owners can mitigate road safety risks and prevent business interruptions by embedding these practices into their operations. This approach ensures fewer accidents, reduced vehicle downtime, and optimised efficiency. Additionally, leveraging data from telematics and safety systems provides insights that can drive continuous improvements in fleet safety.
Safety All Year Round
“As a Lead Auditor at www.jcauditors.com, I’ve seen firsthand the critical role that a structured and consistent approach to fleet safety plays in preventing accidents and ensuring operational efficiency,” says Gift Nhlabathi, JCA Lead Auditor with more than 200 audits under his belt. “The road freight industry is fast-paced, and safety can never be compromised. By focussing on key areas such as vehicle maintenance, driver training, and the adoption of advanced technologies, fleet operators can not only reduce risks but also enhance the long-term sustainability of their businesses.”
RTMS: A Two-Decade Success Story
The Road Transport Management System (RTMS), which JC Auditors has championed over the last two decades, has been an exceptional success in promoting safer and more sustainable practices in the transport sector. RTMS certification incorporates global best practices and is a voluntary initiative that ensures fleet operators meet stringent safety, maintenance, and sustainability standards, with notable achievements in reducing crashes and improving overall operational efficiency.
Cost-effective compliance approach
The road freight sector faces increasing pressure to not only meet client delivery demands, but also demonstrate compliance with critical ISO standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. To help transporters navigate these growing challenges, JC Auditors (JCA) has introduced a cost-effective integrated audit approach, allowing transport operations to be assessed against multiple standards in a single audit. This innovative method reduces both audit costs and the number of audit days required, offering significant savings and minimising operational disruption.
Recent audits conducted using JCA’s integrated approach have resulted in cost savings of up to 50% for clients. By consolidating the audit process, transporters benefit from more efficient compliance management, ensuring they meet both regulatory requirements and client expectations while freeing up resources to focus on core business activities.
Partnering for a Safer Future
JC Auditors is continually looking at innovative ways to collaborate with the industry in the collective effort to make the sector safer and more sustainable. As part of this drive, JC Auditors has launched an online survey to gather insights from industry players on the key challenges they face. The feedback from this survey will be crucial in shaping future safety initiatives and programmes, allowing JC Auditors to address the sector’s most pressing concerns. The survey can be accessed on https://bit.ly/JCASurvey
“By working together and sharing best practices, the road transport industry can collectively reduce accidents, prevent disruptions, and build a more sustainable future,” concludes Nhlabathi.