Promoting safety in supply chains

Certification body JC Auditors and non-profit company (NPC) the Road Transport Management System (RTMS) have been recognised at the inaugural African Supply Chain Excellence Awards. The Awards celebrate the vital role played by supply chain management and honour the achievements of organisations and individuals working in the field in Africa.

“JC Auditors is pleased to have been recognised for its role in promoting safety, compliance, and efficiency,” says managing director Oliver Naidoo, who enthuses about the RTMS self-regulation initiative: “We have pioneered RTMS audits and certification in South Africa, in collaboration with the RTMS NPC, which promotes the adoption of the RTMS standard in various supply chains.”

In a joint presentation to the African Supply Chain Excellence Awards, JC Auditors and the RTMS NPC highlighted the work done to increase safety and efficiency on the roads by implementing a management system that demonstrates compliance with the road traffic regulations and contributes to preserving road infrastructure.

“The RTMS aims to mitigate the consequences of heavy vehicle overloading and poor compliance to road safety,” explains Naidoo. “Even though RTMS was initially mooted as an overload control mechanism, it has evolved into a holistic system of managing road transport operations.”

In South Africa, approximately 14 000 people die on the roads each year. Heavy vehicle overloading and a culture of non-compliance have continued to present a significant challenge to the country, despite the concerted efforts of law enforcement. Another challenge has been the high prevalence of inadequately maintained vehicles, while many transport operations don’t monitor key risk factors such as speeding, general driver behaviour, or adequate resting time for drivers.

According to Naidoo, the failure of transport operators to implement a holistic, structured road transport management system is a root cause of the high crash rates within the heavy vehicle road transport sector. “RTMS is increasingly being adopted by the transport sector as more benefits become evident,” he adds. “These include a reduced number of crashes and incidents in the country, a real reduction in overloading in several sectors, and overall improved driver behaviour – thanks to ongoing training – as well as improved driver health and wellness.”