Lessons from the Fleet Safety Awards
The successful conclusion of another Fleet Safety Awards calls for gratitude to the panel of judges that played a significant role in identifying fleet safety excellence in South Africa. Following the rigorous judging process members of the judging panel reflected on the evolving landscape of fleet safety in the country.
CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says their collective wisdom offers valuable guidance for organisations at every stage of their safety journey. “After carefully evaluating a record number of over 600 entries, the judging panel has the most accurate picture of organisations that demonstrated their road safety strategies successfully.
“The judges shared pertinent points identified during the evaluation process. These highlight not only what sets successful organisations apart but also offer encouragement and practical guidance for those considering participation in future awards.”
Siphamandla Gumbi, Road Safety Senior Manager at the Road Accident Fund, highlights a key trend among leading organisations: the growing recognition of driver health as a fundamental pillar of road safety. “Commercial drivers spend most of their working hours behind the wheel, leaving limited time for physical exercise, preparing nutritious meals, or addressing medical concerns.
“Such constraints frequently lead to health impairments that can contribute to serious crashes. Forward-thinking organisations distinguish themselves by offering dedicated health services, promoting the use of truck-stop wellness facilities, and facilitating regular access to healthcare,” Gumbi adds.
Clare Vale, Director of The Truck Man, says successful fleet management is more than accessing the latest technology and vehicles. The people you manage need to embrace your fleet safety vision for it to truly succeed. Entries that stood out were those that demonstrated a holistic fleet safety vision, irrespective of fleet size,” says Vale.
Ntsoaki Tsokolibane, General Manager of Road Safety at the Road Traffic Management Corporation, encourages those hesitant to enter. “Even organisations with smaller fleets can showcase their commitment to safety and gain recognition. It is also an effective benchmark against fleet safety leaders.
“It is also essential to recognise sustainability efforts as it has both cost savings through reduced fuel and maintenance costs, while enhancing organisational reputation,” says Tsokolibane.
Both Derek Kirkby, Training Director at MasterDrive, and Jeanné Esterhuizen, President of the Retail Motor Industry (RMI), stress the importance of sharing one’s approaches with supporting documents. Kirkby explains: “This documentation is essential to provide tangible evidence needed for informed assessments of each organisation’s safety initiatives.”
Esterhuizen encourages continued pursuit of perfection in road safety. “To quote Winston Churchill ‘To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.’ Organisations must carry on innovating and raising the bar. Excellence is one journey at a time – may we all continue to change intentionally and courageously so that every journey ends with a safe arrival home.”
The judges’ message is clear: excellence in fleet safety is achievable at any scale, and the Fleet Safety Awards demonstrates that safer roads are achievable by everyone.
