From The Editor’s Desk

Whenever I come across road construction, I feel…happy. Yes, I know that’s not the usual reaction. Being stuck in a Stop/Go queue when you’re in a hurry is frustrating. And then crawling behind a heavily loaded truck alongside a roadworks stretch as it grinds up a hill on a single lane will test anyone’s patience. And we’ve all seen the danger: impatient drivers taking reckless chances, only to find themselves staring down an on-coming truck in a near head-on collision. That’s exactly why I don’t rush it.

If I’m behind a slow-moving side-tipper on a stretch of road construction, I stay put until it’s safe. No chances. Instead, I take a breath, wind down the window and give a quiet nod of appreciation to the big guy in front of me. Why? Because that truck is working for all of us, carrying chrome or some other commodity to port for export. It’s helping to keep South Africa’s economy turning. It may be slow going up that hill but it’s forward movement. And that’s the point. Roadworks, for all their inconvenience, are a visible sign of progress. They create jobs in a country that desperately needs them. They upgrade infrastructure that underpins economic growth. And when the work is done, the benefits are undeniable: smoother roads, faster trip times, improved fuel efficiency, reduced wear and tear, and safer journeys for everyone.

For the trucking industry, the gains are even more significant. Less idling. Lower operating costs. Reduced driver fatigue. Better transport productivity. Greater transport efficiency. In short, the ‘holy grail’ of transport – productivity and efficiency – moves closer within reach. And that doesn’t just benefit transport operators. It strengthens competitiveness, supports sustainability and ultimately fuels economic growth. As John F. Kennedy famously put it: “American roads are not good because America is rich; America is rich because American roads are good.” The same principle applies here.

If you want to experience the opposite of this, take a drive along the R36 in Mpumalanga from Lydenburg to the Bambi Motel at the juncture with the N4. This stretch of road – well, one can’t call it a road for it has deteriorated through lack of maintenance into a horrible dirt track; an absolute disaster and mess. The trucks that have to ply this road carrying chrome and magnetite from places like Steelpoort and Dwarsrivier to Maputo harbour are being destroyed by this road. Bent axles, burst airbags, cracked chassis and hanger brackets, cut tyres, excessive brake wear because of the mud and sludge that gets into the brake drums – and more. This road is a truck and productivity killer and does nothing to fuel economic growth. The authorities responsible for this road over the years need to hang their heads in shame at allowing such a critical economic route to deteriorate to this extent.  

So next time you’re stuck at a roadworks delay, don’t just see the inconvenience. See the investment. Take a breath. Turn up your favourite song. Maybe even give a wave to the person holding the red flag. You might still be delayed but at least you’ll know it’s for a reason. And that’s a far better place to be than the frustration truckers face every day on the Lydenburg-Bambi ‘gemors’ of a so-called road.

Patrick O’Leary
Managing Editor, FleetWatch