Abu Dhabi: With around 60 per cent of all freight trucks in the capital failing to meet maintenance standards, the Department of Transport (DoT) is working to codify the manner in which the sector operates.

Having launched its Freight Master Plan (FMP) in February 2014, the DoT introduced today (Tuesday) new requirements for all heavy vehicle companies wishing to renew their trade licences at the Department of Economic Development (DED).

By simply visiting the www.freight2030.ae website, company officials must fill in basic information about their institution such as the contact details for managers before going to the DED to renew their licence.

“Around 2,500 companies will be affected by this change — these are institutions that have failed to provide any sort of proper contact information through which we can contact them. Most major companies and many upcoming ones already comply with this rule. In fact, this is a step to level the playing field between larger and smaller companies. Some argue that by failing to comply with certain ethical standards such as performing maintenance check-ups on vehicles, smaller companies are undercutting larger ones,” said Jonathan James, section head of Freight Policies at the DoT.

Meanwhile, Dr Osama Tomeh, consultant at the Freight Planning division, said that such improvements are necessary and are considered the ‘growing pains’ of developing countries like the UAE.

“Drivers will directly benefit from the new policies because the FMP contains regulations on limiting the overworking of drivers and their levels of fatigue.”

In fact, the DoT surveyed 517 drivers of whom 45 per cent said that they work over 10 hours a day.

“This significantly increases the risk of fatigue-related accidents,” the expert said.

Aside from safety concerns, one of the main reasons behind the implementation of new policies in the sector is encouraging new investors in the field.

“When our freight transport sector is reliable and trustworthy, investors can be sure that their commodities will be safely taken from point A to point B without the risk of road accidents. If there was such a danger, then they might have to invest elsewhere or get insurance, which is costly,” said Dr. Ahmad Al Hammadi, director of Freight Transportation at the DoT.

 

Defects found during the 2013 inspections of over 500 trucks:

Vehicle lights – 82 per cent

Brakes – 60 per cent

Tyres – 57 per cent

Windscreen washers – 46 per cent

Fire extinguishers – 29 per cent

Seat belt – 20 per cent

Suspension – 14 per cent

Windscreen wipers – 12 per cent

Around 60 per cent of vehicles fail their annual safety inspection at their first visit

Source: Department of Transport (DoT) Abu Dhabi