Understanding the risks of truck rollovers and how to prevent them

The trucking industry, a vital artery of South Africa’s economy, faces unique challenges, particularly when it comes to vehicle stability and safety. With the extra weight carried by trucks, the risk of rollovers is significantly heightened.

According to Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive, understanding how to mitigate these risks is critical for drivers and organisations alike.

Rollover incidents can be catastrophic, both for the individuals involved and the companies that operate these vehicles. The repercussions often ripple throughout the entire supply chain, leading to fatal accidents, severe injuries, and costly damages. Herbert emphasises that minor errors can frequently lead to the destruction caused by a rollover. “By enabling drivers to understand how simple adjustments to driving can help avoid a rollover, it empowers them to identify risky scenarios and make changes to their driving,” he said.

One primary factor contributing to truck rollovers is speeding, particularly in scenarios where speed adjustment is crucial. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that over 35% of rollovers stem from not slowing down in time. This includes cornering sharply or not accounting for the weight of the load. Herbert elucidates that excessive speed affects the gravitational forces acting on a truck, pulling weight away from the centre of gravity, thereby increasing instability.

Inattentive driving also plays a significant role in rollover occurrences. Herbert points out that focus on the road ahead is paramount; any distraction or drowsiness can extend the reaction time to obstacles and increase the likelihood of sudden manoeuvrers that destabilise the vehicle. The interplay of speed and inattentiveness can create a perfect storm, where a full load may dramatically shift the centre of gravity, making rollovers almost inevitable.

Perhaps the most critical factor, as highlighted by Herbert, is driver error. This encompasses a range of inadequacies, from insufficient training and experience to poor judgement in challenging conditions. Errors, such as not fully understanding the nature of the load, following too closely, or simply lacking situational awareness, can have disastrous consequences. This reinforces the urgent need for stringent hiring practices and ongoing training to monitor driver performance and correct deficiencies in real time.

MasterDrive’s Rollover Prevention training programme addresses these concerns head-on. Herbert explains that the training provides a practical perspective on the ease with which rollovers can occur. For instance, specialised outriggers are used to simulate rollover conditions, allowing drivers to recognise that once a rollover is initiated, it is often too late to employ corrective measures.

While the frequency of truck crashes may be lower than passenger vehicle incidents, the severity of truck accidents typically looms much larger. It underlines the importance of comprehensive risk reduction strategies. “Taking all measures to reduce one’s risk is essential,” states Herbert.