Driver Check Recovers Hi-jacked Trailer
Published |
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2010
Tue
02
Mar
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On Tuesday 1 December last, First Class Logistics, a national transport company, hired out a trailer to a sub-contractor who loaded the trailer with a cargo of tinned foodstuffs in Johannesburg. En route to its destination, the rig had a mechanical problem and the driver pulled over, and notified the transporter. The driver was advised to wait for the mechanical team who would arrive first thing the next morning.
“As the owners of the trailer, we were notified by the mechanical team when they arrived at the reported breakdown area that the trailer and driver were nowhere to be seen. We reported the incident to the police as a case of vehicle theft, unaware at that time that the driver had been attacked and the trailer had been hi-jacked,” says Pregasen Govender, GM of First Class Logistics.
Fortunately for First Class Logistics, they subscribe to the Driver Check driver monitoring service, and all their trailers have the Driver Check call centre sticker on the back. On the Saturday following the incident, a passing motorist spotted an abandoned trailer on the side of the road, noticed the Driver Check Call Centre number, and called it in.
“The call centre logged the call and immediately notified the fleet manager via SMS and email, as well as phoning the business unit manager. This is standard procedure for any incidents called in by motorists,” says Gail Robertson, Sales Director of Driver Check.
“Although designed for motorists to report poor driver behaviour on the roads, any incident relating to the driver or vehicle can be called in as the call centre number is clearly visible on the back of the vehicle. The Driver Check service provides fleet managers with instant feedback on any incidents relating to their fleets, resulting in better management of their drivers and proactive driver training where required.”
According to Govender, the trailer was recovered in perfect condition as a result of the reporting by the motorist, who offered to remain with the trailer until First Class Logistics staff arrived on the scene. The driver was also located a while later, and has recovered from his injuries.
“The trailer is valued at R300 000. This could have been an expensive and drawn out insurance claim if we had not been able to recover the trailer in good condition, or if it had been recovered at all,” says Govender.
“The Driver Check monitoring service has now proved itself over and above its intended service of monitoring and reporting on our driver and fleet trends. In fact, we have just put 20 additional vehicles onto the system. Not only are we getting driver feedback, but it is a way of protecting our assets as well. ”
Govender adds: “In a time where our fixed costs are increasing, and revenues are decreasing, we are all facing shrinking profit margins, so every cent is a factor. Driver Check is reasonably priced and so, as transporters, we were willing to look at the service to reduce fleet costs through better driver behaviour, and less maintenance on the vehicles. The recovery of this trailer has been a huge saving for First Class Logistics.”
For further information on Driver Check, please contact Gail Robertson on 083 229-5856.
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