Truck driver’s death sparks change
A truck driver who died after a crash on a Coromandel highway had incorrectly loaded his semitrailer with uneven and unsafe weight distribution, a coroner’s report has revealed.
William Murray Rea, 57, from Whitianga, died after the truck and trailer he was driving rolled while negotiating a curve in the road on State Highway 25A on December 3, 2018.
In his report released to Coroner Matthew Bates said Rea was an owner/operator driver for the company Heavy Haulage & Contracting, Whitianga.
On the day of the crash he was contracted by Hauraki Logging Limited to transport heavy machinery from Maramarua to Whangamata¯ .
Bates said it appeared the load was placed on the trailer at an angle to accommodate the size, while complying with width restrictions as it was transported. This meant it was loaded with the wider and heavier mass to the rear of the semi-trailer, with the greater mass resting on and behind the left rear axle set of the semi-trailer.
He said this likely created an unbalanced load, contributing to extra strain and deformation on the semi-trailer’s left suspension units, tyres and deck during cornering.
The hauler pole should have been loaded on the semi-trailer the opposite way, placing the heavier mass closer to and over the centre of the semi-trailer.
Company director of Hauraki Logging Limited Lance Balle, owner of the hauler pole, saw the load leave and noted on previous occasions Rea positioned hauler poles the other way around for transporting, with the heavier end over the driving axles, as opposed to the rear of the trailer.
Rea’s son, Mark Rea, also an employee of the Heavy Haulage and Contracting, saw the load and queried his father via radio about why it was loaded that way. He said it was ‘‘easier to load that way, as opposed to having to remove the trailer and turn everything around and back the truck up’’.
Bates said it appeared Rea determined he could safely transport the load positioned as it was but if he had adopted his previous practice of position, the crash may not have happened.
The Waikato Serious Crash
Unit Report by Constable Ian Cornelius recommended continued education regarding cornering speeds for trucks and promotion of electronic rollover prevention warning systems for trucks, including rollover prevention programmes.
He also recommended further education and enforcement on the importance of correct position of the loads for trucks and continued enforcement and education at roadside truck stops.
Bates recommended the NZ Transport Agency improve the NZ Road Code for heavy vehicle drivers and the related theory tests. He also suggested they work with the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO) to improve the learning material and assessment criteria for heavy motor vehicle licensing and courses, particularly in respect of highlighting the risks of improper weight distribution.
A NZ Transport Agency spokeswoman said they had reviewed the recommendations and they would look to increase awareness of the safety and rollover risks of incorrect loading of vehicles.
‘‘This work will include making improvements to the road code for heavy vehicle drivers and the related theory tests. We will also work with MITO to improve the learning material and assessment criteria for heavy motor vehicle licensing courses, particularly by highlighting the risks of improper weight distribution.’’
She said if the Land Transport Rule Driver Licensing Amendment Rule 2019 proceed, they would also look at the possibility of incorporating elements of load restraint into the practical tests for heavy motor vehicles.
‘‘There are currently several electronic signs on the state highway network that warn of the increased roll over risk for heavy motor vehicles.’’