Overloaded trucks fined

TWO truck drivers were arrested yesterday after their heavily overloaded trucks were stopped by officials at the Mooi River Traffic Control Centre on the N3 highway.

Paul Greyling, the Mpofana Municipality traffic and safety manager, said the trucks had been grossly overloaded.

“The total weight of the first truck was 75860kg, and the total weight of the second was 68 750kg,”said Greyling.

SA National Roads Agency project manager Koogan Pakkiry said that at the overload control facility, heavy vehicles of more than five tons gross mass were weighed and the drivers issued with a fine if the vehicle exceeded the permissible mass. Greyling said the first driver was arrested and received a R7 000 fine after appearing in court, while the second driver paid a fine of R7 500.

Traffic control uses smart technology along the N3 called Weigh-in-motion (WIM) plates that are installed on the road to detect possible overloads.

“WIM is connected to a camera that sends a picture of the truck and registration number to our traffic control centre in order for traffic officers to identify and stop the truck,” said Greyling.

Pakkiry said: “Damage to roads as a result of overloading leads to higher maintenance costs and shortens the life of a road.” – Karen Singh