All the photos in this case are from checks that the National Roads Administration carried out in the latter part of September – at Svinesund, Ørje or Støkken. Among other things, the inspectors found a wagon train with 24 tonnes of steel beam containers which had 11 straps, but which should have had 20. Several of them were close to bursting. Other findings were brake discs with obvious cracks in them – and car transport where the train was unsafe. Today, the driver has full responsibility if inspectors find serious faults and deficiencies in the train. In a new proposal, the government proposes that the company that owns the vehicle must be given a share of responsibility. This load should have had at least 20 straps, but only had 11. Several of the straps were about to break. Photo: Norwegian Road Administration Stops lorry trains at the border Head of office Øyvind Grotterød in the Norwegian Road Administration has crews who daily stop lorry trains with serious faults and deficiencies. He says drivers in some cases lack knowledge of how the load should be secured. Others lack an understanding of how important it is to secure cargo. The impression is that a lack of load securing is an increasing problem, and that it can be a challenge for the drivers to be left with all the responsibility. Office manager Øyvind Grotterød believes that the lack of cargo securing is an increasing problem. Photo: Christian Nicolai Bjørke/news Inspectors have spoken to drivers who say that they pick up the wagon at some quay in Europe, and that they are then only told to connect. The hangers are often sealed. This means that the driver cannot check what is inside. – We have horror examples of cargo lying completely loose. Diversely, this goes beyond the driver alone. When the load is unsafe, it only takes one evasive maneuver before a serious accident can occur that also involves others. Here there were clear cracks in the brake discs. Photo: The Norwegian Public Roads Administration Wants to weed out the worst The new proposal from the Government means that the company will be given a share of responsibility. This means that the company must actively facilitate that the driver has enough knowledge to secure the load in a good way. This means that the company is responsible for good training, good safety procedures and guidance when securing cargo. Inspectors always come across car loads that are too poorly secured. Photo: Statens vegvesen What duties the company has must be laid down in its own regulations. – This is a step in the right direction, says leader Jan Arne Laberget of the Professional Traffic Association Logistics. He has a long history as a professional driver, with over 40 years behind the wheel. Jan Arne Laberget believes that it is high time that companies are given greater responsibility for lack of security. Photo: Per Christian Lind / Yrkestrafikkforbundet In his experience, serious transport companies in Norway are good at replacing damaged safety equipment in their vehicles, when the drivers resign. It is with the unscrupulous transport companies that the drivers can have a problem, he believes. To save money, they do not replace damaged safety equipment, he explains. – The serious players win with this change in the law. They use the money it costs to have everything in order. This weeds out the unscrupulous transport companies. Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) says the bill will increase safety for drivers, and contribute to more traffic-safe transport. – This is about traffic safety, but also about promoting a more serious working life in the transport sector, he says. The National Accident Investigation Board has investigated several accidents involving heavy vehicles in which poor security has been an important factor. Photo: Norwegian Road Administration Received advice from the Accident Investigation Board As early as 2007, the Accident Investigation Board wrote that a large proportion of drivers or other company employees lack basic competence. It was after an accident where large concrete elements were involved. “There is also no requirement that there should be documentation/calculations showing that such cargo is properly secured”, was the clear conclusion at the time. – What we found out was that there were deficiencies in the placement of cargo. But there has also been a lack of driver training and lack of equipment and routines that the company had around securing loads, says department director Ingvild Ytrehus. She believes that a change in the law can have a preventive effect. The bill has been heard and will now be considered in the Storting. Asko Transport is one of Norway’s largest transport companies. In a text message, director John Strand writes that the company will use time in the future to thoroughly read up on the bill, and what it will mean for the company.
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Tightening the grip on life-threatening truck trains – news Vestland
