Author: StephanieR

It is, unfortunately, a reality that many truckers are involved in accidents and in our first part of this article we spoke about the various ways you can take precautions, both from a safety and legal standpoint if you are.

The other reality is that just by the nature of your job and the fact that Truckers spend most of their lives on the road, that they are often the first on the scene of the accidents of others.

The following advice applies to this kind of situation and not all of it is compulsory by law but we must remember that, as Truckers, we usually represent either the company that employs us or our own business. Either way, we will gain both morally and in reputation if we take all these steps to try to assist others both physically and/or legally if we are witnesses.

Pull off the road

Whether you witness the accident or not and have already stopped, even if you think it may prevent the other vehicles still on the road from being run into, don’t stay in the road. It will just put your vehicle in danger of being hit. 

Pull off the road, turn you hazard lights on and place your hazard warning signs (you should always be carrying at least 2 of these in your vehicle) in the middle of the road at a good distance apart to ensure oncoming traffic cannot run into the other vehicles.

Call for help

Even as you run to the scene to survey the situation call your cell emergency service or 10111 to get the authorities to the scene ASAP. If you have a medical kit in your vehicle take it with you.

Assist medically – only if you can

If you see that anyone is badly injured do not move them unless they are in great danger if not moved. Immediately call for an ambulance. Only assist with basic medical assistance or CPR if you have taken any sort of first aid or a CPR course. We strongly advise that, due to the nature of their work, all Trucking companies should arrange for basic first aid and CPR courses for Drivers.

Comfort any injured people as best you can – remember shock is almost always the first response in an accident so give a blanket to a badly injured person and try to calm all parties – don’t get involved in arguments about how it happened. Be the calming influence.

Stay on the scene

Even if you didn’t witness the accident, but were the first to arrive, your testimony could be very important from a legal standpoint and in this way you can assist with the correct assessment of the accident and ensure justice is done.

If you are the only one able to do anything, while you wait for help take photographs of the scene with your phone. These too can be invaluable evidence. Stay on the scene until help arrives and honestly answer whatever questions the authorities may have.

The Great Trucking manufacturer that assists where we can

FAW South Africa is a company that build trucks in South Africa for Africa. We have all our Trucking companies’ and their Drivers’ best interests at heart and we hope these advice pieces are helpful to both. Watch this space for more great Trucking advice regularly.  

Our range of brand new and premium pre-owned Freight Carriers, Truck Tractors, Tippers and Mixers all with extensive warranties and 24/7 backup service are the pride of many of our countries top Trucking, logistics and contracting firms, so contact us today to talk about your special requirements or directly find a dealership near you.

Stay alert on the road and always stay safe!   

When local company Magnum Sand and Stone, received the latest of their already extensive fleet of vehicles from FAW S.A, it was something to behold. A massive ‘rosy pink’ coloured 33.420FT truck and trailer combination that gave a completely new meaning to the term ‘pink power!’

This vehicle represented, not only a special gift to a very valued client, but because it was delivered in National Women’s month in South Africa, the empowerment of women everywhere. The name of the vehicle – June – The woman recipient – June Jenkins, the heart and soul of this successful Alberton based family business.

A great partnership

FAW S.A, and in particular dealership FAW Isando, had once again gone the extra mile for this very special client with whom there has been a relationship spanning some 18 years. It was, in fact, a symbolic gesture by husband and owner Ian Jenkins, to mark June’s Birthday and pay tribute to this remarkable woman and loved ones she has lost along the way.  

The Magnum Sands Slogan ‘’The Sky is the limit’’ is a testament to the company’s growing commitment to succeeding in the highly competitive South African construction industry. FAW SA and FAW Isando are honoured to be a part of this success story and with the accolades that June bestows upon them, confident that the meaningful relationship will continue to flourish in the years to come.

“The support from both an aftersales and sales perspective is fantastic” enthuses June “and in our industry, your relationship with your supplier is of paramount importance – and above all communication is everything.’’

Inspirational words

In celebration of Women’s Month, we asked June what advice she would offer aspiring businesswomen operating in or entering the market today – ‘’Surround yourself with the right people, people that you trust and those who have the company’s best interests at heart. Like our businesses’ relationship with FAW, a business is like family, it takes trust, commitment and a passion for what you do to ensure success’’

When next you see a ‘rosy pink’ 33.420FT truck and trailer turn the corner – trust your eyes – it’s just a symbol of the great power of brawn and beauty combined.

We have, in a few of our articles, given some pretty solid advice on how Drivers can try to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, sometimes accidents do happen to you, even if it’s not your fault.

Additionally, being on the road all the time means the chances are pretty good that you may be the first to come across the scene of an accident that has occurred with others. 

In both cases, certain procedures can be followed which will enable you as Driver, in the case of your own accident to conduct yourself well whilst reducing liability – and in the case of another’s accident, enable you to be of assistance or even save another person’s life!

In this first part of a 2 part article, we deal with correct procedures in terms of you being involved in an accident. This is only applicable to a minor accident where you have not been severely harmed or made unconscious.

The series of events that should take place is as follows…

Take a deep breath

You must be as calm and clear as possible, so take a deep breath and be sure you are thinking clearly. Check if you have been injured in any way. If you feel intense pain it is critical to remain where you are and wait for assistance.

If you are fine and can easily pull the vehicle to the side of the road then do so. If however, you feel it is important that the vehicles remain where they are to prove what happened in the accident then leave the vehicles where they are until the traffic authorities arrive.

Secure the scene and Call for assistance

Alight from the vehicle cautiously and where another vehicle is involved, check if the other driver is ok. Call for medical assistance if any emergency assistance is required (usually 10111 or 112 when calling from a mobile phone). The next thing to do especially if either of the vehicles is in the road is to put your reflector signs out so motorists approaching from both sides are warned.

Then call the police to the scene so they can make notes on the nature of the accident. Following that, if you are driving for a company, notify them. There is a good chance that your company will have trained you in a procedure that they want you to follow, so adhere to that. This article is really more for the SME guys who may not have a formal procedure to follow. 

Be aware of legalities

It is important that you say nothing incriminating to the other Driver. Even an ‘I’m sorry’ could go against you in a legal situation, so it is better to remain calm, neutral and simply exchange details whilst you wait for the police to arrive.

Remember you still represent your company no matter what the cause of the accident, so try to keep the whole procedure as dignified as possible. Look for witnesses if there are any and perhaps just get their details too. It will be up to the police to get a statement from them.

Take photos

Particularly if you believe the accident was the fault of the other Driver, take pictures with your cell phone. Take as many as possible. Whether you are with a company or running your own business this photographic evidence can be invaluable in an enquiry into the accident.

If it is just a small bumper bashing, just get the vehicle off the road, take the other Driver’s details and pictures and ensure the accident is reported at a police station writhing 24hrs to obtain a case number to forward your insurance.

Assisting Drivers with great advice and vehicles

We hope this kind of advice is useful to our Trucking companies and their Drivers – watch this space for part 2 on assisting others when alighting upon an accident.

FAW South Africa build great Freight carriers, Truck tractors, Tippers and Mixers, brand new with excellent warranties and service plans, or premium pre-owned. Our vehicles are built by South Africans for Africa so connect with a dealer near you and check out our great range.

Stay safe on and off the roads – and hopefully accident-free!

Finally, we have moved to level 2 of the lockdown regulations, and we can get back to work. For Truckers, this is a great relief, for although some heroically continued delivering emergency services during the pandemic, many were out of work.

So as we get back to normal, we felt it was necessary to deal once again with one of the other high causes of death, and that is road accidents. Unfortunately due to the size of the vehicles that they drive and a few other work-related causes, Truckers are involved in a very high portion of the deaths on our roads. 

The fatal RIDES

The word RIDES is easy to remember, and therefore we chose to use it to help our Drivers remember the 5 main causes of accidents amongst Truckers. Some believe it is great advice as if you can avoid these common trucking-related issues we could have far fewer deaths on our roads – and far fewer Truckers deaths too!

R is for Right of way

Simply refusing the right of way to other vehicles is a major cause of trucking accidents. Even if the other car doesn’t have the right of way remember if you see they are taking the right of way, you are the bigger vehicle, so be the bigger person and just let them go. It’s better to be frustrated than haunted by a fatal accident.

I is for Impairment – Physical and mechanical

Any form of physical impairment can have dire consequences. We have spoken of these often when talking about trucker safety. The biggest one is fatigue due to driving too many hours without rest. Remember by law; you are protected against having to drive unreasonable hours. Alcohol or drugs or even medicines like cough mixtures that make you drowsy can all be a hazard.

The impairment of vehicles is also a common cause of trucking fatalities. Poor brakes, tyres, or vehicles that are simply not roadworthy can all be causes of accidents on the roads. 

D is for Distractions

So many Truckers have lost their lives or caused others to lose their lives through simple distractions. There are laws against using cell phones on the road, but some drivers are caught texting while driving despite this, and this is now a common cause of accidents.

According to research into the distractions that cause the most accidents, these also include “writing something down, using a calculator, looking at a map, reading, personal grooming, reaching for an object and eating!”

Remember there are only two places for both eyes to be at every moment of the journey – fixed on the road ahead, and momentarily (when it is safe to do so) in a rear-view mirror.

E is for the Emergency lane

Another alarming statistic is of the number of accidents that are caused by drivers, either being parked dangerously in an emergency lane (on a blind rise or just around a corner) or emerging too quickly from an emergency lane because they are simply tired of waiting to be let back onto the road. 

S is for Speeding and stopping distance 

Simply speeding and not calculating the distance you need to be travelling away from the vehicle in front of you is a common cause of death for all road users. Still, for Truckers, it is exceptionally dangerous.

The size of the vehicle dictates that the stopping distance needs to be far greater than in a normal car. It is estimated that when travelling at just 100km per hour, a truck, no matter how good its brakes, needs 50% more stopping distance!

The trucking company that cares

FAW South Africa builds solid, safe vehicles for dependable Drivers, and we really do care that all our Drivers are safe on our roads. We also recognise the need for a dealer network that is capable of providing only superior and professional sales and after-sales support to its customers. 

So, contact a dealer near you and check out our website for our full range of excellent new and premium pre-owned vehicles. Stay alert and especially stay safe on the road!

It’s true to say we live in a stressful world. Coronavirus, the high pressures of work and for the professional Trucker, ever-increasing traffic particularly in ever-burgeoning urban areas. A trip from Johannesburg to Tshwane for example used to have a fair stretch of country road along the way, now it is a busy four-lane highway – jam-packed most of the day. 

It is an ever-changing world from a technological point of view too, and the high tech logistics that are employed today may make many Truckers feel like they are just numbers being moved from pillar to post.

Within the Industry as many Drivers know, there is a new breed of Truckers, who may have forgotten the essentials of what constitutes a real professional. It’s not enough to be able to deliver the loads to the right place, and on time, there are ethics and a certain demeanour that only true professionals adhere to and exhibit.

From the time they collect their load, all along the way and when the load is safely delivered there are 7 attributes of a truly professional Trucker…

1. They always have a smile on their faces 

At the collection point, amongst all their colleagues and the Trucking business’ clients, if the Driver is employed by others, the true professional has a smile on their face and a good word to impart to all they meet. If you are not generally happy, then possibly you simply chose the wrong career, and even in tough times, a cheerful approach will always benefit others.

2. They give way to others
   

It may be hard to do for many Drivers, but the true Professional knows there is always time to be polite. They will wait for other trucks to go ahead when leaving the truck stop and give way for others to go before them as they pull into truck stops and their final destination. Always remember you are driving a large vehicle that takes a little more time to manoeuvre – so have some patience.

3. They will let others pass

This politeness should extend to the open road too, allowing others to pass whenever you sense that they are impatient, but obviously if it is safe for them to do so. It’s better to slow down a bit and let someone go by than to have them threatening an accident by hanging closely on your tail!

4. They will ignore the rudeness of others

You will always recognise a true professional by the way they’re simply not bothered by others who are being rude. They know they are driving and behaving correctly, and if others are incensed because they are impatient, they know it is simply part of the job description to ignore them. Remember a cheerful smile and a wave will completely disarm someone giving the finger!

5. They will always help others

The professional will stop to help a fellow Driver in distress, or even a member of the public if they deem it safe to do so. Sadly we do live in a time that as a Driver you need to assess if it is safe to stop, especially if you are a female Driver. If not, at least radio for help on their behalf.

6. They are always the true professional

The true professional is someone who assumes their role proudly and does not waiver from it whatever their personal circumstances may be. If your company has given you a uniform to wear, then wear it proudly. Remember these 4 ‘D’s of a real professional – Dress well, Drive well, Deliver on time and Don’t ever let your fellow drivers down!

7. He takes pride in the vehicles he drives 

A truly Professional trucker always takes pride in their vehicle, looking after it and assuring it is still in great shape. That’s why we at FAW take such great pride in the vehicles we manufacture and supply.

We are South Africans who make the best there is for Africa, and our impressive range of new and used Freight carriers, Mixers, Truck Tractors and Tippers offers the highest quality vehicles available anywhere. All come with excellent warranties and 24/7 after-sales service. 

Check out our current special offers, visit one of our countrywide dealers or contact us directly for free advice and quotations. Remember always to be a true professional – and be safe out there!

August is National Women’s Month in South Africa, and we celebrate our National Woman’s Day on Aug 9th. It is a time when women proudly celebrate their efforts towards attaining gender equality, and men salute them for all that they are to society in every aspect of life.

When we celebrated International Women’s Day in March, the theme was to create gender equality and women everywhere were encouraged to do this by empowering themselves and their Sisters. This meant being educated and skilled enough to stand with heads held high in a predominantly man’s world.

It is a sad indictment of our South African society that 2/3 of the jobs lost due to the pandemic were those of women, many of whom are the main breadwinners in their family. 

A fresh young approach to Trucking

Ironically it is also International Youth Day on August 12th and young females, far better educated and emancipated than in previous years, are seeking jobs in many areas, some of which were primarily the domain of men. One of these, of course, is trucking and not so long ago female Truckers in South Africa were almost unheard of. 

In the USA Truckers call each other ‘good buddy,’ and the question is will you be a ‘good buddy’ to your female counterparts when female Truckers are growing stronger on the SA Trucking scene? There’s certainly plenty to go around so men need not feel threatened either. The demand for truckers is high, but the employment rate for women is low. 

A News 24 report had this to say ‘Statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) earlier this year revealed that South Africa has startlingly low rates of employed women at 50.9% of the female population aged 25 to 54. Alongside this, reports that South Africa needs at least 15 000 new professional truck drivers every year only points to the importance for women in trucking to be prioritised as a growing requirement.”

Opportunities are emerging

Fortunately, opportunities are emerging, and there are a number of Driver academies available for women who wish to become Truckers. Three years ago women active role players in the transport and logistics field came together to launch the Emerging Truckers Association of South Africa (TASA). The aim of the association – officially launched in Sandton, Johannesburg – was to help bring on transformation in the industry. The leading women sought to create an environment where emerging and upcoming role-players could also succeed and form part of the thriving field.

Always leading by example 

One of South Africa’s leading truck manufacturers and suppliers, FAW, always in the thick of whatever is driving the transport industry, has an excellent Driver training program, open to all races and genders.

This is part of our Total Quality care program ensuring aftersales service across the board. Sadly, not all these can be provided during the pandemic, but we, like the rest of this great country of ours, do believe that this shall pass and we will once again be able to assist in all areas.

In the meantime contact us to learn more – and contact one of our countrywide qualified Dealers to assist you with the purchase of one of our high quality new or used vehicles.

We salute women throughout the country at this time and sincerely hope that all our male truckers too will wholly support our female trainees and Truckers of the future. Travel safe!

As always we want to praise the many Truckers who continue to operate throughout the pandemic, as it is still very real and we have a long way to go before it is over.

We posted what we hoped were some useful articles on Driver safety in relation to dealing with COVID-19, which now that we have entered phase three and things are beginning to normalise, we hope Drivers are still practising.

We feel it is time to move on now though and talk about a safety issue that every Driver should be very aware of all the time – and that is that what you’re watching could save your life!

Yes, the eyes are your most valuable asset when it comes to being a professional Driver and little wonder that after hours of concentration, it is the eyes that grow most weary. So, let’s take a look at a few essential safety practices relating to what you are watching when on the road.

Distraction

As all Drivers know, one of the largest cause of accidents is through taking your eyes off the road. It only takes a minor distraction and a split second to stop looking straight ahead. The golden rule of thumb is if you need to do anything that you can’t do while still looking straight ahead at the road – then don’t do it.

The cell phone has become one of the biggest distractions and exactly why its usage whilst driving is prohibited!

Be far-sighted

Not only keep your eyes on the road but look and think ahead as far as possible. Observe off-ramps, roadworks, other vehicles driving poorly etc. Also, look for low bridges or low hanging wires. Remember that anything that doesn’t look quite right could be trouble. Rather be suspicious than complacent.

Glancing around is important

Remember, you can glance around. In fact, it is necessary to check your wing and rear-view mirrors constantly. Always know who’s behind you or might be trying to overtake. Also always look for an escape route if you sense trouble. If you see a car ahead coming the other way trying desperately to overtake – rather pull back and pull over to ensure if he overtakes at the wrong time, you will not be in his path.

Make space 

Always keep a good space between you and the Truck or car ahead, ensuring you have better visibility and a better chance to brake on time. In fact, try if you can to keep this safety distance all around you. If the car behind you is right up your rear then just let him pass and hope the next guy will know the rules of the road.

Check your gauges

Again, just with a glance, keep an eye on the important info you can get from your front panel gauges, your GPS and even have a weather gauge to warn of inclement or dangerous conditions. These all have functions to warn you of issues and advise on better routes etc.

Be looking good

While your eyes are on the road, many other Driver’s eyes will be on your FAW freight carrier, Truck tractor, tipper or mixer – all rugged vehicles built in South Africa for Africans.

Our current special is a 6.130FL for only R239 000 excl. VAT. (Chassis Cab only). Which means – this 3,5 ton workhorse, complete with a Cummins engine and an optional 3year/180 000km Service Plan, could be yours for the price of a 1 ton!

Contact us today to learn more – and always be safe out there!

As things get back to normal post-pandemic, there are a lot of Truckers and small trucking businesses that are taking strain from possibly long periods of not working. Sure, we had plenty of Trucking heroes, who continued to deliver emergency good throughout the pandemic, but it was not the case for every business.

Some smaller trucking companies, like one man carriers, now have to struggle to get back on track, and some individual Drivers will have had to take pay cuts. This article deals with both and talks about getting back on track for Truckers after the pandemic.

Getting your small business back on track

Of course, every business is different and will have been affected differently, but here, in essence, are the three phases of getting back on track after the storm has passed…

Review the damage

Do some damage control. Check what losses you have incurred, income, staff, clients etc. Be thorough and make sure your financials are right up to date, so you get an accurate report.

Go back to your original business plan. Did you have any contingency built in to help you through such times? Most businesses are encouraged to have at least a few months income available for just such times.

Redirect your operations

Look into whether you need to get some financial assistance. There has been quite a lot available during this period, and this article may help – relief and advice for SMMEs weathering the storm. Also, decide on where you will go from here from a structural point of view.

Can you change the operation to be more effective on less budget? There have been the advantages of lowered petrol prices and some businesses selling stock very cheaply. Can you benefit from these and how?

Reset your goals for the future

Now reset your goals and create a definite timeline for when you expect to be back to where you were pre-pandemic. Stick with your new budgets and plans and ensure you build in some contingency plans for any future upheavals.

4 point plan for Drivers who took pay cuts

For those Drivers who, due to the difficulties their companies are facing, have taken pay cuts, here is a simple 4 point plan to help deal with it and soften the blow…

1. Re-adjust your budget – prioritising your most important expenses and cutting non-essentials
2. Negotiate with creditors. Almost all creditors are extremely flexible at this time and will allow a more extended period to pay
3. Look into other sources of income – i.e. talk to your family and look around for interest-free or low-interest loans
4. Look into possible other ways to earn money – is their part-time work you can do – or maybe a home-based product you could sell at a market in your spare time?

FAW will be with you

Whatever your circumstances, FAW, with advice pieces like this one, our Total Quality Care initiatives and assistance and an impressive range of new and used vehicles, many offering the lowest cost per ton available anywhere, will always be there for you.

Contact us, or find a dealership near you for all the advice you will need on your next purchase of any of South Africa’s finest Freight carriers, Truck tractors, Tippers and Mixers. Like every other dark cloud, even COVID-19 will eventually pass and given time and the high resilience always shown by our people; we will get back on track – so stay positive and stay safe!

Our recent articles have mostly focused on the Truckers who have continued to work during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic – those superheroes who have potentially risked life and limb to keep emergency supplies going.

What many people don’t realise is that there have been numerous companies in all areas of the trucking industry that have suffered a very difficult time through this lockdown. Not all companies deal with emergency supplies, and the financial toll on the trucking industry has been significant.

Some of the hard facts

An interesting IOL business report spoke about the devastating effect of the pandemic on the industry and “The effects of the economic decay are now becoming visible, as cracks in the economy start to show,” said Gavin Kelly, the chief executive of the Road Freight Association (RFA).

As far back as the end of April, when the report was released, it was said that “The results of the RFA’s recent Lockdown Survey indicated that the vast majority of trucking companies were already in a critical phase where they did not see themselves existing past the end of April in the event that the existing limitations were extended.  Many institutions have noted that it will take between one to three weeks to get back to reasonable efficiencies – some even longer,” said Kelly.

As we all know, we only went to phase three at the beginning of June, so who knows how great the financial toll has really been. Truckers and the trucking industry are tough nuts to crack though, as has been revealed in the tremendous spirit they had exhibited in continuing to deliver emergency supplies when most of the population were firmly locked down. So we are ready now to really start getting back to business.

Some words of caution

Just a few words of advice though for all those Drivers who will be back on the road now. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security; all health safety precautions still need to be observed rigidly. Many believe we are nowhere near the peak of the contamination cycle and will only reach it in July or even later. So these are the precautions required as per the regulations in phase 3 – and a couple more that we advise.

• Wear a mask at all times in public and maintain social distancing from all you meet outside your own home. This is especially critical if you are paired with another Driver.
• Use high alcohol (Min 70%) base spray to continuously spray the cabin of your vehicle and anything you carry and touch in the course of the day – including the packaging of fast foods or drinks you buy. (Avoid eating or drinking the alcohol spay though!)
• Continuously use hand sanitiser and wash your hands for a minimum of 20sec with soap and water – and immediately remove your clothes and have a shower when returning home if possible.
• Most importantly, don’t even think of reporting for work if you feel sick, particularly with flu-like symptoms. Stay at home, isolate and if it gets worse, then call the emergency hotline number – 0800 029 999 – to arrange to get tested. 

In a Positive Light

As one of the leading truck manufacturers and key role players in the trucking industry, FAW has also had to take our knocks, but can only say we salute all those truckers who have kept the flag flying in this critical time and congratulate everyone who is now back to work.

We have for many years been building a wide range of great quality freight carriers, truck tractors, tippers and mixers in South Africa for Africans and we won’t stop now. If you are ready to hit the trail again then visit our website to find a dealer near you, or contact us for any advice and assistance, we may be able to give you to get back on your feet and up and running again.

Be careful, be alert and especially – be safe!

We all applaud the deeds and efforts of health workers and those at the front line of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic – and rightfully so. One of the groups of pandemic heroes though that are often not recognised are our Truckers who tirelessly and unselfishly have continued to ensure that essential supplies have been delivered, in spite of the health risks that they face.

Stress is a health hazard too!

We recently posted a two-part series on good habits that truckers can adopt to fight health hazards, and not the least of these is stress. The stress of long hours of staying awake, staying alert, staying fit in spite of spending hours cooped up in a confined space – these all take their toll.

So what are some good habits for Tuck Drivers to relieve stress?

Eat and drink well

Just like maintaining general health, stress is greatly reduced by the body being filled with the right nutrients. Foods like Brazil nuts, containing selenium which calms the brain, fatty fish like sardines or salmon which contain omega 3 – and anything high in antioxidants like dark chocolate and green tea – are all good calming agents.

Caffeine, like that, found particularly in coffee and high caffeine drinks, creates mood swings and anxiety, and although many truckers use it to stay awake, it is not a good idea to have too much. Moderate this and drink juice and teas – especially Chamomile tea – which is very soothing.

Breathe

One of the best ways to control stress is to breathe – nice and easy and deeply. If you find yourself getting very tense, as being on the road can often cause, just breathing in through the nose slowly for the count of eight and then out through the mouth slowly for the count of 10 – can work wonders!

Keep it smooth

Play soothing, calm music on the radio, or listen to any audio that tends to make you relaxed, possibly something spiritual? Just be sure it is not so soothing that it makes you drowsy. Classical music or smooth jazz is always good and will have you smiling at that lunatic that keeps honking at you so he can pass on a blind rise!

Exercise breaks

As any traveller knows, sitting and concentrating too long can become tiresome and stressful. Even if you pull over into a lay-by from time to time and walk around the truck a few times – try to get some regular exercise breaks. If you are feeling very stressed or anxious, even try a short ‘power nap’ to calm the brain.

Plan ahead and leave on time

They say the biggest stress (and one of the most significant causes of accidents) that Truckers face is the impatience and recklessness brought on by fearing you will not deliver in time. The golden rule for Truckers is to plan your route and the timeline of your trip (allowing for comfortable stops) well in advance.

Don’t leave anything to the last moment and leave in plenty of time to deliver on time. Remember that being late means you won’t take those very important exercise breaks and find it hard to breathe easy.

Drive a reliable vehicle

Knowing you’re in a good, well built, solid, reliable vehicle with a good warranty, gives you a lot of peace of mind and that’s the best way to beat stress. FAW South Africa have been building Freight carriers, Truck tractors, Tippers and Mixers in South Africa, for Africans, for many years – and all come with great warranties and 24/7 backup.

Visit our website, and you could find all manner of great deals on used and brand new vehicles – like the FAW 6.130FL for only R239 000 excl. VAT. (Chassis Cab only). Which means – this 3.5-ton workhorse, complete with a Cummins engine and an optional 3year/180 000km Service Plan could be yours for the price of a 1 ton. This is the lowest cost per ton anywhere!

Contact us directly or find a dealer near you to find out about this and many other great vehicles available – and all the benefits that come with purchasing a FAW vehicle.

Stay calm – stay healthy – and especially, stay safe!