​The Act imposes limits on the load that a truck is allowed to carry, depending on the vehicle specifications.This to ensure that the truck does not pose a hazard to other road users, or cause damage to road infrastructure.

There are three weigh stations within Cape Town’s city limits – at the N7 near Vissershok, Joostenberg Vlakte and in Somerset West.

These weigh stations or weighbridges are used to check abnormal loads and whether drivers are operating within the conditions of their permits.

The weighbridges are manned by a service provider appointed by the Western Cape Transport Department. They capture vehicle information like the area of origin, where it is headed, what the cargo is and so forth. Staff also check the vehicle in terms of the Road Transport Quality Sytem and weigh the vehicle to check compliance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act.

‘The City’s Traffic Service, along with their provincial counterparts, are responsible for any enforcement that’s required. So, officers will be at the weighbridges, but also take trucks to the weighbridges for testing if they come across any that look suspicious while out on patrol. Aside from preventing serious accidents including containers falling off container transport vehicles, there is also the importance of ensuring that overloaded vehicles do not damage the road surface as this reduces the safety of the road for everybody and causes high levels of road maintenance costs, said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Between 14 August 2019 and 14 October 2019, the following enforcement actions were recorded at the three weighbridges in Cape Town:

‘The maximum fine that can be imposed for overloaded trucks is R5 000. For serious transgressions, drivers are arrested and taken to court, where a magistrate decides the appropriate sanction. Also, any truck that is found to be overloaded cannot proceed until enough of the load is removed to make it compliant. So, while the fines might appear modest, the inconvenience to trucking companies and the potential impact on their bottom line provides some solace.

That said, there are many trucks that fall through the cracks, as our enforcement staff are consumed with all manner of road safety priorities. To those operators who abide by the law in the interest of road safety, we say thank you. They are an example to the rest of the industry, and one that others would be well served to follow,’ added Alderman Smith.

End