Improving Transnational Transport Corridors
In the OIC Member Countries: Concepts and Cases
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 Develop a charter on rules and responsibility and code of conduct for various
stakeholders including drivers
 Control and harmonization of driver hours
 Build capacity of Unions to do their work better and do advocacy
 Promote mind set change and sharing good practices
 Promotion of two drivers per truck to reduce on fatigue
 Fire emergency plan in areas where the RSS will be constructed
 Emergency response improvements
Axel loading and overloading is and has been a major issue on African roads. The
permissible axel loading on roads in Sub-Saharan Africa is 10 tons and the maximum gross
vehicle mass is 56 tons over 7 axels. According to weighbridge data, 10% - 15% of trucks are
overloaded in the corridor. Exceeding a vehicle’s maximum permissible weight not only
damages roads and bridges, but also endangers other road users. It is an offence which carries
with it a range of risks and penalties from fixed fines of up to $4,000 and prison sentences of up
to 4 years as provided for in the legal instruments regarding vehicle overload control that have
been adopted by Corridor members. The solution advocated is more effective self-regulation
and promoting voluntary compliance.
Hazardous materials moving along road and rail pose a potential danger and require a
coordinated approach but evidence of such has yet to be found in the Northern Corridor.
National regulations do exist and work is planned to harmonize these in the next 5 years or so.
Health and Safety Legislation – driver’s hours, anecdotal evidence suggests that driving
long periods without a break causes many accidents in the study area67 and overturned
vehicles area common sight as shown in The standardization of driver hours and
practices is one of the priorities for the Corridor Authority, which also benefit from vehicle
tracking technology with self-regulation being the preferred mode of enforcement.
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