Construction World June 2015

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TRUCKING
This concerning safety hazard has been the cause of
avoidable carnage on our roads and has necessitated the
recent 13th Amendment to the National Road Traffic Act
which outlines that people and equipment may not be
carried on the back of a goods vehicle at the same time – unless they
are separated by a partition. This is where Isuzu Trucks has taken
the lead in offering standard crew-cab models for both medium and
heavy-duty trucks.
Isuzu Trucks’ straight-forward, no-compromise solution is an
integrated crew-cab that seats up to seven people in the same degree
of safety as the driver with seat-belts for every passenger. Isuzu
Trucks’ N-Series crew-cab models NMR 250 and NPR 400 can seat 6
and 7 respectively – both including the driver. The NPR 400 crew cab
model has a significant feature not found on any medium-class truck
providing unique technical advantage – an automated manual trans-
mission designated as an AMT.
A seamless Isuzu AMT gear-shift turns an average driver into
a good driver. This allows a driver to focus safely on ever-changing
road conditions in heavy traffic synchronising with engine technol-
ogies to further improve fuel consumption through automatic gear
selection. Eliminating clutch replacement also reduces downtime
and total lifetime ownership costs. It also means increased safety for
driver and crew.
In terms of practical application, numerous industries can benefit
from Isuzu’s crew-cabmodels, including municipal operations, artisan
operatives, small fire-fighting operations, garden services, large
production and events companies, construction workers and forestry
industries. When staff know and feel that their safety is a priority, this
can raise morale and subsequently, productivity. All Isuzu’s models
come standard with ABS braking systems and are manufactured to
global safety standards under the ISO 9001 certification.
The NPS 300 4x4 Crew and the NPS 300 4x4 SWA (single wheel
application) crew cab models opens another market to the local oper-
ators. These models are ideal for government and municipal use and
any industry which requires transportation of both labour and goods.
Currently, the NPS 300 4x4 Crew models are used in forestry and fire
fighting applications.
The heavy-duty Isuzu F-Series range offers the Isuzu FSR 750
Crew in manual or AMT derivative. It is a 13 500 kg GVM truck offering
fully-homologated seating for seven – a driver and six passengers.
The electro-hydraulic cab tilt mechanism allows quick access for
any maintenance. The 13 500 kg GVM on the FSR 750 includes a
very useful body and payload allowance of approximately 9 300 kg –
actual payload could range from 7 000 to 8 000 depending on cargo
body mass.
Craig Uren, Isuzu Truck South Africa chief operating officer, says,
“The crew cab was developed as a solution in response to our custom-
er’s challenges around safety of workers. As more industries become
increasingly cognisant of safety standards and seek to comply with
the recent 13th Amendment to the National Road Traffic Act, we see the
crew-cab models going from strength to strength.”
An industry solution to TRANSPORT
SAFETY challenges
South Africa’s transport system has always faced
many challenges, amongst which is having
adequately safe means of transporting labourers
and equipment. We have all seen the proverbial
image of workers sitting at the back of a vehicle that
is laden with equipment on a busy road.
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ABOUT REGULATION 247
Regulation 247 came into being with the 13th Amendment
to the National Road Traffic act published in Government
Gazette 29865 – 4 May 2007. It stipulates that, no person
shall operate on a public road with goods vehicle conveying
persons unless that portion of the vehicle in which such
persons are being conveyed is enclosed to a height of – (a)
at least 350 millimetres above the surface upon which such
person is seated; or (b) at least 900 millimetres above the
surface on which such person is standing, in a manner and
with a material of sufficient strength to prevent such person
from falling from such vehicle when it is motion. Provided
that no such person shall be conveyed in the goods compart-
ment together with any tools or goods, except their personal
effects, unless that portion in which such persons are being
conveyed is separated by means of a partition, from the
portion in which such goods are being conveyed. There is
a restriction on the number of passengers which may be
accommodated in the truck cab – Regulation 233.
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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2015