Third-party truck not in appropriate or safe condition

What happened?

During preparation for transporting pipe sections from port to a coating supplier’s facility, trucks to be used for the pipes were inspected and several defects identified. Trucks found in an unsafe condition were rejected by the company’s site representative.

Multiple trucks were deployed by the coating supplier. During preparation it had been identified by the project team that there was the potential risk for trucks to be provided in an unsafe condition.  This was known from a previous project involving the same supplier at the same location.

A planned inspection of trucks was performed jointly by the coating supplier and company site representative as part of the preparation activities. Several defects across multiple trucks were identified. The supplier was instructed to remove the trucks from service until all defects were rectified.

What was wrong? The following truck defects were identified:

• Unsafe tyres (low tread levels);
• Expired vehicle registration certificate displayed on trucks;
• Heavily corroded trailer beds, including holes on surface;
• Rubber padding was found worn and detached from bolsters;
• Fuel gauge not working;
• Missing side mirrors;
• Sagging wheel fenders, contacting tyres.

Lessons learned

• Clearly define requirements and expectations relating to use of trucks with applicable 3rd parties. This should include truck condition/roadworthiness, required safety features, driver qualifications and competence, fatigue management and route planning;
• Consider adopting a specific truck inspection checklist to be used by the site team;
• Company site representative to participate in truck inspection activities and is authorised to reject any trucks considered unfit for purpose.

IMCA notes that another member has recently submitted an incident in which a third-party truck experienced a failure. In this instance, a low loader was being reversed out of a yard (after loading up from a vessel in port) when a hydraulic hose burst on the trailer resulting in approx. 10 litres of hydraulic fluid leaking onto the yard surface and rendering the vehicle inoperable.  

Members may wish to refer to:

• Hydraulic hose failure caused collapse of heavy haulage trailer
• Crew member stopped unsafe cargo operations
• Load fell from trailer after it was inadequately secured
• More than a dropped object – the need for vigilance during cargo operations