Dangote Cement Plc has begun installing cameras across its fleet of thousands of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks as part of efforts to promote safe driving and achieve zero road crashes.
The company is also undertaking the recertification and screening of all its truck drivers at the company’s Obajana plant in Kogi State.
The Dangote Articulated Trucks Drivers Training School (DATDTS), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), is implementing stricter entry requirements for aspiring drivers.
Applicants must be at least 23 years of age, possess a minimum of five years’ relevant driving experience, and hold a valid Class G driver’s license.
They must also undergo a thorough examination and screening process, including medical evaluations and drug testing, and have a clean criminal record.
The company has instituted several measures to curb auto crashes, including a monthly training program for drivers, drug and alcohol testing, and pre-trip inspections.
According to Murilo Silva, Head of Transport at Dangote Cement Plc, drivers’ participation in the company’s monthly training program has grown by 60% this year, with drug and alcohol testing up by 40%, while pre-trip inspections have recorded an impressive 74% increase.
The company has also established a multi-million-naira Pre-Trip Inspection Bay, staffed with engineers and mechanics, to ensure thorough inspection of trucks before they embark on journeys.
Additionally, a Drivers Rest House has been built for drivers to rest after making trips and before embarking on new ones.
The company has developed a monitoring system to track drivers’ behavior while on trips, as well as a Drivers Help Desk Unit to follow up with drivers’ situations while on trips.
A Control Department has also been set up to monitor drivers’ behavior and ensure safe driving practices.
The Dangote Articulated Truck Drivers Training School offers various courses, including Civic Education, English, Mathematics, Defensive Driving, and Truck Handling, among others.
The school is working in collaboration with the FRSC to implement programs aimed at promoting safe driving practices.
The Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, had earlier disclosed that over 1,500 Dangote Cement truck drivers have undergone intensive screening exercises to ascertain their mental, psychological, and physical fitness for safe driving.
The screening exercise includes valid driver’s license, background verification, comprehensive medical evaluation, and drug and alcohol testing.
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