Call for cargo trailer drivers to adhere to safety rules after fatal accidents in Malaysia

GEORGE TOWN - When a cargo container is loaded onto a trailer, a large twist lock and other latches hold it in place and it will be nearly impossible for the container to move about.

The twist lock has to be manually engaged. This is ingrained in all drivers to operate it immediately after the container is loaded onto the trailer, said a bus driver who had been driving a trailer for nearly 20 years.

“There is no way the container can be moved from the trailer until the lock is opened,” said the 45-year-old driver who wanted to be known only as Nizam.

He said it was heartbreaking to learn of the recent deaths of motorists caused by accidents involving cargo container trailers.

He had studied every video and photograph on social media to see how the accidents might have happened.

In the case of the accident that killed Lee Zi Rou, 21, in Penang on Nov 13, photos of the accident scene showed that the container had remained attached to the trailer’s cargo bed when it fell, and the whole bed including the axles and wheels, tilted over.

On Nov 15, a three-vehicle accident in Kluang, Johor involved a container lorry driver who lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a highway divider. The lorry’s rear was hit by two other vehicles, killing a 33-year-old Malaysian man and injuring a married couple.

Mr Nizam said a trailer driver has to have a high level of patience on the road because a simple knock against other vehicles can cause those vehicles to be badly damaged.

“We have to be really responsible to make sure the cargo is secure and stable, and the vehicle is working well because once we get on the road, there is no one responsible but us.”

He added that every heavy or commercial vehicle driver must take defensive driving courses.

“Heavy vehicle drivers must have the ability to think quickly to avoid accidents and the most important is to obey traffic rules at all times,” he said.

A member of the Association of Malaysian Hauliers, who asked not to be named, said about 20 years ago, the association proposed to the authorities to blacklist drivers who were sacked or suspended for committing offences, but it did not go through due to a lack of support.

“During that time, many drivers who committed offences could easily join another company despite being suspended,” he said.

The proposed regulation was meant to prevent heavy vehicle drivers from committing traffic offences while on the road.

He said the proposal included screening drivers for employment history, making background reference checks compulsory, and imposing periodic urine tests.

He said the proposal outlined methods on dealing with drivers who committed traffic offences and blacklist them across the industry.

“If the proposal had been accepted, we could monitor drivers’ discipline and prevent unfortunate accidents,” he said.

He said at the time, Malaysia had a huge shortage of heavy vehicle drivers and there was still competition among hauliers.

He urged the authorities to re-visit the proposal.

Negri Sembilan Lorry Operators’ Association (NSLOA) treasurer Alvin Loke said containers transported on a lorry must be secured with a twist lock at each corner to ensure they don’t slip or slide off during heavy braking or accidents.

However, he claimed there were drivers who don’t do this as a heavy load may cause their lorries to tilt over while traversing sharp bends or during accidents.

“Apparently, these drivers are doing this to avoid getting trapped in their cabins if their trailers fall on their side. Some drivers only secure the containers with two twist locks, and other times none at all.

“By not securing the containers with twist locks, the container ends up slipping from the carriage and falling on the road, leaving the lorry unaffected.

“However, while a lorry driver may believe this will keep him safe, it will endanger other motorists if the container falls and crushes other vehicles,” he said.

Mr Loke said NSLOA, which is affiliated with the Malaysian Trucking Federation (MTF), has advised its members to secure all locks on their container lorries.

PSM Lorry Drivers Association committee member Victor Pereira also claimed that there have been cases of lorry drivers transporting containers that are not fully secured.

Other than fearing for their safety during a crash, the drivers don’t secure the containers so that they can unload the containers faster.

“Often, trailer drivers carrying out short trips don’t bother to secure the containers with twist locks as there are times these devices jam up during unloading.

“When this happens, the crane lifting the container may end up lifting the trailer as well. It can be time-consuming to free a seized twist lock.

“Hence, to avoid this inconvenience, the drivers may choose not to secure the container with twist locks.

“They may just lock only two of the four locks, or eight locks, in the case of larger containers. This is dangerous,” he added.

Federal Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Comm Datuk Seri Yusri Hassan Basri said the department views seriously accidents involving commercial vehicles that resulted in fatalities.

He said from January to September 2024, there were 168 road accidents involving commercial vehicles, including 97 fatal accidents, 32 serious cases, and 39 minor incidents.

“Additionally, 16 cases involved public service vehicles,” he added.

He said for accidents involving commercial vehicles from January to September, the most involved small lorries, trailers and container trucks.

“During this period, JSPT conducted ‘Ops Perdagangan’, which included 4,822 operations, resulting in 38,367 summonses issued and 177 vehicles impounded,” he said.

Mr Yusri said action can be taken against irresponsible drivers under the Road Transport Act and the Land Public Transport Act.