More vehicles, more exposure

The unforeseen risks of rapid fleet expansion

Fleet expansion in South Africa is accelerating, with nearly two-thirds of transport leaders growing their fleets. This momentum is encouraging for the industry, but it raises a critical question: are we expanding vehicles faster than we are expanding driver capability?

According to Mpho Chokwe, Head of Motor Fleets at Santam Specialist Solutions, growth at this level – if not managed correctly - can introduce significant risk, threatening both lives and livelihoods. Uncontrolled fleet growth can be a worrisome factor for insurers. “While fleet growth signals economic expansion and job creation, pairing that growth with inexperienced drivers and insufficient maintenance infrastructure can quickly erode profitability through accidents, downtime, rising maintenance costs and ultimately the loss of sustainable business growth,” she says.

The lack of driver vetting due to the accelerated growth of the fleet could be disastrous for the transport leader. It is also important to note that driver training is not a once off exercise but is meant to be a continuous culture embedded in the organisation.

The real world cost of underqualified drivers
The risks escalate significantly when underqualified drivers operate heavy or specialised vehicles. “Unlike private vehicles, getting behind an eight ton vehicle requires extensive experience and knowledge of the mechanics of a vehicle of that size,” says Chokwe.

She points to gaps in understanding of air brake systems, defensive driving techniques, long distance navigation and vehicle handling. “Having limited knowledge of how to drive such a vehicle will more than likely result in more accidents.”

Beyond insurance claims, the human consequences include fatalities, permanent disability and psychological trauma. Infrastructure damage is another overlooked cost. “An underqualified driver can cause huge damage to infrastructure by driving into bridges or overhead structures, impacting road surfaces and colliding with public utilities such as traffic lights,” Chokwe notes. These incidents disrupt communities, increase congestion and erode public trust, particularly for operators repeatedly linked to serious accidents. It is important to remember that there could also be reputational risk due to a high severity of claims, particularly if a certain transporter is known to exhibit high claim patterns.

Covid 19’s lasting skills gap
The pandemic significantly reshaped South Africa’s driver pool, forcing many experienced drivers out of the industry and creating a skill gap that Chokwe says has yet to be filled. “During the Covid 19 pandemic, we experienced a mass exodus of heavy vehicle and bus experienced drivers. When operations resumed, many transporters were under financial pressure and unfortunately compromised on experience – training up new drivers in a matter of weeks instead of months.”

Today, Chokwe says these gaps in training are being seen on the roads through higher severity accidents, poor performance in adverse weather, slower reaction times and a lack of hazard perception. “The lack of understanding of heavier commercial trucks and buses directly increases fatality exposure,” she warns, noting clear gaps in coaching younger and inexperienced drivers.

Commercial pressure, fatigue and unsafe choices
Economic pressure can unintentionally push risk even higher. “More trips translate to more money,” says Chokwe, but transporting people or goods also means being responsible for lives. Inexperienced drivers may push through fatigue to complete additional trips, particularly when job security feels uncertain.

“There is also the unintentional risk of job retention, as drivers might be scared to lose their jobs and behave in a manner that puts even their own lives at risk,” she says. Fatigue remains one of the most dangerous but least visible threats, exacerbated by the shortage of safe, well lit rest areas for truck drivers.

“When drivers do not have a safe rest area, they might continue driving long distances while they are tired, which increases the risk of accidents,” Chokwe warns. Operators, she says, must schedule trips that allow for proper rest and ensure drivers are never penalised for stopping. Authorities, meanwhile, must invest in secure, designated rest areas.

Detours, enforcement failures and climate risk
Unexpected detours present another layer of exposure. Chokwe references the 2022 Boksburg fuel tanker explosion, where a driver became lost and failed to judge bridge height. “While this is the extreme result of a detour, it highlights how important it is for risk managers, fleet owners and drivers when it comes to forced detours,” she says, stressing the need for training, contingency planning and collaboration with law enforcement.

Climate change is further compounding these risks. Floods, hailstorms and extreme weather increasingly damage parked, stalled or rerouted vehicles. “Fleets that are parked outside can suffer great damage due to floods, storms, runaway fires and hailstorms should these vehicles not be under protected parking areas,” Chokwe says, adding that stalled vehicles during severe weather also expose drivers to serious safety risks.

What responsible fleet growth really requires
Responsible fleet growth, according to Chokwe, requires hiring more qualified and experienced drivers, while ensuring sufficient insurance cover, risk management and contingency planning. When experienced drivers are not available at recruitment stage, new drivers that are entering the workplace should be adequately trained. This not only protects the insured assets, it also promotes responsible driving behaviour and enhances road safety in our country.

“We also cannot speak of responsible fleet growth without looking at the safety culture of the fleet owner,” she adds. “The business culture should be one that prioritises safety over profit, providing drivers with an environment with psychological safety where they can speak up when tired without fear.”

Santam is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 3416), a licensed non-life insurer and controlling company for its group companies.