The mission of the Transport Inspectorate (TI) Division is to ensure compliance with relevant legislation through effective enforcement to improve appropriate use of the road infrastructure and thereby contributing towards the achievement of the Roads Authority’s mandate.
Know your weights
Why should we control overloading and vehicle dimensions?
As a preservation strategy to ensure the longevity of road infrastructure including culverts and bridges, as well as to enforce legislations relating to domestic and cross border transportation of goods and enhance general road safety. RA has worked tirelessly to develop a sustainable road network, which is ahead of national and regional socio-economic needs in pursuit of Namibia’s Vision 2030. This is evident in the progress we have made thus far, where our road network currently stands at a total length of 48.537.7 kilometres (km), of which 8400 km are bitumen standards (surfaced),26 024 km gravel,13 773.8km earth (cleared tracks) and salt roads at 330.1km. This is in line with our mission of achieving our country ‘s development aspirations.
What are the dangers of overloading?
Overloading is the main cause of damage to our national roads. It causes distress on road structures such as bridges and culverts, resulting in accelerated deterioration of structural elements. Overloading not only causes considerable damage to our road network, but is also a serious road safety matter. Overloaded vehicles are safety hazards due to increased braking distances, higher chances of mechanical and tyre failures and instability of the vehicles caused by wrong placement of loads.
Overloaded vehicles can cause traffic delays due to reduced travel speeds, which inevitably leads to driver frustration and dangerous overtaking manoeuvres. Overloading also results in unfair competition between operators, with law abiding operators being at a disadvantage.
What does the law say?
The present legislation on vehicle loads and dimensions is as stipulated in the Road Traffic and Transport Act,1999 (Act no 22 of 1999 and its regulations 2001.
In terms of the present legislation, the legal load limits are as follows:
Single wheel load (steering) 3 850kg
Single wheel load (non steering) 4 000kg
Single axle with two wheels (steering) 7 700 kg
Single axle without tow steering (non steering) 8 000 kg
Single axle with four wheels 9 000 kg
Tandem axle unit with two wheels per axle 16 000 kg
Tandem axle unit with two wheels per axle 8 000 kg
Tandem axle unit 24 000 kg
Regulation 260, which is also known as the bridge formula limits the concentration of axle load over any given distance and s defined as follows:
P = 2 100 L + 18 000
Where P is the permissible load on kilograms and L is the distance in metres between the centres if the extreme axles of any group of axles and axle units.
The permissible Gross vehicle Mass is 56 000kg.
With regards to the vehicle dimensions, the enforcement limits are as follows:
Width 2.6 m
Length 12.5 m (single vehicle)
18.5 m (articulated vehicle)
22.0 m (other combinations)
Height 4.3 m
Front projection 300 m maximum
Side projection 150 m maximum
Rear load projection 1.8 m
If a vehicle or cargo is above the dimensional limits exceeding the axles legal load limits and the load is indivisible, the operator/owner of the vehicle should apply for abnormal permits at the RA, before commencement of the journey.
Getting weighed
The following list include all the relevant transport vehicles that should be weighed:
- Minibuses
- Busses
- Good vehicles
- Any vehicle exceeding 3.5 tons weight (with or without cargo /passengers)
- Tare weighs for vehicle changing ownership/modified/description change
Procedures of getting weighed
The following aspects are taken into account when vehicle is weighed at the weighbridge.
- Driver’s licence endorsed with Professional Authorization (PA)
- Consignment note
- Transportation Permits
- Operators card
- Entry Fee charges & Mass Distance Charge log book
What exactly happens when my vehicle is weighed?
- The driver will be instructed by the Road Transport Inspector or Scale operator at the weighbridge
- The vehicle is then weighed on the weighbridge platform.
- The weighing process is computerized and results are captured on a system and printed in duplicate, whereby the driver gets the original printout and the Road Transport Inspector or Scale Operator keeps the duplicate.
- The Road Transport Inspector will also check the compliance of the vehicle and driver to roads safety and transport regulations.
- If the vehicle is not overloaded and the driver and the vehicle complies with the road safety and transport regulations, the vehicle is allowed to proceed with the journey.
- If the vehicle is overloaded and / or the driver and the vehicle do not comply with the road safety and transport regulations, the driver is handed a fine on the spot either relating to overloading or driver fitness or vehicle fitness, which will either be payable at the police station or clerk of the court in the area, after which the vehicle load should be adjusted/corrected before is allowed to proceed with the journey.
What are the consequences of overloading?
If the vehicle is overloaded on axle(s) or gross vehicle mass by less than 2 tons, the driver will be handed a fine on the spot which will either be payable at the police station or clerk of court in that area.
However, the vehicle will be detained at the weighbridge detention area until the excess load has been adjusted by distribution within the axles or off loaded onto a relief vehicle.
After distribution or offloading the excess load of the vehicle, including the relief vehicle, both vehicles will be reweighed and allowed to proceed with the journey if the load is within the limits.
If the vehicle is overloaded above 2 tons, for Namibian drivers, a No Admission of Guilty (NAOG) Notice will be issued to appear in court and a docket will be opened; and taken to the nearest police station where bail will be set and a court date to which you will have to appear in court before the magistrate. For non-Namibian, a docket will be opened and taken to the nearest police station to appear in court before the magistrate, meaning the case will have to be finalised before to the country of origin to avoid absconding.
The vehicle will still be detained for the excess load to be adjusted to the legal limits before you are allowed to proceed with the journey.
Transporting a load
Why do I need to secure the load?
- To prevent any movement of the load while being transported,
- To prevent any load from falling off and causing accidents,
- To ensure the axle weight does not change during transportation.
In what manner can I safely secure the load?
- Load can be safely contained inside the vehicle,
- Load can also be safely fastened to the vehicle.
Owners/Operators should:
- Exercise proper control over the driver to ensure compliance within the law,
- Conduct his/her operation with due care to the safety of the public,
- Take reasonable care to ensure his/her vehicle is used in compliance with requirements relating to the loading and transportation of the goods on the public roads,
- Ensure that the transportation of dangerous goods is done in terms of the law,
- Secure and safe keeping of the operator card.
The Roads Authority does not tolerate crime or corruption at any levels of its operations.
If you have any tip-offs or information on fraud, theft or vandalism, contact pr@ra.org.na or contact our fraud hotline at 0800309231.
CONTACTS
Transport Inspectorate Division
Divisional Manager
Tel: +264 61 284 7008
Fax: +264 61 284 7013
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Operations Office
Tel: +264 61 284 7018
Fax: +264 61 284 7013
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Regional Offices
Windhoek Regional Office
Tel: +264 61 284 7179
Fax: +264 61 218 253
Windhoek Weighbridge
Brakwater weighbridge Brakwater Road
Tel: 061 - 213995
Fax: 061 - 262071
Aris weighbridge
Farm Krumhuk
Tel: 061 - 239488
Fax: 061 - 239808
Gobabis weighbridge
Corner of C22 and B6 road Gobabis
Tel: 062 - 563043
Fax: 062 – 5632006
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Keetmanshoop Regional Office
Tel: +264 63 22 576
Fax: +264 63 224 774
Ariamsvlei weighbridge
Ariamsvlei border post
Tel: 063 - 280002
Fax: 063 - 280992
Noordoewer weighbridge
Noordoewer border post
Tel/Fax: 063 - 297000
Rosh Pinah weighbridge
C13 Road Rosh Pinah
Tel: 063 - 274066
Fax: 063 - 274060
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Oshakati Regional Office
Tel: +264 65 230 468
Fax: +264 65 284 7689
Onhuno weighbridge
Onhuno Road
Tel: 065 - 262081
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Grootfontein Regional Office
Tel: +264 67 230 044
Fax: +264 67 242 106
Oshivelo weighbridge
Oshivelo Road
Tel/Fax: 067- 230052
Katima Mulilo weighbridge
Katima Mulilo
Tel/Fax: 066 - 252775
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Regional Office
Tel: +264 64 209 667
Fax: +264 64 209 610
Walvis Bay weighbridge
Rooi Kop Road, Walvis Bay
Tel: 064 - 209608
