FRSC rewards hardworking transporters
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Rivers on Friday presented certificates to hardworking fleet operators to sustain standard in their operations.
The Sector Commander, Imoh Etuk, said during the certificate presentation in Port Harcourt that the certificates would encourage conformity among transporters.
He added that the corps was mandated by the Federal Road Safety Act of 2007 to maintain a database of all road transport operators and issue appropriate forms for data collection.
Etuk explained that the Act also authorised the organisation to certify, register operators and safety officers and other operational activities among fleet operators as might be required from time to time.
The sector commander said the certificate presentation was based on a yearly assessment designed to determine the group and class each fleet operator belonged to.
He noted that the criteria, groupings and classification for the presentation of the certificates had to do with the number of vehicles and facilities at the disposal of the fleet operators.
“The criteria for the presentation of the certificates are, operators’ standard which has to do with loading or waiting bay and conveniences, drivers’ standard has to do with the correct driving license,” he said.
Etuk said some of the transporters operated with expired driving licences, while some drove with licences meant for private cars instead of commercial vehicles.
‘’Other criteria include medical fitness, knowledge of the roads and areas where the operator is plying, vehicle standard include road worthiness, good tyres, safety gadgets, speed limiting device, among others,’’ Etuk said.
He pointed out that those who were presented with certificates had been found worthy in their operations, adding that it was also a wake-up call for other operators to meet the standard.
Etuk said the overall motive of the programme was to ensure sanity in the transport business and to ensure standard and create comfort for passengers.
In his remarks, the Operations Manager of Teverage Motors, Mr Uche Anselem, who responded on behalf of other recipients, lauded FRSC for the presentation of the certificates.
He said they were encouraged by the gesture, adding that they would improve on their activities in the future.
The transport organisations presented with certificates include Rivers Transport Corporation, Teverage Motors and Delking Express.