Double Q, the Official Distributor of Sinotruk in Uganda, has announced the launch of a comprehensive Heavy-Duty Road Safety & Customer Support Campaign aimed at strengthening road safety, supporting Sinotruk HOWO heavy-duty dumper owners, fleet operators and drivers, and promoting responsible heavy-vehicle operations across Uganda.
The campaign is specifically focused on HOWO dumper customers and operators, with activities centred on vehicle safety, roadworthiness, driver competence, preventive maintenance, responsible loading, speed management and after-sales support.
The campaign follows growing public concern regarding heavy-truck accidents and fatalities. Double Q recognises the seriousness of these concerns and extends its sympathies to families and communities affected by road crashes.
SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Mr. Lin Yu, Managing Director of Double Q, said the company recognises the concerns surrounding heavy-truck safety and believes the appropriate response is practical action and collaboration.
“Safety is not simply a responsibility of the driver or the vehicle owner; it is a shared responsibility across the entire road-transport ecosystem. At Double Q, we recognise the concerns surrounding heavy-truck safety and believe the appropriate response is practical action. Through this campaign, we are strengthening vehicle inspections, customer support, driver awareness and preventive maintenance so that HOWO dumper operators have the tools and support they need to operate safely. We are committed to working with government agencies, fleet owners, drivers and other stakeholders to contribute to safer roads in Uganda.”
Double Q emphasises that road-safety outcomes involving heavy commercial vehicles depend on a combination of factors, including vehicle condition, driver competence, loading discipline, maintenance, speed and the operating environment.
For HOWO dumpers in particular, responsible operation includes proper loading, appropriate load distribution, safe tipping and reversing procedures, effective braking, tyre and steering condition, speed management and compliance with applicable road requirements.
The company also notes that heavy-truck accidents involve multiple brands and that equipment failure should not automatically be assumed to be the sole cause of any particular crash before the relevant investigations are completed.
Double Q therefore supports an evidence-based approach to road safety and will continue to cooperate with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
SUPPORTING GOVERNMENT ROAD-SUITABILITY TESTING
As part of the campaign, Double Q is encouraging Sinotruk HOWO dumper owners and fleet operators to present their vehicles for the applicable government road-suitability and roadworthiness testing exercises.
To assist customers, Double Q will provide pre-testing inspection and readiness checks designed to identify potential issues before vehicles undergo official testing.
Support will be available through Double Q after-sales centres in:
- Kampala
- Jinja
- Hoima
- Mbarara
- Mbale
- Arua
The initiative is intended to help HOWO dumper customers identify and address safety-related concerns proactively.
Mr. Winstone Katushabe, Commissioner Transport Regulation and Safety/ Chief Licensing Officer, emphasised the importance of compliance, accountability and cooperation within the transport sector.
“Road safety requires compliance, accountability and cooperation from every stakeholder in the transport sector. Vehicle owners and operators have a responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy, properly maintained and operated by appropriately licensed and competent drivers. We welcome initiatives that encourage operators to present their vehicles for the required road-suitability and roadworthiness assessments and that promote preventive action before problems become safety risks. Government will continue to work with industry stakeholders to strengthen compliance and improve road safety.”
DRIVER SKILLS AND SAFE OPERATION
Double Q will strengthen its focus on HOWO dumper driver competence and responsible vehicle operation.
The campaign will promote refresher guidance covering:
- Safe loading practices
- Proper load distribution
- Braking and stopping distances
- Speed management
- Defensive driving
- Safe reversing procedures
- Blind-spot awareness
- Safe tipping and dumping operations
- General safe operation of HOWO dump trucks
- Compliance with applicable road rules and requirements
Driver training activities will focus on approved and licensed dumper-category drivers with the required Ministry of Works badge.
MAINTENANCE AND VEHICLE SAFETY
Double Q is encouraging HOWO dumper owners and fleet operators to maintain strict preventive-maintenance practices, particularly for braking systems, tyres, steering and other critical vehicle components.
The company will also promote the installation and verification of speed governors and encourage fleet operators to adopt systematic safety checks before HOWO dumpers are placed into operation.
Particular attention will be encouraged around:
- Brake performance
- Tyre condition and pressure
- Steering and suspension systems
- Lighting and warning systems
- Load-body and tipping-system condition
- Speed-governor operation
- General vehicle condition
The company stresses that preventive maintenance should be treated as an ongoing operational responsibility rather than an activity undertaken only when a vehicle develops a fault or before an inspection.
DEDICATED AFTER-SALES SAFETY SUPPORT
To make safety support more accessible to HOWO dumper customers, Double Q will provide a dedicated channel for after-sales safety concerns, roadside assistance and escalation of reported issues.
Customers and members of the public will be encouraged to report dangerous driving incidents involving HOWO dumpers, providing information such as the truck number plate and location where available.
Reports will be assessed and routed to the appropriate vehicle owner or fleet manager and, where necessary, relevant authorities.
Richard Musani, Head of Marketing at Double Q, said the company wants to make safety support more accessible to HOWO dumper customers across the country.
“This campaign is about taking safety support closer to our HOWO dumper customers. We want dumper owners, fleet managers and drivers to have practical access to inspections, safety guidance, driver education and after-sales support. Our Safety Clinics and readiness checks will help customers identify potential issues and take corrective action early. We also want to create a stronger culture where reporting a safety concern is seen as an opportunity to prevent an incident, rather than waiting until something goes wrong. Our message is simple: safer trucks, safer drivers and safer roads.”
WORKING WITH ROAD-SAFETY STAKEHOLDERS
Double Q intends to work with driver associations, HOWO dumper fleet owners, insurers, traffic authorities and other road-safety stakeholders to promote safer heavy-duty vehicle operations.
The company will also introduce practical safety initiatives, including a HOWO Heavy-Duty Safety Checklist, periodic Safety Clinics at Double Q after-sales centres, and continued customer education.
Double Q will track campaign progress through measurable indicators, including:
- HOWO dumpers receiving readiness checks
- Dumper drivers trained
- Speed governors installed or verified
- Roadside cases resolved
- Unsafe-driving reports actioned
A COMMITMENT TO SAFER ROADS
Double Q believes that the way forward is to move the conversation from blame to shared responsibility and practical solutions.
Mr. Lin Yu reaffirmed Double Q’s commitment to supporting HOWO dumper customers and working with stakeholders to improve safety.
“We want our customers to know that we are here to support them. Safer roads require safe vehicles, properly trained drivers, responsible loading, effective maintenance and compliance with road-safety requirements. We are committed to playing our part and to working with stakeholders to improve safety.”
The company further reaffirmed that investigations into individual accidents should be allowed to establish the facts, and that no conclusion about the cause of an accident should be made before the appropriate investigation is completed.
Double Q will continue to engage with relevant government agencies, law-enforcement authorities, HOWO dumper fleet operators and drivers, and other stakeholders as the campaign progresses.
The campaign is guided by one simple message:
SAFER TRUCKS. SAFER DRIVERS. SAFER ROADS.
