By Peace Udugba
As part of its zero-tolerance policy for road crashes, Dangote Cement Plc, through its Articulated Trucks Drivers Training School (DATDTS), in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has begun stricter entry and safety requirements for truck drivers.
Speaking at the Obajana Plant in Kogi State, the company’s Head of Transport, Mr. Murilo Silva, disclosed that all drivers are undergoing recertification, while cameras are being installed across its fleet of CNG trucks to monitor driver behavior and enhance road safety.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 23 years old, possess a minimum of five years’ driving experience, hold a valid Class G license, and pass comprehensive medical, drug, and background checks. Silva emphasized that no applicant with a criminal record or pending legal case would be employed.
Dangote Cement Reinforces Driver Safety with Recertification, Monitoring Systems, and FRSC Collaboration.
Mr. Murilo Silva, Head of Transport at Dangote Cement Plc, emphasized that the company enforces strict recruitment and safety protocols through its Drivers Employment Policy. This includes a mandatory five years of driving experience and a valid Class G license for new drivers.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) conducts regular certification and recertification at the Dangote Articulated Trucks Drivers Training School (DATDTS), which also runs comprehensive health checks including drug, alcohol, and blood pressure tests before each trip.
Driver participation in monthly training programmes has increased by 60% in 2025, with drug and alcohol testing up 40%, and pre-trip inspections rising by 74%.
Divisional Head of Transport, Mr. Hemant Rana, noted that a multi-million-naira Pre-Trip Inspection Bay has been built at Obajana, alongside a dedicated Drivers Rest House. Monitoring systems, Drivers Help Desk Units, and a Control Department have also been instituted to track driver behavior in real-time.
Mr. Daniel Marcus Akuso, Manager of DATDTS, said the training school is the first of its kind in Nigeria, and is run in partnership with the FRSC to promote a safer, more professional trucking system.
Mr. Daniel Marcus Akuso, Manager of the Dangote Articulated Truck Drivers Training School (DATDTS), noted that the institution offers a wide range of courses, including Civic Education, English, Mathematics, Defensive Driving, Truck Handling, Maintenance Technology, DCT Administration Procedures, Root Cause Analysis, Health and Science, and Road Signs and Codes, among others.
Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, revealed in Lagos that over 1,500 Dangote truck drivers have undergone intensive screening to assess their mental, psychological, and physical fitness for safe driving.
Pathak explained that while screening has always been a requirement, the process has been intensified due to rising road safety concerns.
Every driver employed by Dangote Cement must pass a comprehensive recruitment process, which includes holding a valid Class G driver’s license, thorough background checks on both the driver and their guarantors, and a full medical evaluation. This covers vision tests, blood pressure monitoring, BMI checks, random blood sugar testing (RBS), and mandatory drug and alcohol screening,” he stated.
