Kenya’s economy has been growing significantly in recent years. This has made the need for safe imports and exports a major priority for the government and businesses in the country.
This is why the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) exists, as it regulates transport operations and vehicle certifications. With the recent announcement that commercial service vehicle regulations have been updated, businesses should reevaluate their current fleet certification status.
For businesses looking to achieve NTSA certification, a fleet management solutions provider should be considered as it can assist in this pursuit. Let’s explore how NTSA works and how Cartrack can assist with this certification process.
The NTSA is Kenya’s official authority responsible for overseeing vehicle compliance, licensing, inspections, road safety enforcement, and driver testing.
Obtaining an NTSA certification confirms that a business has met the strict requirements of that license and is compliant with national standards. To get a certification for a business vehicle, it has official responsibilities it must follow, it must also adhere to the updated rules and regulations for commercial vehicles.
Let’s begin with the new updates to the rules.
Here is a summary of all the updated rules that the organisation has instated, as of January 2025. Some of these regulations are also dictated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
A commercial vehicle owner should:
These updates affect everyone from the business owner to the drivers, let’s see what the responsibilities are for commercial fleet owners.
If a business wants to hold a commercial service vehicle operator license, it must be compliant with the following requirements:
Businesses are not allowed to operate a commercial service vehicle without a valid commercial service vehicle road license for each vehicle. Here are the stipulations for fleets looking to get licences and certifications.
Commercial service drivers play an integral role in ensuring road safety and operational efficiency. Business owners need to ensure that the people they employ are ready and willing to follow the strict regulations of the NTSA, as this can have an adverse effect on both the business and other motorists on the road.
Here are the rules commercial service drivers must adhere to:
Depending on the business and type of fleet vehicles, there are some regulations and rules that need to be followed regarding cargo. Any cargo transported by a heavy commercial vehicle must be contained, covered, immobilised, or secured so that it cannot leak, spill, blow off, fall through, or otherwise be dislodged from the vehicle.
This applies most specifically to fleet vehicles travelling on public roads carrying loads of:
Getting NTSA certified can be a long and tedious process for some business owners, especially those with a large fleet and many drivers. Some businesses still rely on outdated fleet management methods, such as spreadsheets and manual record keeping.
Having advanced a fleet management system can help businesses meet these requirements more easily, as some of the processes can be automated or streamlined. Cartrack’s system has all the necessary tools and features to help in this process.
Here are some of its features that can assist with NTSA certification:
Fleet management systems use GPS tracking to monitor vehicle location, speed, and route adherence. This ensures that fleet operators comply with NTSA regulations regarding authorised routes, driving hours, and speed limits, reducing the risk of violations and penalties.
Many NTSA regulations require accurate record-keeping of vehicle usage, driver behaviour, and maintenance schedules. Modern fleet management solutions automate these processes by generating digital logs and detailed reports. This reduces manual paperwork, minimises errors, and ensures businesses can easily produce the necessary documentation during audits.
Fleet management solutions utilise telematics to track driver performance, including harsh braking, harsh acceleration, and adherence to traffic rules. Businesses can use this data to implement training programmes, encourage safer driving habits, and meet NTSA safety standards, ultimately reducing the risk of accidents and insurance claims.
NTSA certification requires businesses to meet strict vehicle roadworthiness standards. Fleet management systems provide automated maintenance alerts, ensuring timely servicing, tyre replacements, and engine diagnostics. This proactive approach prevents breakdowns and helps businesses maintain a reliable and compliant fleet.
Efficient fuel usage is another key factor in fleet regulation. Advanced fleet management solutions help businesses monitor fuel consumption, detect unauthorised fuel usage, and reduce carbon emissions. By optimising fuel efficiency, businesses align with NTSA’s environmental and operational standards.
Geofencing technology enables fleet operators to set virtual boundaries for their vehicles. If a vehicle deviates from the assigned route, the system alerts the fleet manager, ensuring compliance with NTSA route regulations and preventing unauthorised detours.
In case of an accident or emergency, fleet management systems provide immediate alerts and location tracking, allowing quick response times. This ensures that businesses adhere to NTSA’s emergency preparedness standards and can act swiftly to mitigate risks.
Cartrack is a leading fleet management solutions provider and is well-placed to help businesses meet their compliance requirements. We offer a range of solutions that can assist businesses not only in the management of their fleet but also help reduce inefficiency and boost productivity.
Cartrack offers some key services that can assist with meeting NTSA requirements. These include:
Our cameras and dashcams come with artificial intelligence capabilities. These cameras monitor driver behaviour and can assist in keeping them compliant with road rules.
The cameras can detect:
Our fleet management solutions also offer driver scorecards to measure driver behaviour, and these are determined by how many offences a driver commits while on the road. The offences that are tracked and reported on are:
Having these scorecards will make it easier to find drivers who are driving recklessly and risking the safety of your vehicle, cargo and other motorists. Road safety compliance is then easier to accomplish with this tool setup.
We offer driver ID tags which are specific to each driver. When used in conjunction with telematics, these tags will determine which driver uses which vehicle, documenting where they go and how often they use the vehicle. These tags also carry specific information on the driver, such as their name, role and what vehicles they are allowed to operate.
Manually managing this process is challenging and prone to errors, making it difficult for drivers and managers to track licence validity. Having these tags will make it easier to identify drivers, keeping the business compliant with NTSA security rules.
A key component of fleet management solutions is vehicle tracking. This is done using GPS technology and satellites to communicate between the tracking unit and the software. As a business owner, this is a vital feature to have as it gives you real-time locations of all the business vehicles 24/7.
Cartrack’s preventative maintenance service uses telematics to monitor vehicle utilisation and wear and tear. This will be monitored and measured to track when a vehicle is most likely to need a service.
These sensors will alert the manager when a vehicle is no longer performing at an optimal level. This will allow the manager the opportunity to address the issues before they become too serious and affect the vehicle. All these measures will reduce the amount of downtime in the fleet as fewer vehicles will be pulled out of rotation for significant services.
By having this done, Cartrack’s system can help your vehicles stay compliant with safety and vehicle health regulations.
Cartrack has an unparalleled reputation when it comes to vehicle recovery, with an audited vehicle recovery rate of approximately 90%. This proves how seriously we take the safety of your fleet.
Our aim is not just to keep your fleet compliant with regulations but also to ensure that it operates smoothly. With our vehicle recovery services, this is made possible, even for businesses with fleets that travel cross-border.
Having a fleet of vehicles that are being managed well will make it easier to keep them all compliant with national regulations set by the NTSA, especially after the implementation of the new updates.
Getting Cartrack on your side is a step in the right direction, as we are best equipped to cover your business’s fleet management needs with our comprehensive offering.
If you would like to know more about how we can help your fleet be compliant with national road regulations, contact us today.
What happens if my fleet does not comply with NTSA regulations?
If a business fleet is non-compliant, then it can incur penalties, fines, vehicle impoundment, and even business licence suspension.
What key elements of fleet management relate to NTSA certification?
Vehicle health and maintenance, driver management, and safety.
What industries would need an NTSA certification?
Any industry with a fleet of commercial vehicles that use public roads. This could range from construction and agriculture to logistics and retail.
