AFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1355 -6 
First Edition 2020 
 
 Reference No. ARS 1355 -6:2020(E) 
ICS 43.020  
 
 
© ARSO 20 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vehicle standards — Specification for vehicle roadworthiness — 
Part 6: Roadworthiness — Requirements for combinations of 
vehicles  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS  1355-6:2020 
ii © ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved   
Table of contents  
 
1 Scope and application  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
1.1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 1 
1.2 Application  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
4 Visual inspection  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  2 
4.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 2 
4.2 Walk -around checks for items that are accessible and visible and that would result in a 
failure at a full roadworthiness test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 2 
4.3 Checks only if the site is absolutely level and chocks are available ................................ ...... 3 
4.4 Checks if a suitable inspection pit is available ................................ ................................ ....... 3 
5 Action in the event of a deficiency in roadworthiness being detected  ................................ ............  4 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  5 
 
  DARS 1355-6:2020 
© ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  iii Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of 
African Unity (AU)  in 1977 . One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmoniz e 
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal trading capacity, increase 
Africa’s product and service competitivene ss globally and uplift the welfare of African communities.  The 
work of preparing African  Standards is normally carried out through ARSO  technical committees. Each 
Member State  interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has  the 
right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional Economic Communities 
(RECs), governmental and non -governmental  organizations , in liaison with ARSO , also take part in the 
work.  
 
ARSO  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.  
 
The main task of technical committees is to prepare ARSO  Standards. Draft ARSO  Standards adopted 
by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an ARSO  
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.  
 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of 
patent rights. ARSO  shall not be hel d responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
This African Standard was prepared by the ARSO Technical (Harmonization ) Committee Number 08-
4/59 on Automotive Technology and  Engineering (ARSO/THC 0 8-4/ARSO/TC 59 ). 
 
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation  2020 — All rights reserved*  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P. O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel. +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
  
                                                 
* © 2020 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs.  DARS  1355-6:2020 
iv © ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved   
Copyright notice  
 
This ARSO document is copyright -protected by ARSO. While the reproduction of this document 
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior permission 
from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract from it may be reproduced, stored or 
transmitted in any form for any other purpose without prior writt en permission from ARSO.  
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’s member body in the country of the requester:  
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation 20 20 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel: +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be p rosecuted.  
 
 
 
  DARS 1355-6:2020 
© ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  v Introduction  
 
This standard consists of the following parts under the general title “Specification for vehicle 
roadworthiness”  
 
Part 1: Roadworthiness of vehicles already in service  
 
Part 2: Roadworthiness of vehicles prior to entry into service and thereafter  
 
Part 3: Roadworthiness — Supporting information  
 
Part 4: Roadworthiness — Requirements for vehicle examiners  
 
Part 5: Roadworthiness — Requirements for testing equipment  
 
Part 6: Roadworthiness — Requirements for combinations of vehicles  
 
 DARS 1 355-6:2020 
© ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  1  
Vehicle standards — Specification for vehicle roadworthiness — 
Part 6: Roadworthiness — Requirements for combinations of 
vehicles  
 
 
1 Scope  and application  
 
1.1 Scope  
 
This Part 6 of the specification contains information to aid vehicle examiners or any person wishing to 
perform a visual inspection to determine whether a vehicle combination exhibits features or conditions 
which would result in it being classed as unroadworthy.  
 
1.2 Application  
 
This part of the specification is intended to be applied to heavy vehicle combinations where the 
combination mass exceeds 3 500kg, at a roadside inspection or whilst th e combination is standing idle 
at a weigh station or customs post or similar and may be used as a walk -around visual check by any 
party including the operator, driver or an official.  
 
No testing equipment nor special premises are required, although the ava ilability of flat road or of an 
inspection pit will enhance the extent of the visual inspection that is possible.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only  the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
ARS 1355 -1, Vehicle Standards — Specification for Vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 1: Roadworthiness 
of vehicles already in use 
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard the following definitions and abbreviations apply.  
 
3.1 Definitions  
 
3.1,1 
gross combination mass 
GCM  
maximum design mass  of a combination vehicles and their load as specified by the manufacturer of the 
drawing vehicle on the vehicle plate  
 
3.1.2 
gross vehicle mass 
GVM  
maximum design mass  of a vehicle and its load as specified by the manufacturer of the vehicle on the 
vehicle plate  
 
3.4 
registration plate  / licence plate  / number plate  
the appropriately manufactured and embossed plate which is attached to the front and rear of a motor 
vehicle or the rear of a trailer and a motorcycle  
 
 
AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 1355 -6:2020 
2 © ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  3.2 Abbreviations  
 
COF  Certificate of Fitness issued after a periodic roadworthiness test which is to be displayed on 
the vehicle to which it relates  
 
VTS vehicle test station  
 
 
4 Visual inspection  
 
4.1 General  
 
The following list of items to be inspected or observed is provided to assist in achieving a comprehensive 
inspection.  
 
NOTE  Inspection of vehicle  at roadside could reveal deficiencies which might not be observable when the vehicle is submitted 
for roadworthiness test.  
 
4.2 Walk -around checks for items that are accessible and visible and that would 
result in a failure at a full roadworthiness test  
 
(1) Check that the vehicle documentation (COF disc, together with licence/road tax disc 
and operator disc, if applicable) and number plates correspond and that the number 
plates are securely attached to the vehicles and that the COF is available.  
 
(2) Check inside  cab for any obvious risk to safety – damaged or missing controls.  
 
(3) Check inside cab for loose seats, bunk beds and any other loose vehicle equipment.  
 
(4) Check that doors can be opened and closed without using excessive force.  
 
(5) Check for data plate with GVM,  GCM and applicable provisions specified in ARS 1355 -
1. 
 
(6) Check presence and condition and cleanliness of exterior mirrors.  
 
(7) Check presence and condition and cleanliness of windscreen and side glass.  
 
(8) Check operation of windscreen washers and condition of w ipers.  
 
(9) Check engine bonnets are properly closed and the cab on cab -over-engine is properly 
secured.  
 
(10) Check chassis for excessive rust and for signs of distortion, cracks or missing or loose 
bolts or rivets on body mountings.  
 
(11) Check that the batteries are properly secured and that no battery cables have damaged 
sleeves.  
 
(12) Record the front tyre load index and speed index and tyre size.  
 
(13) Check condition of all tyres for cuts, tread depth etc all the way round the whole 
combination.  
 
(14) Check function of all lights, indicators, brake lights.  
 
(15) Check chevron and yellow contour tape for presence, cleanliness, quality of retro -
reflective material and colour as required by domestic  legislation.  
 
(16) Check wheels for damage and check that all wheel nuts are present and properly fitted.  
 DARS 1 355-6:2020 
© ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  3 (17) Check the landing gear on a semitrailer for signs of damage and that it can be operated.  
 
(18) Check for excessive smoke when the engine is under load.  
 
(19) Check if tyres of vehicle follow in straight line or if there is crabbing evident.  
 
(20) Check that inner walls of dual wheels do not touch and that all tyres on an axle are the 
same size.  
 
(21) Check pneumatic couplings and electrical couplings – whether connected, damaged, 
missing?  
 
(22) Examine brake chambers that can be easily seen for bad lever adjustmen t, unmatched 
sizes of chambers or “wound -off” spring brakes.  
 
(23) Check tool kit for the presence of a clevis or special tool for the release of the spring -
brakes.  
 
(24) Ask driver to repeatedly apply and release the brakes and observe movement of visible 
slack adjusters on all axles.  
 
(25) Ask driver to rock the combination forward and backwards and study the movement at 
the 5th wheel(s) or at the mechanical couplings.  
 
(26) Check the mounting of the 5th wheel to the chassis.  
 
(27) Ask the driver to rock the steering ¼ turn an d observe wheel movement of the steered 
axle and listen for abnormal noises.  
 
(28) Check availability and status of fire extinguishers, triangles and chocks as required by 
domestic  legislation.  
 
(29) Check that dimensions of the units and of the combination are not exceeded.  
 
4.3 Checks only if the site is absolutely level and chocks are available  
 
(1) Position chocks at front and rear wheels and check that they are of suitable strength 
by releasing the brakes briefly.  
 
(2) Ask driver to ensure reservoirs are charged and rec ord how many full brake 
applications he can make before any warnings of low pressure.  
 
(3) Then record how long it takes to recharge to full pressure.  
 
(4) Listen for obvious air leaks.  
 
(5) Check that air reservoirs have drain plugs which can be reached easily and request 
the driver to show that the reservoirs are drained of liquid.  
 
4.4 Checks if a suitable inspection pit is available  
 
(1) Examine for excessive corrosion, excessive wear, damage, missing or loose parts that 
would result in a failure at a full roadworthi ness test.  
 
(2) Check suspension springs and mountings for any damage or cracks, also pots and 
bellows with air suspension.  
 
(3) Check for oil leaks which result in a larger spot than about 150mm diameter  (on the 
floor) during the inspection.  
 DARS 1355 -6:2020 
4 © ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  (4) Check transmission a nd propeller shaft for worn mountings or any other visible 
damage.  
 
(5) Examine brake chambers for bad lever adjustment, unmatched sizes of chambers or 
“wound -off” spring brakes or brake chambers that are clearly too small for the axle or 
brake.  
 
(6) If a load -sensing valve is fitted check that its movement is not impeded.  
 
(7) Check brake pipes and electric wiring for looseness or chafing marks, especially near 
the suspension.  
 
(8) If brake linings or discs are exposed, then check for presence of linings and shoes.  
 
(9) Check  condition of inner sides of tyres for cuts, damage or obvious under -inflation.  
 
(10) If hydraulic brakes, check for leaks or sweating on all pipe connections and on the 
wheel brakes.  
 
5 Action in the event of a deficiency in roadworthiness being detected  
 
In the event of a deficiency being detected which renders the combination unroadworthy a Vehicle 
Examiner may instruct the driver to take the vehicle to a specified VTS for further examination, with or 
without an escorting vehicle or according to a time and date as decided by the Vehicle Examiner.  
 
In the event of a serious and dangerous deficiency the Vehicle Examiner issues a “Discontinuation of 
Use” notice in respect  of the vehicle, which requires the vehicle to be towed to a location where the 
defects can be repaired.  
 
  DARS 1 355-6:2020 
© ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved  5 Bibliography  
 
 
SADC HT 105 -6:2019, SADC Harmonized Text — Vehicle Standards — Specification for 
Vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 6: Roadworthiness — Requirements for Combinations of 
Vehicles  
 
 
 DARS 1355 -6:2020 
© ARSO 20 20 — All rights reserved