Author:charleen-clarke
Why electric trucks need more than good intentions June 12, 2026 Technology is no longer the biggest barrier to cleaner transport; electric trucks are arriving fast. The real question is whether the world around them is ready to put them to work. I have just returned from the 2026 IAA Media Summit in Frankfurt, which is always held ahead of the IAA Transportation in Hanover. We were the only magazine from the African continent invited to the event โ which […]
Is the combustion engine ready for its comeback? April 29, 2026 Battery-electric trucks dominate the zero-emissions conversation, But, as CHARLEEN CLARKE reports, new work on hydrogen, methane and ammonia suggests the internal combustion engine may still have a future in freight. For years, the transport industry has been told that the future is electric. In many applications, that is almost certainly true. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are already proving their worth in urban delivery, depot-based operations and predictable short-haul routes. Long-distance […]
What REALLY happens at South Africaโs truck stops after dark May 20, 2026 When the sun goes down, another side of the logistics industry comes aliveโฆ By day, South Africaโs truck stops are busy, practical places. Drivers queue for coffee. Fleet managers study fuel slips. Mechanics crawl beneath trailers. Refrigerated rigs hum quietly in the background while exhausted drivers stretch their legs after hundreds of kilometres on the road. But after dark, some truck stops become something very different entirely. […]
Why canโt South Africa move like this? May 19, 2026 While testing the new-generation DAF trucks in the Netherlands, I found myself equally fascinated by something else entirely: a public transport system that is affordable, seamless, safe and astonishingly efficient. I am writing this column from Amsterdam โ a city I have been fortunate enough to visit many times over the years. Every single time I return, I find myself amazed all over again, not only by the canals, bicycles […]
From technician to MD: We meet the new man at the helm of Volvo April 6, 2026 Stuart Potter has been appointed managing director of Volvo Group Southern Africa. As CHARLEEN CLARKE discovers, he is betting that strong relationships โ not just strong trucks โ will drive success. Southern Africaโs transport sector demands resilience, adaptability and trust. For Stuart Potter, stepping into this environment marks not just a career milestone, but a test of leadership shaped over decades. A move […]
Fuel is now the economyโs weakest link April 13, 2026 There are moments in history when the global economy shifts gradually โ almost imperceptibly. Then there are moments when it lurches violently and everyone feels the impact at once. This is one of those momentsโฆ This monthโs issue is dominated by a single, unavoidable reality: fuel is no longer just a cost of doing business. It has become a defining constraint on economies, industries and livelihoods. What we are witnessing […]
FAW raises the stakes with J7 launch April 21, 2026 As transport costs rise and operational pressures intensify, FAW Trucks Southern Africa has introduced the J7 into a competitive market, positioning it as a serious contender in the premium long-haul segment. CHARLEEN CLARKE attended the official launch in Johannesburg. The introduction of a new heavy-duty truck into the South African market rarely happens in isolation; the J7 arrives against a backdrop of rising costs, operational pressures and shifting expectations among […]
Tata celebrates production of 12,000th vehicle April 21, 2026 Not loud, not flashy, but always present. Thatโs Tata. That was also the message at a function at the companyโs Rosslyn plant in Pretoria, South Africa, which celebrated the production of its 12,000th vehicle. CHARLEEN CLARKE joined the celebrations. At first glance, the milestone may appear to be only a numerical achievement. Yet for both Tata Africa Holdings โ one of the distribution partners for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles โ and […]
Changan UNI-S: too good to be true? April 3, 2026 The Changan UNI-S has arrived in South Africa and its price tag came as a huge surprise. Incredibly, pricing starts at a mere R389,900 โ for a premium mid-sized SUV. CHARLEEN CLARKE asks (and answers) the question: Is it too good to be true? Honestly, when something is too cheap, I worry. And, in a sense, the Changan UNI-S is indeed as cheap as chips โ which makes me wary. […]
Fake job and onboarding scams: a growing risk February 25, 2026 Fake job and onboarding scams are escalating rapidly, exposing workers and employers in the transport industry to financial loss, identity theft and cyber intrusion. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI), writes CHARLEEN CLARKE, these scams are becoming more convincing โ and more difficult to detect. Themba, a truck driver from Cape Town, was thrilled to see an email pop up in his inbox. Despite the fact that he […]
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