Author:charleen-clarke
Enough is enough April 20, 2021 I’ve said it before: doing business in Africa is not for sissies. But, right now, things are becoming unbearable for transport operators and truck drivers alike. Enough is enough! I’ve decided to write this column following the death of a truck driver. His name was Robert Sakala and he hailed from Malawi. Robert was in the wrong place at the wrong time. For Robert, that “wrong place” was the perpetually long queue to the […]
New direction for DAF? March 19, 2021 Could the launch of the new (to South Africans) DAF CF and XF signal a new direction for the company in this country? I’ve never quite understood the situation with DAF in South Africa. When I’m in Europe or the United Kingdom, DAF trucks are commonplace. Last year, the company enjoyed heavy-duty market leadership in the Netherlands (31,8%), the UK (31,6%), Poland (23,7%), Hungary (27,9%) and Bulgaria (25,4%). The Dutch truck manufacturer also […]
UD Trucks launches two new Croner models February 19, 2021 UD Trucks has kicked off 2021 on a high note with the launch of two new Croner models. CHARLEEN CLARKE reports that this is one of many positive developments at the company. 2020 was a challenging year for us all – UD Trucks included. As Rory Schulz, UD Trucks Southern Africa’s marketing and sales director, notes: “2020 was a year where our lives changed dramatically and the way we had […]
Meet the coolest bakkie on the planet! February 19, 2021 I have found my new bakkie! You can watch it in action on the video below. But sadly, I won’t ever be able to drive it … I have decided to kick off the year on a fun note. So, instead of penning a column on the woes of our economy, the challenges faced by our industry and the many tragedies associated with the pandemic, I am going to write […]
Brits make R421 million by renting out their driveways! December 17, 2020 UK homeowners made £21 million (about R421 million) in 2020 simply by renting out their vacant driveways to motorists needing somewhere to park, new research by YourParkingSpace.co.uk reveals. Indeed, despite various lockdown restrictions the online parking portal is actually reporting strong growth this year in the demand for rented driveways near workplaces as a result of Covid-19, because many workers are choosing to drive rather than take public […]
No “ho, ho ho”: Coca Cola cancels Christmas Truck Tour December 17, 2020 For the first time ever, Coca‑Cola has cancelled its popular Christmas Truck Tour. This is disappointing – but completely understandable – news for lots of people, for whom the Truck Tour marks a fun, festive moment to get together over the Christmas period. A statement by the company has explained that, throughout the pandemic, its main priority has been to support its people, partners and communities. “That’s […]
Michael Dietz: steering Daimler Trucks & Buses through 2020’s challenging waters December 16, 2020 This has been a challenging year for the transport industry – both here in South Africa and all over the world. However, as CHARLEEN CLARKE discovers in this exclusive interview with Michael Dietz, CEO of Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa (DTBSA), it’s ending surprisingly well for the manufacturer and distributor of Mercedes-Benz and Fuso commercial vehicles … What a year it’s been for Dietz! Quite […]
What a LOUSY year December 16, 2020 Anyone who knows me will tell you this: I always try to remain positive. I’m a glass-half-full kind of person. However, while I remain massively grateful for my health, 2020 has tested my positive mindset like you cannot believe. I know that the same applies to every transport operator and truck driver in this somewhat broken country. Back in March, we had no clue how dreadful this year would be. Sure, the economy […]
Truckers vs SANCATDRA: it’s a war! November 17, 2020 An organisation called the South African National Cargo Transport Drivers Association (SANCATDRA) appears to be targeting certain South African transport companies. It is alleged that two have already closed down – thanks to a campaign of harassment. The two companies that have closed – Bogdans Transport and Elf Trans – tell an ominously similar tale of harassment and violence, which ultimately culminated in both companies closing their doors. Bogdans – which […]
MAN flies the SA flag! October 20, 2020 MAN Automotive has come up with an extremely novel concept: a limited edition of trucks painted in the colours of the South African flag. CHARLEEN CLARKE reveals the story behind the creation of these extraordinary vehicles From bad to good. That’s what the SA Flag Limited Edition trucks personify, as Eren Gündüz, chief operating officer at MAN Automotive, says: “They symbolise the incredible success of the MAN brand in South Africa.” As […]
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