Author:focus-on-transport

Transnet results: cautious optimism, but realities remain October 17, 2025 Transnet’s latest results suggest long-awaited progress in stabilising operations. But with debt still mounting and structural reforms unresolved, freight forwarders are balancing optimism with hard-nosed realism, as JULIA TEW reports. When Transnet released its 2025 year-end financial results in early October, the Southern Africa Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) surprised many by striking a positive tone in its response. “For the first time in years, throughput performance across all major […]

Safer roads: better for life, better for business October 17, 2025 Every day, 32 people die and 157 are seriously injured on roads in South Africa – the world’s most dangerous country for drivers. Road deaths are a preventable tragedy and also a bottom-line issue for the embattled transport sector. JULIA TEW explores whether the revised National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) can bring about long-overdue improvements. The global toll is sobering: road crashes kill nearly 1.2 million people each year […]

Old Faithful: The Isuzu that doesn’t quit November 3, 2025 We reveal how a humble Isuzu FVR900 became a South African legend – and rolled its way into the history books. In the demanding world of logistics, where deadlines don’t wait and engines rarely rest, reliability is everything. And somewhere between Gqeberha and Vredenburg, an Isuzu FVR900 has earned its place as one of the greats. Affectionately called “Old Faithful” by the team at Albany Bakeries, this truck has covered […]

Selecting the best truck for the job November 11, 2025 In Southern Africa’s demanding transport, construction and agricultural sectors, choosing the right truck can mean the difference between operational efficiency and costly downtime. With over 20 years’ experience in the trucking industry, Esaia Taunyane, sales director at UD Trucks Southern Africa, supports customers in selecting vehicles that are purpose-built and tailored to their operational needs. Taunyane explains that the process begins with a detailed needs analysis across five key areas: […]

2025 Fleet Safety Awards winners announced November 11, 2025 South Africa’s road safety record is among the worst in the world, with more than 12,000 fatalities recorded annually according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). The festive season in particular often brings a spike in crashes and fatalities. Against this sobering backdrop, the 2025 Fleet Safety Awards offered a rare and uplifting reminder that many South African transport professionals are actively rewriting this story – one safe kilometre at […]

Customised vehicle insurance in the connected mobility era October 23, 2025 As fleet managers embrace mobile telematics, the real-time driving data being harvested enables insurers to offer more precise, personalised underwriting, dynamic pricing and proactive risk mitigation via usage-based insurance (UBI). JULIA TEW explores how these shifts affect claims management, driver safety and regulatory compliance. Commercial vehicles today are increasingly connected and intelligent: embedded telematics units, GPS, driver-behaviour sensors and diagnostic systems generate streams of usage data. Research by S&P […]

Isuzu D-Max: More brawn, more brains August 1, 2025 At R789,500, the Isuzu D-Max 3.0 Ddi Double Cab 4×4 LS A/T isn’t the cheapest bakkie on the block. After a week behind the wheel, however, BAREND VAN WYK believes it might just be one of the most satisfying to drive. Spending time with the Isuzu D-Max 3.0 Ddi Double Cab 4×4 LS Auto was a proper treat – and, I’ll admit, it caught me off guard. At a starting price […]