Author:focus-on-transport
Bakers SA Limited and Mercedes-Benz South Africa have a relationship that stretches back more than 40 years. With more than 650 units in the current Bakers Transport fleet, the two parties have just celebrated the latest addition of 77 Euro-5 Actros prime movers. GAVIN MYERS joined the celebration. Bakers and Mercedes-Benz are like good cheese and fine wine – a classy combination; they both go well together and get better with age. Their more than 40-year relationship is testament to […]
We’ve all heard about fleet management, driver management, fuel management or operations management – but nobody ever really talks about tyre management… That’s right, tyre management. GAVIN MYERS gets talking. Most operators would lump this in with fleet management, and that would be an end of it. However, to truly get the most from a vehicle’s tyres – to ensure they last a full service life, contribute to keeping running costs down, and maintain vehicle roadworthiness and safety – will […]
The bakkie power war seems to be hotting up… GAVIN MYERS spent some time with the most powerful, most expensive double-cab bakkie currently on sale in South Africa: the Mercedes-Benz X 350 d V6. There was a time when almost all makes of douoble-cab bakkies were offered in South Africa with a V6 engine – usually petrol powered. Mitsubishi Colt Rodeo, Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Nissan Hardbody all once offered large-capacity, naturally aspirated V6 power. Until recently, the Hilux […]
Running vehicles on alternative fuels is becoming more common the world over. A South African entity now offers a suitable solution to the local market – with savings in fuel consumption and emissions. Tetra4, a subsidiary of Renergen, listed on the JSE Alt-X, is developing a unique gas field in Virginia, in the Free State, where methane gas, produced from microbes underground, is being harnessed for the South African market as an alternative fuel to diesel and liquified petroleum gas […]
On-board diagnostic (OBD) scan tools have become a staple in all modern workshops. GARETH GREATHEAD finds out what they do and how their use contributes to a healthy return on investment. Pieter van Zyl, owner of Roodepoort Auto Diagnostic, explains that diagnostic tools are essential in order to understand, maintain and repair modern vehicles. In addition, many service and repair procedures can be performed only with a diagnostic device. “Modern vehicles have complex modules and sensors which all work on the controller […]
Steep ascents, sharp rocks, shale, mud, dust and sand are just some of the obstacles vehicles operating in the forestry industry encounter daily. What is the state of the industry and what role does vehicle technology play? Gareth Greathead finds out. Logging is defined as the cutting, skidding, bucking and then loading of logs onto trucks. According to Forestry South Africa, the sector employs approximately 150 000 people and contributes 0,6 percent (or R31 billion) to the gross domestic product […]
Marcopolo South Africa recently launched its new-generation Torino, Andare and Paradiso buses and coaches – as well as a project that is a first for Marcopolo anywhere in the world… GAVIN MYERS finds out more. Judging by the number of guests at the launch – there were about 500, most of which were operators, while many were from other African countries – Marcopolo has grown in leaps and bounds in the 23 years it has been present on the continent. […]
Note: For the time being, Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) will only report aggregated sales data. The MBSA commercial vehicle market split volumes are estimates based on historical trends and forecasting techniques. Light Commercial Vehicles < 3 501 kg Total: 14 123 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles South Africa 38 Ford Motor Company 2 622 GWM 145 Hyundai Automotive SA 315 Isuzu Motors South Africa 1 186 JMC 28 Kia South Africa 137 Mahindra 310 Mazda South Africa 16 Mercedes-Benz SA – estimate 88 […]
Specialised Container Agencies (SCA), a supplier of niche-market container products, has developed an intermodal side-tipper bin designed for use in both road and rail transport applications, which removes the need for investment in double handling of cargo. “In areas that are not fully serviced by rail, the intermodal side tipper can be loaded onto trucks for closed-loop, short-haul transport by road. The trucks carry the tipper bin, containing bulk material, to the railhead. This means cargo can be received at […]
Vehicle telematics and tracking services provider, Ctrack, has introduced Ctrack Iris, a high-quality, customisable video-monitoring solution that is ideal for anything from rental and fleet vehicles to light deliveries, heavy commercials, general machinery and buses. The new video solution from Ctrack combined with a tracking device can improve vehicle route optimisation, increase load frequency and hasten turnaround times. The number of side or back cameras used can be specified by individual customers. Video footage can be recorded in eight quality […]
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