Author:focus-on-transport
Imagine this … no sooner have goods been packaged for transportation than an autonomous-drive, long-haul truck slots into position at the loading dock, waits as the cargo is quickly and efficiently transferred, then checks out digitally and heads for the highway… WANITA WALLACE reports on the future of transport in the making Platooning. It’s a big word in the transport industry. Observers believe it will change the way the world’s road-freight systems operate. For starters, there will be more trucks […]
A sluggish economy, coupled with a rise in the number of violent attacks on trucks, especially along the N3 highway, are being cited as primary reasons for the dip in the sales of heavy-duty vehicles. Will this trend continue? LIANA SHAW investigates “The heavy truck and bus market, which takes up about 1 000 units a year, is seeing a terrible downturn,” states Dave van Graan, head of special projects at MAN Automotive. “Over the past year (ending in June […]
The impact of disruptive technology on the transport industry was a key theme at the 2019 Southern African Transport Conference (SATC), which was held in Pretoria in July. FOCUS reports The annual SATC brings various professionals within the southern African transport industry together to discuss and debate the challenges facing the industry. This year, the conference highlighted the impact of technology on the transport sector with topics on cashless fare collection and electric cargo bikes in the last-mile delivery, for […]
Confidence in the civil engineering industry is down, which means fewer opportunities for construction companies. How will this impact on vehicle sales for original equipment manufacturers? MARISKA MORRIS investigates First National Bank (FNB), in partnership with the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), published its FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index report in June, which indicated a continued low level of confidence in the civil engineering industry. This is expected to impact on the construction industry and other related sectors. The index is […]
Although she hadn’t contemplated a career in the motor industry, 20 years after joining Mercedes-Benz, Maretha Gerber finds herself heading up the brand’s trucking business Nearly two decades ago, when Maretha Gerber arrived at Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s Head Office in Centurion, near Pretoria, to demonstrate the capabilities of a photocopier machine, she had no idea that one day she would return to the building as head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “I was working as a sales executive for a copier company […]
Being a woman in what is traditionally regarded as a man’s world is not without its challenges. Lise Van der Berg, founder and CEO of Tradevest Logistics, a committed Netstar customer, offers some insights Empowerment of women has been a much-discussed topic over the years, especially in South Africa where the number of women who hold executive positions in commerce and industry falls far short of that of men. Equally, 50/50 parity becomes even more challenging in historically male-dominated sectors […]
Global petroleum company BP has signed an agreement to buy diesel manufactured from plastic, highlighting the vital roles that innovation and technology play in driving the world’s transition to a lower-carbon future Trucks that run on electricity are beginning to become more familiar, but what about trucks that run on diesel derived from plastic waste? A new plant opening in the United States (US) is aimed at enabling just that. Brightmark Energy broke ground recently on a US$ 260-million (about […]
Whether a hard-working tipper, flexible skip loader, robust concrete mixer or rough-road hauler, the type of application for which a vehicle is best-suited elicits different challenges and requirements – which is where tailored solutions offered by Scania’s heavy-duty XT range fit perfectly South Africa’s construction industry faces increasing demands for sustainable, cost-effective production. With a powerful, next-generation XT line-up ready to undertake the toughest of tasks, Swedish truck manufacturer Scania appears well prepared to meet the sector’s rigorous transport needs. […]
There’s a new man at the helm of DAF. He comes into the company at a time that it is achieving record after record. However – as GIANENRICO GRIFFINI discovers – Harry Wolters, the newly appointed president of DAF Trucks, has no intention of resting on his laurels Having celebrated its milestone 90th birthday last year, DAF continues to achieve record after record. Following an outstanding 2018, the Eindhoven-based company is determined to capitalise on the success it has achieved […]
Thomson’s Towing and Panelbeaters, based in White River, Mpumalanga, owes much of its success to the hardworking Tata trucks in its growing fleet Thomson’s Towing, an Automobile Association partner, currently operates six Tata trucks comprising Tata 713, 813 and 913 medium and heavy-duty LPT models. One of these, a Tata 713, stands out from the rest. Over the years, this four-tonne, medium-duty truck has completed in excess of 1.5-million trouble-free kilometres. The truck was bought second hand several years ago, […]
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