Author:focus-on-transport
Justin Manson, sales director of TomTom Telematics South Africa, has more than 15 years of experience in the fleet-management and telematics space. FOCUS speaks to him about the future of telematics. In South Africa’s mature telematics sector, staying ahead of the competition isn’t so much about the data, but rather about the software, analysis and packaging of information. This is a major leap from the past, where data was treated as proprietary information not to be shared. According to Manson, […]
Harneet Luther, Executive director of Tata Automobile Corporation SA, is on a mission to guide the company to a renewed, prosperous, market-leading future – and customer satisfaction is at the centre of it all Since arriving in South Africa in 2004, with Tata Motors, Luther has seen the Tata brand grow its product portfolio, expand to include assembly operations and support its customers with increasing vigour. Now, he and his team are laying the foundation for the years to come… […]
It’s good to know that, in an environment where companies are doing all they can to reduce costs, quality is still top of mind. That’s why BPW is taking its customers from OE to PE. For more than 120 years, BPW Bergische Achsen, based in Wiehl, near Cologne, Germany, has been known for the development and manufacture of running-gear systems and trailer axles. Through its strength in innovation, the company has been able to achieve continuous growth and is regarded […]
Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its Vito 111 Tourer Pro. GAVIN MYERS drove it Three and a half years after its launch and this is the third Mercedes-Benz Vito of the current generation that FOCUS has had on test. It’s also the most impressive. That’s not because it’s a top-spec model fitted with all the bells and whistles – in fact, it’s the entry-level model in the people-carrying Tourer range. This Vito impressed because it did something that no Vito I’ve driven […]
JIM WARD has been involved in the transport and logistics industry for 33 years. He found himself thinking about how much it has changed during this time, and was inspired to put his ideas to paper about what the future may hold. June 5, 2037, 06:00, Greater Gauteng. Tsepo picks his driver’s smart card (DSC) from its charging bank and makes his way to his clean, white Indo-Chinese/European truck. As he approaches, his smart card is recognised and signals the […]
Hundreds more truck drivers die each year on South African roads than miners working in the country’s mines. Gareth Greathead takes a look at what measures are in place to ensure drivers and their families get the support they deserve following an accident, if they don’t come home, suffer a permanent impairment, or lose their ability to earn an income. According to personal-injury specialist, RoadCover, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is a public entity set up to provide compensation to […]
What legislation will transport and logistics professionals need to be aware of in 2019? We find out. Peter Lamb, director at Norton Rose Fulbright, suggests that the main piece of legislation transporters will need to be cognisant of in 2019 is the update on the Draft Economic Regulation of Transport Bill, 2018. Lamb’s colleague, Martin Hartwell, commented on the previous version of the draft in issue 8 of FOCUS. However, it has since been revised in lieu of the original […]
Even the most responsible companies, the best drivers and the most comprehensive training have not eliminated the incidence of truck accidents. FOCUS investigates how in-cab fatigue-detection technology is providing a wake-up call for drivers. Research conducted by the Interdisciplinary Accident Research Centre in South Africa suggests that up to 41 percent of road accidents can be attributed to fatigue. Senior client manager of DriveRisk, Gerard Kloppers, says: “Driver fatigue and distraction are two of the most pervasive challenges facing logistics […]
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has (finally) expanded its range of Unimog specialised trucks in South Africa, with a model designed specifically for the agricultural sector. GAVIN MYERS gets acquainted with the first unit to land. The Unimog U 4000/U 5000 model range is well known in South Africa for its bulletproof ruggedness, customisability and suitability for a multitude of applications. Now, another kind of Unimog has arrived – a far more compact, high-tech machine that, in fact, takes the Mog back to […]
Imperial Logistics group company, Palletways Italia, has introduced the network’s first electric trucks, which will deliver goods to a limited traffic zone in Bologna Italy. The zone was enforced to reduce congestion and pollution in the city centre and allows only mopeds, buses, bicycles and electric vehicles to travel through the area. Electric Professional Mobility, a Pisa-based company, supplied the two new Nissan 3,5 t electric trucks that can travel up to 125 km with a single charge. Rob Gittins, […]
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