Author:focus-on-transport
Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are extending service intervals to double what they once were. The question is: how have extended motor-oil drain intervals been made possible, and is there anything that fleet managers need to know? Motor oil is used to reduce friction and prevent engine wear, as well as to displace heat and control contaminants. There are two major components that go into oil; the first is the base oil and the second is the additive package. The […]
GAVIN MYERS explores how some of the leading specialised transporters manage the risky business of moving dangerous and hazardous goods. With the sheer number of goods classified as dangerous and/or hazardous, running a successful dangerous-goods (DG) or hazardous-chemicals (Hazchem) transport operation is fraught with challenges. Training, preparation, obligation and compliance, management, accident recovery and (importantly) clean-up all need to be managed with an iron fist. It’s truly a specialised job. So, who better to pose some questions to about the […]
In the search for ultimate trucking efficiency, it would make sense that both the horse and the trailer, as a unit, should run as efficiently as possible. This includes reducing as much rolling resistance as possible. GAVIN MYERS finds out how steered trailers are helping to achieve this. Steered trailers are nothing new. They’ve been used to transport abnormal loads for eons and their benefits are numerous – easier manoeuvrability being chief among them. So, what would happen if the […]
FOCUS finds out about the current challenges faced by the commuter-bus industry According to Statistics South Africa’s National Household Travel Survey, 10,2 percent of families use buses to get around. Last year was an extremely challenging year for the commuter-bus industry. It was tasked with reconciling balance sheets with the increasing price of diesel, higher passenger expectations, higher wages and ever-increasing operating costs. At the same time, buses do not have the flexibility to compete with minibus taxis that are […]
Scania South Africa (SA) ended 2018 with its biggest deal ever! And there are yet more exciting developments coming in 2019… Scania SA ended 2018 by signing a 600-unit deal with Reinhardt Transport – the first 290 of which were delivered before the year was out. However, success such as this does not come without much behind-the-scenes legwork and focusing on the most important aspect of any business: the customer. Anders Friberg, GM of vehicle sales and exports at Scania […]
The Mercedes-Benz OF 1723 bus chassis has entered its second year of sale on the South African commuter-bus market. By making this chassis available locally, the brand intends to capture the market for entry-level buses that do not compromise on quality It’s no secret that 2018 was a tough year for bus operators, their passengers and their suppliers. While bus sales figures remained stable, the industry as a whole had to work exceptionally hard to keep the wheels turning. For […]
UD Trucks has an unrelenting passion to provide the trucks and services the world needs today. This commitment has driven the company’s innovation for over 80 years worldwide, and for more than 55 years in southern Africa Key to the company’s success during this time has been its extra-mile approach to everything it does. “As a part of one of world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, UD Trucks utilises and adapts global technology, knowledge and resources to provide trucks and services […]
Having launched two new vehicles into two new segments in the past two years, Powerstar is heading into 2019 with some exciting developments waiting in the wings Ever Star Industries (ESI) is aiming to make it “three for three” this year when it launches yet another medium-weight contender into its new Powerstar FT range of trucks. There is also an exciting technological development on the way! The FT – with its FT3 three- and FT5 five-tonne derivatives that were launched […]
Will 2019 hold more promise for South African transporters than years gone by? May 2019 is the month on the minds of South African citizens – as this is when the long-awaited national elections are expected to take place. Having been thrown into the deep end at the most desperate of 11th hours, President Cyril Ramaphosa seemed to have spent 2018 doing what he could to stabilise the country with one hand effectively tied behind his back by internal party […]
With the health of truck drivers continually increasing in importance, shouldn’t the list of health concerns also include one of the most prevalent killers of men in the country? It’s a well-known fact that South African truck drivers lead terribly unhealthy lifestyles. Long hours on the road for days at a time with little chance for physical activity; high-fat, high-carb, high-sugar diets that result in diabetes; and exposure to drugs, alcohol and HIV/Aids are all major concerns. Thanks to initiatives […]
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