Author:focus-on-transport
In less than a month, Electra Mining Africa 2018 will descend on the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg. Between September 10 and 14, leading players in the mining, manufacturing, electrical and power industries will engage with visitors and share information on their latest products, services and solutions. “There will be an exciting line-up of new products and services, live demonstrations and free-to-attend seminars at this year’s Electra Mining Africa,” says Gary Corin, MD of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, organiser of the […]
The heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) segment sits in an interesting space, with more than 120 model variations offered locally. That means a lot of jockeying for market share – in a segment that is currently declining. The HCV segment is characterised by some interesting dynamics – from varying truck sizes, their ability to navigate city streets, and a need for considerable levels of customisation, to the sheer variety of models on offer and the availability of drivers. Elvis Mutseura, product […]
The coal transport industry is not for the faint of heart. To succeed requires grit, determination, astute business acumen and, importantly, a reliable and efficient fleet of trucks. PCC Logistics, with its fleet of UD trucks, is based in South Africa’s coal-mining belt, in the small town of Carolina, Mpumalanga. Initially operating as an independent coal trader, the logistics side of the company was established in 2007. “Leading up to the purchase of our own trucks, we made use of […]
The world is becoming “smarter”, and the mobility of people in cities is a key aspect in this future development, but South Africa seems to be lagging behind. During July I attended the 37th annual Southern African Transport Conference. The main report on this can be found on page 32. While there was certainly much to talk about over the four days, some topics were of particular interest – one that piqued mine was around smart cities and intelligent public […]
The confidence level in South Africa’s construction industry plummeted to 17-year lows in 2017. In 2018, it was estimated that the industry could look forward to moderate growth. Nkosini Ngwenya finds out if this has been the case, and what the effect has been on the commercial-vehicle industry. The construction industry suffered major setbacks in 2017 particularly in the second and third quarters, when the sector experienced its lowest confidence level since the third quarter of 2000. According to the […]
The Fleet Solutions division of Shell South Africa is heading for an increasingly digital future, as it sets out to reshape the fleet world as we know it today, writes Gavin Myers. “Disruption” is one of the most talked about buzzwords in today’s boardrooms. As technology evolves and becomes ever more integrated into our daily personal and professional lives, more and more of the traditional ways of doing things are opened up for new, better ways to take over. Similarly, […]
Eventually, every vehicle needs at least one part replaced, which can easily become a time-consuming, expensive activity. FOCUS lists a few considerations to make the process easier. Some fleet owners might be lucky enough to avoid replacing parts by regularly purchasing new vehicles. However, many transport operators keep their vehicles for over a decade, which comes with its own challenges, including replacing expensive, but important, parts of the vehicle. Here are a few things transport operators should keep in mind […]
Connected this, Internet of Things that … The face of the logistics supply chain is becoming increasingly digital. Does that mean that things are fundamentally better? Do services automatically take a leap forward? How is the human factor affected? FOCUS finds out It can only be the natural progression for technology to underpin the modern logistics chain. As competition and speed to market become ever greater considerations, every link in the chain needs to talk to the others, while being […]
The Mercedes-Benz Trucks business unit has a new boss, and she comes with some impressive credentials. On July 1, Daimler Trucks & Buses (DT&B) Southern Africa welcomed Maretha Gerber as the new head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks for southern Africa. Gerber has held several leadership positions within Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) and brings with her a combination of retail experience within sales and marketing in various roles, as well as leadership skills. “Maretha is no stranger to the automotive sector and […]
A humble, focused, hands-on lady, Nona Chili is guiding Makwande Supply and Distribution to be an important player in the local fuel-distribution sector. That she has a trusted partner like Scania South Africa at her side doesn’t hurt, either Chili says that she fell into the fuel-transportation sector by default, but, listening to this intrepid CEO’s story, it seems more like a natural progression. Her career as a crude-oil trader began some 20 years ago and, in 2006, she opened […]
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