Author:focus-on-transport
Progressive and Power – two names buyers of Mercedes-Benz’s bakkie, the X-Class, will come to know well. For the brand, though, these model designations hint at its ambition … it’s progressive, “establishing a new segment” (as the company claims), and it’s doing so with a mighty show of power. “This is the first bakkie to convincingly combine the versatility of a double-cab with the luxury of a passenger car,” claims Nadia Trimmel, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Southern Africa. So what’s […]
Nampo Harvest Day 2018 is all set to be a knock-out show. Not a year goes by where the FOCUS team misses the annual Nampo Harvest Day, organised by Grain SA. In fact, the same could be said for all members of the transport industry – as the show routinely attracts truck and trailer manufacturers, component suppliers and transport operators in their droves. Not much has changed for 2018, except that we can all expect even more! Under the banner […]
Not the tulips, canals and amazing architecture, nor the red lights and abundance of coffee shops and nightspots, could compare to the main reason GAVIN MYERS recently visited Amsterdam, The Netherlands … which was to drive the all-new, undeniably impressive, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Of course, we weren’t supposed to be there – but an unforeseen road closure on our set route out of Amsterdam, programmed into the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) satnav, had us touring a tiny rural Dutch village in […]
GAVIN MYERS explores the transport of specialised, oversized and abnormal loads. In a world where trailers are designed to fulfil a dedicated role, it’s interesting to learn that more and more operators are interested in multi-use trailers… “Many clients want ‘Leatherman trailers’ – they come with some interesting requests for trailers that can do multiple jobs. Most of the time, with a bit of research and development, we can accommodate them and design the trailers accordingly,” comments York Zonneveld, owner […]
Some suggest that there is a direct correlation between the cost of lubricants and overall truck maintenance costs. WILLIAM GEORGE explores the topic to see how fleet owners can save money and extend the life of vehicles through purchasing quality lubes and oil. Although it may be tempting to purchase cheaper oils and lubricants, it is essential for fleet managers to invest in good, high-quality oils in order to extend the lifecycle of vehicles, while reducing the cost of fleet […]
Scania South Africa is a company that likes to work with forward thinkers – so partnering with the Reinhardt Transport Group in its Commercial Professional Driver (CPD) Academy was the perfect way to be involved in upskilling the nation’s future truck drivers. GAVIN MYERS visited the eye-opening Academy as a journalist, and very nearly walked out as a learner truck driver… Following the road on the outskirts of Nigel, a town in the eastern region of Gauteng, one comes to […]
As a Johannesburg native, I don’t see the appeal in venturing too far away from home during holiday times. Unless the destination is one where very few people will think to go, like Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein (really, it’s a real place), all that will happen is you’ll land up in Little Joburg for a week… Same traffic, same crowded spaces, same people… To avoid this frustration, I tend to stay home during December and over most long weekends, taking my leave during […]
It’s encouraging that there is an increasing emphasis on vehicle safety in developing markets such as India and Africa. In November 2017 the first-ever independent crash-test results for cars sold in Africa were released by Global NCAP at a conference in Cape Town, hosted together with the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA). Now, following the announcement of the Safer Choice India Award at the Delhi motor show, Global NCAP is launching the Safer Choice Africa Award to encourage automakers […]
Securex South Africa – the leading security and fire trade show of its kind on the African continent – returns to Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from May 22 to 24. “The fact that the show continues to be relevant 25 years after its inception – drawing in more than 190 physical and cyber-security exhibitors together with thousands of visitors from across the continent, as well as support from a large number of the security and fire industry’s associations – […]
Operators of Hino vehicles can now enjoy a four-percent reduction in the price of all replacement parts – an initiative the original equipment manufacturer sees as a contribution to assisting fleet owners to lower total cost of ownership (TCO). The price reduction is coupled to a one-year, over-the-counter parts warranty and a two-year warranty on parts that are purchased and fitted at a Hino dealership. “We realise that if we can lower the cost of parts, while maintaining our excellent […]
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