Author:focus-on-transport

Much fuss has been made about the all-new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, but, while the world’s press has been able to offer readers tantalising bits of information about its design and technology, we haven’t been able to get behind the wheel – until now, that is… FOCUS editor Gavin Myers has just returned from driving the new Sprinter in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and can report that the new model has seemingly broken the mould that has traditionally encapsulated the large-van segment. With […]

While a certain bunny is known for making this time of year all about chocolate treats, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is making Easter all about massive discounts on selected truck parts. The company is offering up to 45-percent off selected truck parts until April 30. Furthermore, if parts are bought and fitted at an authorised Mercedes-Benz workshop, the 12-month warranty on parts is automatically extended to 24 months, standard – which saves operators even more money. With more than 100 years’ experience […]

How can the trucking industry slow the sales of cars? Well, by creating the problem of cars not getting to dealerships in the first place… TopSpeed reports that this is what is happening with Tesla in Norway – the country with the world’s highest number of Tesla owners. The electric-car manufacturer has deliberately slowed down deliveries in the country. TopSpeed reports: “The company has had serious issues in terms of delivering its vehicles, because the trucks that are being used […]

The Allianz Risk Barometer 2018 has revealed that business interruption is a top concern for the transportation industry. This was indicated by 37 percent of responses from a record number of 1 911 risk experts from 80 countries. Theft, fraud and corruption is listed as the number two concern (up from number three in 2017) with 32 percent of responses – while cyber incidents (number 3, with 29 percent) and natural catastrophes (four with 25 percent) are emerging threats. Changes […]

When one considers that 77,5 percent of all long-haul road collisions are caused by poor driver behaviour – with 35 percent attributed to driver fatigue and 20 percent caused by the distraction of mobile devices – its clear that something needs to change. Since 1999, Soltrack, a leading vehicle bureau and tracking company, has achieved extraordinary results in terms of the management of driver behaviour. Clifford Solarsh, founder and CEO of Soltrack Vehicle Bureau, suggests that the company’s new, revolutionary, […]

Chinese electric bus manufacturer BYD (which, you may have read in the last issue, is supplying a fleet of new electric buses to the City of Cape Town) will reduce raw material costs and help to address battery waste when it opens a battery recycling plant in Shanghai, in the second quarter of the year. Rising costs of EV battery materials, such as lithium and cobalt, are part of the reason for BYD’s move into recycling. “The most important driving […]

American-based engine maker Cummins plans to hire a team of engineers in India to modify its existing electric powertrain technology and make it more relevant for emerging markets, reports Busworld. “Cummins, which will initially be developing electric powertrains for buses, is also planning to set up a testing facility in India,” Busworld quotes Julie Furber, Cummins executive director for electrification. The move by Cummins comes when India has set an ambitious target to electrify all new vehicles in the country […]