Author:focus-on-transport
Despite the boom in the American economy and its transport industry, and healthy growth expected in 2018, progress may be held back, due to the lack of truck drivers. Automated vehicles could be the solution, but will leave 1,7 million truck drivers without jobs. FOCUS investigates. The United States (US) economy is slowly climbing back to a healthy growth in gross domestic product (GDP). Patricia Cohenjan, journalist for the New York Times, reports that the US economy grew by 2,6 […]
It’s an interesting and busy time in the pickup segment of the automotive industry, as a number of new players enter the market, writes JARLATH SWEENY from Fleet Transport. He attended the launch of Renault’s contender: the Alaskan. It could be said that the one-tonne pickup truck segment is entering a golden era worldwide, and Renault wants a piece of the action. Global sales of pickups in general have reached 4,66-million units annually and are continuing to grow. The North […]
Africa is facing an energy crisis, as millions of people have no access to electricity, leading to expensive losses in productivity. Energy leaders gathered at the 2018 Africa Energy Indaba to discuss challenges and possible solutions Leaders in the African energy industry from both the private and public sector recently gathered at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, for the tenth Africa Energy Indaba (AEI). With 500-million Africans living without access to power, African energy leaders are getting serious about […]
With three major parts centres and a distribution network across southern Africa, Ever Star Industries ensures all its customers have original parts delivered when needed. Ever Star Industries (ESI) is committed to around-the-clock aftersales support, which covers every vehicle under the ESI umbrella – Powerstar, Powerland, Shantui and NHL. ESI has three parts distribution centres. The main central parts distribution (CPD) centre – a 1 200 m2 warehouse – is based at the assembly plant in Pietermaritzburg, with two other distribution […]
Supply chains are becoming ever more dependent on technology to manage challenges and improve productivity, but this same technology can also present its own obstacles. FOCUS looks at how companies can stay ahead of the digital curve. Accenture, a South African business management consultant, predicts that software as a service for the supply chain management market will reach US$ 4,4 billion (R52 billion) in 2018. Software as a service and digitisation are needed to manage the complex supply chains faced […]
Irregular tyre wear can be a tell-tale sign of underlying mechanical problems. WILLIAM GEORGE finds out about the root causes of tyre damage and ways to manage them. The relationship of tyres to a vehicle is similar to that of the heart to the human body. If a tyre is worn or damaged, it could result in malperformance of the other parts of the vehicle. Old and worn tyres are common causes of accidents, which makes it critical to keep […]
It’s not every day that one walks into a production facility to find a company producing world-class vehicles and employees, too. However, this is exactly what GAVIN MYERS discovered when he met with Deon Flusk, regional product centre manager at Scania South Africa. While Scania South Africa has been assembling vehicles in this country since its reintroduction to the market in 1995, the completely knocked-down facility in Aeroton, Johannesburg, has been running since 2003 – and, in that time, has […]
While the role of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is important and has been a major life-changer for those who have been drastically affected after a car crash, it might be time to consider another way to lessen the financial strain on the institution. This is the opinion of Eugene Herbert, MD of advanced driver training company MasterDrive. His comments come amid the increase in the general fuel levy of 52 c/litre, 30 c of which will go to the […]
With three children under the age of 15 dying on South African roads every day, transport logistics and supply-chain specialist Cargo Carriers has partnered with Active Education, which provides unique Scholar Road Safety Education to public schools on behalf of the Department of Basic Education. Cargo Carriers recently supplied more than 5 000 reflective sashes to Active Education for its training programme. Students will wear these “walking seatbelts” every day as official components of their school uniforms to significantly improve […]
It’ll land on local shores only in May, but Mercedes-Benz South Africa has released the pricing of its eagerly awaited X-Class pickup. A member of the Mercedes-Benz Vans family, the X-Class will be available in South Africa in two levels of trim, described by the company as: “The X-Class Progressive, which is aimed at people seeking a rugged bakkie with extra styling and comfort functions, while also being a comfortable, yet prestigious, vehicle for private or dual use. “The X-Class Power, which is […]
focusmagsa
