Author:focus-on-transport

Prioritising delivery driver safety in the gig economy January 9, 2025 As Africa’s last-mile delivery market grows by over 8% annually, the demand for safer delivery practices has never been higher. Two-wheeler drivers face greater safety risks as they navigate tight timelines for food delivery and hot food takeout services within bustling urban centres – often within 60 minutes of orders being placed. The pressure to perform can contribute to riskier driving behaviour. This is where AI-powered insights can be […]

Achim Puchert appointed CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks December 10, 2024 Achim Puchert – former CEO and president of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and Latin America – has been appointed CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. He succeeds Karin Rådström, the new CEO of Daimler Truck. At the end of last year, Daimler Truck announced the appointment of Achim Puchert to its Board of Management. On 1 December 2024, Puchert assumed the role of Mercedes-Benz Trucks CEO, with responsibilities for the European and Latin […]

Control and Connect your fleet with Bridge January 16, 2025 Bridge is GoMetro’s integrated telematics and fleet management platform, developed to enhance real-time oversight and control of vehicles, assets, and transport subcontractors. With features and tools developed to power data insights, enable complete asset overwatch, and create real-time alerts, Bridge brings the digital transformation advantage to a fleet business. This is all consolidated into a user-friendly dashboard on a single screen, delivering excellent real-time live asset tracking and interactive mapping. […]

Challenges abound in SA’s tyre industry January 15, 2025 The South African tyre industry faces a range of challenges, from waste management and road safety concerns to competition from cheaper imports. Recent policy changes and industry initiatives seek to address these issues, but questions remain about their effectiveness and long-term impact. The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) represents the interests of the country’s four major tyre manufacturers: Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, and Sumitomo Rubber South Africa. Collectively, these companies directly […]

Self-tests to drive change? January 14, 2025 Alco-Safe MD RHYS EVANS commends Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s traffic services for its targeted road safety programme, launched in 2024. Integrating education and self-testing breathalysers at Gqeberha taxi ranks, this signifies a shift towards promoting responsible driving habits. Drunk driving statistics paint a grim picture, and the risk of accidents and fatalities escalates dramatically when drivers are under the influence. A comprehensive approach is therefore vital to curb this problem. The introduction of […]

Market disruptions, election jitters, and plummeting exports January 14, 2025 South Africa’s new vehicle market remains closely tied to broader economic conditions in the country. With the first half of 2024 being particularly challenging, annual new vehicle sales fell compared to 2023, even though Q4 of 2024 was promising. Consequently, the new vehicle market is yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, and this will likely be delayed for another year. The decline in annual new vehicle sales was driven predominantly […]

Know Your Axles! January 14, 2025 Potential buyers of extra-heavy commercial vehicles (XHCVs) have a choice between a wide variety of different manufacturers, models, and specifications. Included in the  process is the choice between single-axle reduction and hub-reduction rear-drive axles. In order to ensure that the vehicle is suitable for the job that it will be undertaking, it is important to understand both of these rear axle drive types. To fully understand the pros and cons of both types of […]

Steven Sutherland: Driving innovation at Powerfleet Africa January 24, 2025 Steven Sutherland, Powerfleet Africa GM of enterprise, exemplifies leadership in the ever-evolving fields of Internet of Things (IoT) and telematics and is a driving force in shaping the company’s industry-leading position. Sutherland’s professional journey began in telecommunications, where he honed his technical expertise and developed an understanding of operational efficiency in tech and software-powered businesses. Experience in digital telecom networks and call centre technologies at Dimension Data instilled in him […]

A new local lubricant for the agricultural industry January 14, 2025 The latter stages of 2024 brought the announcement of a new, locally-developed multipurpose lubricant for the agricultural industry from Fuchs Lubricants South Africa (Fuchs). The new lubricant, Agrifarm Utto Flex, is ideal for transmissions, final drives, hydraulics, and oil-immersed brakes of agricultural and even certain off-highway equipment, according to Fuchs application engineers manager Greg Tarr. “It is a premium lubricant for the agricultural industry, offering quality and value at […]

Road safety: the missing puzzle piece January 14, 2025 A staggering 58% of road fatalities involve alcohol, yet the true extent of this crisis remains obscured by a critical flaw: inaccurate post-accident data collection. This hinders the implementation of effective drunk-driving law enforcement policies. The current system suffers from a significant absence of standardised procedures, as breathalyser tests – a vital tool for gathering concrete evidence of alcohol impairment – are not routinely administered after accidents. Addressing this challenge requires […]