Author:focus-on-transport

Predicting warehouse trends

Eighty-seven percent of businesses globally plan to expand their warehouse footprints over next five years, according to a recent survey Results of a recent global warehousing study by United States-based Zebra Technologies Corporation shows that automation and worker augmentation solutions will be a key focus for IT and operations decision-makers over the next five years. In a statement, the company points out that more than three-quarters (77 percent) of respondents to its survey agreed that augmenting workers with technology was […]

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FAW builds solid fleet foundation

The Cape Town-based DSD Group has 26 FAW concrete mixers in its fleet – and is looking to add more to the line-up. Group CEO Andre Mostert explains why Die Sement Depot (DSD), part of several companies in the Andre Mostert Vervoer (AMV) Group, is a proud FAW truck customer. The Cape Town-based company supplies ready-mixed concrete, sand and stone to clients throughout the Western Cape. Group CEO Andre Mostert says DSD is the fastest-growing ready-mix concrete supplier in Cape […]

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Celebrating Women’s Day the Ironman way

Ironman competitor Annah Watkinson shares her story of balancing a career as a chartered accountant with her accomplishments as a professional athlete Ironman athlete, Annah Watkinson, this week addressed employees at Isuzu’s annual Women’s Day celebrations held in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. The Isuzu-sponsored athlete, who finished third in the professional female category in the African Ironman Championship held in Nelson Mandela Bay earlier this year, shared her story of balancing a career as a chartered accountant with a demanding […]

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Ford introduces third shift at Silverton

From this month, Ford’s assembly plant at Silverton, Pretoria, has begun to operate around the clock Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has introduced a third shift to its vehicle assembly operations at its Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria. The additional shift has created 1 200 new jobs, taking the company’s total employment in South Africa to approximately 5 500 employees. At the same time, it has significantly bolstered employment at supplier companies by adding about 10 000 jobs […]

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Face to face with Heinz-JΓΌrgen LΓΆw

This month, JARLATH SWEENEY goes face to face with one of the most experienced commercial vehicle executives in the business, Heinz-JΓΌrgen LΓΆw, board member for sales and marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles LΓΆw is a true doyen of the commercial vehicle industry, having spent most of his career in top positions at Renault Trucks, MAN Truck & Bus and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. During his time as president of Renault Trucks he oversaw the creation of the multi-award-winning Range T and […]

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Maximising the Maximus

The latest version of Korean truck manufacturer Daewoo’s Maximus KL3TX 6×4 tractor is scheduled to star at the official launch of the brand next month at the Futuroad Expo at Automechanika Johannesburg. FOCUS offers insights into what drives the Tata-owned nameplate. It’s perceived to be one of the most imposing but stylish-looking trucks on the road. It’s Daewoo’s Maximus KL3TX, a long-haul heavyweight that’s scheduled to star as the brand’s centrepiece at next month’s Futuroad Expo at Automechanika Johannesburg. The […]

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Day of the driverless truck?

Imagine this … no sooner have goods been packaged for transportation than an autonomous-drive, long-haul truck slots into position at the loading dock, waits as the cargo is quickly and efficiently transferred, then checks out digitally and heads for the highway… WANITA WALLACE reports on the future of transport in the making Platooning. It’s a big word in the transport industry.Β  Observers believe it will change the way the world’s road-freight systems operate. For starters, there will be more trucks […]

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Stagnant economy impacts heavy-vehicle sales

A sluggish economy, coupled with a rise in the number of violent attacks on trucks, especially along the N3 highway, are being cited as primary reasons for the dip in the sales of heavy-duty vehicles. Will this trend continue? LIANA SHAW investigates “The heavy truck and bus market, which takes up about 1 000 units a year, is seeing a terrible downturn,” states Dave van Graan, head of special projects at MAN Automotive. β€œOver the past year (ending in June […]

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South Africa unprepared for disruptive technology

The impact of disruptive technology on the transport industry was a key theme at the 2019 Southern African Transport Conference (SATC), which was held in Pretoria in July. FOCUS reports The annual SATC brings various professionals within the southern African transport industry together to discuss and debate the challenges facing the industry. This year, the conference highlighted the impact of technology on the transport sector with topics on cashless fare collection and electric cargo bikes in the last-mile delivery, for […]

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Conquering low confidence in construction

Confidence in the civil engineering industry is down, which means fewer opportunities for construction companies. How will this impact on vehicle sales for original equipment manufacturers? MARISKA MORRIS investigates First National Bank (FNB), in partnership with the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), published its FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index report in June, which indicated a continued low level of confidence in the civil engineering industry. This is expected to impact on the construction industry and other related sectors. The index is […]

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