Author:jaco-de-klerk

When giants come knocking July 8, 2025 Maritime transport has long been steeped in myths and wonders, with stories of old telling of mermaids, ghost ships, and fearsome sea creatures. These mysteries might be poppycock, but giants did come knocking at the shores of Africa, as gigantic container ships have berthed across the continent. The sea has always held a profound significance in human history, serving as a source of sustenance, a pathway for trade, and a realm of mystery […]

They see me rollin’, they hatin’ June 22, 2025 A rap song from the early 2000s perfectly summarises current tyre developments within the electric commercial vehicle industry… The beginning of the chorus for Chamillionaire’s 2005 hit single, “Ridin’”, goes as follows: They see me rollin’, they hatin’, Patrollin’ and tryna catch me ridin’ dirty, Tryna catch me ridin’ dirty, tryna catch me ridin’ dirty… This encapsulates current developments for tyres in the electric commercial vehicle (CV) industry, with the German […]

Changing next practice to best practice in freight forwarding June 22, 2025 With global supply chains in upheaval, mounting container imbalances, and increasing pressure for digital transformation, traditional approaches are proving inadequate for freight forwarders. All hope isn’t lost, however.   The global supply chain of old seems to be in an upheaval, and a growing stack of empty containers that cannot make their way home are likely contributing to an expanding global mismatch in supply and demand. This is […]

Delivering the AI revolution May 20, 2025 The pandemic highlighted the paramount importance of resilience in effective supply chains. We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies can offer support, while also examining couriers and the world of “snail mail”. In March this year, one country’s state-run postal service announced it would cease all letter deliveries by the end of 2025, after letter volumes plummeted by 90% since the turn of the century. Another reported that volumes halved from […]

Fake fuel destroying forests? May 20, 2025 A new study by the european federation for transport and environment (T&E) has found that fraudulent palm oil is likely being used in renewable diesel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), as the amount of palm oil mill effluent being used exceeds the amount being supplied. Conventional palm oil use in biofuels peaked at around three million tonnes in 2019 before falling 80% by the end of 2023. This is in large part […]

Supply chain resilience: Up in the air? May 20, 2025 The air cargo industry isn’t just about shipping goods, it’s about safely bearing civilisation forward… It plays a vital role in maintaining resilient supply chains across the globe, as revealed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA, representing approximately 340 airlines and more than 80% of global air traffic, recently emphasised the vital role of air cargo in maintaining global supply chain resilience. At the 18th World Cargo Symposium […]

Battle those supply chain bandits March 31, 2025 Cargo theft is on the rise, but hope isn’t lost. We delve into various solutions that cargo carriers can use to fight back. Verisk CargoNet, a business unit of global data analytics and technology provider Verisk, reports that cargo theft activity across the US and Canada reached record-breaking heights in 2024. The 3,625 reported incidents represent a stark 27% increase from the previous year, while the estimated average value per theft also […]

Could MCVs be perfect battery banks? March 13, 2025 With a predicted global market value of US$108.9 billion by 2032 and a push towards electrified drivetrains, medium commercial vehicles (MCVs) could offer a perfect solution for the energy conundrum…  Fortune Business Insights, a UK and US-based company that offers market studies and consulting services to global businesses, expects the global MCV market to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% between 2023 and 2032. “The growing demand for […]

The wheels are alive with the sound of innovation March 6, 2025 One of JACO DE KLERK’S favourite childhood movies perfectly summarises current developments in the tyre industry. I still get giddy every time that I see Maria, played by Julie Andrews, twirl in that sweeping view of the Austrian Alps as she sings “The hills are alive with the sound of music,” in the screen adaption of The Sound of Music. The same sense of joy was sparked when […]

Are you ready to ride the wave? March 10, 2025 The global AdBlue business is booming. Grand View Research predicts that the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) market will reach US$61.56 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% from 2025 to the end of this decade. AdBlue, also known as DEF, is a solution of urea and deionised water used in SCR systems to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines. According to the […]