Author:jaco-de-klerk

5,500 years in the making September 10, 2025 JACO DE KLERK discovers that while the wheel can be considered one of the most important technological advancements in human history, tyres claim this title for the transport industry. One couldn’t narrate the tale of tyres without first mentioning the wheel. “A Sumerian pictograph, dated about 3500 BC, shows a sledge equipped with wheels,” notes Britannica, the oldest English general encyclopaedia. “The idea of wheeled transportation may have come from the use […]

Let the games begin! June 22, 2025 Telematics has become synonymous with the transport industry due to the myriad benefits it provides. This sector also has the ability to enhance safety in fun new ways… Grand View Research, a market research and consulting company based in both India and the US, notes in a recent report that the global commercial vehicle (CV) telematics market size was valued at US$61.52 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow at a compound […]

Getting back on track? July 3, 2025 It’s no secret that South Africa’s rail network has been ageing and ailing for decades, but JACO DE KLERK says there might be light at the end of the tunnel…  One year into her tenure as South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy faces what she candidly describes as “the best and the worst job I’ve ever had”. “It’s the best because there’s so much to learn and so much to contribute, and […]

Loading up on innovation July 11, 2025 Automation has moved from a buzzword to a logistical imperative, and towing equipment isn’t being left behind… Global market research and market intelligence organisation Straits Research estimates that the global automated truck loading systems (ATLS) market size will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% from 2025 to 2033. “The global ATLS market size was valued at US$2,982.53 million in 2024, and is expected to grow from US$3,247.97 million in 2025 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]