Author:jim-ward

Trailer chaos at the edge of the world January 22, 2024 It is often said that when youngsters are playing nicely, the noise level may vary but there is a general hubbub. This is quite normal; it’s nothing to worry about. It’s when things go quiet that you need to start worrying. The same, writes JIM WARD, can be true of the transport game. Occasionally, remote contracts may go a bit quiet. This can give the impression that everything is […]

Finding fumeiyo November 14, 2023 The Japanese phrase “fumeiyo yori shi” is composed of the words 不名誉 (“fumeiyo” meaning “dishonour”), より (“yori” meaning “more than; rather than”), and 死 (“shi” meaning “death”). So, death before dishonour. This was a phrase that sprang to mind when JIM WARD encountered some foreign visitors who struggled to comprehend local criminal habits. It’s not only difficult clients, perishable loads, accidents, and remote breakdowns that grind people down in this industry, it’s also striving to hold […]

Time to bid farewell October 9, 2023 When is it time to say goodbye to a truck? JIM WARD says that old trucks cannot be retained for sentimental value. If they no longer perform reliably or add value to a transport operation, it may be time to let that beloved truck go. Having spare trucks in the yard is an anathema to most CEOs; top executives tend to get annoyed when they find pockets of underutilised assets. Managers are expected […]

How to react when someone drops the ball September 12, 2023 Employees within the transport sector make mistakes, as indeed do individuals in any other sector. How should managers or superiors react? JIM WARD has the answer. There are numerous ways of addressing poor performance. The most frequently used approach is still, I suspect, a traditional one in the transport sector: defecation from a dizzy height. This can help to vent one’s frustration, but usually only brings temporary relief. If […]

Hell hath no fury August 8, 2023 One of the joys of running a fleet is dealing with the drivers – and sometimes their wives. JIM WARD recalls an unforgettable experience with the latter… There was a time when company hostels were commonplace. It meant that drivers could be collected from one address, and you could always find them in emergencies. The hostel we rented was like a huge rabbit warren: an old-fashioned, spacious, double storey residence, divided up internally […]

We don’t talk anymore July 6, 2023 Do you believe that trucks “talk” to drivers, or that roads “talk” to trucks? JIM WARD believes that a lack of talking can cause accidents.  Road accidents and investigations into their causes have evolved into their own subject. One of the clearest possible descriptions of a truck accident was shared with me by a technical colleague. At the time, we were required to produce highly detailed accident reports. Specialist staff would investigate major […]

Garlic, beetroot and breakdowns June 5, 2023 It’s easy to forget the details now, but JIM WARD reveals that managing transport during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa was one of the most challenging periods of his career. Between 1998 and 2006, I knew of depots in some provinces that were losing employees almost every month, despite the Mbeki presidency’s insistent adherence to its stance of AIDS denialism. As Amy Roeder, the development communications coordinator in the Office for Resource […]

An oily layer of subterfuge May 17, 2023 Sometimes the transport industry can read like a remarkably entertaining thriller. From visits to the ‘Mashonisa’ to siphoning diesel during breaks, JIM WARD has seen it all. Few things work properly in Mzansi, but garnishee orders have long been an exception. Town sheriffs have regularly delivered court orders to debit monies at source from drivers in repayment arrears or owing maintenance. Occasionally, family has acted against family, with even aunts suing nephews […]

Soft Rubber, Hard Roads March 31, 2023 When calculating operating costs, averages are often used for budgeting, but they should always be treated with caution. In a large fleet of identical vehicles all using the same route, an average cost will generally be an accurate cost. A small fleet operating on significantly different routes, however, will require a more nuanced approach, writes JIM WARD. Take the case of an operation running three low-tare rigid drawbar combinations in the Eastern Cape. […]

Lies, damned lies and rates February 27, 2023 Don’t ever let anyone tell you that being in the transport game is easy, writes JIM WARD. Instead, he says it is fraught with potential pitfalls – that can cost a business dearly. The South African transport sector is widely recognised as one of the most contested and competitive industries of its kind anywhere in the world. This translates into pressure on manufacturer and operator alike, seen in ferocious performance targets for […]