Experienced technical director appointed for Truck Test 2026

Truck Test 2026 has strengthened its technical credibility with the appointment of Jayesh “Tiny” Daya as technical director of Africa’s largest truck test.

Truck Test has appointed its first-ever technical director to strengthen the event’s integrity, consistency and credibility. As the test grows, specialist technical oversight ensures every process, measurement and operational decision is managed professionally, fairly and safely – delivering greater value to participants, sponsors and readers alike. The appointment is also necessary because of the event’s sheer size – it’s the largest test ever on the African continent.

Jayesh “Tiny” Daya has spent over 35 years in the South African motor industry, with a large part of his career focused on commercial vehicles (CVs), aftersales operations, technical support and dealer development. Over the years he has worked closely with fleets, OEMs, dealers and suppliers across the transport industry, with a strong focus on vehicle uptime, driveline performance and practical operational efficiency.

Daya is the director of TDRSA (Pty) Ltd, a South African driveline remanufacturing and technical consulting business specialising in CV transmissions, differentials and drivetrain solutions. The business focuses heavily on technical quality, failure analysis and minimising operators’ vehicle downtime.

Dating back to earlier Highway Transport Management (HTM) days, Daya has also been involved with TruckScience for many years, supporting technical benchmarking, fuel economy analysis and CV performance discussions within the industry. This long-standing involvement gave him valuable exposure to the evolution of truck testing methodologies, operational benchmarking and the importance of credible, data-driven testing within the local transport environment.

“Truck Test has always been one of the most respected benchmarking programmes in the local transport industry because it combines real-world operating conditions with technical credibility and independent testing methodology,” notes Daya. 

“I joined Truck Test 2026 because I believe objective technical evaluation and consistent testing standards are critical for the future of the industry. It is important that operators, OEMs and suppliers can trust the process and the results. I’m honoured to be part of the Truck Test team and look forward to contributing to the programme’s technical integrity and operational success.”

Charleen Clarke, editorial director of FOCUS, affirms that Daya is one of the most respected technical minds in the South African transport industry. “His appointment as technical director of Truck Test gives the event exactly the depth of expertise it requires,” she says. “Truck Test depends on credibility, consistency and technical rigour. Tiny brings decades of hands-on experience, deep industry knowledge and an uncompromising understanding of how vehicles perform in the real world. He is widely respected by operators, manufacturers and suppliers alike, and we are delighted to have him guiding the technical side of this important initiative.”