One-on-one with Richard Fourie
One-on-one with Richard Fourie
Tyres represent a substantial cost to transport operators. How does Goodyear support those operators and what solutions does it offer? These were amongst the questions we placed to Richard Fourie, managing director of Goodyear South Africa.
Goodyear has been producing tyres in South Africa for many decades and, judging by Fourie’s feedback, is set to serve local transport companies for many more decades in the future.
How does Goodyear view its role in supporting fleet operators?
Tyres are a critical component in the operations of any trucking company and, along with fuel, constitute one of the biggest cost factors for operators. It is for this reason that Goodyear has developed a range of quality tyres to ensure our customers get maximum return from their truck assets.
Our rich 125-year history is storied with industry-leading innovations that have resulted in products with excellent mileage performance, impeccable wet braking, even wear, and reduced rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency.
In South Africa, not only has Goodyear been a proud local tyre manufacturer for 75 years, but we are also trusted by fleets for offering an extensive product range designed to maximise mileage and traction, and withstand the tough and varied environments in which they operate.
Can you give an example of how Goodyear is supporting local fleets?
All Bulk is a leading transportation company specialising in dry bulk transportation, both in South Africa and into neighbouring countries. To be able to achieve its operational and business goals, All Bulk decided to fit Goodyear’s KMAX S ENDURANCE tyres on its fleet of Scania R500 trucks for regional haulage.
The KMAX S ENDURANCE tyre is engineered with key tyre technology innovations that combine chipping/chunking resistance and robustness with high mileage capability and even wear, making it the perfect steer tyre for regional hauling applications.
Our tyres lived up to their promise and clocked more than 240,000km over 14 months of use, enabling All Bulk to achieve higher efficiency per kilometre and lower downtime.
What other solutions does Goodyear have on offer for trucking companies in South Africa?
Everything in our lives is becoming increasingly digital, and the transportation industry is no exception. Continuing our legacy of innovation, Goodyear has evolved to become a trusted solutions partner to our fleet customers by bringing to market various technologies that help improve efficiency and minimise downtime. We focus on what we call “Goodyear Total Mobility” – an integrated fleet management offering that brings together truck tyres, solutions, and services that can take fleets to the next level of performance.
Digital solutions that are trusted by fleets globally include Goodyear’s TireOptix and CheckPoint, which are designed for fleets to improve operational efficiency. Each solution is optimised to simplify the collection of vital tyre information like track depth and air pressure, alerting fleet maintenance to any immediate tyre concerns, and providing recommendations on how a fleet can reduce operating costs.
South African fleet operators will soon have access to Goodyear’s TPMS, a rim-fitted active monitoring system that evaluates tyre conditions in real-time to identify critical issues and provide predictive maintenance analytics to help reduce tyre-related roadside breakdowns.
I am proud to say that global automotive brands are partnering with us to ensure that together we offer fleets innovative vehicles that support them in achieving their operational goals. Thanks to that, drivers can access our app on a single screen right in the truck cabin and receive instant alerts and notifications upon detecting deviations from predetermined tyre pressure and temperature levels.
What else is Goodyear doing to ensure it remains a preferred automotive partner to fleets?
As an active partner to South Africa’s fleet and logistics sector, Goodyear continues to remain agile and grow our capability to better support our customers. As such, we launched a new go-to-market strategy, working with Exclusive Wheel and Tyre Distributors as a distribution partner of our truck tyre business. The partnership has bolstered our drive to enhance service and efficiency to customers through improved stock levels and wider availability of tyre sizes nationwide.
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