CharterWay also makes provision for the financing of ancillary truck equipment like mixer bodies, PTO-driven pumps and cranes.

While South Africans in general are forced to tighten their belts, government continues to finance infrastructural development, most of which is contracted to private enterprise. As the 2010 Soccer World Cup draws nearer and the commuting public waits with sapped patience for the launch of Gautrain and the Bus Rapid Transit system, construction contractors are under increasing pressure to meet their deadlines. 

“Truck transport companies are between a rock and a hard place right now, particularly those that have long-term contracts in growth areas like construction,” says Rudi Walles, manager, CharterWay Mercedes-Benz. “These fleets need new vehicles but are being stonewalled by the major banks that have become increasingly creditshy since the onset of the global economic crisis.” 

For truck transport operators with the right operational and financial credentials, Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles has a solution called CharterWay, a suite of vehicle leasing, maintenance and servicing products tailored specifically for the truck fleet owner. 

“In tough times like these, cash is once again ‘king’ but very few operators can afford to commit cash reserves to deposits on new vehicle purchases using traditional bank financing. This is where CharterWay is coming into its own as a viable alternative to vehicle ownership. Leasing contracts require no upfront payment which enables fleet operators to invest their cash reserves in other areas,” says Walles. 

The CharterWay product offering is supported by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (the OEM’s in-house bank) and is modular in design, offering flexibility to transport operators in terms of lease duration and maintenance cover. 

While it may seem like a panacea to the current credit squeeze, Walles explains that operators applying for a CharterWay leasing contract will be subject to the same credit-verification processes conducted by financing institutions. However, he adds that “customers opting for standalone maintenance and servicing contracts for vehicles they already own will not be subject to a credit assessment.” 

A core benefit of CharterWay is the predictability it brings to an operator’s balance sheet. “CharterWay customers know exactly what their vehicle expenses are. With a fixed CPK (cost per kilometre), operators can budget more strategically and price their services more accurately. The regular preventative maintenance by Mercedes-Benz trained technicians guarantees optimum vehicle uptime and any CharterWay contract is a tax-deductible operating expense,” Walles continues. 

As a comprehensive outsourced mobility option for fleet operators, CharterWay effectively transfers the risk of truck ownership from customer to supplier. “Unforeseen expenses in terms of vehicle maintenance are removed from the equation as are other burdens and risks associated with vehicle ownership, such as service scheduling, breakdowns and having to sell the used truck at the end of its service life,” adds Walles. 

Workshop Expertise – CharterWay ensures vehicle uptime through effective preventative maintenance.

Telematics and training

Extending its promise of greater cost transparency and control, CharterWay is supported by FleetBoard, a telematics system designed specifically for the Actros truck range. 

“As a proprietary technology, FleetBoard plugs directly into the vehicle’s on-board computer, delivering highly accurate data on the status of the truck engine and other critical components,” says Walles. “This information is used to proactively manage vehicle servicing which can be done at the customer’s convenience at any Mercedes- Benz workshop in the country, maximising the truck’s in-service hours.” 

The intelligence gathered from FleetBoard will also assist in driver management, pinpointing areas of weakness in individual driving styles. “An important element to CharterWay is the specialised drivertraining curriculum offered by Mercedes-Benz, where professional truck drivers are taught in their operating environment to drive more economically and safely, in the trucks they work with,” Walles explains. 

As part of an integrated Mercedes- Benz Commercial Vehicles customer service programme called The Value Chain, CharterWay will evolve in the coming months to include additional ‘bolt-on’ options that bring greater efficiency to transport operators. 

“CharterWay represents a new approach to commercial trucking where trucks perform as true mobile assets, rather than depreciating ones. Operators can now enjoy a much needed degree of financial certainty in these unpredictable times and really focus on their core business,” Walles concludes. 

Rudi Walles – “CharterWay represents a paradigm shift in commercial transport management”