---

Past Issues

March 2005

---

Vehicle Selection

In last month's edition of FleetWatch, we took a look at methods of financing trucks. In this edition, our correspondent, Max Braun, gives readers some thoughts and tips around the subject of choosing the right vehicle for the job. Once again, there is no simple standard method so take note of what he writes and adapt what best suits your circumstances.

Only experienced managers and owners of large fleets with appropriate technical knowledge and expertise have opportunities to select replacement and additional vehicles on a regular basis. For the vast majority of transporters, transport and fleet managers, this enjoyable and enviable task comes around only once or twice every few years. This is especially so when vehicle replacements are deferred way beyond a reasonable 'sell by' date.

The rapid, if not dramatic technical developments over recent years and the ever-increasing number of excellent makes and models from which to choose, places an awesome responsibility on the owners and managers charged with making the final choice or recommendations that result in acquiring the vehicles that will be best suited to do the jobs at hand.

Choosing large, heavy, multi-axle rigs is technically a complex matter requiring specific technical knowledge and operational experience to address and assess the merits of driveline characteristics, vehicle performance as it refers to capability, reliability, durability and operating costs.

Unfortunately there is not enough space in this article to explore and discuss all the factors that are fundamental to choosing the right vehicle. In addition, the task of choosing vehicles is frequently influenced by a variety of individuals representing a wide range of agendas that are not necessarily practical or objective.

Use an objective commonsense approach
If choosing the right vehicles is part of your responsibility, consider the merit of applying an objective commonsense approach to the task. Here are a few well-proven principles and suggested procedures:

The decision to replace or acquire additional trucks should be guided by some clearly defined objectives. Depending on the nature of the transport operations, objectives could include:

• Achieve more transport with fewer vehicles.

• Improve transport and distribution cost-effectiveness. 

• Achieve an acceptable and sustainable return on assets/investment.

• Improve customer service to gain increased market shares.

• Improve flexibility to combat/beat competition.

Defining the mix of your transport needs is a good place to begin. How important are on time deliveries? This is usually a critical factor in both primary and secondary distribution operations. The high cost of owning and operating large multi-axle vehicle combinations demand that high utilisation levels are consistently achieved. Many distribution intensive businesses regard goods in transit as moving warehouses. 

When perishable goods and maintenance of the cold chain are involved, on time deliveries should be seen as critical success factors. To satisfy these needs, the routes to be travelled, traffic densities and weather conditions are important factors to consider when assessing the performance criteria to meet such operating conditions.

How long should the vehicles be kept in service? This is a very important question that has a major impact on the profitability, long-term survival and competitiveness of the business. This is so whether a large or small fleetowner. Let's be mindful that the majority of road transport businesses have scarce financial resources and limited ability to virtually refinance their businesses every time vehicles are replaced.

Deciding how long to keep trucks in service can be based on a careful estimate of the first economic life. Consider the following:

• Assess the kilometres that will be travelled on an annual basis.

• Will the vehicle be fully loaded at all times or is there an empty return leg?

• Will the vehicle be overloaded? If yes, by how much, and how often? Overloading vehicles are rarely worthwhile in terms of safe and responsible transport and the ultimate total operating cost.

Maintenance issues
How do you rate the quality and frequency of the maintenance this vehicle will get? Whether it is to be your own maintenance capability, a competent outside contractor or the vehicle manufacturer's maintenance contract, the quality of workmanship and materials, as well as the frequency of service intervals, all have a major impact on whether the estimated economic life will be achieved.

Implementing a properly prepared and scheduled maintenance programme, tailored to meet the needs of your operation, will be of little value if the drivers are not trained and retrained to drive the vehicles correctly under all operating conditions. An important part of driver training is the ability to undertake pre- and post-trip checks diligently with a decent understanding of what and why they are doing it. Several vehicle manufacturers offer customers access to comprehensive driver training facilities.

Cost-effective trucking. Will the vehicle you choose be cost-effective to operate, especially in the fiercely competitive dry freight, flat-deck arena? Several aspects need to be considered when assessing this vital factor. These include:

• Is there sufficient payload to cover operating costs and make an acceptable return on the investment? Unladen mass, deck length, mass and dimensions of the vehicle and trailers, road traffic regulations and tyre equipment have an important part to play in the overall success of the operation.

• Can the vehicle maintain an acceptable average speed at reasonable cost? This depends on the average kW/hrs the motor uses to cope with gradients, rolling and other resistances when fully loaded at an average speed of approximately 75% to 80% of the highway speed limit - about 64 km/h, traffic permitting.

• When vehicles cover more than about 120 000 km a year, fuel is usually the largest single operating expense. Actual fuel consumption is determined by the suitability of the vehicle to cope with the transport task, the quality and frequency of maintenance and the driver's skill and experience.

If you feel your technical expertise and knowledge falls a little short of what is needed to assess, evaluate and decide on the many technical issues around vehicle performance, mass and dimension calculations and especially the latest electronic diesel engine management systems, you can with confidence turn to a number of vehicle and engine manufacturers for advice and guidance. Those in a position to prepare detailed performance and operating cost presentations will do so willingly. However, you still need to deliberate on all of the factors discussed so far in this article in order to convey the facts about your transport operations to the suppliers of your choice.

Computer vehicle simulations
Computer vehicle simulation (CVS) as developed for South African conditions by Hellberg Transport Solutions over many years is a comprehensive and reliable means to undertake almost endless "what if" exercises based on different vehicle configurations over scientifically photo-logged routes.

The simulations give reliable indications of the time taken to cover specific routes, the amount of fuel that will be used when loaded or on an empty return-leg, all under certain engine speeds and km/h operating conditions. When asked if I think such simulations are reliable or realistic, I can say with confidence they are reliable and indicative of the vehicle configurations that will best cope with the nominated task. If you have difficulty in accepting theoretical concepts, you can be sure that CVS will clearly indicate which driveline configurations you should not buy.

Services provided by vehicle manufacturers and their dealers include performance calculations, mass and dimensions drawings (these should show payload ability and compliance with traffic regulations) and operating cost estimates. Be aware of a possible tendency on the part of some suppliers to over-estimate resale value and under-estimate maintenance costs of their particular products. To be certain ask for a maintenance contract quotation. Take note of the exclusions and penalties usually detailed in the fine print.

Consider becoming a member or affiliate of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE). The annual fee is modest. The Institute's three chapters (Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town) convene regular meetings to discuss and debate a variety of issues and emerging truck technology. Most of the members are experienced and skilled. They are well known for their willingness to advise and assist newcomers seeking guidance on technical and operational matters.

Desirable vehicle performance is dependent upon successfully combining the engine, gearbox, rear-axle and tyres to produce an acceptable average speed and reasonable fuel consumption when fully loaded. Early failure of any major component that results from overloading an underpowered vehicle, that takes too long to complete the task economically, will be expensive to correct or replace prematurely.

Finding the least compromise
Since no vehicle manufacturer designs or builds vehicles specifically for South African operating conditions, finding the component combination that will best satisfy your operating needs will be a compromise. Finding the least compromise is the name of the game.

Finding the least compromise is more about commonsense than an ability to make difficult technical calculations. Over time, the suggestions that follow have proved to be essential when choosing vehicles:

• What must be transported? How much and how often?

• Calculate and express the loads in convenient transport terms such as tons, litres or cubic-metres. Calculate and express the daily, weekly and annual loads in kilometres or hours. Combine factors such as tons x kilometres = ton-kilometres or cubic-metres per hour. 

• What space is needed? Are they mass or volume products?

• How much time is available to load, transport and unload? Let's call this the workload. Decide how many working days will be needed to complete the task.

• Don't forget to allow sufficient time to cope with traffic congestion, number of delivery drops, waiting to unload (if applicable).

• If you undertake to make the necessary vehicle performance calculations, determine the maximum gradients along the routes you will travel. Decide on appropriate factors to measure the power needed to overcome rolling and air resistance. A CVS programme contains this information and takes it into account.

• Does the nature of products to be transported require any special consideration such as floor height and thickness, degree of insulation, height of sides, A-frame, head- and tailboards, curtain sides, lashing, other load securing material and equipment? In the case of van bodies, the number, size and position of doors is important.

• Tipper trucks and trailers also need specific equipment such as floor thickness and suitable material, type and number of hoists, tip angle and whether three-way tipping will be needed.

Give careful thought to the choice of trailing equipment and loadbodies. There have been major strides in the introduction of superior lightweight materials and the wider use of aluminium. The payload ability of tandem- and tridem-axle semi-trailers has been significantly increased to almost 68% of allowable gross mass. The reduction in unladen mass now achievable augurs well for profitable and cost-efficient trucking. 

As part of the commonsense approach to finding least compromise, shop around for the best solution to your transport needs. Ask for a demonstration - with an optimum, legal payload. Ask your preferred suppliers to confirm the results in writing preferably accompanied by a CVS over the same route, with the same vehicle and load. When reviewing price and specification of different makes and models compare the capital cost per legal payload ton you will receive. Compare the purchase price as a percentage of total operating costs over the expected economic life (see the examples in Table 1).

The availability and quality of after sales service is a critical factor and needs to be carefully evaluated before making the final decision. There are many important factors that should be reviewed before limiting the exercise to just the labour rate and replacement parts discount. You need to know:

• Where are dealers located? How does it suit your operation?

• Do they have sufficient trained technicians? What is their reputation for good workmanship?

• Do they carry a decent replacement parts inventory?

• Are they equipped to support you with technical back up when you need it?

• What about breakdowns, emergency call out and after hours work?

• Are they flexible?

• Will they agree to a dispute resolution system to avoid unnecessary delays as and when they arise?

• Do they keep a record of your service, maintenance and repair costs? Will they make it available to you?

• Can you develop a longterm satisfactory business relationship with them?

Before making the final decision, be mindful of a few pitfalls that are better avoided:

• Don't be tempted to repeat the same vehicle configuration that you have used for years before reviewing changes in the marketplace and your business.

• Don't just assume the market leader has the right vehicle for you or all of your operations.

• Be open-minded in your approach to vehicle concepts, products and suppliers.

• Power costs money. Average speed plus optimum load equals economical transport.

• Do not take for granted that you will receive the level of service you are initially promised. Take time to gather feedback from existing and recent past customers.

• Submit properly prepared motivation and justification when seeking approval to acquire the vehicles best suited to undertake your transport tasks. This should avoid subjective, even emotional attempts to satisfy a short-term or, expedient agenda.

• Incorrectly chosen vehicles are expensive to replace when they fail prematurely.

• Lean on suppliers for information, advice and help in coming to grips with all the technical information you need to consider.

When following the commonsense approach the chance of error is greatly reduced and the opportunity to achieve more transport at lower cost is significantly improved. All other things being equal the operator is well positioned to enjoy most of the economic benefits the modern truck offers.