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South Africa’s truck transport industry has a longstanding relationship with OEMs from Europe, the USA and Japan. While some overseas manufacturers steered clear of this country during the sanctions era, the advent of democracy in 1994 paved the way for an influx of new machinery and product from regions that had previously never done business with the local transport economy. This year, at the Auto Africa Truck and Bus Expo, the power of our ‘emerging economy’ to attract new foreign product was laid bare, with a host of new brands vying for attention against the stalwarts of the truck world. Paul Collings put on his walking shoes to check what’s afoot in SA’s new era of trucking.

The PACCAR MX engine powers the DAF XF105, ‘2006 Truck of the Year’.

	The new-look Iveco Stralis
	Innovative - Trailord’s S-shaped chassis improves trailer strength and lifespan.

	Little boys loved the big toys
	They saw tyres and they did kick. In a few short years they’ll be trucking.

Geographically and politically speaking, South Africa is probably the most ‘central’ of all nations. Situated just to the right of zero degrees longitude and furnished with ‘the world’s most democratic’ constitution, our economy is well equipped to do business with almost anyone. Recent government trade missions to China, the planet’s new industrial powerhouse, is testimony to the fact that the world is getting ‘smaller’ and SA is now very much a part of the global village. The 2006 Truck and Bus Expo, in trucking terms, was a microcosm of this ‘village’ highlighting the fact that we do indeed live in a diverse world, that there are many different ways to go about achieving the same goal, that just when we thought "’n lorrie is mos ‘n lorrie", Europe, America and Asia come with respective new product lines that, on close scrutiny, are as similar as chalk and cheese. If anything, this business of supplying transporters with the best equipment for the particular application is all about ‘vision’ –the notion that at the root of all truck product development lies a ‘trucking philosophy’, a combination of engineering, economics and environmentalism that guides OEMs through research and development, pan-global testing, tweaking and delivering the product into specific markets. Ultimately, it’s all about that universal human aspiration, ‘improvement’.

The BPW stand showed innovative products like the Ecoplus bearing seal and punted the ‘genuine parts only’ argument to great effect.

Toyota’s trusty Hino and Dyna.     A polished aluminium tanker from GRW – light in tare, tough in design.

Move over Hummer, here’s the International CXT, basically a 7600 with a bakkie-style load bin. The new king of the pavement hoppers.

The little Chana - guess where it comes from?

FAW demonstrated its ability to service the tipper market.

Fleet Management solutions, including diesel metres from Automotive Control Systems, as demonstrated by Dave Winsper.

Charles Lovell, Kearneys’ marketing director with the Payloader twin-bin side tipper.

Euro tech
With emissions control, safety, reduced fuel consumption, lower tare mass, affordability and manageability top-of-mind in European trucking circles, the new models from up north are characterised by innovations in electronics and machinery. One truck OEM in particular has grabbed ‘trucking philosophy’ by the nuts - MAN, with its ‘100% Trucknology’concept.

FleetWatch was privy to the introduction of Trucknology last year when MAN Truck & Bus SA invited this journalist to attend the launch of the TGL range in Munich. As described by Dave van Graan, management board member, marketing, MAN Truck & Bus SA, "Trucknology is all about efficiency, the marriage of engine, drivetrain, electronics and services, ensuring improved lifecycle costs and operational performance."

With it’s ‘2006 Truck of the Year’ TGL, TGM and TGA models, along with ‘benchmark-setting’ Euro 4 common rail engines and value-added services, including Fleet Management products, MAN is certainly cutting a bold swathe in local trucking.

Another exciting announcement at the Expo was the arrival of the DAF XF105, Europe’s ‘2006 Truck of the Year’ in 2007. With its emphasis on power, safety, economy and comfort, the XF105 should pique the interest of long haulers who want to give their drivers sophistication, comfort and performance.

Also presenting Euro iron in style were Iveco, Renault and Scania, each targeting areas of the local truck transport arena with various ‘enhancements’. Iveco has a Stralis ‘facelift’ and the Daily van, good for a 17 cubic metre load. Renault, now an integral part of Tyco Trucks (aka, Commercial Vehicle Holdings, an Imperial Group subsidiary) showcased the new Premium Long Distance, a long haul truck tractor with style, comfort, efficiency and power.

In a nutshell, the Euro ‘trucking philosophy’ is about reduced environmental damage, reduced fuel consumption and reduced tare mass with escalations in power to weight ratios, better payload capacity and enhanced safety features, all wrapped up in a package that includes Fleet Management/Telematics solutions and finance options that are realistic for our environment.

Trucks Americano
We all know by now, "Yankees do it kinda dif’rint", and one look at International’s latest HCV range will confirm this belief. The flagship 9800 cab-over 6x4 has undergone a revamp, specifically targeting in-cab comfort. Bigger bunk, more legroom, easier-toread dials and more cubbyholes target the needs of the long haul driver. It’s home-from-home, USA-style, right here in the RSA.

Just to illustrate the ‘I did it my way’ attitude of US truckers, an International 7600 was ‘customised’ to become the world’s ‘baddest’ bakkie…watch out Snoop Dogg!

Mean in red was the DAF XF 95.	Alcoa showed its intentions to service the local truck market with vigour.
	Another Chinese import from JAC, brought in by Imperial’s Commercial Vehicle Holdings.

A tipper for under R160 000 – From China’s Asiawing.

Power Star brought on the dancing girls to pull eyes to its stand.

The Voith Aquatarder/MAN PriTarder, a primary retarder that sits between the engine and the truck’s cooling system using its water/coolant. The Aquatarder weighs around 30kg, approximately 75kg less than secondary retarders, is cheaper to purchase, has extremely high brake output across the entire speed range and requires no oil changes or other adjustments. Made for the MAN TGA range, the Aquatarder/PriTarder makes driving more comfortable and safer with less foot braking required.

The MAN D20 common-rain engine is a totally new design, available in 360 and 400hp six-cylinder models. The new TGA 10.5 litre powerplant delivers more torque than its predecessor with less cubic capacity, making it lighter on fuel and tare. Made using light but extremely durable GSV (a graphite-treated magnesium) the D20 is less noisy and smoother running than its predecessor and is the only engine in its class to have no holes through the head gasket for oil and coolant flow. The head and block have individual feed for these purposes.

Rising suns
South Africa’s transport industry is well acquainted with Japanese truck OEMs. Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu and Mitsubishi are ‘tried and trusted’ brands locally and all made impressive showings at the Expo, demonstrating their ability to meet the needs of transporters from light to extra-heavy applications. Most notably was the announcement of the development of Isuzu’s N-Series ‘hybrid’ vehicles, produced to meet the emission standards designated by the Kyoto Protocol.

The advancements of hybrid technology by Japanese OEMs (notably Toyota with the Prius passenger car) have now come to the truck sector. The N-Series is a range of trucks "targeting the distribution truck market. The hybrid enables a reduction in vehicle maintenance costs and a reduction in driver fatigue, as well as fuel consumption," states the official Isuzu press package. Central to hybrid technology is the vehicle’s battery. Isuzu uses a lithium ion battery with high output and long-life characteristics, the release says.

Renowned locally for its sub-12-ton models, Isuzu launched its Exy truck tractor, a chrome-laced 6x4 pushing out 460hp. With a common-rail injection system, turbo charger, autoselecting manual transmission and plush interior, the Exy is, well, pretty damn sexy.

Red earth
China is ‘the business’ right now and in local trucking terms, they’re moving in. At the Expo, the most prominent medium-to-heavy  Chinese import was PowerStar, brought in by Super Group Commercial Vehicles. Says Stephen Hayton, chief executive officer, Super Group Commercial Vehicles: "Power Star trucks are based on Mercedes- Benz Powerliner technology, which means they’re familiar to the South African market, especially from a technical perspective. While they come equipped with advanced engine technology like direct injection, turbo charging and inter-cooling, the product steers clear of sophisticated electronics that more often than not result in complications and additional expenses in the areas of maintenance and repairs."

While some may argue that the technology is ‘old-school’, Hayton is confident the robust ‘no-frills’ Power Star models will find a ready market in SA’s booming construction industry.

"With Eaton Fuller and ZF manual transmission options, in 280, 320 and 360hp derivatives, Power Star trucks are ideal for on/off highway duty, be that construction, mining or forestry. Super Group’s parts and support services are world class and coupled with a 12 month/100 000km warranty on the engine and a 24 months/200 000km warranty on the drivetrain, Power Star is an excellent value-for-money vehicle." The fact that 300 Power Star trucks have been sold in SA since April 2006 speaks volumes about what the construction truck operator’s ‘philosophy’ is.

Digicore previewed new Fleet Management software that will bring sharper functionality to control vehicle use and driver performance.

The ever present Cummins put on its usual classy show of strength with a stand that really served to capture attention not only through its colourful design but also through its full range of engine products. Good one Cummins.

Scania move in to the tipper market.

The feisty and comfortable new 4x4 Sprinter will no doubt serve the tourism trade well.

The accent on Nissan Diesel’s stand was on past, present and future with the past represented by this stunning UD T 80 which was renovated locally. There’s a lot to be said for having roots.

Proper cart wheels
At the southwest corner of the Expo was the ‘trailer park’, a ‘who’s who’ of the local truck trailer building industry. And trailer design is all about thinking out-the-box, which is why they had to do ‘their thing’ outdoors.

Pride-of-place must go to Afrit, which, along with its composite flat deck and walking floor designs, also signed a significant partnership with Brazilian trailer builder, Randon. Afrit will now market dry-bulk tankers and trailers designed for grain haulage using dropsides made from a lightweight but strong ‘sandwich’ of wood, steel and plastic.

Also in the open air at the Expo were Henred Fruehauf, making a splash with a conveyor-belt floor/moving headboard trailer. The company hopes to market this design to agricultural, mining and scrap steel operators.

Trailord made its mark with four innovative designs including a maxpayload furniture carrier, a supertough reefer and two curtainsiders. FlexiFleet were their neighbours, proudly unveiling a composite-body refrigerated body.

When it comes to low-tare, highstrength, maximum payload, our local trailer manufacturers are tops. Other leaders in this field included Trailord, Duncanmec, Top Trailers, GRW and Kearneys, each with their own examples of payload efficiency.
 

The Freightliner Argosy never ceases to delight all. It’s a real ‘meneer’ and a good looking one at that.

Kenji Masuda (left) of the International Sales and Service Office for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp in Japan, with Johan Cloete, divisional manager of the Freightliner Fuso Division of DCSA. All products are now in place so expect an increased focus on sales and service.  Hands on - MAN salesmen eagerly engaged customers, selling all the trucks on the stand, says Dave van Graan, MAN’s SA marketing honcho.

Mercedes-Benz used Auto Africa to announce a number of previews such as this nifty Atego 817 due for release in the first quarter of 2007. With a 4-ton payload, the Atego 817 is smaller than the popular Atego 1017 and is targeted at the light-weight distribution market.

Duncanmec joined forces with Hulett-Hydro, showing the advantages of smart trailer design using aluminium.

Who’s the boss?
The concept of a ‘trucking philosophy’ would mean little were it not for the integration of information and communication technology (ICT), more commonly known in trucking circles as Fleet Management and Telematics.

Displaying their wares to great effect were DigiCore, with a taste of new ‘tacho-related’ reporting functionality, CI-OmniBridge in conjunction with Scania, Geotab and Automotive Control Systems (Autodata). What these companies demonstrated was their ability to comprehensively monitor the critical areas of a truck using an assortment of sensors, and transmit derived data via cellular and satellite networks to centralised control points, where that data is transformed, by proprietary software, into business intelligence.

In the field of Fleet Management and Telematics, our local suppliers are tops. FACT!

What’s inside?
Of course, no truck show would be complete without the presence of truck component suppliers. Loud and proud in this regard was Jost Transport Equipment, with its selflubricating 5th wheel (good for at least three years) and Hyva telescopic lifts, amongst other  top-flight couplings and hydraulic equipment.

Eaton Fuller, Caterpillar and Cummins showed us ‘sentralers’ how a down-home OE puts a show together – Primary Colours! Which brings me to the close, and another analogy – about what it all means, this abundance of choice…

On the final day of the show, I took my five-year-old son along with me. He spied the ‘Venturer Rally Car Simulator’ down on the pitch and demanded a ride in it. Being the compliant dad, I forked out R60 for the both of us and entered the ‘module’, (a hydraulically-driven steel box [Imax-on-PTO] sitting behind an innocent Freightliner). While we watched a movie of a rally driver negotiating muddy bends, the PTO made like WWE and boitjie and I were hanging on for dear life in a capsule of death. No seat belts, no helmets, we were asked to experience the ‘Rally Sensation’. We bought. We suffered.

The SHOW is about your little toe. Stick it in and check – ‘Who’s gonna improve your life?’