5, 6 and 7 August 
2008,
Johannesburg

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Hands-on control will save the day. . .

Two transport operators give their views and experiences with fuel theft and what steps and procedures they have in place. 

Beware trading safety for profit?. . .

Markets are driven by fear and greed. Beware it does not lead to the downfall of your business warns FleetWatch technical correspondent Dave Scott. 

Put the cart in front of the horse. . .

While it is the truck tractor that captures the imagination of the ‘diesel-head’ buyer, it is the trailer that will bear the sheer weight of the payload. The ‘cart’ needs more attention paid to it. A special report by Paul Collings. 

Applying the Max Factor. . .

Based on a regulation principle known as PBS (Performance-based Standards), timber rigs have much to offer in the way of improving payload efficiency and overall operating costs, writes Paul Collings. 

While some trailer builders stick to the tried and trusted techniques that made them successful in the first place, other companies thrive on innovation and constantly push the parameters as far as design and production techniques are concerned. It’s all about giving customers what they need, Afrit’s sales and marketing director, Leon van de Wetering tells Paul Collings. 

Innovating again. . .

The handing over of a tridem axle lowbed semi-trailer once again underlines Afrit’s inherent ability to innovate. 

Between Pin and Plate. . .

Trailer coupling systems are safety-critical items. Fitment, maintenance and use must be executed professionally. 

THIS OLD TIPPER was cruising down the Heidelburg road on a quiet weekday evening...

Everything but the chassis. . .

Local axle manufacturers who build from scratch not only know what our market requires but also get to see firsthand what they’re up against as far as dodgy imports are concerns 

Axle robot rocks BPW. . .

INCREASED demand in recent years for quality truck trailer axles with both air and mechanical suspension systems has seen BPW SA grow into a worldclass manufacturing concern employing production techniques and equipment of the highest order. 

Finding better ways to move payload is a trailer builder’s primary focus and every year our local trailer designers – as well as some operators – ‘reinvent the wheel’ and produce world-beating products that make all truck-lovers say: “Why didn’t I think of that?” Paul Collings finds two new designs that are South African firsts. 

More... with Less. . .

SOUTH AFRICA has some worldbeating trailer designers and Trailord is one of them. FleetWatch asked the boys from KZN to update us on their latest innovations. 

New Cup for Safer Ball Joint. . . 

While drawbar trailers are gaining in popularity across a number of applications as are pup trailers, the maintenance of ball-hitch couplings need a lot of improvement says Avmark’s Les Austin. 

RESHENS FREIGHT RECENTLY took delivery of Africa’s first Swinglift container handling system which, according to company director Thaven Naidoo, has already proved its worth saving time and money for the company while improving customer service. 

A couple of years ago, a new fifth wheel hit the market claiming to be ‘lube-free’ which had many folk in the industry saying “impossible”.

Dangerous Goods contractors take the lead. . .

Road accidents involving vehicles transporting Dangerous Goods are showing a decline with transport contractors leading the way, reports Andrew Parker. 

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporations Road Traffic Report dated March 2008, the number of fatal crashes from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 totalled 11,577. The number of accidents caused by trucks was 1,581. 

Learn how to cope with change in
a tough business environment to
beat competition ...

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You and Your Driver

FleetWatch has always held the view that the driver holds the key to a trucking company's success.

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