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Ride’em cowboy! Guys who are used to handling big Freightliner Argosy 56 ton rigs got airborne in these little ‘uns.

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". This saying should be taken into account by many in our industry. Not one, not two but rather one too many have said the transport industry is no longer fun. It's a hard grind of daily crisis management that has a lot of formerly relaxed and jovial people pulling their hair out. This story is intended to remind people that they have to somehow inject the 'fun factor' back into the equation. It revolves around a weekend Patrick O'Leary spent with the good folk from Freightliner and some very jovial, salt-of-the-earth, entrepreneurial type transporters.
 

Upington loves visitors so much they just keep welcoming everybody – even though the events used to welcome you are eight months past.

I must admit that when the prospect of my spending a weekend driving 4x4s up and down sand dunes in the Kalahari with a group of Freightliner truckers was put forward to me by Shirle Greig, DaimlerChrysler's media manager for Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner/Fuso, the idea didn't really appeal to me simply because there was no major trucking angle that I could see. 

The idea was to head off to the freezing cold Kalahari to a farm called STS Wild near Askham where the elimination rounds for the Mitsubishi sponsored Spirit of Africa Trophy competition had been played out over the past months. We were going to play in the sand dunes in those same Mitsubishi Rodeo 2.8Tdi 4x4 double cabs before the camp packed up and moved on to the finals in the Namib. Sure it might be fun spending time with 'da guys' but still...what was the point if there was no trucking angle? Those are 'dinky-toy' bakkies man!

Isn't that indicative of the times. Unless there is a clear and up-front 'work angle', invitations are treated with a little disdain. We are all so caught up in the treadmill that stepping off for a little while to smell the roses - in this case the open space and clean air of the Kalahari - seems pointless.

I know that might come across as a little melodramatic but hey, that's how I feel - and I know many others feel the same. One guy told me he even feels guilty when he takes off for his 'official' leave. What I'm trying to say here is that work has infiltrated our systems so much that any activity - apart from direct family outings - that doesn't have a direct work link is not really welcomed. Eeeish!

If you're relating to this, then kewl. If not, that's also kewl by me. You see, I'm just waffling on here. This is not a 'work' article and when I started it, I didn't know where I was going to take it. I still don't know. There's no central point I want to get across. There's no new product to present to you. So I'm just going to keep on bashing away on this keyboard and let's see where it takes us.

Ernie Els went through it too you know - the all work and no play syndrome. Some time ago I saw a television show where Ernie was being interviewed on the change in his game. It had changed for the better and, according to him, a sports psychologist had helped him swing it. The psychologist had asked him how many shots he really enjoyed out of a perfect 72 par round. How many of those 72 shots gave him a feeling that would force him to shout out: "WOW! I love this job!'

Ernie said it was about four or so shots. The rest were frustrating as the ball didn't go exactly where he wanted it to go. The psychologist then advised him to give up golf. "You're talking about enjoying only around 2% of your job. You've got to be crazy to stay in the job. Go find something that gives you more fun and satisfaction."

The point the psychologist was making to Ernie was that he had taken the fun out of his work so it wasn't a wonky swing that was harming his game. It was because he was taking it all far too seriously and in doing so, was actually harming rather than enhancing his 'job'. The point hit home and Ernie went out to re-inject the 'fun' factor into his game. The turn-around was quick and Ernie soon started playing great golf again. Here was a typical case of 'all work and no play makes Jack - in this case Ernie - a dull boy'.
 

(From top left clockwise) First stop before heading out on a two-hour drive to Askham was the Maass Drankwinkel in Upington to stock up on a variety of health drinks; This golden oldie belonging to the //Khara Hais Municipality’s Technical Department looked like it was still going strong; Host for the weekend Johan Cloete stands at what is a famous meeting place cross-roads for truckers and tourist travellers: About 1 km out on the R360 and it was time for some health drinks. Here HFR Transport’s Hein Schaefer (left) and Freightliner’s Burgert Kloppers hand out brown-coloured orange juice…but none for the driver.

I listened carefully to that interview because it could have been me the psychologist was talking to. So Shirle, to be honest, I obviously didn't tell you at the time but I accepted your invitation with a bit of a 'grudge'. Where was the trucking angle? Boring! I was wrong.

After flying into Uppington from Johannesburg, we collected our suitcases from the small baggage collection area and Steven Smith, passionate founder and owner of Cool Kat Carriers, immediately zipped open his case, took out his yellow tinted sunglasses, put on his cowboy-type hat and struck a crouched pose in the middle of the airport that made him look like a tourist gone wrong. Hey! This guy is going to be fun, I thought.

We went outside, got into various vehicles and headed off towards the farm about two hours drive away. I found myself in a 4x4 Mitsubishi Rodeo with that jovial man Johan Cloete, head honcho of Freightliner/Fuso. As we drove towards town, Cloete started phoning to gather others who had driven in on their own steam.

Guys like Junior Smith of Junior Smith Trucking and his mate Fritz Visser; Willie Du Toit of Namibia-based FP Du Toit Transport; Emile van der Vyfer of Van der Vyfer's Transport. Hein Schaefer and his wife Linda of HFR Transport had flown in with us while Wessel Swanepoel and Dave Vice of Aspen Logistic Services were driving up from Johannesburg in the new Mitsubishi Canter 4x4 with Duncan Prince and Eddie Caromba. Gerhard Horn and his wife Anita were also there. Hey, this was a good crew coming together.

A hint of what was to come was given when it was decided that the first meeting place would be the local bottle-store. The mix that was carried out of that store looked deadly. It was then time to head off into the wild beyonder and no sooner had we got onto the N12 that a refreshment stop was made on the side of the road for the day's first 'loop-dop'. Out came the Jugermeister and the Old Brown Cherry. Hey, this was like going back into the past. This was like, well, like fun.

Once thirsts had been quenched, we headed off again towards our destination and an indication of the beautiful country we were about to drive through was given via a sign which read: 'Caution. Only authorised vehicles for speed testing for next 55kms." Cloete informed me that because the road was so straight, open and devoid of traffic, it was one of the few public roads in the country where vehicle manufacturers could do legal speed tests on their car models.

It wasn't too far down the road when we stopped again. "P-break," I asked Cloete. "No, braai-break!" he replied. Not for these guys the comfort of a stuffy dining room in the Molopo Lodge where we would be staying. The side of the road surrounded by open space was much better for a 'kuier'.

It wasn't long before a fire was blazing, a grid was found and the chops were on the sizzle. And who arrives out of nowhere? That grand man - note, not grand old man - of the Namibian trucking scene, Willie Du Toit of F P Du Toit Transport with his lovely daughter Christelle. He had driven down from Windhoek to join us all. It was great seeing him again.

Conversation flowed easily and in no time, one could feel a vibe forging the group - a spirit de corps was spreading. I looked around and thought myself privileged to be in the company of a group of people who for many years have, through their passion and hard work, kept the wheels of our economy rolling. These are salt-of-the-earth type people. You were right Shirle. You said I'd find the company great and the conversation interesting and I did. And we had only just begun.

What followed over the next two days was a time I will always remember as being something special. Under the expert direction and watchful eye of racing ace Sarel van der Merwe and his crew, teams of two competed in Mitsubishi Rodeo 2.8Tdi 4x4 double cabs on a number of different courses set out on the dunes.

We’re half way there and it’s time for pad-kos, good conversation, a dop en a chop. Braai-king Charl Kruger from Van Der Vyver Transport had a fire going in no time and proved an adept chef in braaing the meat to perfection. It was here that the camaraderie that only truckers will know started to build.  That grand man – not grand ‘old’ man – from Namibia, Willie Du Toit of F P Du Toit Transport and his daughter Christelle drove down from Windhoek to join us all. It was great having him on board.

DCSA’s Duncan Prince drove the first Mitsubishi Fuso Canter 4x4 to come off the East London assembly line up from Johannesburg to the Molopo Lodge. Joining him in the cab was Wessel Swanepoel of Aspen Logistic Services and Dave Vice, formerly of Cat engine fame, now with Aspen. "Whenever I can drive rather than fly I do so that I can see the state of the roads my drivers are using," says Swanepoel. This was the 4x4’s first outing in the desert and it came away with top marks.    Fritz Visser, mate of Junior Smith, proved a most adept 4x4 driver in the dune tests. This team won the event but let’s not forget that my driver, Johan Cloete, let them win.

A transporter with a character that delights is Steven Smith of Cool Cat Carriers. Here he does his hilarious impersonation of a ‘speedkop’ stopping trucks on the road.

I was paired with Johan Cloete who, being the gentleman that he is, just could not find it within himself to beat his customers. "C'mon man, ry die ding. Moenie versigtig wees nie. Dis nie jou kar so ry hom," I urged as he headed up dunes with great gusto only to end stalled tyre deep in the sand.

"I can't do it Pat. I just can't let my customers come second. They must always come first," he wailed as he deliberately edged us away from the winner's podium in his quest to take customer care to the extreme. And if you believe that, you'll believe anything!

The two nights around the fire were also most memorable made more so by the camaraderie that had built up among all. Jokes there were aplenty but so too was there vibrant talk of trucks, trucking and the industry which we all love. These are hands-on guys who get involved in every aspect of their businesses. Junior Smith, for example, up until fairly recently did all his own work on the trucks. He was the MD and the diesel mechanic - and the quality of his work shows in the quality of his trucks out on the road. They are a credit to the industry - as are the trucks of each one of these men.

Hey, I've just looked down and I see I'm running out of space here - so let's start winding up. But with what? One of the points that emerged for me from this outing was that fun must be brought back into our daily working lives. As mentioned, so many guys have said that transport is no longer the fun it used to be. We have to 'seriously' work on changing that.

The two pictures above of the Mitsubishi Rodeo 4x4 climbing and then cresting a dune don’t really convey the real action that took place on the day. The course, which was set out for real 4x4 contestants, was designed by racing ace Sarel van Der Merwe and his team and presented contestants with some of the toughest 4x4 sand driving conditions yet encountered. The ‘truckers’, of course, took all this in their stride. They’re used to climbing obstacles. After all, trucking is crisis management so to face a few little dunes in one day is no sweat for these guys. Piece of ‘old tekkie’ for them. I mean - look at this crew below. Would you be prepared to take them on? Check out the guy in the middle. That’s Johan Meyer of Sandown CV Zandfontein carrying a wardrobe of sunglasses for every occasion – from those ‘zootie’ yellow reflectives to the cool shades he’s wearing. There’s a real 4x4 meanie under that beanie. He’s flanked below by Christelle du Toit, lovely daughter of Namibian transport supremo Willie du Toit. And then there’s Wessel Swanepoel looking ready to tackle anything that comes his way. And that’s Hein and Linda Schaefer of HFR Transport. No, they’re not covering their ears to protect from the cold. That’s to cut out all outside distractions to enable them to focus clearly on levelling the dunes. Truckers unite!!! At the end of the day, great companionship and cameraderie was enjoyed round the camp-fire. Way to go!!!

The second point that stands out is that we must never ever forget or take for granted the contribution transporters make to our lives and to our economy - and they do so against some pretty hefty odds out there. Talking around the fire to guys like Wessel Swanepoel, Willie du Toit and Emile van der Vyver reinforces the belief of FleetWatch that there are so many truckers out there who pay incredible attention to detail in getting things right. They are passionate about doing things right and there are no short cuts. I don't believe they get anywhere near the credit they should get for their efforts.

But perhaps the prime point to emerge for me was the reinforcement of the truth that we truly are part of one of the greatest industry sectors in this country and that the greatness comes not only from the quality of product as is so admirably embraced in the Freightliner Argosy, but more so from the quality of the people in this industry.

At one stage during one of the nights around the fire, I stood to the side and looked up at a clear sky filled with glittering stars. I then looked around at the people who made up the group. I saw some sitting quietly staring into the flames, others in vigorous debate about some aspect related to the specs of their trucks, others in warm conversation just enjoying each other's company. And I thought: 'Man, it just doesn't get any better than this..."

 

Cold but ready to rock and roll on the dunes are from left: Dave Vice, Wessel Swanepoel (both Aspen Logistic Services) with Hein Schaefer of HFR Transport.   The DCSA crew from left: Johan Cloete (CV Government Sales), media manager Shirle Greig and Johan Cloete, head of Freightliner/Fuso. Relaxing after dune bashing are Gerhard Horn from Crossroads Distribution and his wife Anita.	A formidable duo - Steven Smith (Cool Cat Carriers) and Johan Meyer (Sandown CV, Zandfontein). My ‘drywer’ Johan Cloete who, out of consideration for his customers, kept us at the back. Great customer care. Huh! Emile van Der Vyver gets ready to rev this little ‘un up the dunes.   Duncan Prince of Western Star fame with his fighting partner Eddie Caromba of Freightliner/Fuso.
The man himself, Sarel van der Merwe in the centre of this bunch of trucking ‘boykies’: From left: Emile van der Vyver, Charl Kruger, Eddie Caromba and Junior Smith.