Homolo-WHAT?....

Jack Webster, our correspondent on legislation, discovers wide-spread misunderstanding between the homologation of motor vehicles, compulsory motor vehicle standards and the certification of roadworthiness. In this article, all is explained in the hope that a debacle such as the AMC saga will be avoided in the future.  

Overloading has ben described as the curse of South African roads.It is also a practice which has been accepted by many operators as the only means of making a buck. :"If we don't accept the load, we lose the business to some other operator who will accept it," is the gripe so often heard. And this from so-called 'reputable' operators. Is this an easy cop-out or is it a reality? Patrick O'Leary looks at the issue from some different angles.

Service rules the ethic....

Drive anywhere near Cape Town harbour and one cannot fail to notice a number of vehicles decked out in the signage of Moosa’s Enterprises. The size of this father and son organisation belies its humble beginnings and reflects a microcosm of the recent history of Cape Town writes our Cape correspondent, Stephanie Platt.

Where to the engineer?....

South Africa needs an active fraternity of road transport engineers but the irony is that there is still no definition for the qualifications and functions of a road transport engineer in South Africa. While a start has been made, there is still a long way to go before a final definition is decided on reports Jack Webster.  

SA Diesel – Facts & Fiction....

With fuel representing an astounding 45% of total costs - fixed and variable - in terms of operating a truck fleet, truckers need to have a better ‘handle’ on diesel fuel terminology and the way we use this information. In this special feature, FleetWatch attempts to impart this knowledge. And a big thanks to Shell SA for joining us on this one.  

Diesel fuel – fleet usage checklist…

Gaining control over diesel fuel quality is essential in South Africa’s mix of First and Third World conditions where hi-tech equipment and weak supervision combines with fringe elements of fraud and corruption. Here is a suggested list of items that will give you, the transport operator, control over diesel fuel quality:

The Dirt in Diesel you cannot see....

As engine technology advances, so too are more demands being placed on fuel manufacturers by truck manufacturers to produce a cleaner and purer quality of fuel. From the operator's side, increasing costs have also made fuel quality an increasingly important issue. This article sheds some light on the not-so-well-recognised fuel cleanliness property and it’s impact on fuel handling and engine utilisation.