---

Past Issues

May 2002

---

Vehicles on the move

SA IS WELL SERVED

The diversity of South African transport operations and the wide variety of size and spec of vehicles to suit those operations is quite mind-boggling. This truth was brought home via FleetWatch attending a number of vehicle hand-overs by the Mercedes-Benz division of DaimlerChrysler over the past two months which served as a reminder that the trucking industry in South Africa is well served by its vehicle suppliers.

In the days of sanctions, there were essentially seven truck manufacturers operating in South Africa. Today, that number has risen to over 20. In fact, we believe it is only in New Zealand that you can find as many international truck suppliers as are present in South Africa. Our guess it is less.

The Japanese and Americans find it hard to make in-roads into European markets while the opposite is true for European companies in Japan and the USA. Break it down even further and you find that in individual European countries, operators in the main are patriotic to their locals. In Sweden, for example, Scania and Volvo reign supreme while in Germany, MAN and Mercedes-Benz are top of the pops. In France, Renault dominates while in Italy, Iveco trucks are seen all over the place. Go further afield to India and you find Tata is the vehicle of choice while in China, FAW is the big one. And so it goes on.....

Because South Africa has no local vehicle manufacturer, the market is populated by suppliers from all over the world. In this sense, South African transport operators are extremely fortunate in that they have one of the widest choices in the world not only in terms of vehicle suppliers but also vehicle specs. This is something we often forget.

Certainly there were some classic failures after 1994 following the opening of our borders to all and sundry. However, things seem to have settled down both in the operator and supplier camps. From the operator's side, the 'kids in a candy store' syndrome is now over and the realisation that low price attached to a glittering new product is not what it's all about for sustainable operations.

Suppliers too have realised that South Africa is not an 'easy touch' as a market for incremental sales. The operators are professional and require the same levels of product quality, back up and service as is given in the home markets of the suppliers. In fact, they demand it.

With those settling down factors in mind, South African operators can now sit back comfortable in the knowledge that in terms of vehicles, they are now well served. They are also fortunate in that with the wide representation of players from all over the world, vehicle suppliers can access the latest technology from a number of overseas sources to spec for local operations.

This is a pretty good position for us to be in and as a mere 'surface' reminder and indicator of what we actually have, the following three hand-overs of Mercedes-Benz prove the point. I say 'surface' because there are just so many more applications of vehicles of all types and sizes to suit specific jobs. Every day, some vehicle is being handed over to some supplier to some client for some job. As mentioned, it's quite mind-boggling actually. 

Waste compactor
Globalisation and inter-company collaboration came to South Africa recently in the shape of a Faun Rotopress waste compactor unit ready mounted to a Mercedes-Benz Atego rigid truck.

The deal saved substantial freight charges as the truck and waste compactor arrived as a single built-up unit. Although TFM has been manufacturing Rotopress compactors locally for over 15 years, the company, together with Sandown Motors and DaimlerChrysler South Africa, embarked on a project that would demonstrate the financial and technical benefits achieved by collaborating to permit the importation of specialised equipment.

TMF MD Johan van der Merwe says "great financial savings were achieved due to the mounting of the Rotopress in Germany, thereby reducing the freight charges". The vehicle and waste equipment can be fully supported in South Africa through TFM's industrial infrastructure. 

The Faun compactor is mounted on a standard 2628/45 Mercedes-Benz chassis with basic South African specifications. The only additional fitment required is the direct drive "PTO" (Power Take-Off) mounted on the transmission. 

Conformity to all the South African homologation requirements were adhered to thus ensuring the effectiveness of the complete Mercedes-Benz package of services and after sales support.

Custom concrete carrier
On the heavier work side, Barloworld Logistics recently acquired 22 Actros 2640 LS/33 6x4 truck tractors that are being utilised on a major cement distribution contract for PPC Cement's Dwaalboom factory.

This was no easy deal for DCSA and the vehicles were put through rigid tests before meeting Barloworld Logistics' stringent quality standards as well addressing the company's operational and environmental concerns.

Stephen Temple, technical director for Barloworld Logistics, says the Dwaalboom plant is a very demanding customer. "The factory delivers 97% of its output to 130 sites in Gauteng, Northern Province, North West Province, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Annual volume figures are around 230 000 tons per vehicle per year with each vehicle averaging 200 000 km's per annum." 

Roy van der Walt of DaimlerChrysler SA says the product specifications and operational parameters resulted in the vehicles being almost custom made for the operation. 

Health sprint
And on the baby side, the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services in Cape Town recently received a shot in the arm with the delivery of 25 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313 CDI ambulances featuring the 'Sprintshift' six-speed automated manual transmission and 2-litre turbo-charged engines.

In handing over the vehicles, Gert Grobler, product manager, light commercial vehicles for Mercedes-Benz, recalled that it was a year ago to the day that DCSA delivered 18 Ambulances to the Emergency Services in the Western Cape. 

"I always recognised that the 'Sprintshift' transmission was an ideal option for the emergency vehicle sector where smooth driving is essential," he says. "The driver remains more relaxed and is able concentrate on the road resulting in safer driving."

Grobler noted that the Sprinter Ambulance has proved a popular choice due to its substantial dimensions. "It is wide and high enough to serve as doctor's rooms while ambulance personnel can stand upright in the vehicle. It can also carry three patients - one more than minibus-type ambulances."
 

From small, through heavy and up to specialised. It's all here in good old South Africa.