Business Fleet Africa November 2022.pdf

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Toyota expands
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BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | November 2022
2 WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
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Business Fleet Africa
EDITION 19 November 2022
4
17 34
Daimler Trucks celebrate
60 years of local
manufacturing.
Table of Contents
3 Editorial
Business
4 On going challenges necessitate investment
TransportandFreightIndex
6
The South African logistics sector treads
water
News
8 International News
10 Industry News
Intheheadlights:HCVFleetVehicles
19
Volvo commences local assembly of Euro 5
models
20 Daimler Trucks SA celebrates 60 years
24
Iveco joins forces with energy supply chain
stakeholders
26 Hitting the road in Enviro’s EC35 panel van
28
Solaris launches articulated Urbino
Hydrogen bus
FleetOwnerSuccessStory
30 Coca Cola initiates smart truck project
31 Blazing a trail for women in transport
34 Farming with Massey Ferguson
SupplyChainandLogistics
32 E-commerce grows in townships
33 SA logistics industry is battling a war
FleetManagement
36
Mining smartly with Ctrack’s bespoke
solutions
Intheheadlights:LCVFleetVehicles
38 Toyota expands hybrid offering
40 Volvo revamps range for 2023
41 Lexus IS refined for 2023
42 Hyundai renovates Venue
IndustrySales
44
Commercial vehicle sales contract
45 Buyers Guide
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PROVIDER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR* africa AWARDS
November 2022 WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
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2022 winners
daimLer Trucks ceLebraTe
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3
November2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
Editor
Reuben van Niekerk
reubenvn@vodamail.co.za
082 837 8801
Editor-at-large
Suzanne Walker
suzanne.walker3@gmail.com
083 3789 664
Contributors
Roger Houghton
houghtonr@mwebbiz.co.za
082 371 9097
Publisher
Jacques Wilken
jwilken@mweb.co.za
083 299 7312
Road Impression Editor
Charl Wilken
cwwilken@mweb.co.za
083 297 1837
Advertising and Marketing
Charlene Kruger
charlene@businessfleetafrica.co.za
076 807 4613
© 1997 WCM Media CC
Disclaimer
While all reasonable precautions
have been taken to ensure the
accuracy of information supplied,
neither the editor, the proprietors,
nor the publishers can accept
responsibility for any inaccuracies,
damages, or injury which may arise
there from.
Getting rail back up and running
By all accounts the South African road transport sector contin-
ues to grow at a tremendous rate, due to a variety of factors, but
most notably thanks to the continued decline of the rail sector.
The increased load on the country’s road network especially on major routes is not
sustainable and is already resulting in higher accident rates and longer journey times.
These factors then only get worse when disruptions like strikes or port closures occur,
with transport operators seemingly always playing catch up.
During the recent medium term budget speech Finance Minister Enoch
Godongwana committed to passing the Economic Regulation of Transport Bill
while requests for proposals have been issued for third-party access to the freight
rail network.
While slowing down the decay of our railway system is certainly necessary, it will
be interesting to see if any private companies come forward and take government up
on this offer. The countries rail system is in a terrible state and third party interest or
usage will require this system to be in a reliable, well maintained state and who will
fund this is yet to be revealed. I doubt that users will be willing to invest in infrastruc-
ture which they do not own. This is as good as saying road users must maintain the
road if they would like to use it. I look forward to watching how this plays out, but I am
not holding my breath.
Left in the dark
Economic conditions in South Africa took a turn for the worse during September, with
Eskom data confirming that the South African economy experienced the worst-ever
month of load shedding, with 572 of the month’s 720 hours directly affected. Analysis
by Eskom’s Research, Testing and Development department further showed that,
besides 2021, there was more power cuts in September 2022 than had been expe-
rienced in any other entire year since load shedding started in 2007. The negative
impact of load shedding reaches all spheres of the economy. Companies buckle under
the inability to produce at capacity, the cost of lost production, reduced productivity,
the cost of providing alternatives and reduced margins.
This has a serious effect on productivity for any business, with electricity needed
to power everything from IT, point of sale equipment and security systems. The knock
on effect is that businesses are having to spend any spare cash that they might have
on future proofing their businesses with investment in equipment like generators,
inverters or solar installations necessary to be able to do business in South Africa.
The on going load shedding has also had an effect on the water supply in certain
regions, such as Gauteng. While the dams feeding the Gauteng province are at
satisfactory levels, electricity disruptions have affected Rand Waters ability to pump
water to various reservoirs in order to meet increased demand caused by rising spring
temperatures resulting in the implementation of water restrictions.
This meant that high water users have very quickly had to look at water saving and
water storage solutions in order to avoid the increased tariffs that are implemented by
municipalities during periods of water restrictions.
Unfortunately these factors mean that alternative electricity and water supply
solutions are necessary and will become increasingly important for businesses, both
big and small, in order to remain competitive and mitigate the disruptions caused by
unpredictable supply of these resources by government.
Reuben van Niekerk
Editor
Editorial
EDITORIAL

BUSINESS
The South African economy and the
transport industry are continuously
being subjected to a variety of external
challenges, all of which contribute to a
very difficult industry to do business in.
Monthly costs are always increasing
with the fuel price continuing to rise and
the Reserve Bank forced to hike interest
rates once more, in order to try curb
inflation somewhat.
The recent Transnet strike added
further pressure to an already stressed
transport infrastructure, with bottle-
necks creating major headaches for fleet
managers in the supply chain and logis-
tics industry, while the cost implications
were massive.
According to the South African
Association of Freight Forwarders
(SAAFF), the 11 day strike robbed South
Africa of the opportunity to move
R65.3 billion worth of goods.
It has been reported that one day’s
worth of stoppage requires up to
10 days of recovery. The result is that a
complete restoration of normal func-
tionality will only happen in early 2023.
During September 2022, South Africa
was subjected to the worst month of
load shedding since the implementation
of this power rationing strategy, with a
staggering 572 of the month’s 720 hours
directly affected.
The rail sector continues to go back-
wards and while this is to the advantage
of road transport, our roads can only
handle so much. Already major routes
are nearing capacity and the increased
high traffic volumes have resulted in
increased accident rates and slower
journey times on many of the major
commercial vehicle routes.
Government has realised that this
is a major problem and has passed
the Economic Regulation of Transport
Bill while requests for proposals have
been issued for third party-access to
the freight rail network. Whether there
On going challenges
necessitate additional investment

are any private companies willing or
motivated to turn this into a successful
business case remains to be seen, as
massive investments will be needed to
kick start this project and how its use will
be managed could be challenging.
Less than ideal working conditions
mean working as a truck driver in South
Africa is no longer as attractive a career
as it used to be and many of our good
drivers are being lured to greener
pastures, like Europe, which is also facing
a major shortage of truck drivers.
Despite all these environmental
challenges many corporates are now
insisting that trucking operators adopt
the latest Euro 5 technology, despite
that not being legislated by the South
African government, as the practices
of suppliers have a bearing on the ESG
score of these corporates.
Dangerous driving conditions also
mean that vehicles equipped with
increased safety equipment and driving
aids, such as lane keeping assist or radar
based cruise control are becoming more
of a necessity than a luxury.
Many of these challenges mean that
businesses need to invest in new or
additional equipment in order to remain
competitive in the marketplace and
mitigate the disruptions caused by these
external challenges.
“Standard Bank understand that
financing and managing a company’s
assets is critical to the success of any
business, especially in challenging
business environments. Our dedicated
team of experts can arrange a com-
prehensive funding package to suit the
unique requirements of any business,”
says Derick de Vries, Executive Head of
Standard Bank Fleet Management.
Standard Banks’ Commercial Asset
Finance specialists are able to assist
in the financing of passenger and
commercial vehicles, capital equipment
such as tractors, forklifts, bulldozers,
machine tools and office equipment as
well as more specialised assets such
as mining and agricultural equipment
and aircraft.
Apart from traditional assets with
wheels, Standard Bank are also able to
assist with the financing of medical and
technology equipment, which includes
coverage for printing and information
technology sectors and even solar
equipment.
“Off the grid solutions needed to
mitigate service delivery shortfalls such
as load shedding are necessary in order
to do business in modern day South
Africa and Standard Bank are able to
assist in financing this very specialised
equipment,” adds de Vries.
As is very often the case, bundling a
variety of financing agreements under
one portfolio with the same financial
services provider, is the most cost
effective way of financing business
assets. Standard Bank’s ability to finance
a variety of assets in a variety of ways,
make them the ideal partner for doing
business in the South African transport
industry. BFA
“Standard Bank
understand that
financing and
managing a company’s
assets is critical to
the success of any
business, especially in
challenging business
environments. Our
dedicated team of
experts can arrange a
comprehensivefunding
package to suit the
unique requirements
of any business”
5

TRANSPORT AND FREIGHT INDEX
Following three consecutive months of
growth, the South African logistics sec-
tor as measured by the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index declined margin-
ally during the month of September,
however the third quarter still returned
growth. The Ctrack Transport and
Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) declined by
0.1% on a monthly basis in September
compared to the revised growth of 2.2%
experienced in August, representing
annual growth of 12.8%, down from a
revised 13.7% in August.
Economic conditions in the South
African economy took a turn for the
worse during September, with Eskom
data confirming that the South African
economy experienced the worst-ever
month of load shedding, with 572 of
the month’s 720 hours directly affected.
Analysis by Eskom’s Research, Testing
and Development department further
showed that, besides 2021, there were
more power cuts in September 2022
than had been experienced in any
other entire year since load shedding
started in 2007. The negative impact
of load shedding reaches all spheres
of the economy, including the logistics
and supply chain sector. Companies
buckle under the inability to produce at
capacity, the cost of lost production, re-
duced productivity, the cost of providing
alternatives and reduced margins.
The sector continues to be plagued
by many challenges, including significant
fuel price increases in recent months,
rising interest rates, the higher cost of
tyres and spare parts, delays at ports,
sabotage and unrest, railway woes and
the negative impact of regular load
shedding. Despite these challenges,
the logistics sector proved to be largely
resilient with four of the six sectors
measured by the Ctrack Transport and
Freight Index increasing on an annual ba-
sis during September. While the broader
economic environment has a real effect
on all the sectors measured by the
Ctrack Transport and Freight Index,
there are still vastly different trends
evident in each of these sub-sectors.
Road Freight remains a strong
performer, followed by Air Freight, with
both sectors posting double-digit growth
in September compared to a year earlier,
while Rail Freight remains the regular
underperformer among the sub-sectors.
“Despite all the challenges that
continually batter this industry the
resilience of the transport industry and
especially Road Freight has continued to
surprise with continued growth despite
all these challenges, but I fear that is not
sustainable indefinitely,” says Hein Jordt,
Chief Executive Officer of Ctrack Africa.
The significant performance of
the Road Freight sector has been
an on going theme since mid-2020.
Although treading water in the month
of September, the Road Freight seg-
ment still increased by a notable 27.9%
compared to the same period last year, a
continuation of a positive growth streak
that started in January 2021. While the
number of heavy trucks on the N3 and
N4 toll routes remained unchanged on
a monthly basis in September, heavy
traffic still increased by 11% compared
to the same period last year. Among
other reasons the segment continues to
benefit from the on going underperfor-
mance of the rail industry.
Air Freight continued to show signs
of strain in September, with the Air
Freight segment of the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index declining by 0.7%
compared to the previous month, which
is also the fourth consecutive monthly
decline. Despite these declines the seg-
ment is still tracking 12.2% higher than
it did at the same time last year. Total
consolidated airport flight movements
declined by 1.5% in September, but air
cargo recovered somewhat.
The transport of liquid fuels via
Transnet Pipelines (TPL) declined notably
in September, with the Pipeline segment
of the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
declining by a 11.9% compared to the
previous month, but still tracking 4.3%
higher than the same period last year.
The shortage of refineries has created a
scenario where the country is increasingly
reliant on imports, and supply line disrup-
tions present a greater risk, as highlighted
by the recent Transnet strike that affected
operations at the Durban port.
The Sea Freight segment measured
by the Ctrack Transport and Freight
The South African logistics sector
treads water Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
Change on a year ago
Aug-14
Aug-15
Aug-16
Aug-17
Aug-18
Aug-19
Aug-20
Aug-21
Aug-22
Feb-15
Feb-16
Feb-17
Feb-18
Feb-19
Feb-20
Feb-21
Feb-22
Nov-14
Nov-15
Nov-16
Nov-17
Nov-18
Nov-19
Nov-20
Nov-21
May-15
May-16
May-17
May-18
May-19
May-20
May-21
May-22
30%
20%
10%
0%
-10%
-20%
-30%
Ctrack economists.co.za
%
4,4%
12,8%
Graph 1 Ctrack Transport and Freight Index % change on year ago

7
Table 1 Change in Ctrack Transport and freight Index in September and August 2022
September 2022 Tables
Percentage change between Rail Road Pipeline Sea Air
Storage and
handling
Ctrack Freight
Transport Index
September 2022 vs September 2021 (y/y) –10.6% 27.9% 4.3% 3.7% 12.2% –7.2% 12.8%
September 2022 vs August 2022 (m/m) –0.6% 0.1% –11.9% –0.9% –0.7% 2.2% –0.1%
Quarter to September 2022 vs. Quarter to June 2022 (q/q) –2.9% 6.0% –4.8% 8.9% –9.2% 9.1% 4.2%
Note: The row highlighted in blue is the main Ctrack Transport and Freight Index values used.
Source: Ctrack and economistscoza, TNPA, StatsSA, SARS, N3 and N4 toll concessions, ACSA, ACOC, IATA.
Index increased by 3.7% in September
on a year on year basis, driven by a
strong recovery in container handling
at various ports in recent months, while
other cargo handling also increased
notably during September.
The Rail Freight component of the
Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
declined by 10.6% year on year in
September, the sixth consecutive
monthly decline, which can be attributed
to amongst other factors, large-scale
theft of copper cables, insufficient
maintenance, lack of locomotives and
corruption. These on going challenges
are likely to remain a reality in this space
for some time to come.
“It is great to see that government is
taking real steps to assist the transport
and logistics industry and save the ailing
rail network,” says Jordt.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana
admitted during his speech as part of the
Medium Term Budget Policy Statement
(MTBPS) that there is a crisis in the
logistics sector and that inefficiencies
in the port and rail infrastructure are
costing the economy billions.
This commitment includes the
passing of the Economic Regulation
of Transport Bill while requests for
proposals have been issued for third
party-access to the freight rail network
and private-sector partnerships for the
Durban Pier 2 and Ngqura container
terminals. In addition Transnet has been
allocated R2.9 billion to bring out-of-
service locomotives back into service
and improve rail capacity. A further
R2.9 billion has been allocated to deal
with flood damage in Kwazulu-Natal.
Zooming into the Storage and
Handling sub-sector of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index revealed
another dismal performance, this sector
has clearly been underperforming since
the beginning of 2022. The lacklustre
economic environment, as well as global
supply chain pressures, has played an
important role in companies’ manage-
ment of inventories.
Locally, inventory holdings in the
manufacturing sector as measured by
a sub-component of the ABSA PMI,
dropped by 12.8% between January and
June, before recovering quite notably in
Q3. Similarly, the value of raw materials
and work-in-progress of all industries
covered by StatsSA’s Quarterly Financial
Statistics declined in the first quarter
before gradually increasing in Q2 and
Q3. Although the Storage and Handling
segment still declined by 7.2% on an
annual basis during September, it seems
that the sector is making a turn for the
better as reflected in two consecutive
positive monthly growth rates as well
as a sizeable 9.1% quarter on quarter
growth which it recorded in Q3.
The Equites Property Fund, a JSE
company solely focusing a logistics-only
play, recently noted that they are experi-
encing record demand for warehousing
space. The pandemic-related surge in
online shopping has ignited demand for
warehouse and distribution facilities
for retailers and e-commerce players to
store goods before delivery and has also
had a positive impact on Road Freight,
particularly when it comes to parcel
delivery. According to the StatsSA land
transport survey, income generated
from parcel delivery has increased by
79.1% since January 2020.
“The on going pressures facing all
the segments measured by the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index mean that
the businesses in these segments are
facing rising risk levels and shrinking
profit margins. The implementation of
a bespoke fleet management system
has been well proven to mitigate risk,
increase profitability and ensure peace
of mind in a turbulent environment,”
concludes Jordt.
Ctrack TFI and GDP growth
The September 2022 Ctrack TFI (120.1)
increased notably compared to the June
index level (115.3), signalling a further
recovery in the transport sector in Q3.
However, September and the third
quarter in general has been a particularly
challenging month for the South African
economy thanks mostly due to the afore-
mentioned on going harsh load shedding.
High-frequency data from some of the
most energy-intensive sectors like mining
and manufacturing have already provided
clues about the effects of the power cuts
on economic activity and it does not paint
a pretty picture. There is a growing proba-
bility that the economy as a whole has
slipped back into a technical recession,
with the likelihood of a negative quarter
on quarter growth rate during the third
quarter. Encouragingly, the transport sec-
tor outperformed the broader economy
during the second quarter, increasing by
2.4% compared to the previous quarter
seasonally adjusted vs. a 0.7% contraction
in overall real GDP growth and this trend
is likely to have prevailed in the third
quarter. The transport sector was, how-
ever, hit hard by the recent prolonged
strike of Transnet staff in October, which
will firmly put the sector on the back foot
in the fourth quarter. BFA
* Revision note – the release of
StatsSA’s Quarterly Financial Statistics
survey after the publication of the
August Ctrack TFI, resulted in an upward
revision to the inventory data used to
calculate the Storage and Handling
sub-component and thus resulted in an
upward revision to the August Ctrack TFI.

Soaring fuel costs have left a hole in the
pocket of motorists across the globe,
but it could be having an unexpected
positive impact on promoting greener
forms of transport.
That’s according to research commis-
sioned by the UK’s leading independent
road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart,
who surveyed 1 004 motorists on what
changes they have made as a result of
rising fuel costs.
Of those surveyed, one in three (33
percent) stated that they have decided
to walk more, 17 per cent said that they
have used public transport on a more
regular basis, while 7 percent answered
that they have bought a bicycle or used
it more frequently.
“Our research demonstrates that
there has been an unexpected ‘green
lining’ to the rising cost of fuel, as an
increasing number of motorists opt for
more environmentally-friendly forms of
transport,” said Neil Greig, Director of
Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart,
commented.
“However, it is crucial to be mindful
of the safety of all road users, especially
those who will be more vulnerable to inju-
ry in the case of a collision,” added Greig.
“Adhering to the ‘hierarchy of road
users’ Highway Code rule, which dictates
that road users such as cyclists and
pedestrians are at greater risk from road
traffic, and therefore motorists should
possess the greatest responsibility to
minimise harm, will play a critical role
in helping adapt to these changes,”
said Greig.
Those who have decided not to ditch
the car entirely have also made greener
changes to the way they drive, with
38 percent of respondents stating that
they have tried to drive more econom-
ically, and 19 percent disclosing that
they are taking extra care to stick to the
speed limits.
“For many, hanging up the key is
simply not an option, and the role
of owning a car, in terms of personal
mobility and keeping society moving,
cannot be understated. In such cases
motorists are encouraged to follow
those who have decided to drive more
economically and reduce their speed,
which will not only help keep the price
at the pumps down, but also keep roads
as safe as they can be.” BFA
Soaring fuel costs are driving motorists to greener
forms of transport
The UK’s van drivers are at risk of burnout with half experienc-
ing mental health issues in the last year, according to a study by
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Research found the last year had seen those suffering with
mental health issues rise to half from a third compared with the
previous year. Overworking and struggling to maintain a work-
life balance were the biggest causes, with side effects including
sleep problems, stress headaches and panic attacks.
The stress is coming from van drivers working beyond their
regular hours half of the time, compared to the average UK
worker who clocks longer hours a third of the time.
The longer hours are causing 1 in 5 van drivers to feel
overwhelmed by work on a daily basis with 94% saying they
had felt overwhelmed at least once in the past year. Positively,
three-quarters of those who suffered issues had sought
professional support to help them cope.
To manage your mental health and restore the balance,
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is urging the workforce to take
time out and practise wellbeing, whether in the form of taking up
a new hobby, exercising, talking to friends or getting outside. BFA
Overworking is leading to mental health issues
amongst van drivers
INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Isuzu has walked away with top honours in the Manufacturer Of
The Year (MOTY) awards, run annually by the Southern African
Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA).
Now in its 27th
year, the MOTY awards pays tribute to the
vehicle manufacturers for the level of service and support
provided to SAVRALA members, who manage roughly
400 000 vehicles per year through the rental and leasing
channels.
These awards are based on two comprehensive surveys
completed by 38 car rental and leasing companies in South
Africa, measuring the service from the manufacturers they
interact with regularly and whose vehicles they have in their
fleets.
Among the various areas of business surveyed are
communication and contact with the manufacturers, support
provided, maintenance issues, financial aspects and B-BBEE
compliance.
The participating rental and leasing companies are required
to involve all the relevant people who are knowledgeable
about each criterion within their organisations, to complete
the various sections of the surveys. This is to ensure that the
results are not biased and can be used by the manufacturers to
identify and rectify any pain points in their customer journey
with the rental and leasing industries.
A snapshot of the results
In 2022, Isuzu was voted as the winner in both the Rental and
Leasing categories for the third consecutive year. In the Rental
category, Toyota improved their third position from 2021 and
moved into the second position this year. For the first time
ever, Mini moved into a podium position, by being awarded the
bronze award in the Rental Category.
The Leasing positions remained the same as last year, with
Isuzu taking top honours, followed by Volkswagen in second
place and Toyota close on their heels taking third place.
Considering all the challenges currently facing the automo-
tive industry, this is no small feat. Manufacturers had to walk
a tight rope to remain operational amidst the aftermath and
recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the
global chip shortages leading to a shortage of new vehicles, the
global energy crisis and the KZN flooding earlier this year, to
name but a few.
Rental results for 2022
Isuzu continued their winning spree, attaining the highest
score on the measured criteria and helped along by a level one
B-BBEE level of contribution, the only manufacturer achieving
level one. Toyota moved into second position, as they did in
2020, in the process moving Volkswagen out of the top three
SAVRALA crowns 2022 winners
INDUSTRY NEWS

11
positions. Historically, premium brands have not often won top
awards in the MOTY competition, but this year Mini proved that
this is indeed possible, by moving into third position for the first
time ever.
The Value award is presented to the automotive member
that has scored the most combined points for the Financial
section, and for the fifth year running, the winner is Toyota.
The Tutuka award recognises the best scoring automotive
member which supplies lower and niche vehicle volumes to the
car rental industry, and Mini took top honours in this category
for the fourth consecutive year.
Leasing results for 2022
Leasing winners
Year Gold Silver Bronze
2022 Isuzu Volkswagen Toyota
2020 Isuzu Toyota Hyundai
2019 Toyota Hyundai Nissan
2018 Toyota Hyundai Volkswagen
Isuzu carried their momentum to the Leasing section and were
also awarded Gold in the Leasing category, as they did for
the last two years. Volkswagen held steady for their second
position and Toyota took third, the same top three positions
for Leasing as in 2021. The Value award for the Manufacturer
scoring the best for the Financial section on the Leasing survey
was awarded to Toyota, which has now won this award four
times in the last five years.
Overall results for 2022
To adjudicate an overall winner, the Rental and Leasing scores
for qualifying manufacturers are combined. 2022 saw Isuzu
walk away with the overall prize for the third consecutive year,
with Toyota improving from their third position last year to now
be second and Volkswagen completing the top-three leader
board positions.
OVERALL WINNERS
Year Gold Silver Bronze
2022 Isuzu Toyota Volkswagen
2020 Isuzu Toyota Hyundai
2019 Toyota Hyundai Kia
2018 Toyota Volkswagen BMW
Best representative awards for 2022
The rental and leasing companies nominate individuals for
the best representative awards based on their performance
and support during the year. Geraldine Pillay from Isuzu was
voted the best Account Representative in the Leasing section.
The award for the best Account Representative in the Rental
section was shared between Queen Ramaliwa from BMW and
Lebo Lekalakala, representing Toyota.
A special shout out has to go to Ramatjitla Penyane from
Toyota, for being voted the best Technical Representative in
both the Leasing and Rental categories for the last five years.
He has definitely made this award his own and his legacy
lives on. BFA

INDUSTRY NEWS
In recognition of Transport Month and to help
raise awareness and combat the high number
of fatalities on our roads, Santam has partnered
with MasterDrive, a driver training organisation
that engages with and assists companies in
managing driver risk interventions. According
to statics by the Road Traffic Management
Corporation (RTMC), fatal crashes on South
African roads increased by 2.2% from 10 381
in 2019 to 10 611 in 2021, with most collisions
occurring on weekends. The highest percent-
age of fatal road accidents is attributed to
minibus taxis, light delivery vehicles and trucks.
Drunk driving is still a major cause of fatalities
on our roads, with 50% of deaths involving a
driver who is over the legal drinking limit of 0.5g
per 100ml.
“Santam is a socially responsible organisation that strives to
uphold and promote the laws of the country and has a zero-tol-
erance policy towards drunk driving, as it is a significant contrib-
utor to the high number of fatalities that occur on our roads. It
is therefore an objective of ours to support both government
and non-profit organisations’ initiatives to clamp down on drunk
driving,” says Anton Cornelissen, head of Santam Heavy Haulage.
According to a study by RTMC, over 378 people died in road
crashes involving trucks and 343 people sustained injuries from
January 2021 to September 2022. The study further reveals that
head on and t-bone collisions are the most common types of
crashes involving trucks, which occur as a result of dangerous
overtaking and disregarding of road signs.
“South African truck drivers transport
billions of rands worth of goods, from fuel to
just about everything we use in our homes,
across the country each year. The various
goods they transport and trucks they drive
require specific skills. They also require skills
and training to operate these heavy vehicles
safely in all weather and road conditions,”
explains Cornelissen.
Currently there is a large shortage of skilled
truck drivers in South Africa, with many having
been recruited by high-paying European and
US companies. This has placed added pressure
on local operators’ truck drivers, who are
often on the road and away from home and
their loved ones for extended periods of time.
This is when fatigue, anxiety, and mental ill-
ness, as well as other lifestyle health issues creep in. The effects
of these conditions can lead to accidents as a driver’s reaction
time may become delayed, or concentration and judgement
may be impaired, putting other road users at risk.
Cornelissen says in addition to carrying out skills and
development programmes, fleet operators should implement
comprehensive driver wellness programmes, which should
include regular health checks and counselling. Looking after
the wellness of heavy vehicle drivers and empowering them
with the knowledge and skills they need to transport our
essential goods across the country safely must become
more of a focus for operators, and everyone in the transport
value chain. BFA
Truck driver wellness in spotlight during Transport Month
With rocketing inflation driving up the
cost of living, unexpected expenses
like replacing a damaged tyre can be
a bridge too far. During Transport
Month, Bridgestone highlighted
the benefits of its long-established
Tyre Damage Guarantee which
remains the easiest and best way to
mitigate the risk of tyre damage on
South Africa’s increasingly potholed
road system.
Research by Frost Sullivan in 2021
showed that just over half (54%) of
South Africa’s unpaved roads are in a
poor to very poor condition, as is 30% of
the paved road network.
“Tyres play a key role in keeping
motorists safe on the road, which is
why it makes sense to buy top-quality
tyres. However, potholes and other road
hazards such as nails, broken glass, spikes,
and objects that have fallen off vehicles
make it extremely likely that tyres could
be damaged and need to be replaced pre-
maturely. The Bridgestone Tyre Damage
Guarantee has been helping motorists
cope with such unexpected expenses
for the past 30 years and will continue
to do so,” says Lungisa Xhelithole, Brand
Manager Bridgestone Southern Africa.
Bridgestone designed its Tyre
Damage Guarantee to be as simple and
effective as possible. When purchasing
qualifying Bridgestone or Firestone
tyres, private or passenger fleet custom-
ers simply need to register the tyres.
If they are so unfortunate as to suffer
damage because of road hazards, they
can claim for a new tyre and only pay for
the tread they have used.
In the past five years, Bridgestone
processed claims valued just under R30
million from customers that have regis-
tered with the Tyre Damage Guarantee
scheme. BFA
Bridgestone highlights need to protect against
the expense caused by damaged tyres

13
Cummins is prioritising its diversity goals
and on going Enterprise and Supplier
Development (ESD) programme. “We are
deliberate and intentional about this journey,”
says Jolene C. Classen, Regional Leader
Africa Middle East – Corporate Indirect
Purchasing.
“We take our commitment towards
transformation, diversity and inclusion
seriously. We believe that when we create
opportunities in this space, we help our sup-
pliers to be economically empowered. They,
in turn, create jobs and further support
downstream opportunities and so we all
grow our region’s economies,” says Classen.
In the last year to date Cummins has spent
52% of its procurement spend with diverse
suppliers, spent $2.2million on BDR (Billion
Dollar Roundtable) suppliers and achieved
40.49 out of the 42 points on the scorecard for
enterprise and supplier development, which
includes points for preferential procurement.
“These days, more and more organisations realise the
importance and long-term advantages of making diversity
a strategic priority, especially in procure-
ment,” says Classen.
“Cummins has an absolute assurance
about the positive benefits that diversity
within our procurement space brings not only
to our value chain but to our suppliers, cus-
tomers and the economy at large. It means
that we actively support inclusion opportu-
nities in the supply chain from businesses
owned by previous disadvantaged groups,
women, youth and disability enterprises,”
explains Classen.
Cummins afforded the opportunity
to four diverse suppliers to attend the
Minority Supplier Development UK
(MSDUK) Leadership Programme and
Conference held in London in early
September 2022. It is also sponsoring a
delegation of nine diverse suppliers to attend
the International Leadership Executive
Development Training Programme (I-Led),
of which two suppliers will further attend
the National Minority Supplier Developer Council (NMSDC)
Conference in New Orleans in the US. BFA
Cummins promotes enterprise and supplier development
Jolene C. Classen, Regional Leader
Africa Middle East –
Corporate Indirect Purchasing
Scrupulously observing the highest standards in safety and
environmental practice, specialist logistics services group
Unitrans has established itself as a leading service provider to
the mining sector.
“Safety is deeply ingrained in our day-to-day operations. We
understand the importance mining houses place on environ-
mental, social and governance (ESG) issues and as a supplier to
the industry we are not just obliged, but committed to meeting
and exceeding these targets,” says Kobus Burger, Operations
Executive, Mining Division.
“We have a responsibility towards our customers, our
employees, as well as the communities we operate in, to do
our utmost towards sustainability, the environment and safety.
These principles guide us in all of our operations,” adds Burger.
“At Unitrans, a proactive approach is taken to safety,
especially in the mining environment with its stringent rules and
regulations. Training is critical to a safer workplace. With our in-
house training facilities, it is an ongoing activity in our company
that supports our culture of safety and ensures a capable
workforce, armed with the necessary knowledge and skillset.
The company is committed to the development of its employees
and career development is part of the training focus,” says Johan
Swanepoel, SHERQ Manager for the Mining Business Unit.
According to Swanepoel, a wide range of safety protocols
are in place to ensure safer operations.
The company is also intent on developing new talent. Its
diesel mechanic internship is one example of its ongoing invest-
ment in skills development. The current intake has also shown
the company’s commitment to gender equality, with four of the
five interns being women. BFA
Supply chain solutions provider committed
to safety and community

ROAD SIGNS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Ford engineers are trialling new technology that uses a vehicle’s
headlights to project directions, speed limits or weather infor-
mation onto the road. This way, the driver’s gaze can remain
fixed on the way ahead.
To show the potential of our high-resolution headlights,
they’ve also developed a new video game – called Ford Oval
Uncover – designed to be played by projecting onto a wall.
In the game, a target moves across the projected screen.
The player uses buttons on the steering wheel to move the
target into position and fires at the screen. Each of the hits
reveals a section of the Ford oval logo underneath. The more
accurate the hits, the more the oval is revealed and the more
points the player scores.
The inspiration for game-projecting headlights came when
one of Ford’s engineers was behind a commercial vehicle in
traffic, with the flat rear end presenting itself as an ideal screen
to beam a video game onto.
Projecting information onto the road using high-resolution
headlights could not only benefit drivers but other road users
too. For example, a crosswalk could be projected onto the road,
both for the view of the driver and the pedestrian, in situations
where the existing road markings are faded or unclear. Other
possibilities include showing a path for the driver to follow to
ensure cyclists are passed at a safe distance.
Endeavouring to make night driving more comfortable is
part of Ford’s commitment to developing technologies that
serve and inspire the way people live and work, to make life
easier, now and in the future. BFA
Click on the link to watch the video here.
The Isuzu Foundation has announced
that it will be donating R250-thousand
to the Ironman4TheKids Foundation.
The Isuzu Foundation is a partnership
between Isuzu Motors South Africa
(IMSAf) and the IMSAf Dealer network,
previously known as the ChildLife
Foundation.
The Isuzu Foundation supports proj-
ects that are focused on the societal
needs of the communities in which the
dealers operate. Each year the dealer
network identifies pressing matters of
societal ills and collaborates on projects
that aim to address challenges in
disadvantaged communities.
Marvan van Zyl, Chairperson of
the Isuzu Foundation says, “What is
exciting about this donation is that we
have all decided as dealers to support
Ironman4TheKids. This is the second
time we are working with the founda-
tion; we look forward to working with
them again and we hope that through
this partnership we will reach various
communities.”
For every vehicle sold Isuzu Motors
South Africa and its dealers contribute
to the Isuzu Foundation. Since 2010,
this initiative has enabled grants of
more than R16-million to be made to 80
projects. The Foundation has touched
and enriched the lives of many South
Africans. BFA
Playing games with headlights
Isuzu donates to Ironman4TheKids

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INDUSTRY NEWS
During October, the South African Navy (SAN) announced
the blessing ceremony of the second of three Multi-Mission
Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV) at Damen Shipyards Cape
Town (DSCT).
The first MMIPV SAS King Sekhukhune I, is already success-
fully sailing South African and international waters. This second
Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV) was blessed on
the 14th
of October, prior to her launching a week later. She
will be delivered to SAN in 2023 and the third vessel will be
delivered one year later in 2024.
The 62m by 11m vessel, designed by Damen, delivers rapid
response capability that is both effective and cost efficient. The
vessel will be the second Damen Sea Axe vessel to operate in
South African waters where, along with her sister ship, her pri-
mary role will be to counter piracy, illegal fishing and smuggling
operations.
“We are excited that this vessel will soon join her sister,
SAS King Sekhukhune I in successfully sailing South African
and international waters. These vessels will contribute to
South Africa’s maritime security in augmenting the country’s
capability to respond effectively, rapidly, and cost-efficiently
to threats such as illegal trafficking and fishing. In addition, as
a local South African company Damen Cape Town is proud to
build sustainable maritime solutions that assist in protecting
our coastline. And we are ready to deliver more of these
much-needed vessels to our navy for the protection of our
seas,” said Sefale Montsi Director at DSCT.
The MMIPV project also plays an important role in creating
skilled new jobs and acting as a catalyst for the development
of regional supply chains. On its own, the MMIPV project is
expected to generate more than one million man-hours of
work during the construction of the three MMIPVs and will
support more than 1 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Furthermore, beyond work on the vessel, DSCT has used
the global reach of the Damen Group to secure new business
for the South African industry. Montsi adds, that this project
has also allowed the yard to increase the impact of its trans-
formation strategy. This holistic strategy has made it part of
business as usual to deliver on ARMSCOR’s requirements and
priorities including its Defence Industrial Participation, Broad
Based Economic Empowerment goals and Enterprise Supplier
Development in the area. BFA
Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE),
now wholly owned by Fortescue Metals
Group, showcased a wide range of
cutting-edge electrification solutions,
all of which will support acceleration of
the off-highway sector in its journey to
decarbonisation at Bauma 2022.
WAE used the event to showcase
its leading advanced battery and energy
storage technology, which was spe-
cifically developed for the rugged use
cases of mining and other off-highway
applications. Following its acquisition by
Fortescue at the start of this year, WAE,
a leader in high performance battery
technology developed originally for glob-
al motorsport and road car programmes,
is becoming a leading supplier to the
off-highway sector, using its expertise to
support Fortescue in its transition to a
global green renewables and resources
company through the decarbonisation of
its worldwide vehicle fleet.
Additionally, WAE is working on a
world first, zero emission Infinity Train,
a regenerating battery electric iron
ore train project which will use gravi-
tational energy to recharge its battery
electric systems without any additional
charging requirements for the return trip
to reload.
In June 2022, Fortescue announced
a partnership with Liebherr, who will be
developing and supplying green mining
haul trucks (using the T264) in which
zero emission power system technolo-
gies, developed by Williams Advanced
Engineering, will be integrated.
Featuring a scalable, modular design
delivering sub-30min pack charge times
for maximum performance, WAE’s
Off-Highway Battery Module boasts la-
ser-welded cell-to-busbar technology for
in service reliability. It also has a robust
alloy frame, which improves durability
and extends life in service, as well as
optimised cell packaging for maximum
energy density.
Unlocking battery performance
through best-in-class software archi-
tecture, WAE’s Battery Management
Unit is designed for pack architectures
of less than 800V. Its advanced state
detection algorithms allow for more
efficient energy usage, while the unit
also reduces equipment downtime by
enabling maximised fast charge rates.
Enabling real-time telematics to
maximise cell performance, WAE’s Cell
Management Unit allows high precision
cell voltage and temperature monitor-
ing. Its innovative flexi interconnects
enables enhanced durability, while the
system’s design also allows manufactur-
ing complexity to be reduced for high
volume applications. With a ruggedised
design developed for deployment in
off-highway vehicle applications, WAE’s
DC-DC Converter is a 600kW 1.5kV–1kV
stepdown converter for high power
loads. Its Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology
delivers exceptional efficiency of 98.5%,
while full power operation takes place at
ambient temperature of 50o
C. BFA
Damen Shipyards Cape Town holds
christening ceremony for MMIPV
Williams Advanced Engineering showcases
variety of electrification solutions

Truck and trailer body building company Serco has delivered
on one of its largest orders in the 40-year history of the
business, building a total of 278 vehicles for Imperial. The
order comprises of 143 trailers and 135 truck bodies.
The refrigerated trailers in the record order were state-
of-the-art Protec Steel Frostliner trailers. The injected panel
technology used in the building of the trailers improves
thermal efficiency by as much as 40% when compared to
alternates, reducing fuel consumption and wear and tear on
the fridge. This also cuts the carbon impact on the environ-
ment and directly improves shelf life and losses from returns
due to poor temperature control.
The trailers are fitted with grain aluminium floors which
have proved to be durable and high wearing while other
features include fully welded aluminium scuffs which create
a durable, waterproof and high strength structure as well as
new door seals made from extended rubber material which
provide an excellent thermal bridge preventing the leakage of
cold air.
The trailers are fitted with BPW disc axles, tuck-away tail
lifts, Thermo King Advancer fridge units, park distance control,
Whiting roller doors and a loadlok cargo strapping system. BFA
Suzuki Auto South Africa is preparing for a strong year-end
sales drive to deliver as many vehicles to awaiting customers as
possible.
The company sold 4 112 new Suzuki vehicles in October,
which were shy of its recent sales records and internal sales
targets but still over 1 000 units more than the fourth-placed
vehicle brand. It also represents sales growth of 59% compared
to October 2021.
“The turmoil at our main import harbour and global
shipping delays have delayed some vehicle deliveries to dealers
and customers,” says Henno Havenga, Manager for Auto Dealer
Sales at Suzuki Auto South Africa.
“There is significant pent-up demand from customers and
dealers, and we will make every effort to catch up in November
and December.”
In October, the top-selling Suzuki model was the Swift,
which was delivered to 1 693 customers. This made it one of
the three most popular passenger vehicles in South Africa.
Other Suzuki models that proved very popular include the
Vitara Brezza (750 units), Celerio (274 units), Ertiga (269 units)
and Baleno (233 units).
The Suzuki dealer network remains the main sales channel,
with 3 066 sales to private customers and businesses. The
fleet sales team added another 1 155 sales to fleet, rental, and
government clients.
Suzuki recently added three new dealers to its network in
Malmesbury, Swellendam and King William’s Town. This brings
its dealer network to 87 dealers and ensures that Suzuki
owners are within a comfortable distance from their nearest
service centre.
The group moved to a new head office and parts distribu-
tion centre in 2020 to meet the growing demand for Suzuki
cars, motorcycles and other lifestyle products. It has since
increased its head count to ensure that its support services
grew in step with the rapid growth in customers.
“We are working around the clock to get customer cars to
dealers. We look forward to the day that the current delays will
be a thing of the past,” says Havenga. BFA
Serco delivers record order
Suzuki plans to finish 2022 on a high
17

By Dries Venter,
Technical Manager,
Bridgestone Southern Africa
Firestone’s FD883 and FS883 truck
and bus radial tyres, formerly
imported, are now wholly man-
ufactured at the Firestone plant
in Brits. These locally manufac-
tured tyres are exported into the
rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, and
so earn foreign exchange and
boost regional trade. This is big
news for Firestone, of course, but
more importantly it’s a move that
will benefit customers.
Firestone began importing
the tyres in 2020 from Europe, and
they proved popular with customers
because of their high quality and great
design. It is standard procedure to
conduct trials on imported products to
ensure that they are fit for South African
conditions which are uniquely challeng-
ing. After trials, Firestone identified and
made design improvements that have
made the tyres better suited for the
local market. Very often vehicles fitted
with these tyres are used both on and
off road, and in even more gruelling
conditions, such as mines and construc-
tion sites.
Bridgestone’s European technical
centre obliged by developing a new
compound for use in the manufacturing
process. The result is a tyre with a higher
resistance to chips and cuts, and thus
a longer life, but still with the original
great design.
Tyres made in South Africa for
South African conditions
Thanks to their local manufacture, the
FS833 and FD833 deliver even better
quality and reliability. Not only does
the new tougher compound resist the
damage caused during transit, the tyres
are also ideal for retreading, leading to
extended tyre life.
Each of these workhorse products
are designed to fulfil a particular role.
The FD833 provides excellent grip for
great traction, with deep and wide tread
blocks designed to keep vehicles on the
road for longer. It’s also self-cleaning to
deliver consistent performance even in
muddy conditions.
The FS833 is designed to get the job
done as it’s made of exceptionally tough
material for long-lasting performance,
while the rib lug pattern provides
steering control and grip.
Together, they make a formidable
team for vehicles with a demanding
job to do. Both the FS833 and FD833
have a load index of 156/150, with
9.00-inch rims.
Alongside enhanced durability,
users of the FS883 and FD883 benefit
from greater fuel efficiency. This is a
result of Firestone’s huge investment in
research and development, both tyres
are designed to have thinner sidewalls,
reducing their weight and thus the fuel
needed to achieve forward motion. With
fuel prices constantly on the rise, this is a
welcomed benefit for the end user.
Fuel efficiency saves costs, but it
also benefits the environment: 87% of a
tyre’s emissions derive from its lifetime
use, not its manufacture. Less fuel, of
course, means a lower carbon footprint.
Like all Firestone products, the FS833
and FD833 are manufactured with the
circular economy in mind. These tyres
need to be replaced less often, and,
like all their truck and bus radials, when
retreaded through Bandag, the tyres
carry a casing confidence pledge which
means that they can be retreaded at
least twice.
In conclusion, these tyres are de-
signed globally and fine-tuned for South
African conditions. BFA
Firestone to manufacture
FD833 and FS833 tyres locally
INDUSTRY NEWS

19
Volvo Trucks South Africa has started
assembly of Euro 5 specification trucks
at its plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Euro 5 variants have been available in
South Africa since 2012, but for the first
time they will now be assembled locally.
“More customers have ambitions to
improve their environmental footprint,
which is driving the uptake of Euro 5 mod-
els locally,” says Eric Parry, Sustainability
Manager at Volvo Trucks SA.
“In general, the Euro 5 engines
have a lower fuel consumption than an
equivalent Euro 3 unit, which means that
even though total costs are roughly the
same because of the need for AdBlue
diesel exhaust fluid on the vehicle, the
CO² emissions are reduced with the
lowering of fuel consumption. There is
also the significant reduction in poison-
ous gases from the exhaust, which in
turn improves the environment around
the vehicle,” adds Parry.
Euro 5 assembly at the plant does not
come at the expense of the production
of the company’s current range, it is
complimentary. Volvo Trucks has initially
started with the assembly of Euro 5
level FH truck-tractors, the company’s
long-haul icon, as this is the model that
customers are asking for. More models
and configurations will be added over
time as fleet owners require them.
“The need for local assembly also
arose to reduce the import duty that
is applied to full imports. This allows
Volvo Trucks the opportunity to offer the
cleaner technology in a more competi-
tive way,” comments Parry.
Certain layout changes were made
to the facility to accommodate AdBlue
filling in trucks, as well as for storage.
Additional floor layout adjustments were
also done to allow for new procedures
like the assembly of AdBlue tanks and
special exhaust systems.
“Operators have also received ad-
vanced training with regards to assembly
of the new features connected to the
Euro 5 specifications. Specialised training
was also provided for road testers and
product auditors to ensure the highest
standards are maintained throughout
the assembly and QA processes. Quality
is the basis of everything we do. From
the way we design, manufacture
and test our trucks, to the services,
parts and people who support them,”
explains Aubrey Rambau, Volvo Trucks
Plant Director.
The Volvo Trucks plant has also
recently installed a new solar power
system to generate renewable energy
for the facility. A total of 440 solar panels
and two solar inverters will generate
243kW of power–approximately 60% of
the energy needed for the plant.
“At Volvo, environmental care is
fundamental to how we do business,
and this project is another step in our
energy efficiency journey. We believe
in sustainable transport solutions. And
we’re confident that our trucks, services
and operations will lead the way there,”
concludes Rambau. BFA
Volvo commences local
assembly of Euro 5 models
INDUSTRY NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS
This year has been monumental for the Daimler Truck Southern
Africa (DTSA) assembly plant in East London, celebrating 60
years of manufacturing excellence on local soil.
From its historic founding in 1962 to today DTSA is rec-
ognised as one of the country’s leading Completely Knocked
Down (CKD) plants. The company unveiled 60 FUSO Canter FE7-
136 special edition models for the local market in celebration of
the occasion.
FUSO Canter FE7-136 flagship
Affectionately known as a “light gallop”, a term that associates
the vehicle’s character with the agility and endurance of a
horse, the Canter has a illustrious history worldwide.
The FUSO Canter FE7-136 is one of the most popular and
top performing models in the FUSO stable, and it is why it is
the first-line flagship model to celebrate the milestone. The
60th
edition range has been embellished with eye-catching
accessories.
On the exterior, these models feature sporty red stripes that
represent and further reinforce the dominance and strength of
the product. Furthermore, the spacious and functional interior
has also been kitted up.
Daimler Truck SA
celebrates 60 years
of manufacturing excellence

21
Seatbelt pads are branded with a red FUSO logo, and the
open-plan floor, which has also been enhanced with branded
floor mats, allows for easy cabin movement.
Cost-effective and dependable
With a capacity of 3908cc and a power output of 100kW and
370Nm, the engine offers excellent low-speed flexibility, quick
acceleration, and exceptional fuel efficiency. Engine access
for service requirements is quick and easy thanks to a forward
tilting cab on all models.
Re-engineered from the wheels up
It is arguably the most forward-thinking light-duty commercial
truck ever, with each vehicle specifically designed for the
small-to-medium business and for those whose livelihood
depends on a reliable, rugged vehicle. In addition, the chassis
cab design allows flexibility for the fitment of different load
body types to suit all applications.
Driver safety
Safety is at the forefront of the cab design, featuring the
Fuso Canter RISE (Realised Impact Safety Evolution) impact
system, where all crash protection aspects are taken into
account. The cab floor has been strengthened, the steering
column is collapsible, and the doors feature a cross-doorframe
protection bar. The dashboard features an impact-absorbing
frame manufactured from shatter-resistant materials.
Fulfilling the evolving needs of customers
“The future of our acclaimed plant lies in our continuous
endeavour to produce ground-breaking trucks and buses.
We can achieve this through our highly skilled and motivated
workforce, and our single vision – to fulfil the evolving business
needs of our customers,” said Michael Dietz, President and CEO
of Daimler Truck Southern Africa.
The Fuso Canter FE7-136 is sold with a bumper-to-bumper
four year/240 000 km warranty and can be configured for
almost any light-duty application. It was designed to maximise
efficiency and protect the bottom line by allowing the owner to
focus on running their business. BFA

INDUSTRY NEWS
Biogas and biomethane are significant
future energy mix players. A biomethane
potential of 45.1 billion cubic metres
(bcm) is estimated for 2030, increasing
to 165bcm in 2050. The 2030 estimate
based on anaerobic digestion (93% of the
total). Thermal gasification will signifi-
cantly contribute to the potential in 2050,
with a 41% share of the total (67bcm).
New Bio-LNG plant in Italy
Iveco, transport and logistics com-
pany GLS Italy and energy suppli-
er Vulcangas have inaugurated a new
Bio-LNG plant in Lodi, Italy. The new
plant will produce biomethane with
agricultural waste from local farms to
supply Vulcangas. The Bio-LNG will fuel
the LNG-powered vehicles in GLS Italy’s
fleet, including Iveco S-Way LNG trucks.
Biomethane is carbon-negative
Biomethane is currently the only mature
technology that provides a solution
with no compromise on performance
and refuelling times compared to
diesel. It enables carbon neutrality and,
depending on the feedstock used in its
production, even a carbon-negative
performance. Its benefits extend beyond
the transport sector as an enabler of
energy independence with the potential
to lower prices and contribute to the
development of rural areas.
By-product benefits
Biomethane also brings economic
advantages. The production process
involves by-products, such as fertiliser
from the digestate (material remaining
after the anaerobic digestion),
which can replace costly chemical
fertilisers, and carbon dioxide, which
is used predominantly in the food
industry.
A mature solution
“We at IVECO believe in biomethane as
a mature solution and its commitment
to the decarbonisation of transport. It is
a tangible demonstration that Bio-LNG
is an operationally and financially viable
solution, available today. We see a best
practice in the energy supply chain with
all players working together to develop
a successful biomethane ecosystem,”
says Giandomenico Fioretti, Iveco’s
Head of Alternative Propulsion Business
Development.
“The energy industry is going
through an unprecedented period
in history. Today Bio-LNG occupies a
strategic position in the transport supply
chain. As a clean fuel that lowers total
CO2
emissions, it is the best option to not
only decarbonise transport, but also free
us from energy dependency,” added
Andrea Bosi, Key Account Manager at
Vulcangas.
Same payload as the diesel version
Iveco’s eDaily offers the same cargo
volume, payload, agility and transform-
ability as the diesel versions. With up
to 140kW and 400Nm available the
performance provided by the e-motor is
equivalent to that of the diesel version,
however instant electric torque makes
the vehicle even more responsive.
Batteries unaffected by
loading volume
The chassis solution allows for a modular
installation of one to three batteries with
no protrusion above the frame, which is
ideal for the installation of superstruc-
tures on the cab and allows for a load
capacity of up to 20m3
on the van.
Up to 50% savings on
maintenance costs
The modular battery installation allows
the operator to align the autonomy
range of the eDaily with the scope of the
mission. Rapid acceleration and a top
speed of 120 km/h offers all the perfor-
mance needed on extra-urban routes.
Performance can also be boosted with a
Hi-Power function. BFA
IVECO joins forces with energy
supply chain stakeholders
IVECO S-Way
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ROAD SIGNS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Enviro Automotive, the importer and distributor of DFSK’s
C-Series battery-electric panel vans and bakkies, has completed
the local testing programme of its EC35 panel van with a
5 200 km open-road trip and one of GridCars’ Senior Project
Maintenance Managers behind the steering wheel.
Gideon Wolvaardt, the Managing Director of Enviro
Automotive, explains that the idea of an open-road trip was
developed in conjunction with Winstone Jordaan, the founder
and Managing Director of GridCars. “Although the EC35 was
developed for last-mile deliveries, we decided to test it on the
open road to tick off all the boxes of our local testing pro-
gramme,” he says.
Battery-electric panel vans are used for last-mile deliveries
and are usually less used on the open road. However, Enviro
Automotive was adamant about ensuring that its battery-elec-
tric delivery vehicles were exposed to different conditions
across the country. This included hot and cold weather, heavy
rain, mountain passes and city driving.
The purpose of this trip was to visit twenty-seven GridCar
DC Fast charging stations en route to Durban, the Western and
Eastern Cape, as part of the company’s annual hardware and
software maintenance programme. The company manages
more than 300 charging stations across South Africa. The trip
started from GridCars’ head office in Roodepoort and took nine
days to complete.
“This was the first all-electric maintenance trip done by
GridCars. While we understand the vehicle was designed for
last-mile deliveries and knowing we were doing a safari, the
vehicle exceeded our expectations. After doing the mainte-
nance activities, it was really convenient to test the charger
with a vehicle. The EC35 drew a crowd wherever it went and
will certainly be a good package for anyone looking to start the
transition to electric,” says Jordaan.
Wolvaardt says that the data collected from this trip is vital
for future product planning, service support and warranty
programmes. “The test data will be shared with DFSK in
China and is used to ensure the optimum performance for
both the EC35 panel van and the EC31 one-tonne bakkie,” he
explained.
Enviro Automotive has been testing the EC35 in local
transport fleets since July. Valuable data about the EC35’s
performance was collated and shared with potential customers,
including big transport operators and entrepreneurs, support-
ing them in making their transition to electric vehicles simple,
accessible and sustainable.
“This trip gives us extra confidence about our DFSK bat-
tery-electric workhorses. The EC35 not only passed its last-mile
delivery tests with flying colours but also impressed us with
efficiencies shown on the open road at a fraction of the cost of
petrol and diesel panel van competitors. Its excellent perfor-
mance, ride comfort, cargo space and power consumption
per 100 km make it the ideal vehicle in the highly competitive
delivery environment,” says Wolvaardt.
The EC35 will be launched in the market in January and
offers a payload of 1 015 kg and a large loading space of 4.8 m³.
The cargo area’s dimensions are 2 530 mm (L) x 1 440 mm (W)
x 1 270 mm (H). The cargo area is accessible via sliding doors on
both sides of the panel van and the tailgate, making loading and
offloading easy.
It features ABS and Electric Power Steering (EPS). It boasts
a selection of modern-day driver comforts, including air-con-
ditioning, a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth
and a touchscreen infotainment system. It also features a
pedestrian warning system that emits a warning sound when
the vehicle cruises below 30 km/h.
The EC35 is equipped with a single synchronous electric
motor that produces 60kW and 200Nm of torque. It features
a 38.7kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. Charging the
battery will cost as little as R56.50 and yield a travel distance
of up to 270 km, which equates to a 25 cents per kilometre
operating cost. With a DC Fast charger, the battery could
be charged from empty to 80 percent capacity in less than
an hour.
“We are excited about the huge interest in our panel van.
As far as we know, this was the first trip of its kind with a CEV
(Commercial Electric Vehicle) in the country. Our takeout
from this trip is that DFSK’s battery-electric vehicles save you
massive amounts of money and have the necessary reliability
and durability that transport operators expect,” concludes
Wolvaardt. BFA
Hitting the road in Enviro Automotive’s
EC35 electric panel van

YOU’RE BUSY
SO WE’LL KEEP
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BUSES
Solaris, a Polish company that is part
of the Spanish CAF Group, has been
offering solo fuel cell buses since 2019
and is expanding on the theme with an
articulated Urbino 18 Hydrogen bus.
Solaris has been serving the
mass-produced hydrogen bus business
since 2019, and the H2 bus market has
seen strong growth since then, with
170 new vehicles added last year. In
total, 310 buses in Europe now draw the
electric energy required for driving from
a fuel cell.
Increased passenger capacity
Solaris has dispensed with the conven-
tional engine compartment in the new
articulated bus. The saved space has
made it possible to increase the vehicle’s
passenger capacity and redesign the
seating layout. This allows a total of 53
seats to be fitted, 20 of which are in the
low-floor area.
Hydrogen tanks are roof-mounted
The fuel cell functions as a miniature
hydrogen power plant. The hydrogen is
converted by the fuel cell into elec-
tricity, which is then transferred to the
drivetrain.
The tanks have a total capacity of
51.2 kg and have been mounted on the
roof, while sensors were installed in
several places to ensure that the tech-
nology is safe. The manufacturer said
that completely refuelling the vehicle
takes about 20 minutes.
Ballard Power Systems Inc is a
developer and manufacturer of proton
exchange membrane fuel cell products.
It supplies the new 100-kilowatt fuel
cell to Solaris. Solaris gives the fuel cell
a service life of 25 000 hours, while
Ballard itself says that 30 000 hours is to
be expected.
Cheap hydrogen is the future
The Solaris CEO, Javier Calleja, said
that far more commitment is required
from European politicians to achieve a
transport transition off fossil fuels. Fixed
targets can be achieved when the cost
gap between renewable hydrogen and
fossil alternatives is reduced or, ideally,
closed.
Real-time tracking and monitoring
With eSConnect, the Solaris
engineers have a digital tool to follow
the vehicle. Thanks to real-time
tracking and monitoring, they can
provide the best possible support
in daily use and generate future
improvements by offering new,
technologically more advanced and
emission-free vehicles.
Future of hydrogen buses
Solaris is confident that the hydrogen
bus business will continue to grow. To
date, a large number of contracts and
options have been signed. The question
is whether the H2 bus segment will
move out of its niche and become a
permanent fixture in the alternative
energy transport field.
Flexible modular construction kit
The Urbino 18 hydrogen can be
type-approved as a class II bus, which
will classify it as intercity transport. Fleet
owners can equate this regular-service
bus to their individual needs because
the Urbino series relies on a modular
construction kit.
Solaris is well represented across
Europe with almost 70 hydrogen buses
with customers in Italy, Germany, the
Netherlands, Sweden and Poland. New
deliveries to customers in Spain, France,
the Czech Republic and Slovakia, among
others, will start soon. BFA
Solaris launches articulated
Urbino 18 Hydrogen bus

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FLEET OWNERSHIP
In the spirit of South Africa’s recent
Transport Month, Coca-Cola Beverages
South Africa (CCBSA) has been working
hand-in-hand with the provincial and
national government to prioritise road
safety for their smart logistics.
Smart truck project
The five-year pilot smart truck project
was initiated to invest in road safety
initiatives and reduce carbon emissions.
The project commenced in 2019 with
the running of a 44-pallet Performance-
Based Standard (PBS) trailer between
Bloemfontein and Upington. The PBS
trailer is 27.9 metres long and can
transport 44 pallets, compared to the
conventional 30-pallet trailer.
Road safety first
“We are a major road user, and to
support our country’s efforts to improve
road safety, we have integrated training
into all our business operations to en-
sure we entrench a responsible mindset
amongst our drivers and operators. This
informs how we conduct ourselves on
the road, and we continuously put safety
first,” said Ndanganeni Adjei, CCBSA
Logistics Manager.
Performance-based standards
“As CCBSA, this pilot project is part of
an ongoing programme of continuously
developing new ways of delivering to our
customers while contributing towards
managing the heavy traffic on South
Africa’s road infrastructure. The pilot
aims to minimise damage, improve safe-
ty and reduce congestion,” said CCBSA
Logistics Director Flora Jika. According
to Jika, this approach uses perfor-
mance-based standards, which specify
the performance required of a heavy
vehicle on particular routes, bearing in
mind both safety and the nature of the
road infrastructure itself.
“Performance-based standards pro-
vide greater leeway for vehicle designers
to come up with innovative ideas. Trucks
and trailers designed in this way are
often called smart trucks,” added Jika.
CCBSA and the Department of
Transport are exploring a partnership to
design, manufacture and operate several
projects to demonstrate the concept of
the performance-based standard. This
could have a positive impact on South
Africa’s logistics industry from multiple
perspectives, especially when it comes
to safety and productivity.
Simulator trucks for training
As part of this partnership, CCBSA has
made two of its state-of-the-art simula-
tor trucks available to the Department
for one day a week to train truck and
bus drivers across the country. CCBSA
uses these simulator trucks to train its
own drivers, including those who will
be driving the new performance-based
standards vehicles.
“CCBSA views safety as a non-nego-
tiable in our business, which is why we
are collaborating with the Department
to test the performance-based standard
vehicles and are making our simulators
available to a wider group than just our
own drivers, and we are very excited by
the potential of this project to redefine
safety and productivity in the road-
freight industry in this country,” said Jika.
Joint duty and responsibility
“Our efforts and innovations are
driven by a recognition that for as long
as we have our fleet of trucks moving
across the country, we carry a joint duty
and responsibility to support the govern-
ment in managing road congestion. We
continuously think of ways to run our
business more efficiently, including how
we get our product to customers safely
and on time,” concluded Adjei. BFA
Coca-Cola initiates
smart truck project
As CCBSA, this pilot project
is part of an ongoing
programme for us to
continuously develop
new ways of delivering
to our customers while
contributing towards
managing the heavy
traffic on South Africa’s
road infrastructure.

FLEET OWNERSHIP
31
A former NGO project manager,
Vallery Horing from the mining town
of Postmasburg in the Northern Cape,
is blazing a trail for women in the male
dominated transport industry after win-
ning a contract from Anglo American’s
Kumba Iron Ore.
Horing started her company, Loading
Techniques, in 2017 as she searched for
a business model that could benefit as
many community members as possible.
Today, the business operates five buses
and employs nearly 30 people – most
from the local community – after being
one of three local businesses to win a
multi-million rand staff transportation
contract at Kolomela.
The five-year contract is part of
Kumba Iron Ore’s efforts to substantially
increase participation of host communi-
ty suppliers in the provision of services
to the mine.
Horing credits much of her success
to the mentorship and funding received
from Anglo American’s enterprise
development arm, Zimele, which
facilitated the loan that allowed her
to buy four 23-seater buses and one
65-seater bus.
“I wanted to start a business that
could uplift people in the community.
After a training business failed because
of a lack of funding, my husband sug-
gested I start a business in the mining
industry. There were many challenges
along the way, but I am so grateful to
Anglo American for creating inclusive
opportunities for women through the
awarding of this contract,” says Horing.
Horing’s business formed part of
Zimele’s supplier development pro-
gramme at Kolomela mine. She went
through a rigorous training, mentorship
and coaching programme to enable her
to access markets and procurement
opportunities both inside and outside of
Anglo American. She also participated in
the Zimele Financial Excellence pro-
gramme, which is presented in partner-
ship with the SA Institute of Chartered
Accountants – Enterprise Development
(SAICA-ED).
The programme is aimed at em-
powering SMMEs in the mining sector
to improve their financial management
systems, run effective business opera-
tions and grow holistically to become
economically sustainable.
Kumba Iron Ore worked closely with
Zimele to identify entrepreneurs and
give them the skills to not only take on
and deliver on large-scale projects, but
to and facilitate access to markets for
these small businesses.
Horing’s story highlighted the power
of collaboration between the mine,
the community and banking partners
to develop local suppliers to create
sustainable livelihoods in these host
communities.
For Horing, the dream is just
beginning. She aims to expand her fleet
to include trucks that work within the
mining operations in the Postmasburg
area, and in so doing create even more
job opportunities in the local communi-
ty. “There’s so much potential to create
a business that really makes a difference
to the people. I believe that by giving
one person an opportunity you impact a
household and ultimately a community,”
she says. BFA
Blazing a trail for women in
transport
There’s so much potential
to create a business that
really makes a difference
to the people. I believe
that by giving one person
an opportunity you
impact a household and
ultimately a community

SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS
The 2022 South African Township CX Report, which surveyed
more than 1 400 township residents, found that in the space of
a year, online purchases grew by a staggering 42%, from 28% in
2021 to 70% this year.
Stephan Eyeson, CEO and co-founder of Survey54, said food
delivery is really driving e-commerce in townships. A World
Wide Worx study revealed SA’s e-commerce sales reached a
tipping point in 2020, growing by 66% from 2018. Similarly,
FNB’s Merchant Services anticipates explosive growth in the
local e-commerce market, saying it will reach more than R400
billion by 2025.
It stands to reason that millennials and the Gen Z generation
are increasingly shopping online. As the report notes, “the
younger the audience, the higher the propensity is for online
purchases”.
Challenges
Township shoppers favour fashion, mobile data and food, and
with Black Friday coming up, it is to be expected that even more
people will be looking for great deals ahead of Christmas. But as
much as e-commerce is on the rise in townships, it also comes
with challenges.
Often courier companies are reluctant to enter areas
identified as crime hotspots, and even if they do, there can be
problems or inefficiencies in geo-location apps that might not
be able to locate specific addresses.
Retailers looking to break into these markets will find that
cash is still king, and there remains a lot of scepticism around
online transactions. For another thing, while telecommunica-
tions companies are turning to WhatsApp to provide payment
alternatives, many residents still don’t have smartphones which
support mobile payments.
Effective delivery
According to a study published in August, “Online shopping
behaviour and service quality perceptions of young people
in South Africa: A COVID-19 perspective”, young shoppers
consider delivery costs, time waiting for a delivery and order
accuracy as the most important factors when selecting an
online store. However, there are ways for township chal-
lenges to be overcome, thanks to substantial technological
advancements.
Click and Collect
With a Click and Collect offering such as those offered by Pargo,
there’s no need to wait for couriers or deal with the uncertainty
of when a delivery will take place, customers can simply collect
from a pickup point when it suits them.
Building trust
Consumers may have saved up for months to make an online
purchase. That should be respected, and they should always
be reassured that their goods are on the way. This can be done
through real-time driver tracking and automating delivery
status changes.
Research the area
If there are crime hotspots, know where they are. This also
applies to areas which most people consider safe.
Free delivery
Free delivery is a massive drawcard. It’s a no-brainer that if your
delivery is free and your competitor’s is not, the customer will
choose you.
Social’s where it’s at
Selling on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram
is big business. It’s affordable and within everyone’s reach,
and with almost everyone now on social media, it represents
the perfect opportunity to reach out to township residents.
It is also worth investigating SellOnSocial by TymeBank. This
customised end-to-end e-commerce tool allows small business-
es to manage the sales journey from order to delivery across
multiple social media platforms.
“Innovative entrepreneurs are smoothing over delivery
issues, and marketers need to start focusing on digital market-
ing within the township, another area that is lagging behind,”
concludes the report. BFA
E-commerce is experiencing
astounding growth in townships

33
SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS
Bidvest International Logistics (BIL), provide a fascinating per-
spective on the state of South Africa’s supply chain and logistics
industry and what is needed to address increasing threats.
Equipment breakdowns, shortages, strikes, and congestion
continue to hamper the country’s ports and add delays to the
supply chain, creating havoc downstream.
Costs and damages incurred run into billions
A study from Juniper Research has found that the total cost of
eCommerce fraud to merchants will exceed $48 billion globally
in 2023, up from just over $41 billion in 2022. The harsh reality
is that attacks can’t be prevented, but organisations can defend
against them, provided they recognise the complexity of digital
crimes and tackle them accordingly.
Ransomware attacks in South Africa doubled
The conflict in Ukraine and the rand’s weakness are exacerbat-
ing the situation, with inflation skyrocketing to the detriment of
consumers. Anti-virus provider Kaspersky’s research shows that
ransomware attacks in South Africa doubled between January
and April 2022 compared to last year. Ransomware has become
the most significant cyber threat, which locks a system until a
ransom is paid for its release.
Transnet cyber-attack
The 2021 cyber-attack on Transnet was especially damaging,
impacting ports, harbours, and pipelines to the point that the
state enterprise was forced to declare force majeure at several
container terminals.
IT infrastructure to be safeguarded
Lesiba Sebola, Director of Information Technology at BIL, says
it’s paramount to safeguard IT infrastructure given how central
it’s become to operations.
“The bottom line is the financial losses incurred. Transnet,
not being able to operate their ports affected us, and obvious-
ly if there are attacks in our own environment that necessi-
tates downtime of infrastructure. The most prevalent form of
attack is phishing, which seeks to get users’ information,” says
Sebola.
“You need a multifaceted approach to protect your informa-
tion. We have perimeter security, which involves firewalls. And
with operating systems, there’s always updates you need to do,
whether it’s an operating system update or the like to eliminate
identified vulnerabilities,” adds Sebola.
“Your end-point security is also important to protect the
confidentiality of your company information in case of stolen
end-point devices. Sometimes we don’t realise the extent
of the damage that can be incurred during a cyber-attack,”
comments Sebola.
User awareness
However, Sebola stresses the most critical aspect of cyber
security is user awareness.
“If your users are unaware, it’s like taking a key to your
house and throwing it over the security fence. At BIL, we have
an online program where staff can learn about security and the
different types of attacks, email impersonations, for example.
If they spot an email that looks a bit suspicious, we’ve got a
special process triggering an alert,” says Sebola.
An incident response plan
“You need a tailormade incident response plan to establish
who needs to be involved from the legal, operations and the
communications side because there are various aspects that
need to be addressed,” concludes Sebola. BFA
SA’s logistics industry is
battling a war on many fronts
Threat Detections in Africa
Interpol’s partner, Trend Micro, recorded millions of
threat detections in Africa from January 2020 to February
2021.
Email: 679 million, files: 8.2 million, web: 14.3 million
detections
More specifically, South Africa had 230 million threat
detections in total.

The farm Spitskop in the Heidelberg
district in the Western Cape represents
pure Massey Ferguson tradition and
achievement. Hendrik-Pieter and Hanro
Stiglingh are the fourth generation
on the farm, having grown up with
the brand.
Hendrik-Pieter learned to drive a MF
1105 while still in primary school. He
and Hanro used the tractors to convey
grain to the silos and till the soil for land
preparation for planting. “My brother
especially loved the tractors. When
we were growing up and were still at
boarding school we could come home
to the farm on weekends and during
harvest time. I still remember Hanro had
put a picture of himself in the licence
disc holder of the MF 290 that my father
owned. On Friday nights he went to bed
with his overalls on so he could be ready
to bring in the grain early on Saturday.”
Their father Hendrik-Pieter (Snr.) was
convinced it was his personal responsi-
bility to drive the MF 36 windrow which
allowed him to master the contours
on the farm with ease when swathing
wheat. He has preferred the 14-foot
belt-driven flat windrow throughout the
years because it was narrow enough to
handle the contours with ease.
Just like Massey Ferguson itself,
farming does not stagnate but rather ad-
vances with new technologies constant-
ly. The brothers agree that MF’s good
fuel consumption and innovations are
an ideal combination to support their
farming operation in the Western Cape.
Wheat, barley, canola, oats and alfal-
fa are farmed at Spitskop with Merino
sheep for livestock. Hendrik-Pieter is
responsible for the animals and Hanro
for the grain production. Hanro says
the farming conditions are sometimes
difficult due to little rain that they get. It
is therefore important to plan in advance
so that the tractors and implements are
utilised optimally.
The MF 8737 S and MF 7724 S
tractors are particularly well suited due
to their precision technology, power and
economical fuel consumption needed
for the farm. The MF 8737 uses about
20 litres per hour to pull a 12m no-till,
and 42 tine seed drill, which it does with
ease. The MF 7724 uses about 16 litres
per hour and shows its worth with a
7.4m planter. This particular tractor has
many additional uses such as spraying
once the planting is done.
A big boost for the farm going
forward is the cost-savings in farming
operations by adopting the latest
innovations for their tractors. Both
of their high horsepower MF tractors
are equipped with ISOBUS technology
FLEET OWNERSHIP
Stiglingh family becomes one
of the oldest customers of
Massey Ferguson in South Africa

35
that allows for variable rate application
for fertiliser spreading. The MF 8737
also has a Trimble system installed for
accurate driving and planting.
“The technology is excellent. MAP
(mono-ammonium phosphate) has
been applied to the soil by means of the
tractor’s satellite system in accordance
with our harvest report. This determined
the soil potential and where most of the
fertiliser was needed to improve the
soil conditions and save us money,” says
Hendrik-Pieter.
Another recent purchase for Spitskop
was a MF 9335 self-propelled sprayer for
the canola due to its ground clearance.
“The canola stands very high, and the
sprayer easily runs over the top without
knocking the flowers off. It is also very
light on fuel,” highlights Hendrik-Pieter.
The Stiglingh brothers walk the
technology journey together with
local dealer Van Breda Agri from the
Caledon branch, which serves the entire
Heidelberg, Overberg and part of the
Southern Cape district. Van Breda Agri
understands agriculture in the area and
knows the farmers personally.
Branch Manager Hennie de Wet says
that, due to the rising cost of fertiliser
and diesel, it is very important to obtain
the best possible performance from
any piece of capital equipment. “It is
about efficiency and quality of work at
the most economical speed and the
relationship between the farmer and
dealer is equally important. We must
be able to trust each other to make the
right farming decisions together,” says
de Wet.
Hennie explains that total cost of
ownership must be measured over the
lifespan of the tractor as a cost per hour
or per hectare, taken against the initial
capital outlay. “The purpose of such a
careful calculation is to show the farmer
what the productivity of the tractor is
and how it changes over time, so he
can make an informed decision about
upgrading or expanding his fleet,” adds
de Wet. BFA
Watch a video about
the Stiglingh brothers’
Spitskop farm

FLEET MANAGEMENT
As the mining industry has progressed,
become more sophisticated, and more
reliant on machinery, the need for
precise control of moveable assets has
increased drastically.
Ctrack have a long history of man-
aging movable assets and their locally
built hardware has proven to be ideal
for harsh mining conditions, along with a
variety of bespoke software solutions.
“The mining industry is a major
contributor to the country’s GDP and a
massive job creator. Ctrack understands
the importance of this industry and
pride ourselves in being able to deliver
tailor-made solutions that help this
industry remain profitable, compliant,
and efficient,” says Hein Jordt, Chief
Executive Officer of Ctrack Africa.
Mining operations rely on a wide
variety of vehicles and the operation of
these vehicles is strictly regulated with
specific licenses required for each type
of vehicle as well as for vehicles with
various load-carrying capabilities.
Drivers are required to complete
specific training on each class of vehicle
before being licensed. Each licence
needs to be renewed on an annual basis,
and the renewal process includes a
training refresher session. In addition, if
an operator does not operate that class
of machinery for a period of 180 days,
their licence expires and they need to
attend a training session to ensure that
they are current, before that licence is
reinstated.
These complex licensing require-
ments mean that driver management
with a large team of operators across a
wide variety of machinery is an extreme-
ly complex task.
Ctrack have developed a system
where drivers are able to use the same
ID card that they do for functions
like access control to manage vehicle
operation. The ID card contains informa-
tion on all the vehicles that an operator
is licensed to operate and needs to be
swiped before a vehicle can be started.
When the driver is trained and licensed
for any additional classes of vehicles, it is
automatically added to their profile, by
means of the same access card.
This system ensures that fleet
managers know exactly who is driving
which vehicle and when and compiles
a digital record of all operations. Most
importantly it ensures that only licensed
drivers are operating the class of
vehicles for which they are licensed. The
system also eliminates one driver being
allocated to more than one vehicle at
a time.
Ctrack have made provision for
extensive licensing categories and only
drivers who are correctly licensed and
with a valid license will be able to start
and operate that particular machinery.
Daily reports will alert the fleet man-
ager of licences that are nearing their
expiry date, which assists with booking
of necessary training and licence renew-
als and minimises driver downtime.
Ctrack’s SMILE technology, which is a
proprietary scripting language, allows for
the development of very specific soft-
ware solutions with an endless number
of options and in the mining industry
it allows for the creation of completely
bespoke solutions.
Mining smartly with
Ctrack’s bespoke solutions

37
Dust management is an important
factor in a successful and compliant
mining operation. Specially designed
bowsers are utilised to spray a water and
glue combination on a variety of sur-
faces. However each of these surfaces
requires a different mixture ratio and
spray pattern and therefore centimetre
precise control is needed as the bowser
moves from one surface to the next.
Using SMILE technology and precise
GPS mapping Ctrack has been able
to completely automate this process,
which allows the driver to simply follow
the prescribed route with the software
controlled spraying equipment adjusting
automatically according to predeter-
mined parameters.
Another example of these specialised
operations is where large bulldozers have
to move and manoeuvre coal towards
‘coal valves’, through which this raw
material gets placed on a conveyor belt.
Due to the limited visibility from within
these vehicles and the fact that they are
moving around heaps of coal, steering
safely and efficiently can be rather com-
plicated. By implementing and utilising
precise geo zones, the driver is assisted
via a series of warning lights as they get
closer to the depositing location, which
assists them in carefully completing the
operation without incident.
Furthermore, geo zones allow
for easy management of speed and
stop street violations as well as the
monitoring of vehicles being stopped in
unauthorised locations. The information
gained is passed on to drivers as part of
their regular training regime.
Ctrack’s fleet management system is
also able to seamlessly integrate with a
variety of vehicles through the vehicles
CAN bus or other inputs, allowing
operators and fleet managers to get a
clear picture of exactly how the vehicle
is used, with all the relevant information
displayed on one easy to use platform.
This includes monitoring of engine per-
formance, fuel consumption, hours used
as well as any hardware installed such as
breathalysers or cameras. Functionality
examples include on board weighing,
production and cycle counts, which are
invaluable in managing factors such as
overloading and half loads and in that
manner ensuring that assets are used as
efficiently as possible.
Mining operations often occur on
large sites in remote areas making the
ability to have eyes on a large fleet of
vehicles vital to an efficient operation.
Ctrack offer a variety of hardware that
allows for effective tracking of any
movable assets, from large dump trucks
to non-powered equipment like trailers.
Managing a large fleet in a dynamic
environment such as a mine requires
specialised fleet management expertise.
Ctrack’s Bureau service gives these
clients access to highly trained fleet
managers, who monitor all data 24/7
allowing them to proactively assist in
managing these sophisticated oper-
ations and to tailor solutions to each
specific operation as and when the need
arises.
“The use of Ctrack’s fleet
management system has been proven
to ensure control of costs relating to
fuel, productivity, as well as improving
the way in which vehicles are used
which ensures compliance, increases
productivity and reduces accidents,
all of which are critical in running
a successful mining operation,”
concludes Jordt. BFA

Business Fleet Africa November 2022.pdf

Business Fleet Africa November 2022.pdf

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