UD TRUCKS

Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment closes mega deal with Gulf Ready Mix

Company to provide eight units UD Trucks’ Quester CGE420-8x4 equipped with 12-cbm Transit Mixers

Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment, part of Abu Dhabi’s leading conglomerate–the Al Masaood Group, has recently sealed a mega contract with Gulf Ready Mix (GRM) to provide the UAEbased ready-mix company with eight units of UD Trucks’ Quester CGE 420 – 8X4 equipped with concrete mixer with a capacity of 12 cbm.

Quester is the first in a new generation of UD Trucks specifically developed for the world of heavy-duty transportation. It is designed based on the Japanese quality heritage with insights from the local markets.

The agreement is a significant milestone for Al Masaood and UD Trucks, as it formally marks their strong entry into the booming local construction segment. It is also the first deal by UD Trucks through its Abu Dhabi dealer Al Masaood that involves one of the toughest superstructures in construction field.

Provision of holistic solutions

As a part of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment’s holistic solution, the division’s sales team conducted detailed studies into GRM’s technical & commercial aspects in order to provide them with the Quester units that will fully support their needs and requirements.

Additionally, the division’s aftersales team has extended support to the company through training and scheduling of consistent maintenance checks for the delivered Quester units. The training covered the proper care of the units to maintain their optimal condition and performance and the use of telematics system, which allows users to keep an eye on the fleet through easy monitoring and tracking of the vehicles.

Furthermore, Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment’s spare parts department was on hand to guarantee and secure the availability of parts, whenever and wherever they are required. Al Masaood’s post-sales and related services are renowned in the industry and are delivered in line with its commitment to enhanced customer experience and satisfaction, a press statement indicated.

“The deal reflects the local market’s trust in Al Masaood’s ability to deliver high-performing products and comprehensive solutions according to global standards,” affirmed Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment Division.

Going the extra mile

“It confirms our commitment at Al Masaood, together with our partners at UD Trucks, to support customers in ‘Going the Extra Mile’ as we always promise,” he added.

“Since the introduction of the New Quester reaching to 46 Ton GVW on 8X4 chassis back in 2016, we have been able to penetrate new segments that were previously only dominated by European manufacturers,” asserted Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa.

“The Middle East conditions are tough and very demanding with various rugged terrains and high temperatures and payloads. Consequently, before the launch of these models, we tested them in real conditions for over a year in Qatar to ensure the new trucks meet the needs of our customers,” he added.

UAE and Qatar Drivers announced winners in UD Trucks’ 2020 Extra Mile Challenge

Five hundred participants from nine countries across the globe took part in the challenge. UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge aims to promote the safest and most fuel-efficient of drivers.

UD Trucks has recently announced that two drivers from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are among the ten winners of the Truck brand’s global 2020 Extra Mile Challenge. The winners of the individual market driving competitions were celebrated in a virtual ceremony to honour and officially crown the Ultimate Drivers.

The UD Extra Mile Challenge started in 2015 and is a global driver competition that simulates a day in a truck driver’s life. The challenge tests pre-inspection and driving techniques including fuel efficiency, safe driving and parking skills. The local markets usually hold the qualification rounds and the winners travel to take part in the Global Final held at the UD Experience Centre in the headquarters in Japan.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all local market winners were chosen as Ultimate Drivers, a worthy designation considering these drivers kept trucks moving despite the pandemic, continuing to deliver the goods and necessities that we all depend on.

Ultimate Driver Challenge

In Abu Dhabi, UD Trucks’ partner Al Masaood took part in the challenge to find the ultimate driver. Around 40 UD Trucks drivers from different industries including construction and waste management were invited to participate in the market’s final. The winner was Khalid Aboud from Western Bainoona Group, one of the leading construction and transportation companies in the UAE.

In Qatar, dealer Jaidah Heavy Equipment hosted its Extra Mile Challenge with 35 drivers from various sectors taking part. The winner was Sameer Shah from leading waste management and environmental services company, Power Waste Management.

The challenge consisted of a serious of tests, with the first being a pre-inspection exam, followed by a series of parking tests including Diminishing line, Forward side move, and the Reverse side move tests manoeuvrability skills and emphasise the importance of pre-inspection to avoid downtime. Lastly, a theory test was conducted to examine the drivers’ safety, fuel efficiency and technical knowledge.

Vital collaboration

Efficient, skilled drivers, an asset

While the pandemic has also fuelled the growth of e-commerce, the logistics industry remains highly competitive, making efficient drivers an essential asset for trucking companies. The ability of the driver to maximise fuel efficiency not only contributes to the bottom line but helps reduce emissions and environmental impacts. The Extra Mile Challenge is a way to promote and recognise the safest and most fuel-efficient drivers on our roads today.

The winners were selected among 500 drivers, who competed in qualifying rounds held across nine countries - Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. Each winner was awarded an ‘Ultimate Driver’ prize box and two virtual airline tickets to Japan, which will be converted to actual tickets once the pandemic subsides and standard international travel resumes.

“Every year we see a rise in the number of participants. In this latest edition we had a combined total of over 50 drivers taking part in the events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi and we look forward to welcoming many more in the future,” commented Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa. “Since its establishment in 1998, GRM has been deploying the latest production technology in line with the highest quality standards. This collaboration is vital to our goal to expand our presence in the region as one of the fastest-growing providers of ready-mix concrete,” observed Eng. Ahmed El Hadidy, General Manager, GRM.

Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment Division provides sales and after sales for an extensive range of franchises. The Division is the sole distributor in Abu Dhabi for UD-Trucks, Renault Trucks and Unicarriers Forklifts, and in the UAE for Oshkosh Fire Trucks, together with other well-known brands of heavy equipment and ancillary products.

UD Trucks is a transport solution provider expert in fuel efficiency and uptime, offering a range of medium and heavy-duty trucks, and special vehicles. As one of the leading Japanese truck brands, UD Trucks was established in Japan in 1935, and in 2007 became part of the Volvo Group.