Future Trucking & Logistics October

October 2016

Vol. 06. No. 04

SPECIAL FEATURE Fuels in the spotlight

TRUCKX 2016

Delivering the goods!

MAN on the move

Truck maker opens new frontiers for data solutions

IMPROVED DRIVING PERFORMANCE Boost fleet efficiency with predictive real-time driving advice that empowers employees to improve driving behaviour.

With petrol costs shooting through the roof, the good news is that companies can improve their fuel consumption with OptiDrive 360 from TomTom Telematics. The next generation of WEBFLEET OptiDrive now includes predictive real-time driving advice. Pre-trip, OptiDrive 360 provides motorists with best practice advice on how to drive more safely and fuel efficiently.

Direct feedback and driving advice is offered in real-time during the trip to actively coach the driver. The system uses vehicle and map data to advise drivers when to take their foot off the accelerator or shift gear and what their optimum speed should be. After the trip a snapshot analysis is available to review the trip statistics. All information is displayed via the driver terminal.

OptiDrive 360 scores drivers based on a total of eight performance indicators - speeding, driving events, idling, fuel consumption, green speed, coasting (where you release the accelerator pedal in gear), gear shifting and constant speed - which can be used as the basis for performance reviews, training and driver benchmarking.

WEBFLEET provides managers with dashboards that allow them to highlight trends in driving behaviour. A series of in-depth reports then enables them to drill deeper for greater analysis and to compare the whole fleet.

BENEFITS OF OPTIDRIVE 360 • Reduced costs Can help to reduce fuel, maintenance and insurance costs, lowering the total vehicle ownership costs.

• Increased sustainability Can contribute towards proving your environmental responsibility by demonstrating your effort to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

• With increased driver safety in mind Real-time feedback and advice on safer driving contributes towards fewer accidents and maintenance downtime.

• More relaxed drivers With a better driving style drivers will arrive at the customer relaxed and ready to work.

HOW OPTIDRIVE 360 WORKS OptiDrive 360 helps drivers adopt a responsible driving style. It provides valuable insights to both the fleet manager and the driver — delivering direct feedback to drivers before, during and after their trip. Responsible driving helps you to lower fuel, maintenance and insurance premiums, thus helping to reduce the total costs of vehicle ownership for your business.

DRIVING PERFORMANCE INSIGHTS OptiDrive 360 actively provides real-time feedback and advice to improve driving performance. Fleet managers and drivers get tailored driving insights on up to eight OptiDrive performance indicators.

SPEEDING Information about what the speed limit is, and if drivers are driving within it.

DRIVING EVENTS Reports on harsh steering and sudden breaking.

IDLING Information on idling time and associated fuel waste.

FUEL Real-time and average fuel consumption.

CONSTANT SPEED Reports on speed fluctuations in driving performance.

COASTING (WHERE YOU RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN GEAR) Drivers can be advised to release the accelerator when approaching a coasting zone.

GREEN SPEED Get an advised speed, based on fuel efficiency and the speed limit.

GEAR SHIFT Advice on how appropriate gear changing can optimise vehicle efficiency.

ABOUT TOMTOM TELEMATICS TomTom Telematics is a Business Unit of TomTom dedicated to fleet management, vehicle telematics and connected car services. WEBFLEET is a Software-as-a-Service solution, used by small to large businesses to improve vehicle performance, save fuel, support drivers and increase overall fleet efficiency.

The company services drivers in more than 60 countries, giving them the industry’s strongest local support network and widest range of sector-specific third party applications and integrations. More than 40 000 customers benefit every day from the high standards of confidentiality, integrity and availability of its ISO 27001:2013 certified service, re-audited in November 2015.

COMPANY: TomTom Telematics TWITTER: @TomTomWEBFLEET VISIT: business.tomtom.com/en_za/

Contents

Editor’s Note

COVER STORY 14

New frontiers VW Truck & Bus launches a MAN-developed, cloud-based vehicle management system aimed at significantly changing the transport industry

MD INTERVIEW 12

Markus Geyer It’s been three months since he took the helm at MAN Truck & Bus South Africa. What plans does Markus Geyer have for the company? Ryan de Smidt investigates

TRUCKX 2016 20

Delivering the goods!

TruckX 2016, South Africa’s premier independent trucking conference and expo, shows its worth!

NEW MODELS 30

FUSO’s FJ 16-230 powers in

MILLION KILOMETRE CLUB 32

A 1999 Scania 144G 460 with more than 4,5-million kilometres on the clock!

INSURANCE 33

The true costs of hidden risks

FUELS & LUBRICANTS 37

Special focus on the industry

FINANCE 48 How to beat the credit crunch

UPDATES 6 New products 8 News 34 Truck of the future 50 People moving up

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Production

Richard Lendrum Wynter Murdoch Mabel Ramafoko

Editor Ryan de Smidt ryan@thefuture.co.za Sub-editor

Reuben van Niekerk reuben@thefuture.co.za

Design & Layout Heinz Bawa heinz@thefuture.co.za Advertising Enver Lawangi enver@thefuture.co.za

Cell: 083 300 6003

Fuelling the future I

’m pleased to announce that, from this edition, Future Trucking & Logistics will be published monthly.

In addition, the magazine will highlight a number of exciting, new, regular features.

First of those is our special, 12-page focus on fuels and lubricants which, in coming months, will be swelled by a host of other special-focus topics of high relevance to the transport industry. There are also a host of other new compelling features – and a change of masthead design, too!

The fresh approach comes on the back of one of the most successful conferences and expos Future Trucking’s publishing house, The Future Group, has organised – the Ctrack and Standard Bank sponsored TruckX 2016, which was held in August at the Sandton Convention Centre.

You can read about the event on P20 – and more good news is that next year’s conference and expo, scheduled to take place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in July, promises to be even bigger and better!

Yet, while much has changed regarding the magazine, much remains the same. In that respect, Future Trucking & Logistics continues to strive to bring you news and views you can use – only now you’ll be receiving the information more frequently.

Ryan de Smidt Editor

Future Trucking & Logistics is published bi-monthly by: Future Publishing (Pty) Ltd 247 Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg.

P O Box 3355 Rivonia 2128 011 327 6023 © Copyright. All copyright for material appearing in this magazine belongs to Future Trucking & Logistics. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information given to readers, neither the editor, proprietors, nor the publishers, can accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions, or any effect arising therefrom.

Follow us on Twitter at @FutureTrucking: www.twitter.com/futuretrucking

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Oiling up!

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offers a number of advantages to vehicles fitted with technology such as diesel particulate filters, oxidation catalysts, two-stage turbochargers, SCR catalysts or a combination of the systems.

Fuchs has unveiled its latest commercial lubricant, Fuchs Titan Cargo SAE 15W40. The oil has been specially designed for use in diesel-powered vans and trucks, and is said to combine stateof-the-art additive technology with a new base matrix that has high oxidation stability.

He says tests have shown that Titan Cargo produces low sulphated ash levels and low content levels of phosphorus and sulphur.

“Furthermore, it has the highest neutralisation potential (TBN) in its class, offering durable protection against aggressive acids and corrosion during the entire oil drain interval. The reduced content of heavy metals also minimises contaminant emissions,” he says.

According to John Anderson, Automotive and OEM Manager at Fuchs Lubricants South Africa, the product

S

SHELL

hell is looking to strengthen its position as major supplier of heavy duty diesel engine oil (HDDEO) by introducing a new range of Rimula branded products. The range comprises of fully-synthetic oils that feature Shell’s unique Dynamic Protection Plus Technology.

According to Anton Niemand, Manager for Commercial Lubricant Sales at Shell, Rimula R6 LM 10W-40 carries a CJ-4 grading that exceeds specifications identified by OEMs such as ACEA, MAN and Mercedes-Benz for engine

wear and cleanliness, ensuring extended drain intervals and lower emissions. He claims the oil offers up to 53% better protection against wear and deposits while reducing oil consumption by as much as 45%. “The oil’s low SAPs formulation also significantly reduces downtime from clogging of diesel particulate filters by ash,” he says.

CALTEX

C

hevron South Africa has announced the launch of its latest oil for diesel engines – Caltex Delo 400 MGX SAE 15W-40. The oil, produced at the brand’s manufacturing plant in Durban, is said to have been designed to meet local market requirements.

It can be used in a range of diesel engines and has been developed to help reduce exhaust emissions. Delo spokesman Leonard Badal says the product offers excellent wear protection and sludge control and helps to reduce oil consumption.

“The improved formulation benefits new and older diesel engines, thereby helping customers to utilise just one heavy duty engine oil that operates efficiently in both high- and low-sulphur fuel environments,” he says.

6

Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

Throwing light

R

ing Automotive, a pioneer of LED inspection lighting for garages and workshops, has introduced a robust but stylish under-bonnet lamp designed for use in a range of vehicles, including cars, light commercial vehicles and 4x4s.

Three LEDs provide an output of 1 000 lumens, and a long operating time allows full work-day usage. The head is adjustable so that light can be shone into the engine bay exactly where it is required.

Colour balanced to exude a bright, white light, the lamp is manufactured from sturdy polycarbonate and aluminium. It is powered by a rechargeable 3,7-volt 10400mAh Li-ion battery that incorporates an illuminated status indicator and an AC mains adaptor.

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NEWS >>

Van Zyl takes reins in Saudi Arabia One of South Africa’s key transport industry leaders, Kobus van Zyl, has resigned from Mercedes-Benz South Africa to pursue a new career with the company in Saudi Arabia.

He has been appointed general manager of National Automotive Industries, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Trucks and EA Juffali & Brothers. The Juffali Group is Mercedes-Benz’s appointed general distributor in Saudi Arabia. Van Zyl will be responsible there for Mercedes-Benz trucks, vans, buses and special trucks as well as for Western

Star and Freightliner products. He will be replaced in South Africa by Jasper Hafkamp, former managing director of MercedesBenz’s Netherlands truck division. Arno van der Merwe, CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director: Manufacturing says: “We wish Kobus well in all his future endeavours. We are confident the Juffali Group is gaining a valuable team member and we look forward to welcoming Jasper to the management team at MBSA.” Hafkamp’s appointment is effective from December 1.

Kobus van Zyl

Jasper Hafkamp

Freightliner unveils new Cascadia Freightliner has unveiled its new Cascadia, billed as the most advanced truck the company has produced.

Designed to reduce the Real Cost of Ownership (RCO), the new model is said to be more fuel efficient than its predecessor, also offering greater connectivity, safety and uptime performance while introducing a premium driver experience as a powerful customer tool.

In developing the truck, Freightliner leveraged the global expertise of parent company Daimler AG and took into consideration feedback from customers, dealers and service technicians. The primary goal was to achieve significant fuel savings.

“Every element of the vehicle was examined and developed with an RCO-centric approach,” says Freightliner spokesman Richard Howard.

“The original Cascadia set unprecedented standards for aerodynamic, lightweight and maintenance-reducing features and its successor, the Cascadia Evolution, unleashed powerful fuel-efficiency enhancements.

Now every aspect of the new model has been re-imagined and raised to even greater levels.”

The truck is equipped with a choice of DD13 or DD15 engines coupled with DT12 automated manual transmission, intelligent powertrain management and corresponding Detroit steer and rear tandem axles. Intelligent powertrain management – IPM4 – makes use of GPS-based technology to anticipate upcoming road terrain and maximise the engine’s ability to utilise fuel most effectively.

“We are very proud of the new Cascadia,” says Howard. “It is the most advanced truck yet produced by Freightliner.”

Vito wins top Euro award Mercedes-Benz’s Vito has won Germany’s Commercial Vehicle Prize for vehicles weighing less than three tons. The award was presented last month at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hanover following judging by a 15-member jury of tradespeople, who took into consideration driving dynamics and

8

Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

economic efficiency among other factors.

“Tradespeople know precisely what’s important in a good van”, says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “That’s why we are especially delighted that an expert judging panel has chosen to honour the Mercedes-Benz Vito.”

Medical delivery from Serco Serco has delivered eight new truck bodies to Compass Medical Waste Services, adding to the six manufactured for the company last year. In building the new bodies, Serco prioritised high environmental standards. Three of the larger units include roof-mounted solar panels to power tail lifts – eliminating the need to idle the truck during collections – as well as to power cameras and tracking systems. Other features include load restraining rails, straps, a cargo net for containers and storage bins, a trolley fitted to the interior door, a spillage kit box for chemicals and cleaning equipment, and a Hazchem document holder.

Making the switch Nomad Africa Adventure Tours has bought 25 Hino 500-Series 1626 trucks to replace retired models in its fleet of 47 vehicles. The consignment represents the first Hinos to be bought by the company, which made the decision following detailed research and positive feedback from tour operators of similar trucks. “The most important requirements of a truck in the adventure tours business are reliability and durability, backed up by good fuel consumption and excellent after-sales support. We believe that this is what we are getting with the new Hino trucks,” says Alex Rutherford, managing director of Nomad.

The company operates a complex network of tours throughout Ready for the road… the first of 25 new Hinos fitted sub-Saharan Africa, all of which run to tight timetables. The fleet is with its Nomad Africa Adventure Tours body kit expected to cover more than three-million kilometres this year, made up of about 850 tours. Hino Parow supplied the new trucks and will handle major services as well as coordinating back-up support. According to Rutherford, Nomad trucks typically run for five to eight years and are replaced when maintenance costs start to rise, usually after covering more than 800 000km.

Good year for Hino, says Trautmann Despite South Africa’s tough economic climate, Hino SA is having a good year in terms of sales, says the brand’s vicepresident, Ernie Trautmann.

“Hino’s overall market share currently stands at about 13,5% of the total truck and bus market and we are confident of improving our position in the run up to the end of the year.

Our target is 14,6%” he says.

Trautmann confirmed his team’s commitment to making Hino the No 1 truck brand in South Africa by 2020. The strategy is being driven by Hino’s international total support programme, which aims to provide Hino SA customers with quality products and total support. “We know the going is tough for the truck industry in South Africa, but we are confident that our quality products and Hino Total Support will continue to further improve the customer experience so we can reach our long term goals such as Vision 2020,” Trautmann says.

World’s fastest truck Volvo’s custom-built truck, the Iron Knight, has broken world speed records for standingstarts over 500 and 1 000 metres.

Driven by Swedish race ace Boije Ovebrink, the truck attained a time of 21,29 seconds for the 1 000-metre sprint – clocking an average speed of 169km/h. In addition, Ovebrink beat the corresponding record for the 500-metre distance, stopping the clock at 13,71 seconds for an average speed of 131,29km/h. The record runs were carried out at a track in Sweden.

“This feat shows that our I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission has enormous potential. The fact that the world record-breaker uses a similar gearbox to that found in our series-built FH trucks is something that we’re really proud of,” says Claes Nilsson, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks.

The Iron Knight’s mid-mounted modified Volvo D13 engine makes use of fourturbochargers with water-cooled intercoolers and produces almost 1 800kW of power and 6 000Nm of torque.

“Specialists from several different Volvo Trucks departments worked closely together to develop a truck that offers unsurpassed performance. The fact that we succeeded in securing not just one record but two is absolutely amazing,” says Olof Johansson, a technician at Volvo Trucks.

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

9

NEWS >>

Women in the driving seat Isuzu Truck South Africa (ITSA) has embarked on a mission to swell the ranks of women in South Africa’s commercial transport industry. The company recently joined forces with the Trading Transport Academy (TTA) and the Training, Education and Transport Authority (TETA) to teach females the business of trucking while studying for a national certificate in professional driving.

Kas Govender, Human Resources Manager of ITSA, says five women are currently undergoing tuition. “Six months into the course, the programme has begun to yield results.

The trainees are armed with extensive knowledge of not just the art of driving, but also expertise that relates to the logistics of the industry.”

DPD Laser: Putting customers first Express parcels company, DPD Laser, has rolled out an advanced mobile technology platform that offers customers unprecedented real-time visibility and control of their deliveries.

The rollout is a key part of DPD Laser’s strategy to offer market leading delivery services for both business-tobusiness (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) clients.

“The e-commerce market in South Africa is set for massive growth but has been poorly served by delivery companies,” says Iain Johnson, CEO of DPD Laser. “Our technology development provides our customers – and their customers – a high-quality service which finally gives them the level of control they’ve wanted over their deliveries”.

Johnson says the company’s new Follow My Parcel platform alerts customers to their expected delivery time and confirms their delivery address, both of which can be changed by the recipient at any point during the delivery period.

“It also provides details of the specific driver and delivery vehicle, a useful feature in a security conscious environment. The platform then alerts the recipient by SMS when their delivery is next en-route and the recipient can track the driver on a live map.”

DPD Laser says the result is a more convenient and personalised delivery experience which has already improved first time delivery success rates and resulted in significantly less customer frustration.

10 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

The women attend courses at the TTA, which is led by Nicola Scott, whose vision has always been to up-skill females in the trucking industry. The course is funded by Isuzu Trucks.

Kas Govender “This project has been a resounding success and we look forward to the women graduating in February next year. The course aims to change perceptions and break down barriers that stop women in believing that they are worthy of contributing to society in a way men can,” says Govender.

Delivery vans of the future?

Mercedes-Benz Vans is developing a revolutionary van prototype designed for an urban environment. As an integrated system, the vehicle merges a number of innovative technologies associated with last-mile delivery operations. “The Vision Van sets the standard for performance requirements and solutions for future generations of vans,” says a statement released by the company. According to Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, the model has been developed as part of the brand’s adVANce strategic initiative which will see it transform from manufacturer of vehicles into a supplier of holistic system solutions.

“The company is underscoring the strategy with the Vision Van as a visible manifestation of its innovative strength. The vehicle boasts an unprecedented level of connectivity of information and technologies. It is the first van worldwide to serve as an integrated concept for a completely digitally connected process chain, from the goods distribution depot to the consignee,” he says.

The van features a fully automated cargo space, integrated drones for autonomous air deliveries and state-of-the-art joystick control. Powered by a 75kW electric drive system with a range of up to 270 km, deliveries can be made emission-free to inner-city zones where the introduction of bans on vehicles with internal combustion engines is planned.

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INTERVIEW >>

The new man behind MAN Truck & Bus SA Markus Geyer recently took the helm of MAN’s South African operations. Ryan de Smidt asks him about his plans for the company’s future

M

arkus Geyer is well acquainted with MAN Truck & Bus South Africa. He has been a non-executive director of the company since 2004 and, until recently, he had headed up MAN’s Middle East and Africa operations, a position he held for five years. In that capacity he oversaw the brand’s operations in countries across the continent.

He’s delighted to have been appointed managing director of the South African entity. “My responsibilities entail sales, aftersales and administration within all of MAN’s Southern African regions… all the right hand drive countries as well as Angola, since we are close by and best able to offer support,” he says.

Geyer maintains that though he is familiar with MAN’s local operations, a major challenge within the initial three months of taking up his appointment has been to understand the organisation in greater detail. And one of his first priorities has been to set the wheels in motion to rectify a fall-off in the brand’s market share.

While he admits that the state of the country’s economy is partly to blame for the decline – month on month, truck sales have fallen by as much as 13% in some segments – he lists a number of other contributing factors to the situation in which MAN’s sales find themselves– changes in top management; too much internal focus; and a period in which alignment with new guidelines from Germany took place.

“While we focused on those, I think we lost a little concentration on the market and on our customers. We have just launched a project which clearly states that we need to be more market driven and customer orientated.

“The aim is to train, teach and inspire our people to live up to those values, and arrange our business processes to support our teams at points of sale, whether they be in workshops or in showrooms. Our internal aspects have been rectified and now we can solely dedicate our focus to our customers. That is the way it should be.”

In addition to MAN’s truck and bus products, the brand recently launched in Europe a light commercial vehicle which competes in segments dominated by sister brand Volkswagen’s Crafter and Mercedes-Benz’s Sprinter models.

12 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

“We believe that this model will help to extend the influence of the MAN range in a positive manner, since many of our customers make use of our products from the extra-heavy segment all the way through to our smaller commercials.

“The new model broadens our scope and offers our customers greater opportunity. At this stage the vehicle will not be introduced immediately to South Africa – but there is a very good chance that it will join our range in the future. I believe it will be a perfect fit for the country since it’s been engineered to withstand the kind of conditions that we experience here,” Geyer said.

With sales of vehicles in Brazil at low ebb, our colleagues there are more focused on their exports, and in this sense South Africa stands to gain.

“For instance, we will be able to introduce more vehicles that utilise Euro5 technology. With this in mind we are aiming to increase our market share for the Constellation quite significantly.”

At the moment the Constellation is imported as a CKD kit and assembled locally, with South African-made components fitted where possible. Geyer says there are no plans at this stage to change the arrangement. “Taking into account the vehicle’s current market share, it wouldn’t make sense,” he says.

In terms of other new models on the horizon, Geyer confirms that MAN’s Southern African operation will continue to handle sales and service for Volkswagen’s range of Constellation commercials.

Asked about the effect that changes to South Africa’s road transport legislation will have on MAN’s products – an 80km/h speed restriction for commercial vehicles comes into effect in December – Geyer says the company has the matter well in hand.

Though perceived as a premium product, the Constellation has failed to live up to expectations locally in terms of predicted sales forecasts. Geyer notes that in Brazil – the country of production – the vehicle is a market leader and is used for applications in environments that are similar to those found in Africa.

“As a standard feature, all of MAN’s trucks and busses are built with speed restrictors which are electronically calibrated to conform to desired limitations of a specific country or an operation,” he says.

“In recent years the Brazilian currency has been relatively strong in relation to the rand, and we have struggled to bring in Constellation products at a price which is competitive against those of rivals.

“However, recently the Brazilian real has lost a lot of value and we believe that we are now able to enter the South African market at far more balanced level.

In my view, Geyer’s obvious passion for the MAN brand – and his drive to promote the nameplate’s attributes in South Africa – augurs well for the fortunes of the local company. He appears to genuinely have his customers’ interests at heart and, in the short time he has been managing director of MAN Truck & Bus SA, has actively sought to remedy perceived weaknesses in market strategy. In all, that can only be good for the brand and, in general, for trucking in South Africa.

Markus Geyer

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

13

COVER STORY >>

Volkswagen Truck & Bus has launched a MAN-developed, cloud-based vehicle management system which the company claims will significantly change the transportation industry

V

olkswagen’s new cloud-based RIO operating system is said to bundle digital solutions for the transportation and logistics industry that encompass vehicles manufactured by competitors as well as a variety of telematics platforms.

Developed by truck maker MAN – one of Volkswagen’s subsidiaries – RIO is billed as a first for all players in the transport supply chain: shippers, dispatchers, carriers, drivers and recipients. The system comprises a uniform information and application platform that includes forecasting features and which uses intelligent algorithms to combine different sources of data.

Feeds into the system come from trucks, trailers, drivers and logistics centres and is pooled with real time traffic, weather and navigation data to provide users with concrete recommendations regarding routes, time tables, loading schedules and a host of other functions.

Andreas Renschler, CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus… “the future of transportation does not begin in 2025, but right here and now.”

14 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

The system, which is scheduled to become operational in April next year, is aimed at improving transportation and logistics processes with a view to significantly

With its RIO system – unveiled last month at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover – Volkswagen’s MAN Truck & Bus Division is hoping to improve transportation and logistics processes with a view to significantly increasing efficiency and transparency within the industry

increasing efficiency and transparency within the industry. According to MAN’s claims, the ability to harness data from within the transport sector is often not possible due to the fact that operators involved use different software systems – whether for cargo related applications or fleet management purposes.

“That is beneficial for our customers because it makes their business more profitable. And it is good for the environment, because we will see fewer empty trucks on the road. RIO will become available in Europe in a few months. The future of transportation does not begin in 2025, but right here and now.”

“RIO is the first to offer a common platform and thus one that can be used regardless of the vehicle brand or telematics system. This means that fleet customers with mixed fleets can use digital services in one single solution,” says a company statement.

RIO is managed by MAN’s Digital Solutions function.

“What we see emerging here is a platform where each user will benefit individually from its added value – regardless of how the fleet looks, which vehicle with which body is carrying the sales order, and which logistics software is used,” said Joachim Drees, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus AG.

“In addition, all vehicle types can be refitted without any difficulties. Systems that already exist and that are used as single solutions – for instance to manage vehicle data, maintenance schedules or a spare parts inventory – can be transferred to the common platform.”

Andreas Renschler, CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, said RIO would fundamentally change the world of transportation. “For the first time, our unified platform enables the registration, management and integrated use of all data and information available in the transportation system.

He emphasised that Logistics 4.0 could succeed only if artificial barriers and data islands were overcome.

“That is why we are making every effort to support the development of RIO,” he said.

MAN trucks released after April next year will be equipped with RIO as a standard feature; in addition, any customer at sister brand Scania can connect with the platform on request. Using a refit box, any vehicle can be integrated into the network with an FMS interface.

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

15

COVER STORY >>

TOP OF THE WORLD!

“RIO is programmed to automatically receive updates at any time and easily via the cloud. Updates will be carried out around 40 times per year,” Drees said.

He added that the system provided an opportunity for transport and logistics operators to take advantage of the benefits of digitisation without the need to have strong IT skills or trained experts. Similar to operating systems of smartphones, various apps could be used with RIO that were intuitive in their operation and accessible through any standard web browser.

“There will be vehicle-specific services – for instance from MAN or Scania – but also a marketplace for crossvendor apps or those for third-party providers. Another special feature of RIO is a consistent user interface across all functions,” he said.

Markus Lipinsky, Chief Digital Officer at MAN, said RIO was not about launching another telematics system.

“Instead, we deliberately designed the system as an open platform that brings together numerous island solutions.

16 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

“I am convinced that one technology company alone cannot master the complexity of the logistics industry.

We are therefore looking for as many partners as possible with the same objective – to optimise the global transportation chain, thereby reducing costs and emissions.”

According to Drees, examples of future applications included: • Driver Connectivity – an app sends relevant information to the driver’s smartphone, such as new transportation orders. Following one click, the app directly navigates to the customer.

• Truck Share is designed for shared-economy requirements. Vehicles can be handed over with a digital access key directly via a smartphone.

• Loadfox is an app for the smart order management of partial loads, with trucks better utilised through the allocation of additional cargo along the route, reducing the amount of traffic, increasing efficiency and helping to cut emissions.

RIO and its features were demonstrated at last month’s IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover.

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With the high demands of fleets within the trucking industry, it has become clear that one should always be a step ahead of the rest.

To contribute, Michelin has taken the opportunity to create a modern day business solution for truck tyre dealers in South Africa. If your goal is to enable your business with the best products and services that the industry has to offer, then the opportunity is finally here to take part in the movement of the Michelin Truck Service Centre (MTSC).

The experience when visiting an MTSC dealership is a step above the rest. You’ll be met by highly skilled staff who will ensure that your vehicle is properly taken care of and that all work needed will be attended to promptly and to the highest standards. All MTSC shops are fitted with top quality equipment from truck tyre fitting machines to wheel alignment systems. These shops offer a range of value added services allowing you the customer to get the most out of the time your vehicle is off the road.

By inflating your tyres with Nitrogen at time of fitment, you will find that you improve overall tyre pressure conditions as Nitrogen inflated tyres run at optimal pressure for longer.

The benefits of correct tyre inflation is invaluable and can extend overall tyre life overall. Considering this

service as well as the repairing of tyres, it makes an MTSC centre a one stop shop for both large and small fleets. Another value added service is the retreading of quality Michelin casings. With the 4 stages of the tyre life cycle (Stage 1 - New, Stage 2 Regrooving, Stage 3 – First Retread and Stage 4 - Second Retread) a Michelin casing has the potential of achieving multiple retreads. Recamic is Michelin’s pre-cured retreading rubber which offers optimal performance and an improved cost per kilometre.

Another value added service provided by this world class service centre is the rotation your tyres.

It is critical to remember that they should be rotated after every service interval. Tyre rotation ensures even wear which extends the lifespan and improves performance of the tyre.

We also use the best tyre change equipment to strip, fit and balance the tyres on your fleet. MTSC centres have gone one step further by offering every engine a chance to breathe properly. All technicians can check your air and oil filters and replace them if necessary.

Another added advantage is that you can visit your nearest MTSC dealer to check and replace batteries, as MTSC centres stock only the best quality batteries.

With all our products and services on offer, it is also key to know

that as part of the MTSC offering, you get the added benefit of fleet surveys. MTSC centres offer a full range of fleet services and inspections to the benefit of the end user. MTSC centres uses top of the range diagnostics to detect engine problems before they occur. Once the problem has been detected, we offer a range of solutions to help prevent damage and keep your vehicles on the road. Becoming part of the MTSC family adds to your business and offers you a chance to focus on the important part of your business, while we take care of rest.

SERVICES, A Michelin Truck Service Centre (MTSC) is a premium truck and bus service centre operating under the Michelin brand.

Offering high quality tyres, expert product knowledge, and fast service, MTSC provides truck and bus owners with a complete range of professional solutions.

SOFT MECHANICS FILTERS

SOFT MECHANICS BATTERIES FILTERS

SOFT MECHANICS TYRE ROTATION FILTERS

SOFT MECHANICS RETREADING TYRES FILTERS

OIL CHANGES & FILTERS

FILTERS FILTERS

LUBRICANTS

OIL CHANGES FLEET SURVEYS & FILTERS

FILTERS& RIMS WHEEL FILTERS

LUBRICANTS

OIL CHANGES NITROGEN (N2) & FILTERS LUBRICANTS

OIL CHANGES FITTING REMOVING & & FILTERS LUBRICANTSTYRES BALANCING

FILTERS ALIGNMENT FILTERS

FILTERS TYRE & TYRE FILTERS REPAIRS

AND MUCH MORE

TRUCKX 2016 >>

Visitors to TruckX 2016 – South Africa’s premier independent conference and expo for the transportation and logistics industries – have rated this year’s event a resounding success. Ryan de Smidt reports

T

he third annual TruckX event took place in August at the Sandton Convention Centre. Deemed to be South Africa’s premier trucking and logistics conference and expo, the Standard Bank and Ctrack backed event offered visitors a host of useful and insightful information regarding the state of the country’s commercial transport industry and the trends that affect it.

(RTMS) chairman Adrian van Tonder, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) chairman Wayne Duvenhage, road safety expert Eugene Herbert and economist Dawie Roodt.

Apart from an extensive range of trucks, trailers, tankers, and related service and transportation products on display, TruckX offered the 750 or so delegates who attended the conference a composite overview of industry trends, including changes to traffic legislation, driver safety and cargo security initiatives, telematics and insurance options, as well as perceptions of the country’s under-performing economy on business.

On the exhibition floor, headline sponsors Standard Bank and Ctrack showcased their newest products, with the latter unveiling its state-of-theart telematics platform for RTMS members.

Speakers included road transport legislator Alta Swanepoel, Road Traffic Management System

20 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

Since inception in 2014, TruckX has seen its number of exhibitors, visitors and delegates increase significantly, with this year’s figure up by about 50% compared with last.

Insurance companies represented included MiWay, Saxum and OneSure, while breathalyser producer and distributor ALCOsafe displayed its latest KeySafe technology, as well as a variety of alcohol testing units which have proved popular in both the commercial transport and mining sectors.

2016

Truck

Conference & Expo

Additionally, Fifth Dimension Technologies (5DT) showcased its latest advanced truck simulator, which was launched in the US earlier this year at the MidAmerica Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The simulator is one of the most realistic and accurate on the market, with queues of attendees at TruckX 2016 lining up for an opportunity to put their commercial vehicle driving skills to the test.

The likes of Hyundai and Suzuki displayed their latest offerings on the LDV market, while Chinese OEM Sinotruk – a new player in the South African truck arena – showcased its range of extra-heavy vehicles. In addition, Volvo displayed its popular FH model – 2015’s Truck of the Year – with G&H Transport displaying its MAN TGX, as well as it 2001 Volvo FM12 380, which has travelled over 1,4-million kilometres and which is still used daily in short-haul transport operations.

Greensky vehicle wraps showcased its know-how in transforming the look of truck and trailer, while the team from MASSif Engineering Technologies showed off its latest MASSmaster trailer product.

Tank Clinic, along with John Bean Technologies (JBT), demonstrated why the company is regarded

as one of the country’s premier fuel tanker manufacturers by displaying one of its state of the art designs along with JBT’s fuel delivery systems.

MasterDrive’s MasterTrucker team exhibited an HGV roll-over prevention training tanker as well as showcasing associated driver training programmes.

Other blue-chip exhibitors included Shell Petroleum, Bosch, Motul, TomTom, Afintapart, Royale Energy, Altech, Total and Probe.

Master of ceremonies, comedian Joey Rasdien, entertained conference delegates with his humour, also introducing each of the speakers. Opening the conference, Ctrack’s global general manager, Cobus Grove, welcomed members of the trucking fraternity to the Convention Centre, emphasising the company’s proud association with the TruckX event.

“At Ctrack we believe that innovation is key for the trucking industry to thrive – and that’s one of the reasons that we are involved in this industry showcase,” he said.

His words were echoed by Standard Bank’s Head of Business Vehicle and Asset Finance, Toni Fritz, who, in a welcome address, described trucking as the bloodline of South Africa’s economy. “Since

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

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TRUCKX TRUCKX2016 2016>> >>

Standard Bank is a key financial partner to the industry – holding a substantial market share – we are very proud to be associated with TruckX,” she told delegates.

Professor Johan Joubert from the Centre for Transport Development at the University of Pretoria –one of Ctrack’s industry partners – then addressed delegates on the thorny problem of traffic congestion.

“As consumers we want to see fresh foods on our supermarket shelves, fuel at our service stations, car parts at our dealerships and goods at our retail shops – but we hate seeing masses of trucks on the roads. Little do we realise that without those transporters, we would not have the consumer convenience we experience today.”

Joubert said in his view, developers of road networks often did not take the freight sector into account, comparing their actions to chess board designers who did not understand the rules of the game.

“Ultimately our behaviour as a transport industry is influenced by our road infrastructure,” he said.

“We should make sure that the government and the custodians of our road network know what it is that the industry requires. They will understand our game better, and therefore design roads that will be of benefit to the transport industry as well as better suited to other users.”

Road and transport legislation expert Alta Swanepoel took to the stage to highlight what laws she believed would be coming through the Road Traffic Act pipeline. She explained new licence plate legislation – which is expected to come into effect soon – as well as newly promulgated regulations dealing with speed limits for commercial vehicles.

22 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

“The legislation notes that all goods vehicles and taxis must be fitted with speed limiters from December 1, and that the limiters must be set at speed limits specified – 80km/h for heavy and extraheavy trucks and 100km/h for buses and taxis.”

Swanepoel also said full AARTO legislation – which will see the introduction of a driver’s licence points demerit system based on infringements of the traffic code – was likely to be introduced before March next year.

She pointed out that the legislation would affect not only truck drivers and transport operators, but also consignees and consignors of freight – and she urged delegates to become familiar with the contents of the new law. “There’s always a lot happening with our traffic legislation, though much of it doesn’t get implemented.

“You may budget for things without knowing when they are going to appear. Obviously, that creates a problem in terms of future planning. You might allocate resources, like training, only to find out later that government will not be going ahead and won’t be doing what its spokesmen said it would be doing.

“Some things are two or three years old and have not yet been implemented – but they haven’t been revoked, either. They still require consideration since they are most probably going to be implemented at some stage in the future,” she warned.

Adrian van Tonder, chairman of the RTMS’s national steering committee, unpacked the benefits of belonging to the organisation. He said the RTMS encouraged transport operators to engage in the transport industry’s value chain by implementing a vehicle management system which not only preserved road infrastructure, but helped to improve road safety and increase overall productivity.

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TRUCKX 2016 >>

“Our key focus areas include load optimisation, driver wellness, vehicle maintenance, and overall efficiency,” he said. “To date, RTMS membership has increased at a rapid pace, with as many as 200 fleets representing 10 000 trucks and buses having received accreditation.”

According to Van Tonder, RTMS certification enabled a company to claim excellence in the management of its road transport operation. “RTMS is recognised and actively promoted by major industry bodies and affiliates, including SANRAL, RTMC, National Department of Transport, Provincial Departments of Transport, Chamber of Mines, FESARTA, RTMS Forestry Committee, RTMS Sugar Committee, Agricultural Chamber of Business, CSIR, and the RFA,” he said.

In his address, OUTA’s Wayne Duvenhage took issue with a recent statement by transport minister Dipuo Peters that e-tolls were in South Africa to stay, instead describing the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project as one of the most impractical and failed tax schemes ever introduced to the country.

“We find it rather absurd that despite nearly three years of the scheme’s existence, with a mounting debt now of around R8-billion and less than 25% average public compliance, the minister believes that because the purple lights are on, the scheme somehow has a meaningful life or role to play in servicing the insurmountable e-toll debt,” he said.

According to Duvenhage, the success of e-tolling schemes around the world relied on impeccable administration management and accurate vehicle registration systems, combined with a transparent, engaging authority which managed an efficient, low cost, toll collection system.

24 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

“The best systems have the ability to retain and provide each and every element of factual proof of gantry movements, along with highly efficient dispute resolution mechanisms and processes in place,” he said.

“Judging by all the complaints and examples provided to OUTA from the public, SANRAL’s e-toll scheme is far removed from ticking the boxes for any semblance of efficiency, accurate information or success.

and hide behind technical defences, and will have no way of avoiding OUTA’s formidable challenge to the lawfulness of the scheme,” he promised.

Following Duvenhage to the stage was MasterDrive’s managing director, Eugene Herbert, who discussed the importance that driver training held for the transport industry. In addition, he announced the launch of an exciting new competition, run in conjunction with TruckX, which aimed to find South Africa’s safest truck drivers.

“All indications point to SANRAL’s self-congratulatory victory for the system being pie in the sky. The fact is that e-tolls have been thrust down the throats of an unsuspecting and unwilling public whose support is required for success,” he maintained.

Duvenhage said OUTA’s legal team would continue to submit defence notices on behalf of members regarding summonses issued for non-payment of e-tolls, and was preparing to get its legal challenge underway. “This time, SANRAL will not be able to run

The competition will see 10 finalists chosen to take part in a number of theoretical and practical driving modules over a period of months – some conducted in real time as part of their company schedule, using telematics to monitor on road behaviour – with the winner taking home a cheque for R20 000 and, with his or her employer, earning a place in the TruckX Hall of Fame.

“Road safety is of paramount importance to South Africa’s transport industry,” Herbert told delegates.

“It’s up to us to make the country’s roads as safe as possible for all users. This competition will help us to do that.”

Peter Byers of the Scott Byers Network presented an overview of his company’s ability to provide the trucking industry with expert market intelligence and support, supplying information aimed at helping

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

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TRUCKX 2016 >>

From left: Panel discussion moderator Dawie Roodt, Eugene Herbert CEO RAC Group / Masterdrive, Hein Jordt MD Ctrack Fleet Management Solutions, and Kathy Bell, Transport Industry Specialist Vehicle and Asset finance Standard Bank.

Nigel Pillay: Head, Corporate and Commercial Division, Standard Bank

Peter Byers: The Scott Byers Network

Eugene herbert: CEO RAC Group / MasterDrive

Wayne Duvenhage: Chairperson of OUTA

Rudolf Straeuli: Golden Lions CEO

Dawie Roodt: Chief Economist, Efficient Group

Adrian Van Tonder: Chairman of the RTMS

Alta Swanepoel: Road and transport legislation expert

Raffle winner Neriva Raschel of Wolff Autohaus

26 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

decision making processes as well as providing specialised performance measurement programmes and services.

Nigel Pillay, Head of Standard Bank’s Corporate and Commercial Division, provided clarity on the benefits of having the correct fleet insurance, also offering tips aimed at ensuring the right products.

Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt offered a concise overview of South Africa’s social, political and economic state, thereafter chairing a panel discussion which focused on optimising efficiency in the transport industry. Participants included Ctrack’s MD, Hein Jordt, Standard Bank’s Transport Solutions Specialist, Kathy Bell and MasterDrive’s MD, Eugene Herbert.

“From a road transport perspective, the only way we will be able to ensure the longevity of the transport industry is to reduce road fatalities associated with trucks,” said Bell. “We have to effectively move to a solution where all stake-holders support selfregulatory standards such as those advocated by the RTMS. In that way, each one of us can be held accountable and responsible for our actions.”

Jordt said that, from a business perspective, more and more vehicles in transport fleets were becoming connected. “From a telematics perspective, our job is to ensure that the data our customers receive is of relevance to their operations so that we can help them to become more productive and efficient.

That’s our main aim.”

Herbert added that driver training was of prime importance in ensuring higher efficiency and better productivity, with good truck drivers able to effectively contribute to a company’s profitability through fuel economy improvement and a reduction in vehicle downtime as a result of fewer accidents and less mechanical failures.

In a surprise visit to TruckX, former Springbok rugby player Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the Golden Lions, took to the stage to discuss Ctrack’s continued commitment to the Lions franchise. To show his appreciation, Straeuli presented the latest team jersey to Jordt who, in turn, decided to offer the gift to delegates by holding a lucky draw of business cards. The winner was Neriva Raschel of Wolff Autohaus.

In closing the event, organisers The Future Group announced that next year’s TruckX would take place at the newly revamped Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, with a view to broadening the scope of the expo while continuing to focus on transport, logistics and fleet industry essentials.

2016

Truck

Conference & Expo

Save the Date 12-13 July 2017 October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

27

CUSTOMER CORNER >>

FAW explores new horizons Driver safety and comfort coupled with cost-efficient operating costs, transparency in the purchasing and body-building process and excellent back-up service has made FAW the number one truck choice for medical goods manufacturer and distributor, New Horizons Metal

N

ew Horizons Metal is a tight-knit operation focussed on cost-efficiency and on-time delivery of its products to the medical community.

The medium-sized enterprise, based in Briardene, KwaZulu-Natal, specialises in manufacturing hospital furniture such as medical trollies, carts, gurneys or other wheeled stretchers and almost all types of metal medical equipment required for a clinically sterile environment.

“We work mainly with stainless steel or aluminium, and easy-to-clean padded top equipment, such as examination tables for clinics and doctors’ rooms.

Our items are highly specified in respect of dimensions, materials used and quality standards.

We have over 400 line items which we manufacture ourselves with our staff of 30 people,” explains Sagren Naidoo, a partner in the family-owned business.

“As a wholesaler to clinics and hospitals and a retailer to doctors and specialists, we also have to manage the logistics from our production plant to the enduser or consignee. Of course, one of our challenges is the input price of buying materials such as stainless steel, so it remains imperative for us to control our costs throughout the whole supply chain – from material procurement, manufacturing, packing and distribution.”

28 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

New Horizons Metals does most of its own distribution, contracting out to third-party courier or break-bulk services only when logistics or costs warrant it. “We use a FAW 15.180FL for deliveries to points in far-flung, rural areas and which are either out of reach of normal courier services or where costs indicate a saving in using our own vehicle,” says Naidoo.

“One advantage of using the FAW 15.180FL is certainly driver comfort – our vehicle features a semisleeper cab; a well-sprung, air-suspended seat; an adjustable steering column and air-conditioning. A comfortable driver is a better driver. We’re seeing cost-effective driving with low fuel consumption, low wear and tear and good vehicle condition all round.”

Further adding to driver safety, the FAW 15.180FL is equipped with standard features such as ABS brakes with automatic adjustment.

According to FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA, the 15.180FL is aggregated to a gross combination mass of 24 tons. With a GVM of 15 tons, the vehicle provides a healthy eight-ton payload, depending on body configuration.

“What is naturally important is the back-up and aftersales support we enjoy from the team at FAW’s regional centre in KZN, which provides us with excellent standards of service and a guaranteed supply of original parts,” says Naidoo.

The truck used by New Horizons Metals features a modified fuel tank, enlarged for a longer delivery range and to cut down refuelling stops. “We also needed to secure the load, the driver’s safety and the safety of the vehicle. For these reasons we installed a small number of extras, some of which include an anti-tampering fuel cap and a special security cover for the battery.”

Another accessory which New Horizons says has proved a boon for drivers is a lockable toolbox which is used by the driving team as a safe personal storage space during rest stops or when overnighting between legs on country-wide routes.

“One of the more important issues for us was the transparency which FAW showed in dealing with us and the truck body-builder, RAM Bodies, which produced an exceptional 2,6m x 2,6m x 7,5m (extra-length) 0,8mm mild steel closed box body.

Their dealings were honest and open and we appreciated this very much,” says Naidoo.

“Our plan is to run the FAW15.180 on a fiveyear, 400 000km work cycle and then assess replacement cost. We are also looking into the possibility of acquiring a FAW8.140 for our oneday trips on shorter routes.”

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NEW MODELS >>

Fuso’s FJ powers in Daimler’s Fuso range has been extended in South Africa with the launch of the FJ 16-230 – a truck that is suited for medium to heavy duty applications. Ryan de Smidt reports

P

roduced at Daimler’s Commercial Vehicles plant in Chennai, India, the Fuso FJ is aimed at bolstering the brand’s growth offensive in Southern Africa.

Speaking at the launch of the model, Naeem Hassan, head of Fuso Trucks Southern Africa, said though the FJ had been manufactured to handle tough operating conditions, it was ergonomically sound, fuel-efficient and could be custom-tailored to meet a variety of market needs.

“As with all commercial vehicles produced at the Chennai plant, the Fuso FJ has undergone rigorous testing and has been assessed under the most strenuous driving conditions to ensure maximum reliability,” he said.

The vehicle is powered by a 6,3-litre turbocharged diesel engine that delivers 170kW and 810Nm. Transmission is via a six-speed manual gearbox.

At the launch – which took place at Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria – members of the media were able to experience for themselves the model’s capabilities.

I found the FJ to be easy to drive – and comfortable, too, given its utilitarian function. The padded driver’s seat is three-way adjustable while the steering column tilts and telescopes. Power steering is light

30 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

and accurate, making the vehicle easy to manoeuvre around the track’s many corners.

Driver assistance programmes include a green band indicator in the intelligent instrument cluster which recommends the correct gear and vehicle speed to maximise fuel economy. Other important vehicle information is legibly displayed while a trip computer indicates distance travelled, average speed and fuel consumption.

Brakes appear exemplary, stopping the truck quickly and securely in mock emergency tests conducted on the racetrack and on a skidpan.

The FJ carries a recommended retail price of R630 000 ex VAT for the short wheel base model, a long wheelbase version adding another R10 000 to the bill.

Traffic fines & vehicle licencing giving you headaches?

payCity has the solution to simplify your life.

Register on www.payCitybusiness.co.za and sign up for a free trial or contact us on 087 2377 011 or email info@payCitybusiness.co.za.

Fine Management • Notification of fines issued • Viewing of fine details • Real time payments of fines

Driver Management • Track expiry of drivers licence or PrDP’s • Driver Scorecard – allows for corrective action for safer driving practices • AARTO Demerit Points (When in effect) • Redirection of Fines

Vehicle Management • Reminder of vehicle licences expiring • Vehicle Licence Renewal • Asset Management

info@payCitybusiness.co.za | Tel: 087 2377 011

MILLION KILOMETRE CLUB >>

Mother of a mileage!

W

hile seeing the odometer on a truck click over the coveted one-million kilometre milestone is a noteworthy experience, there are some commercial vehicles in daily operation in South Africa that have far exceeded that mark – and then some!

Traffic fines & vehicle licencing giving you headaches?

One of them belongs to Gustavo Caldora, who has been in the transport and plant hire business for a number of decades. As the owner of G4G Plant Hire, Gustavo is often required by clients to transport different types of loads from one part of the country to another, hence his need for a versatile, powerful vehicle.

With the cost of new trucks running way beyond his budget, Gustavo decided to take a chance on a used vehicle in the form of a 1999 Scania 144G 460 which, to date, has covered about 4,5-million kilometres.

In order to distinguish his prized possession, Caldora has repainted the truck in white with red front trim.

The only other modifications he has carried out involve the vehicle’s wheels, some of which have been replaced.

“It looked to be in good condition and, what’s more, it was affordable. That’s why I bought it,” says Gustavo.

He adds that both engine and transmission are the truck’s original items, bearing testimony to their To put the Scania’s outstanding mileage into mechanical durability. perspective, the distance from Southyour Africa’s payCity has the solution to simplify life. northern-most border, Beit Bridge, to the country’s Caldora has performed maintenance and scheduled southern-most tip, Cape Agulhas, measures about 2 on www.payCitybusiness.co.za and sign up for a free trial or contact us on services in-house since taking ownership of the Register 100km, which means the truck would have covered 087 2377 011 or email info@payCitybusiness.co.za. vehicle just over a year ago, and in that time has often that distance more than 2 142 times in racking up its Finethe Management transported loads from the Johannesburg area to incredible 4,5-million kilometres.

• Notification of fines issued Western Cape without encountering problems. • Viewing of fine details Ryan de Smidt • Real time payments of fines

Driver Management • Track expiry of drivers licence or PrDP’s • Driver Scorecard – allows for corrective action for safer driving practices • AARTO Demerit Points (When in effect) • Redirection of Fines

Monitoring driver behaviour Vehicle Management

• Reminder of vehicle licences expiring • Vehicle Licence Renewal • Asset Management

Do you know how your company’s drivers measure up in terms of their behaviour on the road? info@payCitybusiness.co.za | Tel: 087 2377 011

O

ctober is transport month and, as always, there is sure to be some focus on how to make our roads safer. It is the responsibility of companies to encourage good driver behaviour among employees, not only to reduce the reputational risk associated with negligent or aggressive driving in branded vehicles, but also to reduce risk from a financial point of view.

When the AARTO Act – which aims to encourage safer driving – is rolled out nationally, it will be imperative for employers to help their drivers improve on-road behaviour since the accumulation of demerit points for traffic infringements puts driving licences at risk.

Drivers will need to be monitored to ensure that their driver’s licences are always valid, bearing in mind that demerit points can be incurred when they drive their personal vehicles – in which case the company may have no knowledge of a transgression. payCitybusiness.co.za offers a solution that allows businesses to manage traffic fines, and monitor driver behaviour by supplying individual scorecards. along with well as a driver behaviour reporting service.

For more information e-mail info@payCitybusiness. co.za or telephone 087 2377 011

>> INSURANCE

MANAGING hidden risks

True costs and complexities that arise in the aftermath of a hijacking or an accident can come as a major shock to transporters, says Morné Stoltz, MiWay’s head of Business Insurance

T

he trucking industry is fraught with risks, from hijacking and theft through to damage caused by protest action. But the cost of a breakdown or accident extends beyond the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle alone, says MiWay’s Morné Stoltz, Head of Business Insurance.

He maintains that the true costs and complexity of managing the aftermath of a hijacking or accident can come as a shock to the transport company, particularly if the business is new to the market.

“Many transport companies and fleet owners fail to take into account the full potential costs of loss or damage to vehicles, and are often underinsured when disaster strikes,” he says. “As a specialist in this area, MiWay has built a network of service providers and tailored its commercial vehicle insurance products to cover the true impact of an accident or loss.”

Companies tend to insure their trucks at retail value, overlooking the fact that they may have a credit shortfall amounting to hundreds of thousands of rands, he says.

Or they may neglect to include replacement vehicle cover, putting them out of business for weeks while a vehicle is being repaired.

“Cargo fleets should extend their insurance cover to include trailers and goods in transit, and they must ensure that provision has been made for towing or alternative transport of goods in transit should a vehicle break down,” Stoltz advises. “The cost of a breakdown

on a long haul route could extend beyond the cost of towing and repairs – it could include damage to goods in transit and penalties related to perishables expiring before they can be delivered. These factors must be covered within the company’s insurance policy.”

In addition, the transport company may not be aware that it is liable for clean-ups and repairing damage to infrastructure caused by its vehicles during an accident.

Stoltz notes: “For example, if a truck transporting hazardous chemicals should overturn, resulting in a chemical spill into a nearby stream, the company is responsible for the rehabilitation of the water supply.

“Should a truck be involved in an accident that results in damage to the road or cargo being spilled on the road, the company becomes responsible for clearing the road and covering the cost of repairs. It is vital that the transport company considers these risks and potential costs, and ensures that its insurance partner takes charge of all costs and clean-up operations as a matter of urgency.”

Stoltz notes that MiWay Business Insurance provides for comprehensive commercial vehicle, trailer and goods in transit cover through a single point of contact for emergencies. “From specialised roadside assistance through to ensuring the safety of goods in transit and attending to spills in the event of an accident, MiWay covers all eventualities for its commercial transport clients,” he says.

For more information on commercial vehicle insurance visit www.miway.co.za.

MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence No: 33970)

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

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LOOKING AHEAD >>

Heading down trucking’s road

Earlier this year… three autonomous and connected MercedesBenz trucks driving in platoon-style convoy on a German highway

A glimpse into what commercial vehicles could be like in 2030…

I

t is the year 2030. The number 15 flashes on the display of Thilo Schneider’s tablet. Now he knows that in a quarter of an hour he will have to leave the highway convoy and take control of his truck, at least for a short period.

But before that he still has time to check his GPS coordinates and update the route to his destination. The display shows quiet traffic patterns off the freeway. He takes a quick look at his e-mails: there’s no important news. Schneider uses WhatsApp to inform the other trucks that he’s about to leave the platoon.

The more or less random series of trucks that get together to form convoys on the freeway represent real progress compared with the long, tedious journeys of previous years. The platoons are able to maintain a uniform, brisk speed and, what’s more, use the road more efficiently – leaving space for other vehicles – and consume less fuel.

Furthermore, accidents have long been a thing of the past, ever since sensors and computers relieved the burden on drivers in critical situations.

The technology for this scenario has existed

34 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

for a long time, allowing trucks from various manufacturers to form coordinated moving groups on the road.

The vehicles communicate with one another smoothly and, thanks to unified systems, there are no longer any language barriers like there sometimes used to be between one driver and another.

The autopilot gives the signal to leave the group in good time before the exit. As he heads down the off ramp, Schneider takes control of the truck though, in fact, he doesn’t have to. His vehicle would manage the task by itself, but during the last few hours in the cab Schneider has sorted out his logistics online and now decides to enjoy a bit of nostalgia, even if the joystick for steering the vehicle does not really resemble the huge steering wheel that heavy trucks used to have up until the mid-2020s.

Since large and small trucks have been connected and, as a rule, are on the move without needing a driver to take action, the large steering wheel is simply no longer required. Instead, in the cab you now fold out a small desk where you can deal with

your everyday administrative tasks. Connectivity has completely changed both the truckers’ job and their image.

Truck drivers used to be responsible mainly for driving and for loading and unloading, but today Schneider and his colleagues are not only trained to drive trucks – they have also completed an apprenticeship in logistics. The proportion of women in the industry is much higher than before.

The higher qualifications are also accompanied by higher incomes.

So Schneider can do his office work while his truck is travelling in the platoon or driving itself on special lanes on the freeway. After all, loads have to be confirmed today, especially because clients will snap up unused space in the trucks on whatever route they are taking.

First come, first served – as long as it makes logistical sense. Empty trips should always be avoided, and to this end Schneider’s truck must always be connected with planners representing various clients, and with people at loading and unloading points.

It’s hard to believe that back then – at the beginning of the 21st century – on average trucks were empty on around one third of all journeys.

That kind of inefficiency made commercial transport unnecessarily expensive. Fuel consumption – and with it CO2 emissions – was also much higher.

It is true that diesel engines are still in operation, particularly in vehicles that cover long distances.

But they use climate-neutral fuels. Electricpowered trucks and fuel-cell trucks are on the roads as well. Today the forwarders are connected and freight exchanges ensure that goods are distributed efficiently.

Schneider has now reached his destination – a large logistics hub close to a major city. Longdistance trucks have been kept out of inner-city areas for quite a while now, and only e-mobiles are allowed for deliveries within the last mile.

What a truck of the future could look like

14. He knows that the ramp will be free when he gets there, so he won’t have to wait. Since the grounds are spacious, he manoeuvers the truck himself – a little practice is not going to hurt. But he could just as well have let the guidance system do the job, so the truck would take itself up to the loading point.

When he arrives, a service vehicle is already waiting for him. His truck has registered tiny discrepancies in its AdBlue intake and passed this information on to the operator. A service technician takes a look while the load is transported to the storage halls. Now that smaller repairs and maintenance measures such as changing the tyres are carried out promptly at such opportunities, the operator’s trucks are far more efficient and wear and tear has been reduced.

During the fully automated unloading procedure Schneider checks his e-mail. He learns that he has to go back onto the freeway after picking up some goods in the nearby town. A parking space has been reserved for him at the next service station, where he can take his statutory rest period. After that he will join another connected convoy, this time as the leader.

• A lot of what trucker Thilo Schneider will use in 2030 was seen last month at the 66th IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover. Under the banner “New Mobility World Logistics” the IAA demonstrated to visitors the future of the logistics industry in four themed presentations.

As Thilo lives in a big city, he appreciates this. It has improved the quality of the air he breathes – and today’s quiet e-vehicles don’t create the old traffic noise.

As he drives through the main gate his display starts flashing again: he’s to go to loading bay

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

35

SPECIAL FEATURE

FUELS & LUBRICANTS P38 Sebokeng Fuels: Beyond industry standards P39 CNG: Today’s fuel for tomorrow?

P40 Cummins launches natural gas training centre P42 Waarom is olie so vloeibaar?

P46 Bosch shapes diesel’s future

FUELS & LUBRICANTS >>

Beyond industry standards Sebokeng Fuels has recently been awarded prestigious Shell RT Pillar certification

I

t is not very often that one company is accredited across two different industries and can profess to be completely competent in both, but it does happen.

In the case of Sebokeng Fuels (Pty) Ltd, which is one the longest standing privately owned fuel distribution companies in South Africa, this feat has recently been achieved.

Sebokeng Fuels has been a Shell partner for more than 40 years and is currently one of the largest Shell Branded Distributors from both a distribution and delivery perspective. The company is constantly adopting new technologies and ideas from Shell with a view to building the fantastic partnership.

In May this year, Sebokeng Fuels became the first ever Shell Branded Distributor in South Africa to successfully fulfil all the requirements for the Shell Road Transport Pillar Audit – making it the only distributor in South Africa which is able to distribute branded Shell fuels to its own customers, and conduct both secondary and primary transport on behalf of Shell to various Shell customer sites as well as Shell-owned depots.

This achievement is testament to the fact that not only is Sebokeng Fuels one of the most prominent fuel distributors in the country, but that the company also upholds some of the highest road transport safety levels in South Africa.

The Shell Road Transport Pillar Audit separates usual industry players from the best industry players when it comes to ability, efficiency and, most importantly, health and safety perspectives. The audit comprises four main sections which encompass general health and safety standards, driver management, route management and vehicle management.

Mandatory requirements for each of these sectors are beyond rigorous for the petroleum industry – and rightly so. If any single mandatory requirement in any of the sections is not successfully fulfilled, the participant instantly fails.

The audit covers everything from route risk assessments, driver behaviour monitoring, driver training, monitoring of driver hours, performance management, recruitment policies and procedures, vehicle maintenance and quality, record keeping and well as all legal and

38 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

Lauren Pelliccia, Head of Operations at Sebokeng Fuels and the company’s Health and Safety team leader

legislative requirements across all sections – just to name a few.

Sebokeng Fuels has partnered with the most updated technologies available through Ctrack and Drive Cam in order to ensure absolute compliance from all drivers and vehicles at any given time.

The company has adopted a driver behaviour management programme which runs on a constant basis in order to ensure that, as far as safety and professionalism is concerned, its drivers are absolute authorities at what they do.

“It is a great achievement to meet these stringent standards, and I trust that this will lead to further growth within the Sebokeng Fuels brand,” says Lauren Pelliccia, Head of Operations at Sebokeng Fuels and the company’s Health and Safety team leader.

“Most importantly it’s our team that has defined our achievement. Every team member realises that a major part of our business revolves around health and safety, and that it has to feature in every aspect of our daily operations – even when under pressure”.

There is clearly no limit when it comes to Sebokeng Fuel’s ambition to always be an industry leader.

The company prides itself on everything that is important to the customer and the customers’ needs, which includes quality of product, quality of service, security of supply and the ability to have the flexibility to offer assistance as and when it is needed, and, of course, strict adherence to safety standards.

Sebokeng Fuels is already a no-nonsense fuel industry leader and keeps going from strength to strength. The achievement in gaining Road

FUELS & LUBRICANTS >>

T

here is no denying the fact that the world’s fossil fuel reserves are being depleted. Accordingly, many businesses that are aiming to reduce their carbon footprints and become eco-friendly have adopted alternative sources of energy in place of conventional fuels.

One of those energy sources is compressed natural gas (CNG), a product which is gaining popularity on a global scale due to its clean-burning properties.

“In addition to its environmental friendliness, reliable supply and consistent availability, CNG pricing is more stable than that of conventional heavy fuels, eliminating the uncertainty associated with monthly price adjustments,” says Stephen Rothman, CEO of CNG Holdings. He says the latter aspect allows businesses to better plan budgets and control operating costs for vehicle fleets.

As a division of CNG Holdings, NGV Gas is committed to promoting the use of compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel for a variety of vehicles. According to Rothman, petrol driven vehicles are easily converted to run on CNG using kits approved by OEMs and imported by CNG Technology – a division of CNG Holdings.

He adds that diesel engines typically used in buses and large commercial vehicles can also be modified to run on a mix of CNG and diesel, the ratio being controlled by an ECU which varies depending on driving habits and/or engine torque demand. The amount of diesel replaced by gas will vary between 40% and 60%.

The company has converted vehicles for – or supplies CNG to – a number of major transport

fleets, including those operated by Metrobus, Eqstra, Fidelity, G4S, Coca-Cola and the City of Johannesburg. Additionally, more than 700 taxis have been made CNG friendly.

Many NGV Gas customers have had filling stations installed on their premises, apart from being able to fill up at any NGV gas station in the Gauteng region, where the company’s operations are concentrated.

“Over the last decade, the average cost per litre of both petrol and diesel has risen significantly,” says Rothman.

“CNG can offer a saving of between 25% and 40% on fuel costs compared with conventional fuels, dependent on the type of vehicle.”

Apart from the gas’ environmentally friendly nature, tanks used to store the fuel are stronger than those used for diesel, reducing the likelihood of accidental leakage.

Additionally, should CNG be accidently released, it disperses quickly in the air instead of onto the ground, reducing the risk of fire as well as soil contamination.

Rothman says CNG Gas is actively sourcing new solutions for the trucking industry, and will be in a position to offer customers a variety of state of the art products within a few months.

For further information on CNG Holdings and NGV Gas, please visit www.cngholdings.co.za. For enquiries about truck conversions contact Mike Hill at project@ cngholdings.co.za

Transport Pillar Audit certification is testament to the company’s determination, professionalism and leadership within the industry.

With full ownership of four depots across the central and northern parts of the country – including three service stations, almost five million litres of own storage capacity, premier access to 100% Shell additivised fuels, a self-owned fleet of approximately 55 world class Scania vehicles and a logistical and management team that aims to impress at every second of every day – winning is easy with Sebokeng Fuels.

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

39

FUELS & LUBRICANTS >>

Getting to grips with CNG Cummins launches a training centre in Johannesburg aimed at teaching technicians the fundamentals of fitting, maintaining and servicing engines powered by compressed natural gas

W

ith compressed natural gas (CNG) being perceived as an energy source capable of replacing traditional, fossil-based fuels, a variety of engine manufacturers and OEMs are investing in research and development of motors that run on the alternative fuel.

Multinational heavy equipment engine manufacturer Cummins recently added a CNG engine training programme to courses already available at the company’s Africa Learning Centre in Kelvin, Johannesburg.

Accredited by merSETA, the programme has been introduced at a time when global and local authorities have called for increasingly stringent environmental standards and, with clean burning natural gas being a plentiful resource on the continent, it makes perfect sense for Cummins to expand its scope in Africa.

The fitting, servicing and maintenance of CNG powered engines present new challenges, particularly from a safety perspective. “There is a lot of discussion around alternative fuels and cleaner solutions in terms of public transportation in particular,” says John Shuttleworth, service operations director at Cummins. “It is therefore imperative that when people work on these products, they understand the underlying dynamics.”

Shuttleworth adds that Cummins prides itself on staying ahead of the technology curve and he cites the CNG training programme as a clear example of the company’s commitment to Africa, with technicians no longer having to go abroad to learn

40 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

the fundamentals of the technology.

He says CNG offers ultra-low emissions in addition to benefits such as exceptional performance and reduced engine noise. “OEMs interested in CNG can now rest assured that a local training programme is indeed up and running. While we have started to funnel our own internal technical people through the course, in future we aim to offer it to the rest of the industry as well,” he says.

The programme is run by a fully-trained and accredited technician and encompasses the necessary equipment and top-quality facilities.

Shuttleworth says that Cummins’ aim is not to sell CNG products directly into the market.

“We expect that the products will flow organically into the mainstream via OEMs. However, we still have a responsibility to support the products, and hence the establishment of the training programme.”

The programme represents the latest development in Cummins’ training methodology, applying a balance of virtual, theoretical and practical teaching as implemented in advanced industries in order to equip technicians with higher levels of understanding.

“We find there are so many new products coming into Africa which sometimes creates a challenge to stay ahead of the learning curve. Virtual simulation offers an ideal opportunity for us to close the gap, as well as allowing us to present training at our customers’ own facilities. The methodology also makes good business sense,” Shuttleworth says.

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Pressure Accumulators Pump Elements Unit Injectors Filters Test Equipment

Fuel Metering Valves Distributor Pumps Unit Pumps Glow Plugs

FUELS & LUBRICANTS >>

Waarom is olie so vloeibaar?

Om wrywing the verminder is net helfte van die storie... olie het verrassend baie ander eienskappe. Jake Venter verduidelik

D

aar’s heelwat meer rondom smeermiddels as net om olie na dele van die enjin te pomp. Sommige onderdele is met net ’n snuifie gelukkig, ander soek ’n sproei en die handwerkendste dele wil olieverskaffing onder druk hê.

Bygesê, as die stootbeweging baie vinnig is, raak die oliefilm dikker en verhoog dit in druk sodat daar geen fisies kontak tussen die gewig en die oppervlak is nie.

Dit staan bekend as vol-hidrodinamiese smering.

Olie help ook om die enjin te verkoel, om roes teen te werk en verhoog die verseëlingskrag van kompressieringe. Dit als beteken dat die verskaffingsvolume en druk fyn beheer moet word om te voorkom dat sekere dele te min olie kry, en ander weer oorvloei word.

Suiers in ’n enjin ervaar beide gemengde en hidrodinamiese smering. Naby die bokant en reg onder, waar die suierspoed naby zero is, is smering gemeng, maar wanneer dit langs die boor af beweeg – gewoonlik teen snelhede hoër as 50 km/h – is die smeringsproses hidrodinamies.

Die smering van onderdele gebeur in fases, daarom is dit interessant om te weet dat genoeg olie in die oliebak om in die vraag te voorsien, nie voldoende is nie – nee, voorsiening moet ook vir sekere soorte relatiewe beweging gemaak word.

Smeringsteorie Beweging in ’n reguit lyn: Dis nie maklik om ’n swaar gewig oor ’n relatief gladde oppervlakte te beweeg as die kontakarea droog is nie, maar die krag benodig verminder drasties wanneer olie gebruik word om die pad te smeer.

Indien jy die gewig vinnig genoeg stoot, sal dit in ’n stadium begin voel of dit moeiteloos op sy eie beweeg. Probeer dit self: • In ’n droë staat met geen smering nie, werk die wrywingskragte enige poging teen om die gewig te beweeg.

• Met olie bygevoeg, word die kleinste versteurings in die kontakoppervlak – selfs al is dit gemasjineer – met vloeistof gevul, maar daar’s steeds wrywing weens uitsteekpunte wat inmekaar sluit.

• Met groter beweging neem die olielaag ’n wigvorm aan, en die stootaksie op die gewig word na agter gekanaliseer. Terselfdertyd begin die gewig met ’n effense hoek oor die kontakarea gly, soos ’n kragboot op water.

Dit verhoog die druk van die olie op die agterkant, met die gevolg dat die gewig begin lig van die kontakarea en op die oliefilm begin gly. Die meeste van die kontakarea– maar nie alles nie – word sodoende uitgeskakel.

In hierdie voorbeeld word na die aard van die smering as ’n mengsel van grens en hidrodinamika – oftewel gemengde smering – beskryf, en dit verduidelik die waarom die krag benodig so skielik afneem.

42 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

Rotasie ’n Soortgelyke aksie vind binne die laerhuls rondom die skag plaas: • Die suieras rus aanvanklik, wanneer daar geen beweging is nie, heel onder op die laeropening, met gepaardgaande wrywing tussen die as en laerhuls.

• As die huls heeltemal droog is, sal enige beweging van die as dit ’n klein entjie op teen die huls laat beweeg, vanweë droë wrywing.

• Met olie bygevoeg sal die suieras terug na die onderkant van die huls gly, maar as dit geroteer word, sal die olielaag verdik en ’n wig aan die buitekant vorm.

• Wanneer spoed verhoog word, sal die wig sterk genoeg wees om die suieras van die onderkant van laerhuls te lig, wat gemengde smering tot gevolg het.

• Teen hoë snelhede verhoog die oliefilm in dikte en druk, wat die asmiddelpunt verplaas en volle hidrodinamiese smering in werking stel.

Wanneer dit gebeur, is die druk van die olie heelwat hoër as die leweringsdruk van die oliepomp. Wanneer spoed afneem, word die smering weer gemeng van aard, dus in stadsverkeer met voortdurend veranderende ladings sal die asmiddelpunt tussen die twee posisies ossilleer, soos enjinspoed verhoog of afneem.

Olie se take In ouer enjinontwerpe is hoë olietemperature – die gevolg van die ontbrandingsproses, asook hitte deur wrywing opgewek – as onafwendbaar beskou, en min is gedoen om dit te beheer.

As olie te warm word, val sy druk en begin dit in so ’n mate degradeer dat dit sy smeringseienskappe verloor.

Dit kan lei tot gebreekte laers.

Deesdae bestaan die probleem nie meer nie. Nie net het die formulering van olie ongelooflik verbeter nie, in moderne enjin-ontwerpe word olietemperature tot so ’n mate beheer dat die vloeistof gebruik kan word om die enjin te verkoel.

Olie kan ook as roesweerder gebruik word, byvoorbeeld in die humiede atmosfeer van ’n krukas-kas waar dit aan die kompressieringe klou, en ook help met die verseëlingsproses. Tog, hoe verder dit oor tyd afbreek, hoe minder doeltreffend raak dit, wat ’n olievervanging noodsaak.

Olie-chemika Om al hierdie vorme van smering en beskerming te kan hanteer, moet olie aan metaaloppervlaktes hang sodat die relatiewe beweging wat plaasvind, die laag oliemolekules wat die wig vorm, opbreek. Die olie kan dit net vermag indien van sy molekules ’n chemiese affiniteit vir metale het.

Tog verwag ons dat olie ’n lang lewensduur moeet hê, wat beteken dit moet chemies stabiel wees – en daarin lê die teenstelling, want die meerderheid molekules moet dus NIE ’n affiniteit vir enigiets hê nie. Die uitdaging vir ’n olie-chemikus is dus om ’n balans tussen hierdie twee uiteenlopende behoeftes te vind.

Hoe kry olie dit reg om al hierdie funksies onder groot druk en uitetste temperature te vermag? Die antwoord lê in die komplekse verfynings- en mengproses wat voortdurend met aanhoudende enjintoetse geëvalueer en verbeter word.

Ru-olie is ’n komplekse mengsel van hidrokarbonate, sommige meer stabiel as andere, en benodig aansienlike raffinering om ’n basisolie te produseer. Die eindproduk word verkry deur middels by te voeg wat die onderskeie kwaliteite waaroor ’n olie moet beskik, te verander of te verhoog.

Basis-olies moet versigtig gekies word, omdat nie almal met die onderskeie bymiddels versoenbaar is nie. Die eerste kenmerk waaraan dit moet voldoen, is olierigheid. Dis nie met viskositeit vergelykbaar nie, maar is verantwoordelik vir die oppervlak-laag van molekules wat aan die metaaloppervlak vasklou en smering verskaf wanneer die meerderheid olie verplaas is.

Hierdie kenmerk kan verhoog word deur chemiese middels by te voeg. Hierdie bymiddels sluit in indeksverhogingsmiddels, akoonmaakmiddels, middels om slikopbou te keer, korrosie-inhibeerders en alkalie-agente om suur wat met ontbranding opbou, te neutraliseer. ’n Sink-samestelling word baiekeer bygevoeg om verwering tydens metaal-op-metaal kontak te verminder, maar dit word in kleinmaat gedoen om negatiewe effekte op katalisators te verhoed.

Sintetiese olie Wyl normale olie uit ru-olie verfyn word wat sekere onsuiwerhede bevat wat nie maklik verwyder kan word nie, bestaan die beste sintetiese olie uit molekules wat gesintetiseer is van eenvoudiger chemiese samestellings.

Hierdie proses maak dit vir chemiese ingenieurs moontlik om sekere eienskappe te kies en sodoende olies te produseer wat beter vloei teen lae temperature en nie so maklik teen hoë temperature afbreek nie.

Die woorrd “sinteties” word egter ook vir ’n mengsel van natuurlike en sintetiese olie gebruik, dus maak seker hiervan as jy ’n blikkie olie koop. Konvensionele olie is goed genoeg vir meeste normale aanwendings, maar die vervaardigers van hoëverrigting- en turboaangejaagde enjins spesifiseer gewoonlik die gebruik van sintetiese olie in hul enjins.

Viskositeit Viskositeit meet die vermoë van oliemolekules om aanmekaar te klou, en aangrensende olielae saam te sleep wanneer relatiewe beweging bestaan tussen ’n paar soliede oppervlaktes wat deur olie geskei word.

In normale ingenieurstaal kan mens sê viskositeit meet olie se vloeiweerstand. Tog, hoe hoër die temperatuur in ’n enjin, hoe laer is die weerstand, dus is enige viskositeitmeting betekenisloos as die temperatuur nie gespesifiseer is nie.

Om viskositeit behoorlik te meet is ’n komplekse proses, daarom het die vereniging van outo-ingenieurs (SAE) die SAE-nommerstelsel ontwikkel, ’n arbitrêre nommer wat die viskositeitomvang van ’n smeermiddel aandui.

Olies word op twee maniere gegradeer, afhangende van waarvoor hulle gebruik word. Olies met ’n viskositeitsnommer sonder die letter W is bedoel vir gebruik teen hoër temperature, en hulle gradering is gegrond op ’n minimum-viskositeit net teen 100˚ C bereken.

Olies met die letter W is bedoel vir gebruik teen laeer temperature, en die gradering is nie net gegrond op die minimum-viskositeit teen 100˚ C nie, maar ook die maksimum-grens vir pomp-temperatuur, asook as ’n maksimum laetemperatuur-viskositeit.

Multi-graad olies voldoen aan die vereistes van meer as een SAE-viskositeit, en kan daarom oor ’n wyer temperatuur-reeks as enkelgraad-olie gebruik word.

Die twee klassifiseringsnommers gee ’n aanduiding van onderskeidelik hul lae- en hoëtemperatuur-parameters.

So byvoorbeeld is ’n 20W-50 olie gegradeer vir lae temperatuur-gebruik (die letter W) en is dit relatief dun (nommer 20) teen lae temperature, maar redelik dik teen hoë temperature (nommer 50).

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

43

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FUELS & LUBRICANTS >>

Shaping the future with diesel Engines powered by fossil fuels will continue to dominate the world’s roads for years to come, with technical innovations continually reducing emissions, according to Bosch

A

equipment worldwide, that means an incredible total of over 350 million injectors.

With that ambitious deadline in view, the company’s engineers and technicians are developing concepts and systems to produce even more efficient technology for diesel engines.

The winning characteristics of commercial vehicles with diesel engines are their high mileage capabilities coupled with a long engine service life. For competent fleet diesel service and low-cost maintenance, with the support of a leading global supplier, rely on Bosch.

Vehicles powered by petrol and diesel engines will continue to dominate the roads for a long time to come. This will not be at the cost of the environment however – technical innovations are continually reducing emissions.

Bosch offers high quality parts, diagnostic technical solutions and technical training as well as Bosch Service franchised diesel workshops. Each new generation of vehicles arriving at the workshop features more sophisticated technical systems.

Bosch diesel components are found in passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and off-highway segments. These include the modern common-rail and exhaust-gas treatment systems, such as Departronic and Denoxtronic, which reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

Innovative strengths, within Bosch, are realised through significant research and development investment and recruitment of the right people. Development of Bosch associates is important to realise long term growth. Each associate commits to a value system focusing on results through a work ethos of openness and trust, fairness, responsibility, reliability, initiatives, legality and cultural diversity.

utomotive innovator Bosch forecasts that the global market for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles will total 115 million units a year by 2020.

Bosch has invested many years work in optimising diesel drive systems. Adapted to all weather conditions, the engine and control system are configured to maintain a permanent safety clearance within the limits of feasibility.

State-of-the-art diesel systems from Bosch, featuring Common Rail high-pressure pumps and injectors, made diesel more popular thanks to the fuel economy and smoother drive they offer. Bosch has to date fitted more than 50 million diesel injection systems as quality

46 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

Making Bosch automotive technologies accessible and affordable everywhere is one of our central aims. Another is continuously improving Bosch technologies to make driving clean and economical, as well as safe and comfortable. This is in line with our strategic imperative “Invented for life“.

For more details of Bosch diesel technology, visit www. bosch.co.za, or one of our distributors, Diesel-Electric, Africa Automotive Aftermarket Solutions or AutoZone.

FINANCE >>

Beating the credit crunch While South Africa’s economic climate has seen business confidence wane, opting to sweat existing assets – especially when it comes to transport and logistics – may not be in a company’s best interests, says John Loxton, General Manager of WesBank’s Fleet Management and Leasing Division

T

ransport is a vital cog for many businesses.

Whether it’s a fleet of five delivery vehicles, hundreds of company cars or an entire transport division, keeping the wheels of commerce turning remains paramount.

However, since economic forecasts for South Africa give rise to expectations of a further weakening in GDP growth, rising interest rates and a frailer exchange rate, many businesses are hesitant to invest in replacement vehicles, instead opting to prolong the life of their existing fleets.

Yet, this is a short-term solution, according to John Loxton, General Manager of WesBank’s Fleet Management and Leasing Division. He says that keeping cars, vans and trucks on the road beyond their sell-by dates comes at the expense of optimum resale values and increased downtime for repair and maintenance.

Loxton says a financially savvy approach would be to invest in full maintenance leasing, also known as FML. The model is structured to optimise cash flow and allows businesses far more flexibility for up- or down-scaling.

“FML solutions have evolved and are now completely flexible and transparent. In our experience this allows customers to structure leases that suit their business requirements. Further value

48 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

is added through managing clients individually, monitoring their fleets and then providing valuable feedback that allows them to restructure contracts based on usage trends,” he says.

According to Loxton, taking the FML route affords fleet and finance managers the opportunity to proactively reduce transport-related costs at a fixed rate. He maintains that, as a financial decision, the concept makes perfect sense.

“It provides fleet operators with the lowest cost of acquisition. Businesses also benefit from our expertise and industry partnerships, which deliver exceptional operational efficiencies. The aim is to deliver FML solutions that reduce transport costs,” he says.

Another advantage, says Loxton, is that in cases where businesses face difficult trading conditions or need to free up cash flow, leases can be cancelled at any time. “This is in stark contrast to financed assets where small businesses could be required to settle outstanding loans, most likely incurring substantial losses.

“Of course, the leasing route isn’t a one-size-fits-all remedy. Businesses should use experts who are able to align to their values, provide the best advice and tailor a solution that perfectly meets their needs,” he advises.

TAILPIECE >>

The IoT and the auto industry Pierre Bruwer, Managing Director of Ctrack SA, looks into the future of mobility

H

ow will the Internet of Things (IoT) impact the development of motor vehicles over the next five to 10 years? What innovations will be forthcoming?

What implementations? How will the changes potentially influence the industry and vehicle drivers?

Cars will be a major element of the expanding IoT. American analyst firm Gartner predicts that there will be a quarter billion connected vehicles on the road by 2020, enabling new in-vehicle services and automated driving capabilities. Drivers of the next generation want their cars to act as smartphones on wheels and would like to remain connected and productive while on the go.

Perhaps the biggest innovation will be the autonomous vehicle, or self-driving car. There is much speculation concerning the impact this will have on the industry and driver. Advocates predict that consumers will soon be able to purchase affordable self-driving vehicles that can greatly reduce traffic and parking costs, accidents and pollution emissions.

It is also expected that cars will be able to chauffeur non-drivers around their communities, reducing roadway costs and potentially eliminating the need for conventional public transit services.

The industry is abuzz about Big Data and everything being interconnected. The tendency of OEM installed tracking systems is accelerating. The business growth in this area is huge; however, the market still needs to address the real needs of consumers, truck owners and operators alike.

Currently, cars can perform function-specific tasks Take, as an example, a recent truck platooning without the driver’s input, such as cruise control, lane exercise in Europe, which was all over the Internet. guidance and automated parallel parking. Here, This shows the technical capabilities of systems, drivers are still fully engaged and responsible for but there is still a long road ahead before we see overall vehicle control. The next stage could see platoons of trucks on South African roads as a For more information contact Aaron Mcelu on 087 285 drivers disengage from vehicle operations under standard feature.

0500 or aaron.mcelu@rtia.co.za. certain conditions – for example, taking their hands Any business still requires crew members to interact off the steering wheel and foot off the accelerator with clients. Also legislation needs to be adapted. pedal simultaneously.

This will include legislation regarding speaking on However, full self-driving automation, where vehicles a cell phone whilst driving, licensing of vehicles and can perform all driving functions and monitor drivers, as well as the possible impact on claims roadway conditions for an entire trip, may still be a submitted against the Road Accident Fund. long way off.

This IOT concept is upon us, and it is going to be What of the driverless car? How likely is this to the whizz kids of this world who disrupt the markets become a South African reality? What still needs with newly built integrated technology. Behind the to happen before it will happen? What are the scenes, Ctrack is doing research with universities, challenges to uptake? and on our own, to advance and to lead some of To page 50 u

October 2016 / Future Trucking & Logistics

49

APPOINTMENTS >>

People moving up...

Recent appointments made within South Africa’s auto and related sectors…

Mercedes-Benz South Africa Jasper Hafkamp has been appointed Executive Director of Daimler Trucks & Buses’ Regional Centre Southern Africa, effective from December 1.

Bridgestone SA Bridgestone SA has announced the appointment of Gavin Young as its new CEO following the decision by former incumbent Mike Halforty to take early retirement.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa Kobus van Zyl has been appointed General Manager of National Automotive Industries in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between MercedesBenz Trucks and EA Juffali & Brothers.

t From page 49

these integrations. However, our view is to remain practical for the consumer and transport operator.

What are the leading trends and innovations with regards to technology and cars? Technology-driven trends are revolutionising the transport industry, among them comprehensive vehicle tracking and remote vehicle shutdown.

Comprehensive vehicle tracking Insurance telematics is fast becoming the norm in the South African insurance industry. Ctrack is at the forefront of developments in this area, where insurance premiums are calculated based on a person’s driving style and risk profile.

Called Usage-Based Insurance (UBI), this type of vehicle insurance allows for auto insurers to track mileage and driving behaviour using telematics.

These services measure a number of elements of interest to underwriters, including manoeuvring, speeds and distances travelled.

50 Future Trucking & Logistics / October 2016

CAIA

Bentley

Amon Nyamhingura has been appointed Responsible Care Manager at the Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA).

Bentley has appointed Dr Andreas Offermann as its new Member of the Board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, effective from November 1. He joins the company from Seat SA.

Barloworld Logistics

CAIA

Barloworld Logistics has appointed Shirley Duma as Director of Human Resources.

Duma has more than 20 years’ experience in the public, private and philanthropic sectors.

Dr Mlu Ganto has been appointed Head of Regulatory Affairs at the Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA).

Audi

NAACAM

Dr Thomas Müller, 45, has been appointed to succeed Ricky Hudi as Head of Electrics/ Electronics at Audi AG. The appointment is effective from December 1.

The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) has announced the appointment of Renai Moothilal as its new Executive Director.

Policyholders who practice good driving habits, such as sticking to speed limits, can be rewarded with discounts on their premiums. Ctrack has already partnered with a number of companies which have experienced improvements in their clients’ driver behaviour and a reduction in claims, showing a positive result in loss ratios.

Remote vehicle shutdown This technology already exists, with Ctrack leveraging it regularly. In recent years, we have shut down hundreds of stolen cars with our remote immobiliser function. We have, however, seen that most drivers still don’t know it can be done.

We believe that, in the next few years, remote vehicle shutdown will enter the social consciousness, negatively impacting nightly news ratings everywhere.

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