Author:mariska-morris

Vehicles at the click of a button

With numerous online platforms listing a variety of vehicles, finding the ideal truck for the job has never been easier. MARISKA MORRIS takes a closer look Gone are the days of roaming the city in search of dealerships that stock that very specific model or body type that is ideal for the company. Transport operators can now see what the industry has to offer from the comfort of their air-conditioned office. Companies interested in used vehicles are at an added […]

Read more

More trade routes for Russia

Over the next six years, Russia aims to spend around R1,3 trillion on expanding and improving its transport infrastructure. MARISKA MORRIS takes a closer look Although Russia is nearly 14-times larger than South Africa in its circumference, it has one of the lowest population densities in the world with only 8,4 people per square kilometre compared to South Africa, which has a population density of 44,7 people per square kilometre. With so few people in such a large country, it is […]

Read more

Packed in eco-friendly wrappers

It might have started out small with some pushback against single-use plastic bags, but the demand for more environmentally friendly packaging is becoming a trend no one can ignore. MARISKA MORRIS investigates Packaging often needs to be multifaceted. It must appeal to the customer purchasing the product, be durable and compact to make transportation easier and, most importantly, it has to be affordable. Plastic meets all these requirements. However, more customers are becoming concerned with the impact of plastic on […]

Read more

Technology finally disrupting minibus-taxi industry

With new technology emerging and the launch of the Uber Bus service in Africa, there might finally be a force to disrupt the South African minibus-taxi industry. MARISKA MORRIS reports. The South African minibus-taxi industry was once thought to be untouchable. Despite its informal and unstructured nature, the industry is the main mode of transport for about 7,2 million of the 14,2-million households in South Africa and carries 3,7-million employees to work, according to a Stats SA report by statistician-general […]

Read more

Vision zero starts with improved road safety

With the new general safety regulation, the European Parliament, Council and Commission hope to achieve zero fatalities and serious injuries on the road by 2050. MARISKA MORRIS takes a closer look at the changes and the potential impact. In March, the European Parliament, Council and Commission agreed on the revised General Safety Regulation, which includes 15 new safety technologies that will be mandatory in all vehicles in the European Union (EU). The Commission expects these technologies to save more than […]

Read more

Home away from home

Comfort can have a big impact on driver behaviour – the greatest factor impacting fuel consumption. MARISKA MORRIS investigates the importance of in-cab ergonomics Whether the driver is travelling hundreds of kilometres to deliver goods across South Africa or making shorter trips in urban areas for last-mile delivery, the cabin design of the vehicle can have a big impact on driver comfort and fatigue. “The cab is the place in which drivers spend most of their working life. The ergonomics […]

Read more

Nissan invests billions in Rosslyn

A R3-billion investment from Nissan Group of Africa to manufacture its new Navara in South Africa promises to create new jobs, increase the use of locally sourced parts and support local business. MARISKA MORRIS reports Nissan Group of Africa announced a R3-billion investment in its Rosslyn plant to prepare for the mass production of a new model of the Nissan Navara for local and international markets, which is expected to start in 2020. The investment will also create around 1 200 […]

Read more

Taking back the wheel

The person with the most impact on how a vehicle performs is, arguably, the driver. MARISKA MORRIS finds out why. On a daily basis, transport operators entrust their drivers with their vehicles and their clients’ goods. More importantly, the operators trust drivers to deliver the goods on time and in a cost effective way. Key to this is monitoring driving behaviour and providing drivers with training to improve their behaviour. However, before employing drivers it is important for transport operators […]

Read more

UD expands its family

Two new additions to the UD Trucks Southern Africa vehicle range are expected to be game changers, according to the Japanese original equipment manufacturer (OEM). MARISKA MORRIS reports. In March, UD Trucks Southern Africa introduced two new additions to the range of vehicles for its South African clientele at a launch held at Sun City. In total it has launched four new models in three years, with the Kuzer and new Quester aimed at disrupting their respective sectors. The Kuzer […]

Read more

A shift to rail

With talk of a 1 500-km Zimbabwean rail project and the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line, MARISKA MORRIS asks whether transport of bulk goods in southern Africa will move from road to rail. Botswana has made railway development a priority. While discussions around developing the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line (TKRL) have been taking place for some time, the country has started taking more concrete steps. Botswana Railways signed a memorandum of understand (MoU) with the Namibian national railway, TransNamib, in January and issued tenders […]

Read more