Author:vic-oliver
Inspect the unexpected January 15, 2024 Regular 30-minute inspections of fleet vehicles will lower maintenance costs and reduce unnecessary and costly roadside breakdowns, writes VIC OLIVER. Most of the truck manufacturers marketing heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs) in South Africa have extended the service intervals of the vehicles they sell. In long-distance operations, service intervals have been stretched to over 50,000km โ and in some of the more recent models this is getting closer to 100,000km! This is great for operators, […]
Keeping your view crystal clear January 15, 2024 Over many years of auditing heavy vehicles, VIC OLIVER has been amazed at how many truck drivers fail to keep the front windscreens of their vehicles clean. The lack of a crystal clear view may even be the difference between life and deathโฆ Many drivers start their journey with a dirty windscreen, without checking that there is sufficient water in the windscreen washer holder. Windscreen wiper blades are another oft forgotten check […]
Donโt tire of tyres February 1, 2023 As the second highest variable cost factor in a long-distance trucking operation, truck owners and fleet managers cannot afford to ignore the management and control of the tyres in their fleet, says VIC OLIVER. With the high spike in fuel costs that South Africa has witnessed over the last few years, many long-distance truck operators have applied their full focus to fuel consumption, but have neglected the management of tyres โ to their […]
While drivers of heavy articulated vehicles are often blamed when their vehicles jackknife, sometimes these incidents are beyond their control Two recent horrific road accidents in the Roodepoort area of Gauteng involving heavy-duty articulated vehicles that jackknifed and spilled their entire loads into the road, prompted me to write this article. After both accidents the roads, were closed for several hours, resulting in massive traffic delays and very frustrated motorists. The general public is always very quick to blame the […]
Early signs of rising operating costs for heavy vehicles in 2020 are clearly evident. Truck and bus owners therefore need to take action to control and minimise these costs Road transport operators cannot always pass on rising costs to their customers. Therefore, the only way to stay ahead and continue to make a fair profit is to reduce operating costs. The best people to reduce vehicle operating costs are the men or women behind the wheel, as they have complete […]
Truck operators are asking some serious questions about the future of the e-tolls The procrastination by the ANC and the other authorities involved in the decision of whether or not to scrap the Gauteng e-toll system has led to unfair competition between truck fleet owners who pay their daily Gauteng e-toll fees and those operators who refuse to pay. While law-abiding truck fleet owners pay their daily e-tolls, many truck owners have never paid and others have recently stopped paying, […]
Maintaining a competitive and profitable transport business means keeping careful watch on a host of key performance factors, says VIC OLIVER The start of the New Year is a good time for road transport operators to re-examine the management of their businessโs key performance areas. Good management saves money and increases profits โ but practices and processes need to be continually monitored, refreshed and upgraded, especially given the type of tough, competitive market environment that has been forecast for this […]
Overloaded goods vehicles do considerable damage to road infrastructure โ but understanding how permissible maximum combination mass is determined will help truck operators to stay within the law. VIC OLIVIER explains Confusion and a lack of understanding with regard to the permissible maximum combination mass rating of a truck tractor is common in the trucking industry, since the information is not displayed on a vehicleโs data plate. The information cannot be stamped on the data plate as it is determined […]
Truck owners would be well advised to train their drivers in the art of advanced driving, as there are many benefits to be reaped Following recent observation of the driving skills of truck drivers, I have come to the conclusion that the majority of long-distance, extra-heavy vehicle drivers display far more professionalism than those who drive small delivery trucks. In my experience, the majority of long-distance drivers seem well versed in advanced driving skills; they abide by road traffic regulations […]
Maximise the life of your truck and reap the economic rewards In the tough economic environment in which todayโs road transport owners operate, it has become essential to extract the full lifespan potential from a vehicle at the lowest possible maintenance cost in order to retain a healthy profit margin and remain competitive. In order to do so, transport operators need to avoid expensive repairs to, or replacement of, major components such as engines, transmissions and drivetrains. Although it might […]
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