Capital Equipment News April-May 2020

has been an option since 2015. Using the Scania Fleet Management System (FMS) or information supplied by the customer, the company can ensure that the customer’s costs are always in line with their revenue, even during seasonal peaks and fluctuations caused by volatile market conditions. With Scania’s R&M contracts, the OEM takes on all the risk in the case of a costly repair, leaving the customer free of any surprises that may affect their cash flow negatively. Additionally, Scania’s R&M contracts are recognised by all of its wholly-owned dealerships and independent workshops across southern Africa. This means one account for the customer, managed centrally, allowing flexibility if operations or routes change. The flexibility of the Scania R&M contracts is another major benefit for fleet operators. Scania is able to create unique packages for its customers, starting with a base R&M agreement and adding on specific inclusions based on the end user’s needs, including services like wheel alignment, trailer maintenance and hydraulic systems, among others. Pinard says vehicles that have been on R&M contracts generally have a higher resale value when it’s trade-in time. For peace of mind, each customer with a Scania R&M contract has a dedicated customer care representative who can handle and expedite all types of queries, ranging from sales to aftersales, and even accounts. “This allows the customer to have one point of contact and a speedy resolution always,” concludes Pinard. b

Premier Logistics employs a 3-year/600 000 km replacement cycle for its Scania trucks.

includes one dedicated person monitoring the customer’s vehicles, including fault codes, driver evaluation and scoring and a host of other areas, freeing up time and resources for fleet owners to focus on their core business.” Key advantages Pinard says there are various reasons why truck owners should purchase vehicles with R&M contracts. R&M contracts, he says, allow fleet owners to budget more effectively over the life of the vehicle, by allowing them to know what their maintenance cost will be for the next few

years upfront. “It also decreases the amount of

administration and personnel required from the customer’s perspective,” says Pinard. “Contracts are invoiced monthly rather than having to provide purchase orders or make payments every time a vehicle visits the workshop.” This, he says, also allows “us to decrease the amount of time spent in the workshop and getting the vehicle back on the road as soon as possible”. Pinard says around 90% of Scania’s R&M contracts are invoiced according to actual kilometres travelled, and this

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