Capital Equipment News July 2018

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS NEWS

25 years of Volvo’s flagship FH truck

A unique driver focus, and a revolutionary cab paved the way for the instant success of the Volvo FH when launched in 1993. It was also the most technically advanced truck of its time. A quarter of a century later it remains an innovative leader within areas that directly benefit drivers, such as safety and driver care. Add numerous ground- breaking inventions within environmental care and productivity, and it’s clear that the Volvo FH has changed the world of trucking – and the OEM says there is still more to come. In South Africa, the Volvo FH, specifically the FH440 6x4 T-T, was the single most sold heavy-duty truck in the year 2017, which is testament to a quarter century of the Volvo FH driving progress. “Locally, the Volvo FH is as much a drivers’ choice as in the rest of our markets. The FH440 6x4 T-T model sold just over 860 units last year and the closest competitor model at around 670 units. We are so happy to be celebrating the 25-year anniversary of this iconic truck,” says Torbjörn Christensson, President of Volvo Group Southern Africa. Claes Nilsson, President Volvo Trucks, sees the Volvo FH as the backbone of Volvo Trucks when it comes to image as well as creating profitability for the customers, while offering a state of the art workplace for the drivers. He recalls how this bold introduction in 1993 marked the start of a

In South Africa, the Volvo FH, specifically the FH440 6x4 T-T, was the single most sold heavy-duty truck in the year 2017.

very successful time for Volvo Trucks. “We were coming towards the end of a recession but decided to make a big push. This proved a real success. We launched the FH at the right time and had the most attractive product when the economy and transport market turned upwards again,” says Nilsson. The first version was based on a new chassis whose dynamic design facilitated flexible solutions for different transport applications. Everything had a clear business focus, including the fuel-saving aerodynamics, ground-breaking driveline and the Volvo Engine Brake. Top all of that with the new cab and the Volvo FH was

announced as something special. Volvo Trucks early on decided to put the driver as the focus and over 1 500 drivers took part in extensive research clinics. The end-result – a safer and comfortable cab that created a whole new driving, resting and sleeping experience. “There are so many possibilities to create fantastic improvements. We will explore all of them to make sure that the Volvo FH remains the drivers’ first choice and keeps delivering profits for our customers. Without revealing too much, it’s safe to say that the coming years will be even more exciting than the first twenty-five,” concludes Nilsson. ❂

TruckX adds the revs

Now in its fifth year, TruckX – South Africa’s all-encompassing, interactive event for the commercial transport industry – has moved things up a gear. With a new headline sponsor, new industry partner- ships and new events in parallel, TruckX 2018 is set to surpass the record-breaking support it received last year. The event takes place on July 11 and 12 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand. “In line with our vision of creating an industry event that gives visitors an interactive, hands-on, practical experience, a full-blown exhibition and outside events were added to TruckX last year,” explains John Thomson, the exhibition organiser. “To enable this, TruckX moved from Sandton Convention Centre to Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. This really worked. TruckX had its highest number of visitors ever – over 2 100 people.” Thomson expects to increase attendance at this year’s show by 50%, since support from the industry for the new format has been extremely encouraging. “There is a crying need for a conference and exhibition of this calibre,” says Japie Burger Transport Manager at ZZ2, a farming conglomerate operating 104 trucks. Norman Pillay, MD of Jesslyn Carriers, agrees: “The expo showcased how technology in the transport industry is changing rapidly and evolving with the times. TruckX is an excellent opportunity to get updates of events and to stay ahead of industry developments.”

Global energy group Shell has taken headline sponsorship for this year’s event. “We believe that TruckX and FleetX are invaluable industry events. Shell South Africa is proud and delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to be one of the headline sponsors for 2018,” says Bongani Motloung, sales manager of Shell South Africa. The TruckX conference aimed at owners and operators of trucks and heavy vehicles, offers a diverse menu of topical issues addressed by industry experts. Day One will focus on heavy commercial transport issues. Topics on this year’s agenda include: the challenges of running big commercial fleets; connectivity in the commercial vehicle space; as well as getting the most from commercial vehicle tyres. ❂

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