Capital Equipment News June 2017

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS NEWS

Logistics giant Dachser continued to grow in fiscal year 2016, generating consolidated gross revenue of around €5,71 billion – representing a consolidated revenue increase of 1,7% on the previous year. The number of shipments rose by 2,4% to 80 million, and tonnage by 2,4% to 38,2 million tonnes. The growth was driven by European overland transport as well as food logistics. “Despite the volatility of the global economy, we were able to maintain our stable market position through organic growth at the previous years’ levels, while simultaneously developing solutions for tomorrow’s market,” says Dachser CEO Bernhard Simon. In the Road Logistics business field, which accounts for 75% of Dachser’s total revenue, the European Logistics (EL) business line profited from the company’s consistent export strategy, which resulted in a 2,4% increase in net revenue to €3,5 billion. Shipments and tonnage increased by 2,2 and 2,3%, respectively. “Our country organisations have benefited Dachser on a sound growth path Recently, the South African transport minister controversially pointed out that the sentences for drunk driving may be too light, and that drivers who are responsible for causing accidents while under the influence of alcohol should be treated in the same vein as murderers and rapists. While a harsher penalty may seem to be a deterrent, will it really curb the number of drunk driving incidents in South Africa? In South Africa, the legal limit for what constitutes as ‘over the limit’ is already rather strict, at .24mg/ ℓ for private vehicle licence holders and .1mg/ ℓ for professional vehicle drivers in possession of a Professional Driving Permit (PDP) licence, such as taxi, bus or truck drivers. This is significantly lower than that of many countries, such as the UK, yet we are still seeing higher rates of drunk driving incidents and accidents than the UK does. In countries such as the UK, drunk driving is frowned upon – and not just by the police, but by a person’s peers. There is a stigma – a general air of disapproval – attached to getting behind the wheel of a car when a person has had more than a drink or two. This negative social perception of drunk driving means that people simply do not let each other drive when they have been drinking. This is the kind of social perception we need to generate in South Africa, in order for our drunk driving statistics to start falling.

Dachser has increased the volume of its planned investments from €125 million in 2016 to €177 million in 2017.

all around from the strong demand for cross-border transports in the European single market. As far as the exchange of goods is concerned, Europe is and will remain stable and closely interconnected,” comments Simon. Meanwhile, the company has increased the volume of its planned investments from €125 million in 2016 to €177 million in 2017. The main focus of these investments lies on expanding network locations, IT systems and research and development. “We are intensively studying all aspects of the logistics solutions of the Creating an environment in which drunk driving is seen as a negative thing starts with education, from a grass roots level. If driving drunk, or any other alcohol influenced behaviour, is perceived as a bad thing and the “cool factor” is removed, right from when people are first introduced to the idea that alcohol causes drunkenness – often in primary school already – then, it stands to reason that people would better get behind anti-drunk driving and sober designated driver campaigns. More visual educational drives around the effects and consequences of drunk driving should be effected at schools, in a similar vein to those talks and presentations given on the risks and dangers of narcotics. Imposing harsh penalties in a country which does not yet have a mindset geared towards sober driving habits may seem like the answer, but it can be seen as a short- term fix with deep consequences. Rather than implementing new, harsher penalties in reaction to the rising number of drunk driving incidents, those in power could benefit greatly from strategising with the private sector to develop awareness and education campaigns, while enforcing an attitude of accountability among our law forces. We already have strict legal drinking limits in place, with appropriate penalties, however these are not always enforced as

future and the extent to which they can be digitalised. Dachser has launched group- wide innovation processes at numerous levels in order to maintain its pioneering role in the industry,” says Simon. The logistics provider has also invested in the expansion of its contract logistics services, creating more than 350 000 m² of additional warehouse space providing room for over 300 000 pallets in the past two years alone. Dachser can thus now offer its customers over two million pallet spaces in almost 200 warehouses on four continents. b well as they should be. South African law enforcement agencies should also be held accountable for the part they play in keeping drunk drivers off of our roads. In the United States of America, in an attempt to reduce police brutality claims and enforce accountability, police forces have successfully implemented a technology whereby police officials where a vest mounted with a live stream video camera which they are unable to remove or operate themselves. This ensures that police forces adhere to their code of conduct and leaves no room for misunderstanding or misappropriation of rights – both for the officer and the alleged offender. If implemented locally, a similar technology implemented could well ensure that police forces are not only effectively enforcing the law, but also protects them against abuse and false claims, for both drunk driving incidents and more. Harsh penalties could help to engender a feeling of fear of the consequences of drunk driving, but are unlikely to reduce the number of incidents without the magic trio: awareness or education about the effects of drunk driving from a grass roots level; a feeling of responsibility for our own actions generated by a negative social perception of drunk driving; and enforcement of the law. b By Rhys Evans, Director at ALCO-Safe

Changing the mindset around drunk driving

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