Capital Equipment News September 2019

COVER STORY

The new NTG R560 comes with a spacious cab for increased driver comfort.

for demanding drivers. It offers class- leading comfort, visibility and control. You can also specify desired equipment levels and an array of extras,” says Kaufmann. Based on Scania’s understanding that a comfortable driver is a productive one, the R560 comes with a spacious cab. Customers can opt for either a double bunker or a single sleeper. MJ Energy opted for a single bunker and replaced the second sleeper with extra storage, which offers increased luxury for the driver. “Driver comfort is an important factor in increased productivity. For example, the NTG R-Series comes with a refrigerator on board. Our drivers no longer need to stop on the way to grab their refreshments, which is a key factor in early arrivals,” says Fernandes, adding that it’s such small matters that have vast impact on overall profitability of a transport business. Support matters A good product is one thing, and being able to offer unparalleled aftersales support to keep the wheels turning is quite another. Fernandes is of the view that “no other company” matches Scania from a service perspective. For him, it’s

the whole service experience, all the way from sales and financing, to insurance and aftersales. For all the different services he may require, in Kaufmann, he has a single point of contact at Scania South Africa. “If you want peace of mind in the long-haul transport business, just go with Scania,” says Fernandes. “They go the extra mile. As a forward thinking company, they understand that their business thrives when transporters keep the wheels turning. The service is just out of this world.” Scania’s total solutions approach is a turn-on for Fernandes. For example, he has already purchased five of his Scania trucks using Scania’s in-house finance facility. “I have found that Scania’s financial services provide flexible financing to suit my business plan and budget. Their trade-in and buy-back options also help keep our fleet operationally effective, at a lower cost,” says Fernandes, adding that going forward he will only use Scania Finance for his new truck purchases. Apart from Scania Finance, Fernandes also finds great value in Scania Fleet Management Services. The technology allows him to make decisions based on

facts. As a cunning businessman, he understands that the key to operational efficiency lies in the ability to transform real-time operational and logistical data into valuable, actionable information which impacts his entire business. “With Scania’s fleet management portal, I am able to monitor vehicle performance, fuel consumption, loading and unloading, driver behaviour, safety follow-ups and route planning – helping me improve efficiency and reducing overall maintenance costs,” says Fernandes. From an aftersales support perspective, Fernandes believes that Scania’s wide branch network is the key to keeping truckers on the road. The quick response times in case of breakdowns help reduce truck downtime. “For these reasons, it will be very hard to convince me to buy any other truck brand,” he declares. “To keep our customers’ productivity high and their fuel expenditure low, Scania constantly strives to improve its trucks and services. By constantly refining the three cornerstones of fuel economy – vehicle, driver and services – we are able to help our customers like MJ Energy thrive,” concludes Kaufmann. b

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS SEPTEMBER 2019 6