Construction World August 2017

TRUCKING

It has not only been top in the combined score for 10 quarters, but has also been top in the Service and Parts categories for 10 quarters, while ranking second in the Sales category following the latest survey in the second quarter of 2017. Hino had a combined score of 97,46 for sales, service, and parts, compared to an industry average of 92,91 for the 17 brands surveyed quarterly by Scott Byers. The Service rating was 97,42 compared to the industry average of 92,07 while Parts rated 96,46 compared to the average of 91,57. Hino placed second in Sales with a score of 98,49, compared to the industry average of 91,31. Hino performed particularly strongly in the Parts category, gaining top scores in all eight comparative aspects of Parts supply surveyed. “We are very proud to have achieved a 10 th consecutive quarter as the highest ranked truck brand in South Africa in terms of customer satisfaction, but we are certainly not going to rest on our laurels,” said Ernie Trautmann, the Vice President of Hino SA. “We realise that customer satisfaction is a moving target and generally, in South Africa, the movement is upward in terms of the Scott Byers scores. This means we must continue to try even harder to satisfy the needs of our customers to retain our leading position. “A great deal of credit for our ability to improve our scores in recent years is due to the implementation of the international Hino Total Support programme. This involves building and maintaining strong relationships between Hino Japan, Hino South Africa, our suppliers and the Hino dealer network to ensure our customers have a partner they can trust to deliver,” explained Trautmann.  Setting the pace Hino South Africa and its 66 dealers have notched up their 10 th consecutive quarter as the top-ranked truck brand in South Africa in terms of the Scott Byers Comparative Customer Satisfaction Monitor.

UD Trucks employees from the company’s head office and its assembly plant in Rosslyn recently celebrated the end of an era, as the last unit of the legendary UD55 to UD100 Medium Duty range came off the line early in June. This series has now been replaced by the new Croner MDT range, which is now assembled at the Rosslyn plant. During the early post-1994 days, the requirements for local content changed and the then Nissan Diesel planned to replace the Medium Duty range known as the CM Range. It consisted of seven variants ranging from the CM19 to the CM16. Fitted with ADE engines and Astas transmissions, the plan was underway to replace them with the all new A520 range. The range was originally launched in 1997 with FE6-series engines and the MLS- and MPS-series of Nissan Diesel transmissions. During its lifespan, the A520 to A899 range went through three major facelifts. “The UD55 to UD100 range served our customers loyally for more than 20 years,” said Gert Swanepoel, managing director of UD Trucks Southern Africa. “This is one product range that we can truly say is a legend in its own time. It consistently achieved more than 20% market share in its segment and also spent a good many years as the top selling MDT in the local industry.” With more than 20 723 units sold since its launch, there are still approximately 75% of these still in operation – evidence of its durability and appeal in the market. “A few of our staff that are currently working on the assembly line, where also present when the original range was introduced,” said Aubrey Rambau, Rosslyn Plant general manager. “So not only are we celebrating a legendary series, but also our legendary staff who have ensured the range’s ongoing quality and success.  Celebrating a legendary truck range “So not only are we celebrating a legendary series, but also our legendary staff who have ensured the range’s ongoing quality and success.”

Ernie Trautmann, the vice president of Hino SA.

The new Croner range.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD AUGUST 2017