A difficult and complicated task lies ahead of any transport manager in South Africa. Potholes, toll roads, expensive fuel and spare parts, and non-negotiable deadlines are all part of the problems that are putting increasing pressure on logistics services in South Africa.

Practical experience of a Scania owner

There is nothing you can tell Dirk Booysen about these challenges. He has worked in the industry for the past 25 years and currently serves as the National Fleet Manager for South Bakels (Pty) Ltd, a company that specialises in manufacturing, distributing and technically supporting high quality bakery ingredients to the South African market
since 1948 and whose head office is located in Johannesburg.

“Our trucks are sent all over the country, and even as far as Namibia to ensure that our customers receive the necessary products on time. It requires long hours on the road, and we cannot afford to lose productivity due to standing time. We cannot afford to have trucks stranded on the side of the road due to breakages,” says Dirk.

That is why Dirk decided in 2018 to make an investment in the Scania R500 truck that rolled off the production line in that year. “Scania has a very good reputation in the market. Scania trucks don’t break down, and the parts last a long time and are very reliable. That is why we decided to buy the Scania,” says Dirk.

Dirk Booysen (South Bakels) and David Reynders (Scania South Africa) who have been working together for years to ensure that the Scania R500 2018 model remains fully operational and carefree for nearly one million kilometres.

1 million kilometers down the road

This Scania R500 has done just over 990 000 kilometres since its purchase in 2018. “What makes it even more remarkable is that every kilometre has been driven with the original engine, gearbox and differentials. Apart from the usual regular servicing, none of the larger components of this truck have been replaced,” explains Dirk..

After-sales service you can rely on

When it’s time to service the truck, Dirk arranges it with the Scania workshop in Johannesburg about a week in advance. The truck is then sent to the workshop on the appointed day, and later that day it is handed back to the owner. This usually happens on a weekend as the truck has to drive throughout the week to make deliveries. Servicing fleet vehicles over weekends is testament to Scania’s dedication to excellent after-sales service.

“We have never had to wait for spare parts,” Dirk boasts of the service he receives from Scania.

The secret to so many kilometres on the truck is pretty simple, says Dirk. First and foremost, you need to invest in a brand that is not necessarily the cheapest, but that uses the best quality steel to manufacture the parts. Secondly, you should never allow the vehicle’s servicing to be skipped, and thirdly, it is important that the truck’s driver is well trained, and that the truck may only be driven by that driver. In this case, Mohau Morajane can proudly say that he is the driver of this truck, who has been with the truck for every kilometre on the road.

According to David Reynders, the representative of Scania South Africa’s New Truck Sales department, Scania puts the customer’s needs first. “We understand that customers’ trucks can’t stand still. That is why we make sure that the quality of our product is the best in the market, and that we then follow it up with excellent after-sales service.”

Nelisiwe Nkosi, Marketing Manager of Scania South Africa, hands over a gift to Mohau Morajane, the driver who has driven the Scania R500 truck for almost a million kilometres.

Trucks that last

Scania’s components are manufactured from the highest quality materials. Therefore, this truck is not the only unit that has driven almost a million kilometers. According to David Reynders, there are also others of the older models that still transport goods on a daily basis. From the company’s founding in 1891, Scania has had a name in the industry that is synonymous with products that are reliable, durable and long-lasting. Therefore, fleet managers prefer these vehicles over other brands. The combination of high quality, long-lasting parts and after-sales service that puts the customer’s needs first, and support from Scania to ensure that customers do not have to wait for parts, makes Scania the first choice for prospective clients.

Joseph Kgasu, Mohau’s Fleet Controller at South Bakels, congratulates him from the company’s side on the exceptional achievement of almost a million safe kilometres without accidents or breakdowns.

Visit the Scania website for more information about the excellent products and services Scania offers to farmers.