Given that fuel generally constitutes up to 60% of most transport operators’ total operating costs, fuel-efficient vehicles are key to ensuring that businesses stay both financially and environmentally sustainable. For Lebalangwe, a leading mining logistics company that operates about 170 trucks, this was central to the decision to introduce DAF Trucks to its fleet.
Having tried to convince the customer to go the DAF route for some nine years, Piet Kemp, sales executive at Babcock’s Transport Solutions business, finally had his breakthrough when Lebalangwe agreed to trial a DAF XF 530 FTT unit on its three main routes. Impressed by the truck’s fuel efficiency, the mining logistics operator went on to purchase its first 10 DAF units, before its parent company, Jabula, followed suit with an order for 10 more DAF trucks.
All the DAF XF 530 FTT units in Lebalangwe’s fleet have been specified to meet performance-based standards (PBS), including increased horsepower and torque to pull loads of up to 75 tonnes. The PBS approach, as certified by the Road Transport Management System, offers flexible design rules, allowing truck and trailer combinations to perform safely while carrying larger payloads. Some of the key benefits of PBS include increased gross combination mass, increased cubic capacity, improved productivity and freight efficiency.
Cost per kilometre, says Kemp, is a critical parameter in such a taxing operating environment, which is why Lebalangwe places high value on fleet management technology to keep track of fuel consumption across its whole fleet. For a business that relies on its fleet for its livelihood, telematics solutions play a vital role in measuring fuel consumption and reducing it.
“Every truck is tracked and monitored 24/7 using the latest telematics technology to maximise fuel efficiency and maintain safety. Managing Director Jaco Pretorius and his team run a very streamlined operation and have full insight into every vehicle’s performance,” says Kemp. “Based on the feedback from the client, the DAF XF 530 FTT continues to deliver outstanding fuel economy under the toughest operating conditions, delivering improved fuel savings compared with some of the competitor offerings in the same size class.”
While fuel economy was behind Lebalangwe’s decision to switch to DAF, Babcock’s strong after-sales support and parts availability have ensured customer satisfaction and cemented a strong working relationship between the two companies.
“Every hour that a truck is off the road impacts the bottom line. With that in mind, Babcock provides reliable aftermarket support long after the sale is made, thus enhancing uptime, productivity, efficiency and ultimately profitability for our customers. Strong aftermarket services remain a growing opportunity for us to stay competitive and build strong customer relationships with companies of Lebalangwe’s stature,” says Kemp.
“Cost per kilometre, says Kemp, is a critical parameter in such a taxing operating environment, which is why Lebalangwe places high value on fleet management technology to keep track of fuel consumption across its whole fleet. For a business that relies on its fleet for its livelihood, telematics solutions play a vital role in measuring fuel consumption and reducing it.
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