In agricultural transport, timing is everything. Loads need to move when crops are ready, delivery windows are tight and every kilometre has an impact on the bottom line. For Warden Boeredienste, that makes reliability, fuel efficiency and dependable after-sales support critical – and it is where DAF Trucks, supported by Babcock, is proving its value.
Warden Boeredienste is an agricultural chemical and transport business operating across South Africa, moving produce including potatoes, onions, pumpkins and citrus for customers around the country. For director Dawid Pretorius, transport is a natural extension of the company’s agricultural operations – but it is also a demanding business in its own right. “Agriculture is without a doubt one of the most challenging transport sectors to be in, but also the most rewarding,” says Pretorius. “We’re against the clock on every load and need to be on time with every load.” That pressure makes truck selection a business decision that goes far beyond the initial purchase price.
Looking for an edge
Warden Boeredienste operates a mixed fleet, giving Pretorius the opportunity to assess different truck brands in comparable working conditions. When DAF was first proposed to him, one claim in particular caught his attention: fuel consumption. “As a transport company, we’re always looking for an edge above our competitors,” he says. “Alec told me about the fuel consumption, and that’s something I had to see for myself.”
The results have given him exactly that.
During the Eastern Free State potato season, Warden Boeredienste regularly transports loads to Cape Town. With different truck brands carrying comparable loads over the same route, Pretorius has been able to see the difference in real operating conditions. “The DAF has consistently used between 75 and 90 litres of diesel less than the other competitors,” he says. Warden Boeredienste has achieved fuel consumption of 3.09 km/l – equivalent to approximately 32 litres/100 km – in its DAF operations. For a transport operator, those savings are not simply an impressive statistic. Repeated across loads and over the life of a vehicle, fuel efficiency translates directly into operating margin. As Pretorius puts it: “That’s profit at the end of every month if you’re getting better fuel economy than the competitors.”
More than fuel economy
Fuel efficiency may have initially attracted Pretorius to DAF, but the trucks have subsequently proved themselves in other areas that matter to the operation. He highlights reliability and torque under load, together with a driver environment that has been well received by the people spending long days behind the wheel. Drivers have particularly commented on the quiet cab, generous interior space, comfort and practical layout. “The trucks have really proven their reliability, driver comfort and, most of all, their fuel economy,” says Pretorius. “The DAF is really a complete package.” That reliability becomes particularly important during harvest periods. “During harvest, every hour counts,” he says. For Warden Boeredienste, keeping its trucks moving ultimately means keeping its promises to customers – delivering produce where it needs to be, when it needs to be there.
Support when it matters
Pretorius says the relationship with Babcock, the authorised DAF Trucks dealer in southern Africa, has been another important part of the experience. Warden Boeredienste has made use of a number of Babcock service centres while operating around South Africa, and Pretorius says the level of support has been consistently positive. “Babcock has got a lot of service centres across South Africa. We’ve used quite a few of them and we have had great service from each and every one of them.” That support was put to the test when one of the company’s trucks experienced a significant problem. “Alec and the Babcock team went above and beyond to get the unit back running as soon as possible,” says Pretorius. For an operator working against tight agricultural schedules, that responsiveness matters. A truck standing still is not earning revenue – and during peak season, lost hours can quickly become lost opportunities.
From three DAFs to five
Perhaps the strongest endorsement is what Warden Boeredienste did next. Having initially introduced three DAF trucks into its fleet, the company subsequently added another two. Pretorius says the decision to grow the DAF fleet came down to the fundamentals: reliability, fuel economy and after-sales service. After two years of operating the trucks alongside other brands, he has a straightforward answer for transport operators considering DAF. “The DAF is a well-built truck with good after-sales support, great fuel consumption and definitely a truck worth considering, all supported by Babcock.”
For Warden Boeredienste, the numbers – and the decision to come back for more – speak for themselves.
