MG Carriers enters the fray with DAF Trucks

Major South African bulk liquids transporter takes delivery of 5 DAF Trucks

To expand its footprint into the dry goods market, bulk liquids transport specialist Bakers Tankers last year established its MG Carriers subsidiary. Having initially used Bakers Tankers’ trucks for the new venture, the company has now taken delivery of five new DAF XF Super Space Cabs from Babcock, the first ever fleet to be owned and operated under the MG Carriers brand.

Bakers Tankers is a specialist bulk liquids transport company created in 2008 as a division of the highly successful and respected Bakers Transport Group. Having worked in the family-owned business since 1978, MG Tayoob established Bakers Tankers at the height of the global economic crisis. Key to the success of the business from the onset, even in the face of the tough economic conditions at the time, was the identification of a specialist niche market, that of bulk liquids transport.

Since then, Bakers Tankers has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the highly competitive transport landscape in southern Africa. The company has proven itself as an expert carrier of volumetric cargoes. Its success has over the years been driven by a combination of its vast knowledge of the transportation and chemical industries, steadfast commitment to its customers and, most importantly, a driver workforce that is prompt and professional.

Building on its strong relationships with fuel companies, the company is expanding its business into the dry goods market, initially focused on packed products, in the form of lubricants. “The MG Carriers business, which is named after me, will be run as a separate entity with its own fleet of trucks,” explains Tayoob.

MG Carriers, says Tayoob, won’t necessarily be limited to the transportation of lubes; the company will eventually expand into other sectors of the dry goods market.

Five new trucks

MG Carriers purchased its own first fleet of trucks, the five DAF XF Super Space Cabs on June 12 this year. This is the first time Bakers Tankers has owned and operated DAF Trucks.

Why DAF? “Babcock gave us a very good deal,” says Tayoob. “The package they put together – which includes tailor made maintenance plans and a favourable arrangement toward the second economic life of the vehicle, speaks directly to our unique needs.”

The five trucks will run with tautliners, transporting lubricants between Durban and Johannesburg. Another key consideration in opting for the DAF range, explains Tayoob, was Babcock’s comprehensive support footprint along the N3 route. Following the establishment of Babcock’s DAF Trucks dealerships in Johannesburg and Durban to support the N3 long-haul route.

Explaining what makes the truck tick, Fayyaz Adam, sales executive at Babcock’s Transport Solutions business, says greater driver comfort and fuel economy, coupled with Babcock’s commitment to its “trusted to deliver” mantra on the service side of the business, makes DAF Trucks a competitive value proposition for transport businesses. “In DAF we have a vehicle that is high in productivity and low in operating expenses,” says Adam.

Adam believes that the MG Carriers deal is significant in Babcock’s quest to further grow DAF Trucks’ market share in the local transport industry. “It’s extremely important,” he says. “The prestige of the Bakers Group buying into DAF is proof that confidence in the brand is rapidly growing in the South African transport industry. This is a major step towards our goal to become the preferred supplier of extra heavy commercial vehicles in South Africa.”

One of DAF truck’s standout features, explains Adam, is its ability to perform optimally and efficiently in a wide range of climates and applications. Its day-to-day performance is further reinforced by DAF Trucks’ proven fuel consumption.