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CONSTRUCTION WORLD

AUGUST

2017

50

TRUCKING

With its focus on crane trucks and all the

applications they fulfil, Jacobs Transport

was formed in 1999 by brothers Gys and

Seun Jacobs. It has grown into a signifi-

cant player in the field of machine-moving

and rigging, and is a one-stop shop for

abnormal loads.

From their modest beginnings, when they

started out with one second-hand crane

truck, the company’s fleet now includes a

range of crane trucks with lifting capacities

from 3-ton to 36-ton, truck tractors with

flat deck and dropsides (from 18 to 32

ton capacity), vehicle mounted cranes,

dangerous goods vehicles and abnormal

load vehicles.

Their first Scania – a G420 – was

acquired in 2010, and this was the start of

a firm relationship; in fact, since 2014, they

have bought no other brand for their core

functions. Little wonder, as Scania prides

itself on trucks that deliver productivity

and reliability, along with class-leading fuel

economy, excellent total operating economy

and low emissions.

“Today, there are 13 Scania trucks in

the fleet, and these help us to deliver on

our promise to clients of reliability and

affordability,” said co-founder Gys Jacobs.

“The Scania business philosophy also

aligns well with the four pillars that we

base our work on: best business practices,

quality management, top-class service and

personalised relationships with our clients.”

To support this drive, Jacobs Transport

implemented the international quality

management system ISO9001: 2015 in 2016,

to streamline the business and manage both

the internal and external environment to the

mutual benefit of clients and the business

“Our commitment to clients – many of

whom have been with us since we started

18 years ago – means that we maintain an

average 97% service level,” said Jacobs, “and

our quality systems help us maintain this

high benchmark for our service.”

To ensure optimal reliability and minimal

downtime, while working within a fixed

budget, Jacobs Transport has acquired 11

of their Scania trucks with comprehensive

repair and maintenance contracts. This

gives them peace of mind at a budgeted

cost, keeping the asset in good condition

and lowering the risk of breakdowns.

“What this full repair and maintenance

contract means is that the customer’s

monthly costs for servicing a vehicle are

fixed and predictable – allowing better

budgeting,” said Scania sales executive

in charge of the Jacobs account, Lance

Strachan. “It will often also cover aspects

that are not covered in the warranty period –

so there are no surprises for the customer in

terms of unexpected costs that could

be disruptive.”

For Jacobs Transport workshop manager

Dawie Coetzer, the experience of owning the

first G420 model really “planted the seed”

for the future Scania purchases. Coetzer

said the choice of Scania made good sense

in terms of a number of considerations.

Fuel consumption is always a primary

concern for any fleet operator. Scania’s

modern engines achieve excellent fuel

economy, and the trucks combine this with

weight optimisation, aerodynamics and tyre

pressure to optimise fuel consumption.

“Good fuel consumption translates

into large savings when you consider the

amounts over an expected 8-12 year life of

a vehicle,” he said.

“The fuel generally makes up about a

third of the truck’s operating cost, alongside

the driver and the maintenance, so it needs

to be as low as possible.”

Since Jacobs Transport’s purchase

of their first G420, Scania’s technology

has continued to advance – with further

improvements in fuel efficiency.

According to Strachan, the advance from

a 12-litre to a 13-litre engine in the more

recent G410 models acquired by Jacobs

Transport has brought lower revs and an

even better fuel economy.

“Safety and durability are other vital

factors in our choice of trucks, and Scania

delivers on both,” said Coetzer. “A good

example is the excellent retarder system

in the Scania, which allows our drivers to

stay safe on steep downhills by setting their

speed without having to rely on or over-use

the brakes.”

He said that drivers appreciate the

comfort of the vehicles, and this contributes

to a safe journey.

“After the sale, the vehicle needs to

be put to work and to create value for the

owner,” said Coetzer. “This is where Scania’s

performance as a service organisation is

a big plus factor for us – as their service

capacity helps us keep downtime to an

absolute minimum. We often send a vehicle

in for a service and have it back that

same afternoon. Parts availability is also

very good, which speeds up any repair or

maintenance that must be done.”

The footprint of support that Scania is

able to offer Jacobs Transport is across

Southern Africa, right up to the Democratic

Republic of Congo.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

partner together

Alrode-based specialist transport

firm Jacobs Transport has made

Scania its supplier of choice for

its core truck fleet, with both

companies sharing a deep-seated

commitment to quality and

customer service.

FROM LEFT:

Hilton Butler, Jacobs Transport founders Seun and Gys Jacobs and Pieter Kruger in

front of a new Scania G410 fitted with specialised crane.

By Paul Crankshaw