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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