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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
AUGUST
2017
“The advantage of our dealership network
is that they are all Scania-owned,” said
Strachan. “So wherever a truck needs
attention, that dealership will have access
to all the customer information on our
central database – and can attend to them
without delay. Where there is no dealership
in an area, we have a Scania approved
service provider.”
Coetzer said this support network was
an important benefit, as Jacobs Transport
operates throughout a number of southern
African countries.
“We travel and work all over this region,
so we need that assistance – we need that
assurance that we are covered, to help
manage the risks of our business,” he said.
The next important factor in the purchase
decision is the durability of the truck; this
is a function of its advanced design and
manufacturing excellence, and makes for
longer life and lower cost of ownership.
He highlighted how the quality of their
trucks could be measured in the way they
age. “When a truck ages well, this has a
huge effect on our target of a minimum
eight-year lifespan,” said Coetzer. “We find
that they cost little more to maintain as they
age; they are the kind of trucks that you
want to keep for eight years, as they still
deliver the same value and reliability.”
He said the durability of the Scania
vehicles means that the value they add to
the business every day remains more or less
constant; they also still have a resale value
when the business needs to rejuvenate
the fleet.
Coetzer emphasised the importance of
considering the overall life-cycle cost of
truck ownership – the big picture.
“The initial capital
cost is not our main
concern when selecting
a vehicle,” he said. “We
have decided on Scania
trucks because of what
they can offer, in terms of
bringing value to
our business.
“Take the turn-around
time during servicing,
for instance. The way
Scania manages their
operation is important
to us; it means that I
can take a problem to
their workshop manager,
and I know there will
be a quick decision,
and action will follow.
We don’t have lengthy
procedures or processes
that cost us money, while
a truck stands idle.
“In this respect, nobody can beat Scania
South Africa’s approach and efficiency; they
outclass everybody.”
A factor of increasing importance to
transport companies and their clients is the
issue of exhaust emissions.
“For us, it is a selling point that our
Scania trucks have low carbon-emissions
ratings, especially for our larger corporate
Jacobs Transport’s
colourful livery on one of
the company’s recently
acquired Scania
G410 units.
BOTH PHOTOS:
Truck cranes
on Jacobs Transport’s new
Scania trucks demonstrate
their capacity.
clients,” said Jacobs. “They want to know
what our carbon footprint is, and it needs
to contribute to their own sustainability
targets. Our Scania trucks, with their
advanced engineering and lower emissions,
help us do that.”
Like Scania, its customer Jacobs
Transport is finding success through quality,
innovation and a never-ending quest to meet
and exceed their customer’s expectations.