Capital Equipment News MAY 2016

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS MAY 2016 38
Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA)
and its partner organisations place
fleet owners and drivers at the
forefront with their innovative Fleet Owner
Workplace Programme
In line with the 2015 National Transport
Month theme of Together we move South
Africa forward, Freightliner Trucks – a divi-
sion of Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA)
– supported one of its most valued custom-
ers, OneLogix United Bulk, in launching its
Fleet Owner Workplace Programme. The
celebration took place at the company’s Van-
derbijlpark and Worcester depots at the end
of 2015.
OneLogix United Bulk was established in
1996 and has since expanded to a fleet of
more than 226 vehicles operating through-
out southern Africa. The company specialis-
es in providing a solution to any liquid trans-
port requirements, whether the product is
agricultural, chemical, food grade, or liquid
petroleum gas.
“The Onelogix United Bulk Workplace Well-
ness Policy is a commitment by our company
to the wellness and safety of our employees,
their families and other road users,” says
Patrick Pols, Managing Director: One Logix
Bulk United.
“As a dangerous goods transport company,
we are committed to maintaining a healthy
and safe work environment by protecting the
health and well-being of all our employees by
raising awareness, promoting wellness and
educating staff about specific diseases such
as HIV and TB,” he adds.
The Fleet Owner Workplace Programme is an
extension of the MBSA workplace wellness
strategy that has been putting the company’s
employees first for over a decade, adding
to the automotive giant’s ability to achieve
profitable growth and contribute to the so-
cio-economic success of the country.
The concept for the Fleet Owner Workplace
Programme came about as a result of MB-
SA’s involvement in the Trucking Wellness
project, an initiative of the National Bargain-
ing Council of the Road Freight and Logis-
tics Industry (NBCRFLI), which provides an
education and basic health care service to
truck drivers along the major freight routes
in southern Africa. This includes the dissem-
ination of information, testing and treatment
of HIV and Aids and other lifestyle illnesses.
A need was identified to provide a more ho-
listic approach to the management of health
and wellness on the part of the fleet own-
ers. As a provider of transport solutions to
the freight industry, MBSA is able to support
fleet customers and their truck drivers with
an additional benefit that will enhance their
sustainability and profitability.
Key outcomes of the Fleet Owner Workplace
Programme:
• Increase understanding around, and
reduce the impact of, HIV and Aids and
other lifestyle diseases.
• Increase capacity to prevent and manage
disease.
• Benefit employee health, life expectancy
and job retention.
• Information, education and screening
around health issues.
• Assist fleet owners to develop, imple-
ment, monitor and evaluate a sustainable
Workplace Wellness Programme (includ-
ing the development of policies, systems
and processes).
Dirk Meyer, Brand Manager for Freightlin-
er South Africa explained the reason be-
hind MBSA’s decision to back the industry
through the initiative: “Collaborations are key
not only for Freightliner but for the whole of
MBSA as we strive for the sustainability of
the transport sector in southern Africa, with
employee wellbeing being a key contributor.
The OneLogix United Bulk and MBSA Fleet
Owner Workplace Programme is going to
be impactful in that it places truck driver
health and safety firmly on centre stage,”
he says. b
MERCEDES-BENZ SOUTH AFRICA
supports United Bulk in truck driver wellness