Imperial Logistics has invested R1.6 million and devoted 12 months to a vehicle testing project that enables the group to identify the ideal vehicle for different long-distance routes in South Africa in the interests of efficiency and cost savings.
Francois Ehlers, technical executive at Imperial, explains that the year-long project has focused on premium brand 6 x 4 tractor trailers, with primarily European units evaluated. “A total of 10 different vehicles were tested, and these represented the latest technology and specifications from the different manufacturers,” he says. “Our aim was to ensure that Imperial clients could expect the right ‘tool’ for the task – in this case the vehicle that delivers the best performance and fuel economy on a particular route, thereby driving our clients’ competitiveness.”
Imperial’s test drives were carried out on five different routes: Johannesburg to Cape Town, Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth to East London, East London to Durban and Durban to Johannesburg. Ehlers notes that a detailed schedule was followed by the test drivers in order to minimise variables. “Driving time was not a factor, since our selection of vehicles tested was based on certain horse power and torque capabilities. We set an 80km/h speed limit on the test. For every route tested, our drivers left the starting point at the same time, to remove variables like the effect of air temperature on fuel consumption.”
Ehlers reveals that at the end of the exercise, all of the premium brands assessed performed equally well in terms of the drivers’ scorecards. “Our aim was to see if there were any driver perception issues that really stood out, but, ultimately, all the units tested received similar high ratings from the drivers.”
Imperial’s vehicle selection model has enabled the group to identify a limited number of premium brands that are best suited for each route, and focus on adding these to its substantial fleet of more than 5 300 vehicles.
