Fleet Management
Our fleet management team is backed by the latest technology to ensure optimal availability and productivity. These include following strategic areas:
- Fleet Maintenance
- Vehicle Optimization
- Driver Management
- Health and Safety
Du Plessis Sand operates an immaculate fleet of late model vehicles. All vehicles are purchased with full maintenance contracts from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). This enables us to focus on our core business which is the safe and timeous delivery of our customers’ goods, while our equipment receives expert attention form product-specific trained professionals. Having our vehicles serviced by the OEM, also contributes to the second hand value of our fleet.
Routine inspections and preventative maintenance is carried out by our fully equipped in-house workshop which includes the following facilities:
- Dedicated inspection bays.
- Service and general maintenance workshop.
- Dedicated tyre maintenance facility.
- Dedicated welding/manufacturing facility.
- Spray paint and cosmetic repair facility.
- Fully equipped wash bay.
We take vehicle maintenance very seriously and our workshop is equipped to carry out our own wheel alignment, hydraulic repairs, tyre repairs, aluminium welding, sandblasting, spray painting, etc. We also have 24/7 roadside assistance units on standby in the unlikely event of any on-road problems.
All mechanical maintenance related activities are managed and recorded with the help of Freeway Fleet Maintenance software. Freeway provides comprehensive and flexible import, integration and smart data capture processes specifically designed for the Transport Industry. Freeway assists with proper Asset Records, Cost Analysis, Maintenance Schedules, Workshop & Supplier Management, as well as Inventory.
Tyre maintenance is managed by means of Intasect Tyre Management software, developed specifically for this purpose. Intasect utilizes tablet technology and web based design to address the shortfalls of other “paper-based” tyre management systems. Most importantly, Intasect ensures a verifiable “cradle to grave” audit trail on all tyres and tyre related costs.
In terms of vehicle optimisation, our objectives are as follows:
1. To measure the performance of our drivers.
2. To get insights how driving behaviour impacts fuel consumption and maintenance.
3. To Empower and motivate our drivers to make a positive change in driving style by:
- Providing professional eco-driving training and real-time feedback tools.
- Using navigation devices with live traffic information for efficient, stress-free driving and reduced mileage.
- Rewarding fuel-efficient driving.
TomTom Webfleet provides both the fleet manager and drivers with detailed driving behaviour information. The OptiDrive 360 module helps drivers adopt a responsible driving style by delivering direct feedback during and after each trip which in turn helps to lower fuel consumption and maintenance cost. OptiDrive 360 includes the following performance indicators:
- Speeding
- Driving Evets (Harsh steering and sudden breaking)
- Idling
- Fuel Consumption
Each vehicle is fitted a with built-in tracking device and driver terminal for navigation, real-time traffic information, as well as communication with the office. This system offers the following advantages:
- Drivers have access to best-in-class navigation.
- With status, location and ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) information, Webfleet enables the control room to identify the next job’s most suitable driver.
- Job instructions are sent to each driver’s device with order details, full address, contact details, as well as any special instructions.
- Customers are provided with the industry’s most reliable arrival-time information.
Our company follows a strict selection process in the appointment of drivers, which include certain minimum qualifications and experience, practical testing, as well as background checks for possible offence history. Candidates are then further assessed by an external psychometric assessment institution in order to determine their compatibility and potential in a variety of operational circumstances. Upon selection, new drivers are accompanied by a Driver Trainer for the first few deliveries to ensure that they fully understand the company’s loading and off-loading procedures.
We believe that proper driver management minimizes risk and improves productivity and efficiency. Therefore, in addition to satellite tracking, all vehicles are fitted with DriveCam.
DriveCam is an on-board visual incident recording device which has obvious advantages such as:
- Providing irrefutable evidence regarding collision investigations
- Vital information relating to true conditions surrounding incidents
- Reducing time spent on investigations
- Assisting with possible liability and fraudulent claims
- Facilitating timeous addressing of problem areas relating to driver attitude and positively influencing driver behaviour
Through the use of DriveCam’s solutions we are able to reduce our fleet operating cost:
- Preventing collisions – Collision cost reductions in Property & Auto Liability and Workers Compensation claims.
- Preventing fraudulent claims– DriveCam’s exception-based video captures indisputable evidence when an event occurs, protecting our drivers and fleet from fraudulent or errant claims.
- Positively influencing driver behaviour – Through continuous, case specific training and education, it is possible to change attitudes and maintain good general driver behaviour.
DriveCam also offers a variety of important indirect benefits, such as:
- Protecting our drivers from the devastating impact of being involved in a collision and exonerating them when they are in a no-fault collision.
- Protecting our brand by minimizing high profile incidents that could cause bad publicity.
- Exemplify good corporate citizenship by contributing to a safer and more environmentally conscious community.
Du Plessis Sand recently passed SQAS accreditation with a score of 97%. This confirms that we meet the highest international standards set for the logistics industry which take into account health, safety and accountability towards the environment.
Other short term goals in terms of health and safety accreditations include ISO18001 and RTMS.