Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles has delivered more than 40 Mercedes-Benz readymix concrete trucks and aggregate carriers to owner drivers contracted to the KwaZulu-Natal division of cement, aggregate and readymix giant Holcim SA. The purchase of the vehicles is a reflection of Holcim’s rising order book and its confidence in the growth prospects for the province’s building and construction sector.
The contract required Daimler Chrysler to supply 33 Mercedes-Benz 2628 Axor tipper trucks with the tipper units fabricated by Transpec of Pinetown, 11 readymix carrier 2628 Axors and one larger 4140 Actros readymix carrier. The deal, won against stiff competition from other truck manufacturers and importers, came about as a result of three factors. The first two of these involved the expansion and replacement of Holcim’’ existing fleet of ageing vehicles, the oldest of which was a 20-year-old Mercedes-Benz 2628 V-series aggregate carrier. Holcim then decided to use the process as an opportunity to further promote BEE through its already well-established owner-driver programme.
Lenny Hambraj, the recipient of the first tipper vehicle, said the opportunity to shift from being a hired employee to an owner-driver had transformed his life and for this he wanted to thank Holcim KwaZulu-Natal general manager Alex Hall. It is what I have always dreamed of, but never considered possible, he said. In terms of the deal Hambraj and his colleagues have been contracted to servicing Holcim’s aggregate and readymix transport needs for an initial period of five years while they pay off their vehicles.
