Industry’s top companies named

Which companies are at the top of the game within the transport industry? All has been revealed, with the announcement of the 2009 Focus on Excellence Awards finalists…

The programme, sponsored by WesBank, has come to represent the premiere accolade within the transport industry. The announcement of the finalists follows an extensive research process, during which thousands of interviews take place.

This year, the research team asked a whopping 61 553 questions to respondents, before compiling the list of finalists.

The entire research process is conducted by Scott Byers, and the results are then verified by PricewaterhouseCoopers, to guarantee the complete integrity of the programme.

The results are beyond dispute. Each and every year, there are companies that are desperately disappointed by the outcome – because they have not won. But this is when the customers speak out each year. The companies in the industry are judged by thousands of transport operators and users, who know precisely what they are talking about. They know which companies are good, which companies are bad, and which firms are just mediocre. And they rate them accordingly; by naming the companies and products that they believe to be representative of true excellence.

Competition was exceptionally tough this year. “Given the difficult economic climate, it’s clear that service levels have reached new heights. Companies in all sectors are going the extra mile to deliver exceptional client service and retain their customers,” says Chris de Kock, executive head of sales and marketing at WesBank. “I hope that this culture of exceptional customer service continues once the tough times are over. WesBank is proud to be the official sponsor of the Focus on Excellence awards for the second year running. We believe recognition of excellence within the industry is important, particularly under current circumstances,” notes De Kock.

THESE ARE THE FINALISTS FOR 2009:

BEST LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

(GVM BELOW 3 500 KG):
Ford SA
General Motors
Hyundai
Nissan SA
Toyota SA Motors

BEST MEDIUM COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

(GVM 3 500 TO 8 500 KG):
Hino SA
Isuzu Truck SA
Mercedes-Benz SA
Mitsubishi Fuso
Nissan Diesel SA

BEST HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

(GVM 8 500 TO 16 500 KG):
Hino SA
Isuzu Truck SA
MAN Truck and Bus
Mercedes-Benz SA
Nissan Diesel SA

BEST EXTRA-HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE (GVM 16 500 TO 22 500 KG):

Freightliner
MAN Truck and Bus SA
Mercedes-Benz SA
Navistar International
Nissan Diesel SA
Volvo Southern Africa

BEST COMMUTER BUS:
MAN Truck and Bus SA
Mercedes-Benz SA
SCANIA South Africa
Volvo Southern Africa

BEST TOURING COACH:
MAN Truck and Bus SA
Mercedes-Benz SA
SCANIA South Africa
Volvo Southern Africa

BEST SUPPLIER OF FUELS:
BP Southern Africa
Chevron SA
Engen Petroleum
Shell SA

BEST SUPPLIER OF LUBRICANTS:
BP Southern Africa
Castrol
Chevron SA
Engen Petroleum
Shell SA

BEST TYRE:
Bridgestone
Dunlop
Firestone
Goodyear
Michelin

BEST SUPPLIER OF TYRE SERVICES:
Bandag
Maxiprest Tyres
Supa Quick Auto Centres
Trentyre
Tyres 2000

BEST TRANSPORT OPERATOR:
Hestony
Imperial Logistics
Super Group
Unitrans

BEST BUS OPERATOR:
Mega Bus and Coach
PUTCO
Hylton Ross
Greyhound
Springbok Atlas

BEST TRAILER SUPPLIER:
Henred Fruehauf
AFRIT
Motortrail
Top Trailers
Transpec

BEST TRUCK SUPPLIER:
Freightliner
Hino SA
Navistar International
Isuzu Truck SA
Nissan Diesel SA
Volvo Southern Africa

VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE BEST SALES SUPPORT:
Hino SA
Isuzu Truck SA
MAN Truck and Bus SA
Nissan Diesel SA
Volvo Southern Africa

VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE BEST SERVICE SUPPORT:
Freightliner
Hino SA
Isuzu Truck SA
Mitsubishi Fuso
Nissan Diesel SA

VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR WITH BEST PARTS SUPPORT:
Hino SA
Isuzu Truck SA
MAN Truck and Bus SA
Mercedes-Benz SA
Mitsubishi Fuso

The purpose of the awards programme is two-fold: it aims to improve standards within the transport industry and it also aims to recognise excellence.

It is an immense honour for each and every one of the companies to be nominated as finalists. It proves that they are doing an exceptional job within their respective sector. Well done to all these companies!

De Kock concurs, “Our manufacturer partners are thrilled to be recognised within their industry. There is a very strong incentive for them to continue focusing on excellence through good and bad times, as it not only builds their reputation in the short term, but also harnesses customer relationships in the long-term.”

The Focus on Excellence Awards enjoy massive industry support. The following industry associations have all endorsed the awards programme: Automotive Component Remanufacturers’ Association (ACRA), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILTSA), Engine Remanufacturers’ Association (ERA), Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (FESARTA), Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), Motor Parts and Equipment Association (MPEA), National African Association of Automobile Service Providers (NAAASP), National Association of Automotive Component & Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), National Vehicle Testing Association (NVTA), Road Freight Association (RFA), Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), RMI Towing Association (RMITA), Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA), South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association (SAPRA), South African Vehicle and Body Builders’ Association (SAVABA), Tyre Dealers’ and Fitment Centre Association (TDAFA) and the Truck Rental Association (TRA).

The winners in each category will be announced at the awards banquet, sponsored by WesBank, which takes place in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 3 November.