MAN ready to go!

The transport industry is a demanding one. You don’t want to buy a truck and then wait … and wait … and wait for a body. MAN’s ingenious “Trucks to Go” programme is the solution.

Put simply, Trucks to Go offers takeaway trucks that are productive from day one. That’s because, thanks to this innovative concept, MAN will supply South African customers with a full service offering – a heavy commercial vehicle that already has a body fitted to it.

CEO of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, Bruce Dickson, says that the company decided to launch the concept in South Africa because of the immediacy of the product offering. “A chassis-cab is an incomplete vehicle and cannot be used by customers to generate profit without a body fitted. Having pre-bodied units available for sale directly means customers don’t have to factor in body production lead times when purchasing a vehicle. The customer can, therefore, capitalise on business opportunities immediately by putting these vehicles directly into operation,” he explains.

Cost effectiveness will depend on the customer’s requirements; the selected bodies are based on common body specifications in the industry. However, in cases where customers are looking for something outside this scope, the normal procedure will apply. “Obviously we will still have chassis-cabs in stock to satisfy these individual requirements, and the conventional approach to bodying these vehicles applies. However, where the Trucks to Go body specifications meet, or closely approach, the customer’s application requirements, this will most definitely be the most cost-effective route to follow. We have negotiated exceptionally competitive body prices, and the customer can start earning money appreciably earlier than normal,” says Livingstone Mulaudzi, senior product manager, MAN Truck & Bus.

Trucks to Go vehicles that will be available are typical distribution vehicles within the heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) segment, but the range can be expanded to include other models in other applications and segments such as in the construction industry (with tippers). “This first phase has incorporated a mix of VW 13.180 4×2 BB, VW 15.180 4×2 BB and CLA 15.220 4×2 BB models with standardised dropside, van and tautliner bodies,” says Mulaudzi. These bodies range in lengths from 6,2 to 7,5 m (internal) with legally achievable payloads of approximately 6,5 to 8,5 metric tonnes and internal volumes of approximately 36 to 44 m3.

The bodies are procured from selected body manufacturers, which satisfy MAN’s rigorous quality and delivery expectations. “The programme has been running since June 1 and so far the response has been good from the sales force and several customers,” Mulaudzi reveals.

The Trucks to Go scheme is all about variety, value for money and convenience. In the current economic climate, more and more operators want immediate, cost-effective solutions either to meet new contract opportunities or replace vehicles lost through accident or “old age”. This is a one-stop-shop for whole vehicle acquisition and it makes sense to ensure operators can continue with the same convenience and quality once the vehicles are on the road. So, for operators with an immediate need for trucks – Trucks to Go offers an economical and flexible route to a sound business solution.