THE first four Sasolburg Owner-Drivers have successfully completed their initial five-year Service Agreement with Cargo Carriers.
The four Owner-Drivers have been responsible for specific deliveries of explosives under a contract (worth about R10-million) awarded by BME to Cargo Carriers in October 2002.
“The Owner-Drivers have now been offered a further five-year Service contract from mid-August 2008, as result of both Cargo Carriers and BME jointly agreeing that the programme is beneficial to both parties,” says John Sprenger, Manager Owner-Driver, Cargo Carriers.

“The four Owner-Drivers will again be responsible for specific deliveries of explosives under a new contract that has been awarded by BME to Cargo Carriers commencing in August 2008,” adds Sprenger.
“The replacement truck chosen for this particular contract is the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2650 LS33, ideally suited for long-distance on highway-transport.”
“It is fitting that the launch of the new five-year Service Agreement with the Owner-Drivers is officiated at Cargo Carriers Sasolburg Branch, where Mercedes-Benz has a long-standing relationship with their fleet of oil tankers,” says Rudie Walles, corporate sales manager, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services tailor-made this deal for the requirements of the Cargo Carriers Owner-Driver scheme, which includes a full services package, from finance, insurance and the necessary maintenance contract.

“Despite the fact that interest rates have risen by 2.5% in the last twelve months and diesel prices having increased by 73% over the same period, we are pleased that we have managed to put together a favourable solution, which will assist the owner-drivers in these difficult economic times,” says Walles.

The Mercedes-Benz Actros 2650 LS/33 is fitted standard with the premium sleeper cab with high roof, lateral sun visor (driver’s side) and electric tilting sun roof. Innovative technology includes the Telligent gearshift with the Voith retarder, as well as the exemplary Telligent brake system.
The driver assistance system such as the standard Lane Assistant ensures a significantly higher level of safety, is also available on the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2650 LS/33.
The Mercedes-Benz Actros has received a very positive response from fleet operators and drivers. The Actros has been a major success in recent years thanks to its acknowledged, high overall safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Driver training will be conducted on site in Sasolburg, by Mercedes-Benz Driver trainer Trevor Goodwin from the Mercedes-Benz Driver Training Academy.
The tree day Economic & Defensive driver training course’s main objectives are that the training will cover a range of topics including: vehicle familiarisation, pre-trip inspection, practical driving, fore-sight and defensive driving and a range of other road safety tips.