Hino has announced its customer Capco, the Durban-based stockist, distributor and manufacturer of ceilings, partition systems and components, has decided to continue its long-running relationship with the truck brand, by buying the first of the Wide Body Hino 500 1627 rigid freighters to be sold in KwaZulu-Natal.

Naveen Moodley, transport manager at Capco, explains: “Capco was established in 1989 and for most of its existence the company has used Hino trucks exclusively in its transport fleet. Being a customer-focussed business, we require reliability, more than anything else, from the transport department and here the Hino trucks have built up an excellent record. Only on a few rare occasions have I been let down by a mechanical problem with one of these trucks. They are hassle-free as well as being cost- and fuel-efficient.”

Capco already boasts 11 Hino trucks at its head office and warehouse in the Riverhorse industrial complex in Durban as well as a further nine at its Gauteng warehouse. The range includes 1.5-ton 4093 light trucks as well as 2626 Hino 700 truck-tractors and rigid freighters, used mainly for long-haul operations and transporting loads of up to 38 tons. The truck-tractors have superlink trailers with tautliner bodies.

One of the newer additions to the fleet is a Hino 300 614, with its less than 2.2-metre hight, can enter parkades which is proving a boon to the company. The two 700 Series 2626 rigid freighters are fitted with rear-mounted HIAB Moffett M4 forklifts to aid loading and unloading. All the rigid freighters are fitted with drop side bodies made and fitted by L&S Body Manufacturers in Pinetown.

Moodley continues that truck utilisation is very high, with all vehicles tracked and monitored by a live Geotab system. The trucks travel wherever they are required, with the 700 models operating mainly between Capco’s Durban and Johannesburg warehouses.

Servicing of the Capco fleet is carried out by Hino Shelly Beach when the trucks are under warranty and then routine maintenance is undertaken by Capco’s own technician. When required, the dealer sends one of its four mobile service units to Capco’s premises or the dealer collects and returns trucks serviced at its premises in Shelly Beach on the South Coast. Servicing takes place every 20 000km.

The Hino trucks are giving long service, with several of them being 2005 and 2006 models, while the first 700 Series truck-tractors covered 900 000km before being traded in on a new model. The drivers, which are all screened and evaluated personally by Moodley, have dedicated trucks, which the transport manager says contributes to low maintenance costs. The other Hino trucks operate mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring provinces but also go on long-haul routes when necessary

“We are a tightly-knit team at Capco with many loyal team members with long service. We are all dedicated and committed to providing the best customer service in the industry and here our fleet of Hino trucks have an important role to play,” concludes Moodley.