RoadsUD Trucks - Going the Extra Mile since 1935

ISSUE 3 | 2016

Papua New Guinea

Japan

A story of frontiers

Plowing through winter

MalaysiaMaking a nest in a transport depot

Roads ISSUE 3 | 2016

Papua New Guinea

Japan

Malaysia

A story of frontiers

Plowing through winter

Making a nest in a transport depot

UD Trucks - Going the Extra Mile since 1935

Papua New Guinea A story of frontiersThe builder of Port Moresby

Welcome to the last edition of Roads in 2016. In this winter issue, we take you to the land of snow in the East – the island of Hokkaido in Japan – where we meet the unsung heroes who ensure our safety on the roads in periods of snowy weather. On Japan’s nor thernmost is land of Hokkaido, where snow falls for about six months a year, the reliability and work of these special UD Quons are vital to ensuring daily life and the region’s economy continue whatever the weather. We invite you behind the scenes, where you’ll discover the snow teams’ preparation, dedication and extreme driving skills.

On the south side of the Equator, Christmas falls in the summer holidays, and for some brings extremely high temperatures and tough working conditions. In Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monier Group, the largest construction group on the island, has to deal with high temperatures and humidity all year long. UD Trucks has been Monier’s long-term partner for many decades, and has provided the UD legacy models to the current UD Questers. The two companies have worked alongside each other to pave the roads, construct the buildings and contribute to the emergence of a thriving capital. UD Quester is designed to be a dependable partner in any demanding environment.

Another Quester customer we visited is Chia Transportation in Malaysia, founded by Dato’ Chia Kee Mong. This self-made man is also a generous contributor to his community. During a recent landslide across a highway, his 10 Questers demonstrated their robustness and reliability as they worked 24 hours a day, for seven days straight, to clear the road. Over a span of 30 years, Dato’ Chia has developed his business from a building materials yard to a turnkey solution provider, operating from quarry to construction site. For daily operations, he now relies on Quester; he appreciates its low operating costs, strength, and drivability.

November is a chilly season in Tokyo, but at the UD Experience Center located beside the Ageo Plant and UD headquarters, the atmosphere is heated. The final rounds of two major competitions have just been battled out. The UD Gemba Challenge is a global competition among UD service workshop teams, where the aftersales service teams around the world put their knowledge, skills and teamwork to the test. Congrats to Kerak Telor, from Indonesia, who dominated a very high-level challenge! And congrats to Yuzairi Bin Ibrahim of ASAC Logistics from Malaysia, who came first in the UD Extra Mile Challenge, out-performing the three other highly skilled Quester drivers in a competition simulating the real delivery world.

In Japan, customers from 130 companies took part in a large test-drive of the ESCOT- Ⅴ equipped Quon. The event was organized at the F1 Okayama racetrack and reproduced some of the most difficult circumstances a driver could find on real roads. Read the testers’ reactions to the most sophisticated automatic gearbox now available on the market.

As 2016 draws to a close, it is time to look towards the coming year. I would like to sincerely wish you a wonderful and fulfilling 2017. On our side, our designers, engineers and factory workers have worked hard to prepare an even more exciting 2017 for you!

May the New Year bring you everything you could wish for!

Nobuhiko KishiSVP Brand and Product, UD Trucks

Dear friends,UD around the world

Roads is published by UD Trucks Corporationwww.udtrucks.com

PublisherKenneth Hagaskenneth.hagas@volvo.com

Editor-in-chiefVanessa Materninivanessa.maternini@volvo.com

UD runningAgeo City Marathon & Bridge to Brisbane

UD gemba voiceUD Trucks Ageo Plant and Bangkok Plant

Australia PW 24 280A new member in the UD family

Japan Quon test-driveThe ESCOT-Ⅴ circuit experience

Malaysia Making a nest in a transport depot

Gemba Challenge 2016 finalsCompeting to serve customers at the highest level

Extra Mile Stories Thailand3 reasons why Quester is my truck of choice

Trucker Tips & TricksKeeping your truck spotless

ISSUE 3 2016

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Japan Plowing through winter

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Extra Mile Challenge 2016A quest to go the extra mile

UD Trucks assembly facility inaugurated

Quester introduced at Ho Chi Minh City International Motor Show

First work experience for junior high school students at a UD Customer Center

Denko Trading Co Ltd., a major player in the petroleum bulk stations and terminals industry in Myanmar, recently received delivery of 20 units of UD Questers, shortly followed by a day of training for 20 of its drivers. In early September, Hub Thailand delivered an “On Road Driver Training” course at Denko’s depot. The course started by taking the drivers through some theory, such as engine RPM and torque, UD-EEB, gear-shifting skills and fuel saving techniques.The practical training followed and focused on physical observation and daily checks as well as a cab tilting demonstration. All the drivers spent time behind the wheel with a trainer riding in the cab with them.These courses are delivered as standard training for all UD Trucks customer drivers and are conducted by UD Trucks Professional Trainers’ team.

UD Trucks furthers its capacity in Indonesia – one of the largest truck markets in South East Asia. On top of two offices, a spare parts distribution facility in Balikapan and a local organization in recent years, a new assembly plant has been inaugurated in Jakarta. In partnering with PT Gaya Motors, an Astra International subsidiary, the new production unit will assemble almost all UD trucks destined to the

Indonesian market.Representatives of the Indonesian government, Astra International, the Swedish Ambassador, UD Trucks Asia management and a large group of media attended the opening ceremony.

Pursuing its successful launch in South-East Asian markets, UD Quester was introduced at the Vietnam International Motor Show 2016, held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, Ho Chi Minh City, from the 26th to 30th October.Besides impressive features such as its high performance engine, UD-Extra Engine Brake (UD-EEB), the robustness of the driveline and suspension – which all contribute to increasing operation uptime and profitability – UD also brought to its Vietnamese customers a great offer, a 3-year warranty - bumper to bumper- including service maintenance and repairs.UD Trucks pledged to continue broadening and expanding its dealerships in Vietnam.

Yasue-san and Ogawa-san, two second-grade students from Futaba Junior High School in Japan, visited Chuno Customer Center (CC) on October 20th and 21st for work experience. On the first day, the students took part in some of the maintenance operations.

On the second day, they concentrated on working, such as checking actual trucks before delivery and inspecting electric devices. Over the course of two days, they realized “it is more fun to work at UD than go to school.” When asked why they chose UD Trucks among numerous companies, the students said, “Because we love trucks and frequently visit the UD Trucks website.” Yasue-san said, “I learned the importance of cooperation, safety, and tidying-up to avoid injuries to your colleagues and yourself. Also, I realized that understanding a truck’s condition involves taking care of both the truck and its drivers.” Ogawa-san said, “I was impressed by how carefully they handle vehicles to ensure their safe operation by drivers and avoid any scratches on the trucks. Although the work looked hard, I also found it fun.”

The New Quester 8L makes its way to Malaysia

Quester clocks a quarter of a million kilometers

Since the launch of the new Quester with the efficient GHE 8 liter engine, it has attracted plenty of attention from new and existing customers. Encouraged by the positive feedback, UD Trucks organized a series of

open house events in Penang, Ipoh and Johor with the aim of showcasing the new truck to

its customers. During the nationwide event, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE) - the UD

Malaysia importer - handed over the keys of 12 new units of UD Questers to a number of customers.

Much work has gone into the Jembayan project in Kalimantan, Indonesia, where a 20-strong fleet of UD Quester trucks has been hauling coal for nearly two years. Most of the trucks have clocked up more than 200,000 km, while a few have already exceeded a quarter of a million kilometers.The Jembayan mining project saw the first delivery of a sizeable fleet of Questers for a large-scale extraction project in Indonesia. This is a demanding coal hauling work and the intense conditions and long working hours put a lot of stress on the trucks and the support teams. Main contractor PAMA and sub-contractor Sinsume Friction Indonesia therefore monitor the trucks’ performance closely. The taskforce set up to support the trucks reports that the fleet’s uptime currently surpasses 90%. As one of the taskforce members put it, “Now we have shown that Quester is one of the best trucks out there.”

UD at Japan Truck Show 2016

Bettering the community through CSR

UD Corporate Social Responsibility in the Ageo community

Visitors to the show, which was held from 1st to 3rd of September in Yokohama, discovered an impressive UD Trucks booth featuring two UD Quon tractors equipped with the GH 11 engine and the ESCOT-Ⅴ transmission, as well as the fantastic Quon Vision. This concept truck symbolizes the vision of UD Trucks for the future of Smart Logistics - UD’s comprehensive concept about what logistics will demand from a truck, including design, exploitation, maintenance and telematics services.

What started as a project to spend 67 minutes volunteering for Mandela Day 2016, has now evolved into a long-term project to better the lives of a group of elderly people and disabled children at the Madidi Center in Klipgat, North West Province. Apart from cleaning, painting and upgrading the facilities in July, staff from UD Trucks’ head office and GTO KD plant in Rosslyn, has since donated more time and resources. The UD maintenance crew also restored the house’s borehole and water tank to secure running water for the workers and inhabitants of the facility.Recently, the UD Trucks team also packed 15,000 nutritious meals for the underprivileged in conjunction with Stop Hunger Now SA. The team was proud to present the Madidi Center with some of these boxes of highly nutritious pre-packed meals. Designed in compliance with strict UNICEF standards, the meals included rice, soya, dehydrated vegetable mix and a fortification pack of 23 essential minerals and vitamins specifically formulated to combat malnutrition.Madidi Center owner Rose Maake said of UD Trucks’ long-term involvement in her center, “We are continuously overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our friends at UD Trucks. Please know that you have made a continuous and tangible difference in our lives.”

Japan has the fastest ageing population in the world, with many of the older generation struggling to use the internet to find information. At the UD Trucks headquarters in Ageo City, the CSR team launched an Internet Training Course for the Elderly to help bridge this technology gap. Aimed at the over 60s – with the oldest participant aged 86 – the team ran two sessions this fall. The workshops were a resounding success and more are planned in 2017.

UD Trucks Construction Day event

UD Trucks celebrated the w anniversary of the Bangkok Plant with a merit ceremony filled with local Buddhist traditions. Invited guests and media enjoyed a guided tour of

the production and assembly line.

Held in Silasanon Mining Site, Saraburi, Thailand, more than 350 customers and 30 journalists experienced driving the mixer and dumper versions of the Quester in the quarry. UD Trucks driver trainers were also on site for live coaching.The Demonstration Station, where various models of UD trucks were put through their paces, was popular with participants. Watching the trucks operate in a quarry – climbing uphill comfortably or showcasing the UD-Extra Engine Brake (UD-EEB) going downhill – firmly placed UD Trucks as a leader in the construction sector.The enthusiastic participants, who were able to drive and operate the trucks in a working quarry, found it a challenging but exhilarating way to discover UD trucks.

JAPAN

SOUTH AFRICA

THAILAND

THAILAND

MYANMAR

MALAYSIA

JAPAN

JAPAN

INDONESIA

VIETNAM

INDONESIA

First UD Quester fleet deal in Myanmar

40 th anniversary

UD around the world

04 05

Plowing through winterText: Junko Yagi Photos: Nicolas Datiche

Famous for its uninterrupted super-straight roadways and luminous powder snow, Hokkaido attracts visitors from all around the world. Here in Japan’s far north, snow is a commodity to be controlled yet cherished. The white blanket that covers the island every winter is an integral part of island life and its identity, and yet, it can also become a source of serious trouble for locals.

“When you plow, the snow disappears. It’s as simple as that!” Shinobu

Kojima states playfully. He is a snowplow truck operator at Nakajo Construction Industrial, one of the private contractors in charge of daily snowplow operations in

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. Kojima finds a very satisfying and tangible sense of achievement in his work, and makes it sound easy, when actually it’s quite hard to run these impressive machines well. “Operating snowplow trucks without interfering with regular cars is tricky, but I enjoy the challenge,” Takuya Hattori,

another operator, adds. Sapporo is the capital of Japan’s largest and northernmost prefecture: Hokkaido. The city is cloaked in snow from December until mid-March, and even longer in the mountain areas above the city, where heavy snow continues to fall until the

Customer story Japan

06 07

Tetsushi ShibataDirector Sapporo Road Office Sapporo Development and Construction Department Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau

“Snow sometimes makes our life hard, but it’s also Hokkaido’s appeal. A lot of foreigners come to Niseko because they want to enjoy some of the best powder snow in the world. On average, downtown Sapporo receives six meters of snow falls every year. On the Nakayama mountain pass, it reaches up to 20 meters. Looking on a global scale, there’s no other place like Sapporo where a population of over a million lives in such a snowy region.”

beginning of May. Securing the roads for six months a year is an onerous task, which mobilizes a large crew of skilled snowplow operators and high-performing machines, and which requires a considerable amount of forward planning.

The entire snowplow operation in Japan is a collaborative effort between the private and public sectors. Forward planning is essential to keep the operation running smoothly, especially in a country where the inhabitants expect public services to be delivered to extremely high standards.

Getting readyDuring the fall, the Sapporo Road Office, who leads snow removal operations, and contracted Nakajo Construction Industrial, start preparing up for the upcoming snow season. “To prepare for winter we salt the roads in October and November when snow hasn’t accumulated much yet, as this prevents the snow bed from icing,” Tetsushi Shibata, Director of the Road Office says.

Top gearWhen the first snowflake falls, the snow removal machines gear up for action. “We mainly use three different kinds of equipment: a snowplow truck, a snow removal grader, and a snow blower. The Hokkaido Region has over 1,000 units of these machines. For the heavy-duty snowplow trucks in the fleet, we use 4x4 and 6x6 trucks,” says Shibata. The plows and graders are standard pieces of equipment that must be installed at the depot. Other optional equipment can also be installed, such as side wings and Maclay side wings. “Since these Quons are delivered without accessories, we can add options and customize them in line with the specific needs of our different sites. This is one of the great merits of using UD trucks,” continues Shibata.

Anticipation is keyWork for the Sapporo Road Office differs immensely between summer and winter. When the snow falls, the staff become “snow fighters” as they battle alongside their snow removal contractors.

The office oversees nine national routes – a total of 272 kilometers – in this snow capital. “Private contractors carry out the day-to-day plowing, while we plan and oversee the entire operation, gathering information and making schedules as precisely as possible. As well as using weather data provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency and private

simultaneously remove snow from sidewalks

Fast facts Snowplow trucks

They are usually used in

suburban areasto remove

They can also be used to level road surfaces on

highways

fresh snow

They work as a one-way plow to push snow to the side while driving

Applicable road conditions:

Roads with wide shoulders 40-50

Maximum speed

Truck gradersscrape the road surface

to keep the road condition smoother and easy-to-run

The side wings

km/h

contract to the Sapporo Road Office. A snow removal specialist for four decades now, Nakajo manages and operates the section of National Route 230 that includes the highest peak on the Nakayama mountain pass: Nakayama Toge. This was the first site to be contracted out to a private snow removal operator in the early 80s. Nakajo handles the daily operation of a 44.4-kilometer stretch of Route 230 under the supervision of the two government-owned snow removal stations; one oversees the city district while the other looks after the mountain area. Each station is run as an independent operation by its own team.

“Our day begins with area patrol,” says Mitsuhiro Nakanishi, President of Nakajo. “Normally, project leaders, such as the Sapporo Road Office or City of Sapporo, send us instructions. We also have plenty of data and know-how acquired over many

institutions, we monitor 76 security cameras located on Sapporo city’s road network,” points out Shibata. “We also get continuous feedback about conditions from operation companies,” he says as he reaches for another call on his phone. “See, we’re constantly alerted,” he smiles, shrugging.

However, as Shibata explains, “Prediction is still prediction. It’s impossible to give 100% correct directions as to when and where and how the snow needs to be treated.” Sometimes, merciless ice flakes will start swirling on a road they’ve just salted. Nonetheless, Shibata says that taking precautions and acting early is their best defense to keeping the road safe and secure; this is their number one concern.

Working side by sideNakajo Construction Industrial Co., Ltd. is one of the snow removal companies under

Customer story Japan

08 09

Selfless devotionOnce the season kicks off, snowplow operators switch into around-the-clock snow clearance mode. Shinobu Kojima and Takuya Hattori have survived countless winters in their long careers as snowplow truck operators. They both love driving trucks, but operating snowplows requires not just stamina, but strict self-discipline. They often work odd hours high up in the mountains, then go back to the office for a short power nap. “I’ll admit that it’s hard not to be able to relax with a couple of drinks,” Kojima grins, then adds earnestly, “But I’m thankful and feel blessed to be able to do this job because not many get a chance to operate snowplow trucks. What motivates me greatly is the pride I feel by being involved in work that is indispensable for the people in Hokkaido.”

Driving a snowplow takes special skill, it’s not like driving a classic Quon. It requires practice and dedication, as the trucks handle differently on these wintry roads. One phenomena is that the snow against the plow constantly pushes the truck towards the center of the road, but these snowplow operators are so talented they can hug the side of the road at a steady 10 cm! To reach this level of precision, it takes a high level of concentration for extended periods of time and mastery that the Hokkaido snowplow operators are too modest to bring up. To them, being able to keep the roads clear for the citizen’s commute to work is reward enough.

And although removing snow is their job, it’s never a nuisance to these Hokkaido locals known as Dosanko. As Shibata notes succinctly, “Snow is vital to us. It is deeply rooted in the spirit of Dosanko - wherever it lies.”

years of experience so the work is carried out through constant input and feedback throughout the day.”

Fully deployedWhen the snow accumulation in the mountain areas reaches 5-10cm, it’s the cue for the snowplow trucks to head up the mountain. “The team will start plowing at around 2am and will complete it before morning commuting hour starts. Depending on the snowfall situation, we may run the trucks in around midnight so that the work can be completed around 7am,” explains Nakanishi. “During the winter, snow falls everyday in Nakayama Toge and it’s critical to have good visibility. The Quon

“Each operator uses different objects as a guide to keep a straight line while driving. For example, you can align the truck’s ceiling lamp with the centerline of the road and then calculate how far you are from the curb. It’s good to find as many guide points like this as possible. Then one day you’ll be able to drive 10 cm away from the edge of the road and plow a perfect straight line.”

“The power of the Quon snowplow is wonderful. Climbing up the road while plowing puts a heavy load on the engine but its rotating speed doesn’t change. I feel a whole different scale of gear ratio. Also, the ESCOT-Ⅴ switch gearlever makes gear changes very easy.”

Shinobu Kojima Snowplow Operator at Nakajo Construction Industrial Co., Ltd

snowplow’s cabin is located in a higher position than that of others and provides an excellent range of view,” he adds.

Snowplow trucks only plow during the day when it’s absolutely necessary. “We can’t halt commercial activities,” points out Mitsuhiro Nakanishi, Nakajo Constructionpresident. Plowing on the mountain pass for long hours definitely constitutes dangerous work. “It’s no exaggeration to say that every single one of Nakajo’s employees risks their life to protect National Route 230 throughout the year. We are very, very proud!” says Nakanishi.

Mitsuhiro NakanishiPresident of Nakajo Construction Industrial Co., Ltd

The Sapporo snowplow truck drivers can follow the side of the road by a distance of 10 cm

Nine national routes, for a total of 272 km, are permanently looked after by Sapporo Road Office

Downtown Sapporo receives an average of six meters of snow annually, with some roads receiving up to 20 meters. It makes Sapporo a unique place in the world, the only one where a population of over a million lives in such a snowy region

During snow season, it snows everyday on the Nakayama Toge

272 km

Everyday

10 cm

6 meters

Customer story Japan

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Yuzairi Bin Ibrahim has boyish looks, but don’t be fooled by them! He won both the Best Pre-Check Inspection title and the overall competition, defeating three other highly skilled drivers.

“It is an honor to have won this award at the finals in Japan. This is a milestone in my career as a driver. I have been driving Quester over one year already, which made me feel confident when I was in the Quester truck during the competition,” said Yuzairi at the award ceremony dinner.

At Yuzairi’s current company, ASAC Logistics, he drives a tractor Quester, transporting cargos from tires to various fast consuming goods.

Yuzairi has been driving trucks for ten years and has driven various different brands during his career, from European to Chinese ones. He really enjoys driving the Quester, “It’s a very good truck! Comfortable cab, and really built with driver comfort in mind.”

In fact, 135 of their 175-truck fleet are UDs. Owner and Managing Director, Tan Seong Teik, a charismatic man who likes to tease and joke with those around him, has been building his UD fleet since he bought his first UD legacy model in 1980. His current fleet covers a large range from light- to mid- to heavy-duty UDs, allowing him to offer all kinds of transportation solutions to his customers.

Tan Seong Teik Tan was also very happy with the result of the competition: “This event is a great opportunity not only for the participating driver but also for our company to spread this achievement and motivate other drivers in our company back in Alor Setar, Kedah, north Malaysia.”

Extra Mile Challenge 2016: The ultimate driving competition among Quester drivers worldwide! A competition which focuses on driving skills and fuel economy, but also on safety, ability to identify potential safety-endangering breakdowns, and to deliver the cargo in perfect shape.

MalaysiaDriver: Yuzairi Bin IbrahimHis daily truck: 4X2 8-liter tractor QuesterTeam leader: Tan Seong Teik, Owner and Managing Director

Company: ASAC Logistics Sdn. Bhd.Business: General freight

Photo: Nicolas Datiche

An 11-liter UD Quester and four of its drivers from four countries gathered in Ageo to compete in the Extra Mile Challenge. The tightly fought contest took place at the UD Experience Center on the site of the UD Trucks Ageo

Plant. The four contestants, Alfred Njilo from South Africa, Yuzairi Bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, Chukiat Klinthavorn from Thailand and Abu Bakar from Indonesia, were supported by an avid crowd made up of UD customers and colleagues from around the UD globe.

Based on the UD Trucks brand promise of “Going the Extra Mile,” the challenge demonstrates how customers can make the most out of UD products and services. Simulating a transportation cycle, the competition aims to improve UD drivers’ skills and thereby reduce costs and downtime.

After a training session to share tips on pre-inspection and fuel-efficient driving, this unique driver competition - consisting of three key elements: pre-inspection, fuel efficient & safe driving, and maneuvering skills – was started to a ripple of cheers from the crowd.

The four challengers, all experienced drivers in their own realm, battled it out in a 6X4, 11-liter Quester. It was a thrilling competition, with all four teams showcasing some excellent driving and planning skills to the delight of their attentive audience.

The day culminated with a special award ceremony and announcement of the competition results. The Thai team won Best Fuel Efficient Driving, while the Malaysian team won Best Pre-Check Inspection and the South African team was awarded Best Driving Skill. A special award went to Indonesia for “Longest time in the green band”. This year’s overall champion was the Malaysian team.

“I feel good about how the day went. The contest was quite like my daily driving back in Thailand, only here I’m a little more excited than usual,” Chukiat Klinthavorn, a Quester driver from Banchakij Co., Ltd said with a gentle smile. Chukiat executed his round with calm, and walked away with the Best Fuel Efficient Driving title.

Hilly roads and heavy loadsChukiat, whose company specializes in construction goods freight, has been a trucker for more than 30 years. In his opinion, a good truck has lots of torque, high horse power and a reliable braking system. “Quester is a very good truck,” said Chukiat. “The roads I drive in Thailand are hilly, and the construction cargos heavy.” The Quester he drives back home is equipped to handle these tasks: it has an 11-liter engine, with an optional UD-EEB (Extra Engine Break).

As experienced as Chukiat is, he finds the Fuel Coaching System on Quester particularly invaluable; it gives him live feedback on the road, so he can better monitor his fuel consumption.

The company now has 30 Questers in its 100-truck fleet, deployed either with a mixer or equipped to move heavy goods. Over 30 years of development, the company has earned a respected reputation in its field. The politeness and professionalism of Chukiat reflects the image of this solid company. Riding the booming infrastructure development in Thailand, Banchakij is certainly looking at an even brighter future.

Tjhia Hoeng Foek, the Operation Manager of PT. Sinar Transindomitra Abadi Logistik, was worried when their truck bumped into a box while backing into position during the Driving Skill test. “I should be worried,

but I’m staying positive,” Tjhia said with a smile. And she was right, her seasoned driver,

Abu Bakar, took away the special award for “Longest time in the green band”.

The company has a large fleet of 400 trucks, and three-quarters of them are UDs. It was by word of mouth that Sinar Transindomitra Abadi Logistik became a UD customer; the company listened to their drivers’ recommendations and started to build their UD fleet. They haven’t looked back since.

Thailand Driver: Chukiat KlinthavornHis daily truck: 6X4 11-liter Quester, 9-speed gearbox, with UD-EEB (no reduction axle)Team leader: Apichart Sujaree, Operation Manager

Company: Banchakij Co.,Ltd.Business: Construction products

Indonesia Driver: Abu BakarHis daily truck: QuesterTeam leader: Tjhia Hoeng Foek Operation Manager

Company: PT. Sinar Transindomitra Abadi LogistikBusiness: General freight

Best Fuel Efficient

Dri

vi

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Competition measurementsRevenue

Uptime & maintenance

Safety driving

Fuel efficiency

Everyone begins with a set amount of revenue. As the driver goes through the various tests, costs are deducted from the original amount. The driver who incurs the least costs wins.

A pro-active approach around the truck could save money and possible downtime. The driver must score well in the pre-drive inspection round and finish the delivery within the allotted ten minutes.

Drivers are tested on whether they respect the road rules, can drive smoothly without damaging the cargo and whether they can back into a narrow space without bumping into any obstacles.

An important measurement for a good driver; the one who consumes the least fuel takes the round.

A quest to go the extra mile

12

“I ran the 5k race and my goal was to reach the finishing line. I joined the Ageo City Marathon with a small team of people to have fun but also to show what Going the Extra Mile is all about. As we were running we were encouraging each other,

and along the way, the Ageo crowd did the same. When I crossed the finishing line I was tired but exhilarated!”

“Because I enjoy living a good life I need to find a way to stay healthy, so I run every weekend. I ran the Ageo City Marathon last year and thought I could do better because everything I do in life is about Going the Extra Mile, which is why I decided to

participate in this year’s marathon. During the race I only had one thing in my mind, to reach my goal and to never give up! I felt an immense sense of achievement when I crossed the finishing line.”

“I went the Extra Mile at the Ageo City Marathon because I went beyond my limit – I’m not used to running. My manager was worried about my health and challenged me to run the 5k. I took up his challenge, ran with my team and felt highly satisfied and

happy when I crossed the finishing line. Target accomplished!”

“I worked in Gothenburg for a while and was so impressed with the Gothenburg Marathon that I told myself that someday, I too, would run a marathon. I decided to go for the half marathon because I wanted to go beyond my capabilities,

to go the Extra Mile!”

Kathy Sutherland – UD Trucks, HR (Operations)

Masaki Watanabe – UD Trucks Operations

Boris Grand – UD Trucks Operations

Hiroki Takesue – UD Trucks Business Control Operations

Ageo City Marathon & Bridge to Brisbane

“I decided to go for the half marathon because I wanted to go beyond my capabilities, to go the extra mile!”

“Towards the end of the race, when fatigue set it, I just told myself to keep running the same pace and to stay motivated, the way UD does. I was so happy to see the finishing line and to cross it.”

Kunihiro Kaneko – UD Trucks Operations

November 20

5K run

Takashi Kawanabe – Aftermarket

“Running the Ageo City Marathon and Going the Extra Mile is all about doing our best and coming together as a team. The streets of Ageo were filled with people who were cheering and encouraging us to persevere. I always feel energized by all the cheering, it helps me push myself! And the feeling when you cross the line is amazing.”

Filip Holmdahl - Group IT

South AfricaDriver: Alfred NjiloHis daily truck: Quon 440 and 340Team leader: Tony Amaro, Delivery Service Manager

Company: Clover Industries Limited Business: Dairy and juice producer

“The competition brings out a positive pressure, it’s very exciting,” said Alfred Njilo grinning broadly. The driver from Clover Dairies in South Africa usually drives a Quon and he still managed to land the Best Driving Skill title. “UD Quester is a very nice truck, especially the gearbox, it’s excellent.”

UD long-term dependability“Like their reputation, UD trucks never break, they give no trouble.” Having driven trucks for 15 years, Alfred trusts his Quon. “We have one old UD model in our fleet, a UD 290,” added Tony Amaro the Delivery Service Manager at Clover, “it just clocked 1 million km, and there is no problem with the engine.”

If you have read the second issue of Roads in 2013, you may remember about Clover Dairies, the largest dairy and juice producer in South Africa, and the only publicly listed dairy. Its huge 1,000-vehicle fleet is split into a milk-collecting fleet and an end product delivery fleet. The drivers go through different training before joining either fleet, and Alfred and Tony are both from the customer delivery fleet. Tony considers that collecting and delivery require different driving skills, “Collecting is done in muddy, slippery farm driveways, while delivery takes place in an urban environment, with busy traffic and narrow streets.” The experience Alfred has gained making city deliveries, especially parking in narrow spaces for unloading, has given him the edge in this competition.

The importance of driver trainingClover takes driver training seriously, and has an assessment system to continuously help the drivers build their skills. There is a 7-day training program for drivers, before they are put on post, and every year, drivers are assessed to evaluate their driving skills.

“Alfred regularly gets 100 percent on his driving assessments. He drives very well and has entered several local competitions. He has won a competition run by the road traffic department several times,” said Tony proudly.

In Clover’s business philosophy, the value of their drivers goes beyond driving skills. They also value their drivers’ road manners and people skills when interacting with customers or vendors. “On the road, the drivers are driving Clover’s brand image around. There are some rude driving manners from road users, such as driving a big turn at a small corner. But our drivers should never do that. They are the ambassadors of Clover in the country. As a company with 116 years of history, we value our brand image dearly.”

Tony AmaroDelivery Service Manager

“UD trucks are dependable vehicles, that is what you need if you are servicing customers everyday. Customers expect reliability, they don’t want to hear that you had a breakdown or any other problem. So far, a UD truck is the vehicle to use.”

Be

st D r iv ing Sk

ill

At this year’s Bridge to Brisbane, Queensland’s largest community fun run, 65 Volvo Group Australia members pulled on their running shoes to go that extra mile. Flying the UD colors, the team, supported by family and friends, took part in 5 and 10 km races, with seven Team UD members finishing the 10 km in under 50 minutes. Congrats to all the Team UD runners and thanks to their supporters!

UD staff in Japan and Australia have been taking up the running challenge. UD Trucks promotes running globally, as a part of their RAW program – Running Around the World. Running is linked to the brand promise of ‘Going the Extra Mile’, and brand concepts such as excelling on the essentials, gemba spirit, and ultimate dependability.

Go check the webpage from the QR code!www.udtrucks.com

Bridge to Brisbane

Take off / AccelerationSlow start, slow but firm acceleration Early up-shifting, keep low engine rpm = progressive or skip shifting

CruiseDrive in the highest possible gear If safe – use Cruise ControlPlan ahead – see where the truck will be in 45 secondsCoast as much as possibleKeep the speed as low as possible

BrakingBrake gently and with applications as possibleTry not to come to a standstill – keep the mass rolling

ParkingLimit idle time – warm up and cool down with the wheels turning

Points of fuel efficiency driving

21K runAthelets Cheering squad

UD 80UD employees

Ageo 15 empoyees

November 275K run21K run

Athelets

65UD employees

Brisbane

UD Extra Mile Challenge 2016 UD running

14 15

A story of frontiersText: Matt Shea Photo: Tammy Law

At the end of the earth, one company is a lynchpin in the building of a city.

Customer story Papua New Guinea

16 17

Monier is everywhere. You learn this as soon as you step off the plane in Port Moresby. The paving stones

you wheel your luggage across were produced by Monier. The highway that takes you into the center of the Papua New Guinean capital, much of it laid with materials supplied by Monier. Shop at the Vision City Mall and then see a game at John Guise Stadium, before walking over the road to lay your head down at the Holiday Inn Express — Monier had a hand in all of them. The company is everywhere.

UD CWB 450: The truck that built Port Moresby“What’s great about the CWB 450? Everything.”Workshop supervisor Mick Sruyan is laughing, but this is no joke. UD’s iconic workhorse is prized by men like Sruyan and Daniel Jeremiah. Sruyan reckons it ’s the greatest agitator truck ever built. “CWBs are a lighter duty truck, easier to handle,” he says. “They have the perfect engine. The transmission is magic. The differential is bullet-proof. For the work you need to

do around Port Moresby, they’re perfect.”Later, as we dr ive into the cit y, Jeremiah chuckles as he busily plays ‘Spot the CWB’. They’re everywhere, and in every kind: dusty haulage trucks, compact container carriers, square-calved agitators.There are so many of them, you wonder: would it be fair to say it’s the truck that built Port Moresby? “Absolutely!” Sruyan and Jeremiah say in unison.

A versatile maintenance shopA discussion about trucks with Mick Sruyan tends to escalate quickly. The 54-year-old knows a thing or two about everything from fixing a Roadranger transmission to reprogramming electronics. Monier is part of a wider group of companies, and Sruyan’s workshop looks after vehicles from all of

them. Outside his window, a tipper from Hebou Constructions sits next to an Airways Hotel minibus, which sits next to an agitator truck from Pomcrete. “By tonight , th is whole lot ,” he says, pointing to the empty forecourt, “there’ll be about 90 trucks parked out there.”

But then you’d expect it to be. This is the single largest manufacturer, supplier and distributor of construction materials and building products in Papua New Guinea — a company that, with its 58-year history, is older than the country’s own independence.

Monier is everywhere in a wider sense too. Joseph Monier was a horticulturist at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, who in the mid-19th century developed reinforced concrete as a simple solution for potting plants. He was the first to patent the invention in 1867,

and then took out many more across the world, for a variety of reinforced concrete products. The Frenchman would wind up selling the patents, but his name remains.

“That’s why there are so many Monier companies in different countries,” Brian Condon says. “But beyond the name and products of similar origins, they don’t have much to do with each other.”

Brian Condon is the CEO of Monier Limited. An Australian with a background in materials testing and, later, helping manage

companies such as Boral and Soil Surveys, Condon is in many ways a professional descendent of Joseph Monier. But the conditions he and his colleagues have to work under are a long way removed from a Parisian botanic garden.

In a global sense Port Moresby is something of a frontier town, and a tough place to do business. As many companies that arrive, eager to tap into the opportunities provided by a rapidly changing economy, an equal number are driven out by corruption, crime and unforgiving working

conditions. Temperatures during the day in Papua New Guinea regularly climb into the mid-30s Celsius with humidity topping 80 percent. Diseases such as malaria and drug-resistant tuberculosis are not uncommon.

There’s a story Condon likes to tell about a mobile concrete plant the company bought out of the United States. “It got on a ship and after about 12 weeks, we were wondering where it had got to,” he says. “And somehow it got offloaded in South Africa by accident. But that’s it. Our industry, combined with where we are, presents those sorts of challenges. It’s not like going down to the dealership to buy parts for your car.”

Papua New Guinea takes its toll on equipment too. Particularly Monier’s trucks, which operate in a vice of humidity and heat, on roads that barely deserve to be described as such. “We’re talking pot holes you could drive your pickup into, through and out the other side,” laughs workshop supervisor Mick Sruhan. “A lot of the truck manufacturers use Papua New Guinea as a testing ground. If you can’t break it here, it’s pretty much unbreakable.”

The roads are better now (Monier helped build them, after all) but the heat and the humidity remain, clawing at electronics and strangling engines. And that’s before an agitator truck fills its belly with Monier’s stock and trade: ready-mix concrete. It accounts for roughly 60 percent of the company’s business.

Brian Condon, CEO of Monier Group

Mick Sruyan, Workshop Supervisor for Monier Group

Customer story Papua New Guinea

18 19

Driving the Quester CWE 420

Yoba Kuba knows how to pilot a truck around Papua New Guinea. Other than Monier, he’s driven for Hawkins Construction and Coca-Cola Amatil.“You have to be careful driving these agitators,” he says. “Just because of all that weight — with a vehicle this big, in particular.”In his time, Kuba has driven just about every brand of truck, but he’s a big fan of his Quester, one of four agitators in the Monier fleet purchased just last year. “The trucks are much nicer to drive now,” he says. “And the engine in this Quester never gives up. You select a gear, and you just know it will go. It has so much grunt.”

Out at one of the Monier concrete plants, across a baking forecourt, a Quester CWE 420 is taking on a load. The flat-faced UD is a goliath, but the combined 16 tons of aggregate and cement and 1400 liters of water rock it back and forth on its springs like a toy. If anything drives home the pressures placed upon these trucks, this is it. And that’s in the neat, orderly Monier compound, not on the gnarly construction sites the drivers often deal with. “We spend a lot of money on clutches,” Condon says. “The guys might be reversing up a hill to discharge, or on some very unsteady roads. It takes its toll.”

You also need to factor in the human component. Condon describes a concrete agitator truck as a “missile” in the hands of an inexperienced driver. The company puts some of its best drivers behind the wheels of its Questers, new just last year. “We try to pair up an experienced driver with a trainee driver for about six months,” he says. “There’s a technical side to it also, because they have to learn how to slump the load — to check its water content and viscosity once they get to the site.”

Then comes the other catch of working in a town like Port Moresby: good help can be hard to find. Particularly right now. The boom years of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) projects and infrastructure for the Pacific Games have passed, but they brought with them plenty of fresh competition. Many of those trucks remain on the road. “There used to be maybe 50 trucks — now it’s more like 90 to 100 in the industry,” Condon says. “We get a lot more applicants, but fewer experienced people.”

Still, Papua New Guinea’s lack of education and piecemeal economy mean if you give someone that rare opportunity, chances are they’ll grab it with both hands. Expat industry veterans like Condon are invaluable in ensuring Monier hits its goal of supplying ready-mix concrete to exacting Australian specifications, but it’s Papua New Guinean nationals who are the rising stars of the company — ready-mix Production Manager Gasper Ndrapuluvik, or Fleet Supervisor Daniel Jeremiah.

It’s Jeremiah who suggests we follow one of the Questers to a job site deep in the city. Port Moresby’s central business district is built on a peninsula that shoots up out of the sea like a vertiginous anthill. It’s here you get an idea of the conditions faced by Monier’s drivers, even in a developed part of the country.

The Quester backs its way uphill on a narrow ridged terrace high above the coast, and prepares to unload its bellyful of concrete. The job site is vast with eye-popping views across a crystalline Port Moresby harbor. A tower crane, 12-floors high, slowly swings around, bringing its catcher into position, and a team of laborers begin piping in the

precious concrete.

Around us are buildings that speak to Monier’s past: the Grand Papua Hotel. The redeveloped Old Parliament building. The Harborside retail precinct. But during a relatively quiet time for construction in Papua New Guinea, this enormous project, the second stage in a redevelopment of the

Old Parliament House precinct, is Monier focusing on the future.

“There’s an old adage,” Brian Condon says. “Even if you’re number one, act like you’re number two. That’s what we try to do. Because in Papua New Guinea, if you start acting like number one, someone is guaranteed to knock you off.”

“The Questers have hub reduction axles, making them ideal for around here, because it’s so hilly. They’re tough units too. The biggest thing is the 11-liter engine and rear suspension. I’ve never broken a backend spring on a Quester, ever. It’s a tall, strong chassis.”Mick Sruyan, Workshop Supervisor for Monier Group

Customer story Papua New Guinea

20 21

UD gemba voicesNationality: ThaiLocation: UD Trucks Bangkok PlantWork experience: 14 years in truck industry, and 4 years at UD TrucksEducation: High School

Somyot NgonleeLine Leader at UD Assembly EOL Line

Photos: Manuel Rambaud & Mustard Studio

What did you do before joining UD?I first entered the truck industry as a transport contractor with two of my brothers. I have always been a very enthusiastic car driver. I like to solve problems on my own and I’ve always enjoyed giving people advice about their cars. After working in test-driving and general maintenance, I started my career at UD.

What do you value the most in your workplace?I appreciate the teamwork at UD, as we support each other with a concerted effort to achieve a common goal.

What do you think is unique about UD’s culture? The determination to deliver the best trucks to customers is the spirit that the founder intended to convey, and I still feel strongly encouraged by this today.

What goals are you working towards at the moment?Now I’m working towards practicing my English, I want to be able to understand and communicate with global colleagues and customers with ease. At the same time, I’m improving my professional skills by learning about the new features of the trucks as well as applying new technology to increase the efficiency of the assembly line.

What motivates you at work?The targets, quality standards, production costs and delivery of vehicles motivate me to work hard at UD.

What does gemba bring to you?Since I started at UD, I have had the chance to exchange new ideas and learn from others, this has allowed me to grow professionally and provide effective solutions to customers.

Why did you choose to work in the truck industry?My father worked in the construction industry and I was interested in trucks and vehicles that transported building materials. To some extent, I guess I chose UD because I wanted to work in the same industry as my family.

Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?I really enjoy working on projects as part of a united team, collaborating between different departments. We guarantee the maintenance of the machines so as to minimize breakdowns, this means working with various departments to find a rapid solution.

What is your gemba?In my field, gemba is the uncompromising craftsmanship that requires responsibility and excellent execution.

How do you go the extra mile in your gemba?I enrolled in the electronic category in the World Skills Olympics three years after joining UD. I took various training courses to prepare for the competition. As a result, I won a prize in a national competition, and this encouraged me to continue to improve myself and perfect my maintenance skills.

When do you feel most proud working for UD Trucks?I feel proud every time I identify and resolve new problems in the workshop. This helps to build trust with our customers and I value that.

Takahiro SasakiMaintenance Technician at UD Trucks Operations

Nationality: JapaneseLocation: UD Trucks Ageo FactoryWork experience: 11 yearsEducation: Industrial high school

To read more about what the UD Trucks Gemba Spirit is, visit our website!

www.udtrucks.com

UD Gemba Spirit

2322

New Zealand market, “The PW 24 280 is a brilliant example of how UD Trucks can combine local knowledge with international expertise and quality, with impressive speed to market,” said Mark Strambi, Acting Vice President of UD Trucks Australia. “The PW 24 280 is an important model in the future plans of UD Trucks Australia and our increasing focus on the heavy-duty truck market.”

To celebrate the launch of the latest addition to the Australian UD line-up, UD Trucks Australia held an event for dealer staff and media, designed to showcase the capability and performance of the PW 24 280. The driving program included five trucks, bodied for a range of applications including refrigerated distribution, tilt tray and crane and tray for the construction segment, and hook lift and skip lift for the commercial waste segment. Replicating the trucks normal operating environment, the refrigerated unit, crane and tray, and tilt tray were driven on a track simulating their metropolitan routes. The hook lift and skip list trucks were put through their paces on the off-road track, including steep hills, deep ruts and loose surfaces, which proved no match for the PW 24 280 with its inter-axle diff lock and cross-lock functions.

UD Trucks Australia launches

6x4 CondorS

pecifically designed for Australia and New Zealand’s distinct topography and customers’ demand, the new PW 24 280 is perfectly suited for segments

such as commercial waste management and recycling, construction, and general

freight. Designed in close collaboration with UD’s engineers in Ageo, the PW 24 280 is built to the high Japanese standards that have made UD Trucks synonymous with dependability.

Aimed squarely at the Australian and

/ Customer test-drive /

The ESCOT-Ⅴ circuit experience

UD invited customers from 130 companies in Japan to test-drive the ESCOT-Ⅴ,

widely recognized as the most versatile automatic gearbox, offering drivability, comfort and fuel economy. The event took place at the Okayama F1 racetrack, a

thrilling place to host this latest ESCOT-Ⅴ circuit experience. Customers climbed into the cabs of Quons, loaded with various cargoes, to test the gearbox on the track’s ramps and curves. They also did a reverse hill start, coasted downhill and experienced the gearbox doing automatic downshifts. Drivers were able

to thoroughly test ESCOT-Ⅴ ’s artificial intelligence and its capacity to deal with different loads and road conditions. This series of demanding tests gave the test-drivers a hands-on experience of the ESCOT-Ⅴ and they ended the day convinced of the gearbox’s versatility and range.

test-drive on the Okayama International Circuit

Quon

UD Drive Day Australia Japan

24 25

“I was amazed at the excellent deceleration/acceleration shifting as I took the curves on the race-track. Equally impressive was how smoothly I was able to reverse uphill.”

Koji UedaUeda Transport

“I was surprised by the flexibility of the ESCOT-Ⅴ. It is smooth when reversing uphill and I didn’t even realize I was carrying a 10-ton load; it is unparalleled in terms of driving experience. With an aging workforce, the introduction of better perform-ing automatic trucks will help us recruit young drivers into the industry.”

Masaru EmotoSK line

“This is the first time I had tested a truck with an automated transmission and I felt the gear changes were incredibly smooth. With a growing shortage of new drivers joining the industry, being able to offer comfort and drivability is a definite plus on the recruitment side.”

Yoshiyuki SonodaNissyo Unyu

“This is the first time I drove a Quon with ESCOT-Ⅴ, and it felt like I was driving a car! The gear shifting was not like that of a truck and the vehicle was smooth when reversing up a slope.”

Tomokazu TakayamaYuei Sogo

“The ESCOT-Ⅴ provided smooth upshifts going uphill and a downshift when I pressed on the accel-erator again. It was a smooth ascent. Very impressive!

The ESCOT Roll has also attracted our attention and proved to be an innovative technology to popularize Eco-driving with our drivers. Most testers use “maneuverability” to evaluate the 2014 Quon, the handle is just in the right posi-tion to the body, which reduces pressure caused by long drives.”

Kazuomi FujiwaraDaishi

“I couldn’t feel the difference when the truck was fully loaded, the shift timing during acceleration was excellent and when I backed the truck up there were no bumps or jerks.”

Shingo SuzukiSuzuwa Unyu

“We use twenty 2014 Quons. The first time I got in, I was impressed by how strong it felt going uphill, and there’s no need for clutch operation while reversing. ESCOT Roll is a great feature and the Quons have proved to be highly fuel-efficient.”

Goroku YamauchiSankyu Unyu

“I had heard various stories about the dif-ference between the old and new Quon but it was only when I test-drove it myself that I felt the smoothness of the transmission. Impressive!”

Kiyoaki NishinoSatoh Unyu Soko

“I hope it can be a solution for the various

challenges transport companies are

currently facing.”

“The introduction of easy-driving trucks, such as this ESCOT-Ⅴ equipped Quon, should help alleviate the

shortage of drivers. ” “My generation is more used to a manual transmission. It was a surprise to discover that the automatic could go uphill smoothly without any stress for me. I’ve heard drivers saying that automatic trucks significantly diminish driving fatigue and I can definitely believe that after my test-drive.”

Hidetsugu HinoTofuku Unso

Okayama International Circuit

“The improvements on the Quon are amazing.”

“People want stress-free trucks.”

“Considering the stark reality of aging drivers,

the introduction of better performing

automatic trucks, to ease the burden of driving, is necessary in these

shifting times.”

“The Quon doesn't feel like a truck, which I think is really good!”

“Quon has already accumulated considerable popularity and potential among drivers and

we are counting on its fuel-efficiency.”

“Excellent gearbox for female drivers just

starting in the transport industry.”

“Even in Eco mode, the truck felt strong and the innovative ESCOT Roll has also become a new point

of focus.”

Extra Mile Stories Japan

26 27

Making a nest in a transport depotText: Carol Isoux Photo: Dario Pignatelli

This is the story of a young boy from a modest family, with a natural business sense and go-get-it attitude, who grew into a successful entrepreneur and an ardent supporter of his community.

A n hour drive from downtown Kuala Lumpur, you can follow the swifts and swallows to find Chia Trading’s depot. Dato’

Chia Kee Mong, CEO of this construction material trading and transportation company, nurtures these birds on the rooftop of the depot’s building. Swiftlets use solidified saliva to build their nest, and this edible delicacy is a luxury much appreciated by the Chinese ethnic population in Malaysia.

These graceful tiny birds contrast sharply with the rows of imposing trucks lined up behind the office. Chia Trading has more than 70 units; every single one of them is a UD truck, even the first one, almost a war veteran, bought in 1990 and still in use today.

The path to entrepreneurshipDato’ Chia was not born into wealth; he built his empire. His parents ran a small grocery shop in Selangor, in the suburbs outside Kuala Lumpur. “My brothers and I helped our father in his shop from when we were young boys,” recalls Dato’ Chia, “As long as I can remember I have always worked.” After finishing high school, the young Dato’ Chia Kee Mong set up a hardware store with his younger brother. “We sold just about anything related to construction, wood, and cement ... every kind of building material,” says Dato’ Chia as he casts back to 1986, the year they started. Then came the 90’s and the economic boom in Malaysia. Hotels, factories and residential buildings seemed to push out of the ground like mushrooms and the Chia brothers could not keep up with orders.

Retaining drivers through good leadershipLike in all transport companies, finding and retaining drivers is one of the biggest challenges at Chia Trading. But because all members of the leadership have also been drivers at some point in their lives, they have a good understanding of the task and have maintained their driver turn-over rate at a manageable level. “Some drivers have been with us

for more than 20 years,” explains Sam Kon Fatt, the fleet manager. “One of our drivers came here when his wife

was pregnant, because he needed a stable job. Now their son, is also working for us as a driver!’’

The company now employs 70 drivers, 11 mechanics and three engineers.

Dato’ Chia Kee Mong, CEO

“We repair as much as we can by ourselves and we take our trucks to the UD workshop for major repairs. I think preventive maintenance is the secret to keeping a truck going longer. That’s why we also have our own workshop and employ 11 full-time mechanics.Now, especially with the Fuel Coaching System on the Quester, UD trucks are definitely more economical than other brands.The service at UD is excellent. It is customer-oriented; they listen to what is your particular problem and solve it in a personalized manner. I see them as business partners rather than service providers.In 1997 when the economic crisis hit Asia, it was difficult to find understanding dealers or bankers. UD showed us some flexibility with our payments, which helped us breathe. I haven’t forgotten that.”

Dato’ Chia Kee Mong Managing Director of Chia Trading & Transport Sdn. Bhd

“With the Fuel Coaching System on the Quester, UD trucks are definitely more economical than other brands.”

“We were selling goods, especially sand and aggregate, so we started to have delivery issues. We were still small so we were not a priority customer for the truck companies and sometimes we were unable to deliver our orders,” explains Dato’ Chia. The frustration was too much for the young businessman, so he went out and bought

his own truck. “I got my Goods Driving License (GDL), bought a one-ton truck and drove it myself,” he remembers proudly.

Word of mouth, a key to building businessMaybe this awareness of the hardships of a driver’s duties, the fact that he went

through this himself, is what contributes to his fleet manager describing him as a good boss. Having worked as a driver also meant that Dato’ Chia was well aware of the importance of choosing reliable trucks. But for him, the choice of UD was also hugely influenced by the personality of the salesman at that time,

Customer story Malaysia

28 29

3

“The UD Trucks brand has a strong identity. When you take a closer look, all the innovative advancements used to engineer the newest series of UD trucks become apparent. Whenever we mention UD Trucks, its legacy speaks volumes of how pi-oneering the company is in the mixer-truck business. I am proud to say that the first truck in my fleet is from the UD CW-430 series. When I was informed that a new truck model, Quester, was launched into the market, I had no hesitation in choosing UD Trucks again.

Our staff strongly believes in UD trucks’ performance. Their faith is placed on the Quester and when they trust

their trucks, they will definitely be more produc-tive. Therefore, the value of Quester in our fleet

is not merely a working tool, but a true partner that inspires the passion of our team.”

Jularat ThoraksaManagement of Jongrak Concrete Co., Ltd.

reasons why Quester is my truck of choice

“They have many professional salesmen and technicians who are ready to serve our needs or resolve any problems we run into. They are all highly qualified and motivated to deliver the finest sales and after-sales services to my business.For my staff and my business, UD Trucks is like our life-long partner. We can feel its generosity, honesty and hospitality in every aspect. With accurate feedback in pre-sales services and strong collaboration in post-sales service, UD Quester will lead us to go the extra mile.“

Jularat Thoraksa

“UD Trucks offers the finest sales and after-sales services.”

3“Quester is more than just a well-

designed, reliable truck, it is a partner that improves overall working efficiency.”

2

“I couldn’t agree more that this is the best truck I have ever experienced. Every function is unbeliev-able and the strongest ad-vantage of UD Quester is that I am able to check the

fuel usage of every kilometer I drive which is very useful. Today I feel that this UD truck is a huge part of my life and I feel more confident as I journey on with the best partner I could ask for.“

Wijit ArduaksornDriver of Jongrak Concrete CO.,Ltd.

“With Quester, we can easily keep an eye on our fuel

consumption.”

“Every time I make decisions regarding buying new trucks, I seek first-hand user opinions. They are most interested in the satisfaction, comfort and convenience a truck brand can provide. Their feedback is very important to my decision-making process.“

“Quester has gained a high level of satisfaction

from its customers.”

1

Mr Lim Thing Eng, today the General Manager of the Heavy Duty Division at Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn. Bhd (TCIE) - the UD Malaysia importer. “He is a wonderful salesman,” Dato’ Chia recalls, “and he always gave me a great service. Furthermore, he was recommended to me by two friends.’’ That last point may be the most important of all, in this Chinese-Malay context, it seems that every business deal is a matter of relationships. As President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Bentong and Vice President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Pahang, Dato’ Chia knows this well. The two associations are essentially oriented towards networking and also serve as spokespersons between the government and the powerful Chinese

Going the extra mile for a good causeIn November 2015, a landslide caused major disruptions on the highway between Kuala Lumpur and Pahang Karak. The local authorities immediately called Chia Trading to help support the rescue teams. Within the hour, ten UD trucks were at the scene helping to clear the rubble. “The trucks and the drivers were working in shifts 24 hours a day, for several days,” recalls Dato’ Chia. The incident demonstrated the UD trucks’ ability to work under extreme conditions and around the clock. The city’s insurance paid for the road clearance after the landslide, and this event was a good example of where business goals can meet public welfare needs, in a win-win operation.

“For us, safety is the absolute priority when buying a truck. I tried other brands but they were not as reliable as UD. They are very solid, robust trucks.”Sam Kon Fatt, Fleet Manager of Chia Trading & Transport Sdn. Bhd

business community. “Now it’s my turn to recommended UD trucks to business partners, and I’m happy to do that”, he says.

Aiming for a turnkey solutionNow, Dato’ Chia is evolving to towards a “top-down business approach”. In association with several partners, he is leading a dozen companies, from building materials traders to transport services. He recently acquired several quarries to add to his milling plants and various factories producing aggregate, asphalt, and coating products. His business scope is broad and he is able to offer customers a turnkey solution, from the quarry to the construction site. Basically, between Dato’ Chia and his

partners, they make, sell and deliver all of these products.

Several big regional projects in which he is involved, stretching over the next decade, might serve his ambition: the 325 km between Kota Bharu and Kuala Pilah, the Central Spine Road, the extension of the Kuantan port.

But Dato’ Chia doesn’t only live for work. This Malaysian-born Chinese is also a dedicated collector of all kinds of Chinese classical art. His interests span from unusually shaped precious stones to rare teas from the highlands. And then there are his beloved birds which make their nests on the rooftop of his office. By tending to these birds inside his trucking yard, he has certainly created a transport depot like no other.

Customer story Malaysia Thailand

30 31

Gemba Challenge 2016 finals

At UD, the Gemba Spirit is not only a word; it’s a daily philosophy, at the service of each customer. And since 2014, it is also an

international competition in which UD aftersales teams from all around the world challenge their knowledge, skills and talents, as well as their ability to satisfy their customers in the timeliest manner. Gemba Challenge is also a compelling proof of the involvement and professional, passionate and dependable spirit of the people at UD Trucks.

After tough local selections, in which no less than 289 UD teams worldwide took part, the top 11 teams were united for this final

Competing to serve customers at the highest level

phase of the competition held on November 22nd at the UD Experience Center, located in the UD manufacturing plant in Ageo. Hailing from Japan, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, the finalists in the 2016 edition faced a very tough challenge, covering fields as varied as diagnosis, electrical, engine, driveline, brakes, and commercial.

“We decided to join the competition to make sure that our company is following UD principles; we wanted to compare our way and knowhow with other UD teams

from different countries.”

Beruang Madu (Indonesia)

<< Kerak Telor (Indonesia) “The hardest part of our job is when the customers’ claims and the actual diagnostics are different. They may say ‘something is wrong with the engine’ but sometimes the real problem is elsewhere. We need to diagnose the real defect in a timely manner.Repair is important but it’s also very important to educate customers to understand the importance of proper maintenance.“

<< Poso (Japan) “The gemba for us is where value is produced: where we meet our customers’ needs – to transport products - on-time.We become an ‘emergency life-saving team’ at times. Customers may schedule repairs within a super limited deadline (such as same day delivery). I remember changing an engine at three o’clock in the morning once. That was certainly one of my going the extra mile experiences.“

<< Lobster (Thailand) “In our daily routine, the time is usually pressing so fixing in a timely manner is very challenging and worth trying. Even when customers come to us for a specific issue, we always try to fix the entire set of truck components. This is our ‘extra mile’, but it’s really a part of our regular practice.”

<< Kurume (Japan)“At gemba, the hardest part is to perform proper diagnostics and figure out what’s wrong. Identifying which wire is faulty is much harder than fixing it.”

<< Dream (Japan)“The gemba for us means the improvement of service quality, as gemba is where we are in contact with customers. And when we achieve quality of service, we grow ourselves.”

<< Taikoo (Taiwan)“The key to a good Gemba Spirit is good teamwork. As a team, we always share all the information.”

<< Gemba-No Challeko (Japan) “The hardest part of our job is to figure where the failure is. Sometimes what customers think is faulty and the actual diagnostic vary greatly. Properly diagnosing faulty parts and components and fixing them within a limited timeframe is always a challenge.”

Each challenge lasted 40 minutes, in which time teams had to identify and fix the breakdown. There were challenges where tenacity and patience were required.

The commercial task was a particularly surprising one, as teams tried to understand a request from a client, who, not being a mechanic himself, had difficulties in explaining his problem.

“The commercial task was very exciting - very different from our expectations. Probably the toughest and most off-the-

wall task we faced today!”

Kurume (Japan)

The teams competed with differing strategies, although some common threads could be observed throughout. Privileging team spirit and communication was one example, as teams aimed to deliver a perfectly working truck to each customer in a minimum of time.

“Good communication cultivated through our daily work helps us compete in this

challenge.” Kurume (Japan)

The current champions, BB Truck from South Africa, were there to defend their title, but this year they could not deter

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Photos: Nicolas Datiche

What is gemba to you?

Kerak Telor (Indonesia) Poso (Japan) Lobster (Thailand)

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their super motivated challengers in this high-level confrontation. Kerak Telor from Indonesia demonstrated solidity and a constancy, which made them unbeatable this year.

“Some of us had taken part in the challenge before, and with new team members we came here to win this time. To prepare our team, we put them through the “UD Gemba Challenge Bootcamp”, which is a special simulation program just for this competition. We came here totally prepared.”Kerak Telor (Indonesia)

“We were imagining this competition as some sort of technical contest, but so far, the atmosphere of the place is very different from our expectations. It’s been great with so many UD teams from other countries!Although the tasks we’ve encountered in this Gemba Challenge don’t vary that much from what we usually do on a daily basis, we have no idea what kind of task is awaiting us at which station. This keeps us on our toes. Our best strategy is to focus our efforts and concentration evenly between all six station.”Gemba-No Challeko (Japan)

“So far, the toughest task has been Engine, but we have the winning strategy –teamwork – this is the key.”Beruang Madu (Indonesia)

“To come here, we had to compete against 16 -17 teams. We’re very busy

Keeping your truck spotless

Dirty headlamps

Toothpaste is perfect for cleaning dirty headlamps. Make sure you use regular toothpaste – and not the gel kind.

Use a cloth to apply the toothpaste in circular movements

Rinse off with water and rub down with a dry cloth

Apply a coat of car wax if you have some

Tar from new or

melted roads

As tar is made from crude oil, it needs to be

removed with an oil-based product. If you don’t have

WD-40 you can use baby oil.

Apply the baby oil to the tar to loosen it

Wipe away with a soft cloth and apply more oil if necessary to remove stubborn patches

Wash off the oil with hot soapy water

Sap from a tree

Sometimes seeking out shade can mean sticky sap drops onto the truck. Early removal is vital.

Wash the sap with hot water to see if that will remove it Apply vegetable oil with a damp cloth to any patches of sap Leave the oil to break down the sap (a few minutes will do) Wash off with a clean soft cloth

Bugs or bird droppings

Bird droppings and bug guts contain uric acid, a corrosive substance that can eat through a coat of wax and start

on your paint sealant.

Wash the vehicle with hot water to try and remove the offending remains

Apply vegetable oil or WD-40 to the stained areas

Wipe away with a soft cloth Wash away the oil with hot soapy

water

Streaky windscreens

To get really clean, streak-free windscreens, fill a spray bottle with a half-vinegar /

half-water solution. The acid in the vinegar will break down any films that have accumulated on the glass.

Remove windscreen wipers and wipe away any

damaging grit and sand Wash windscreen and

windows with soapy water as you would normally

Spray windscreen with the vinegar solution and wipe dry

Dry with newspaper if you’ve run out of dry cloths

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Keeping your truck clean is a challenge even when you have access to your power cleaning tools and products at the depot, so how can you safely remove tough stains when you’re away from your base?These tips use everyday products to help you turn up for a delivery with a spotless rig.

<< Southern Shorts (South Africa)“In 2015, we had safety recalls so I was traveling 500 to 700 kilometers to go to customers’ sites while our maintenance radius was 200 kilometers. I always enjoyed the travel, though.”

<< Beruang Madu (Indonesia) “This is the first time my team has participated in the competition, as last time another team from the company took part. To be selected, we had to compete against 50 other teams so we started preparation two weeks before the competition began.We try to detect any defects even before our customers notice them. We check all the components and fix them before handing the truck over to our customers.“

<< Quizee Rascals (Singapore) “This is a great opportunity to be able to show our professionalism as well as to learn new things from other teams.”

<< BB Truck & Tractor Polokwane (South Africa)“We drive to each customers’ site when they can’t come to the dealership. We can do normal maintenance there, saving our customers’ time.”

What is gemba to you?

at work and didn’t have any special preparation, but we have been trained very well through our daily work.” Quizee Rascals (Singapore)

“We’re a bit nervous but are very excited to be here. We’ve practiced and learned from our work and have good

teamwork.” Lobster (Thailand)

All the participants learned something from this competition, proving its purpose in challenging the knowledge and skills of each UD team member. BB Truck training manager put it well, “As the person responsible for training for South Africa, I can really see the utility of this kind of competition, and it makes a big difference to all the mechanics who have the opportunity to take part.”

“Of course we’d like to compete in this competition again, but it’s also important to turn the challenge over to junior colleagues and let them continue the legacy, and in so doing, raise the level of

the entire workshop.” Kurume (Japan)

Questerhero

Quon hero

Kerak Telor (Indonesia)

Poso (Japan)

Trucker Tips & Tricks Gemba Challenge 2016

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UD Genuine ServiceQuality service by passionate people

UD Genuine Service is an important part of the UD extra mile support.

Long-term cost-cutting is dependent on having proper service right from the start.

UD Genuine Service is perfectly synchronized with your vehicle’s current status.

It is performed by authorized UD Trucks workshops that have access to the most up-to-date UD Trucks tools, UD Trucks diagnostic equipment

and the product quality and availability of UD Genuine Parts.

Going the Extra Mile