HEAVEY COMMERICIAL VEHICLES
South Africa’s truck sector navigates cost, competition, and a cautious electric future Capital Equipment News’ Juanita Pienaar spoke with Philip Kalil-Zackey, Head of Truck Sales &
Product at MAN Truck & Bus South Africa; Itumeleng Segage, General Manager of Hino Sales; and Olaf Petersen, Vice President: Sales & Marketing at Daimler Truck Southern Africa, to unpack the shifting landscape of heavy commercial vehicles in the country. Their combined insights paint a picture of an industry balancing rising operational strain with rapid technological advancement and a measured transition towards alternative powertrains.
Mounting pressure on operators Across South Africa, heavy commercial vehicle operators are navigating a tightening operating environment, where costs are rising, and reliability is becoming harder to maintain. At the core of these pressures is fuel. “Fleet operators are under mounting pressure from fuel pricing, which affects operating costs of their businesses,” says Philip Kalil-Zackey
of MAN. Compounding this are quality concerns. “Fuel quality inconsistencies increase maintenance needs such as fuel decontamination and more frequent filter replacements.” Infrastructure adds another layer of complexity. “Poor road conditions accelerate wear and tear, impacting uptime and repair costs,” he explains, highlighting a challenge echoed across the sector.
Hino’s Itumeleng Segage expands on the breadth of these issues. “The pressure on operators is coming from several places at once,” he says. “Fuel remains one of the biggest cost drivers, and diesel increased again in March 2026, which immediately squeezes margins.” Operational risk is also increasing. “Operators are dealing with cargo hijackings and theft, more complex
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