Hino 300 clocks up one million kilometres in Namibia
Importantly, over the past eight years, the vehicle has not required any major component overhauls, such as the engine, gearbox, or rear axle. Only routine servicing and the replacement of wear-and-tear items, such as brake and clutch linings, as well as the occasional fan belt, have been necessary.
“Durability and reliability are essential to our business, which involves manufacturing large, rotationally moulded water tanks that are distributed countrywide,” explained Heiko Meyer, manager of Namibia Rotomould. “These requirements mean we need the same attributes in our delivery trucks to ensure we keep our customers satisfied.
“This is why we switched to Hino. We found their standard manual gearboxes to be virtually trouble-free in our type of operation, especially after previously using trucks with automated manual transmissions. Our trucks are fitted with flat-deck bodies and usually tow two trailers, resulting in an overall rig length of 22 metres. The water tank loads are not particularly heavy, but they are bulky, creating significant wind resistance,” Meyer added.
Most of the distance covered by this Hino truck has been driven by Imael Joel, its dedicated driver. His consistent driving habits and strong sense of responsibility have played a significant role in achieving the one million kilometre milestone.
Fuel consumption is continuously monitored, with the company reporting an average of 18 litres per 100 km, for a truck speed-governed to 80 km/h.
Meyer highlighted the most impressive features of the Hino 300 as its high reliability, simple and robust mechanical design, excellent durability under demanding operating conditions, and acceptable fuel consumption for Rotomould’s specific application.
The Rotomould fleet consists of five similar Hino 300 freight carriers with trailers. Meyer said the original plan was to replace the trucks every three years, but their proven dependability has extended their service life. He added that when replacement becomes necessary, the company will most likely opt for new Hino trucks.
“Hino trucks have been operating in Southern Africa for more than 50 years and have built a strong reputation for QDR – quality, durability and reliability. Impressive long-distance achievements stem from these principles, which are embedded in the DNA of all our trucks,” said Anton Falck, Vice President of Hino South Africa.
“Our aim is to ensure customers achieve maximum uptime and the lowest possible cost per kilometre over the working life of their vehicles.”
Rotomould is a family-owned business based in Okahandja, operating in Namibia for more than 20 years. It specialises in the rotational moulding of polyethylene water tanks and related products, serving customers across the agricultural, chemical, mining, industrial, and domestic sectors. The company operates its own fleet to distribute its products nationwide.
