Real Energy Africa Logistics, a hazardous materials transport specialist, purchased its first new DAF trucks, the XF530 models which, in less than three months, have already clocked in excess of 10 000 km. Impressed by the trucks’ reliability and fuel efficiency, coupled with Babcock’s comprehensive support package, the company is set to take delivery of four more units in the near future.

Following its formation nearly three years ago, Real Energy Africa Logistics now runs a total of 13 trucks, of which two are 530-hp DAF XF530 models. Part of the larger Wozani Berg Gasoline (WBG) group, a renowned fuel and gas distribution company in South Africa, and the Q4 Group of Companies, a prominent fuel retail and chemical distributor, Real Energy was formed as an internal service provider for WBG, explains Justin Blythe, MD of Real Energy.

As part of its fleet expansion programme, the company – which currently specialises in fuel transportation, but has plans to diversify into other hazardous goods as part of its growth development – went into the market for two trucks in mid-2024. Before committing to the two DAF XF530 models, Real Energy initially ran a demo 480-hp DAF XF480, which left an indelible mark on the minds of the Real Energy team.

Justin Blythe, Managing Director of Real Energy, brings 36 years of experience in logistics and transport. Reflecting on his introduction to DAF, he remarks:

“Over the years, I have worked extensively with two other truck brands. When we launched Real Energy, we acquired second-hand DAF units, and I was immediately impressed by their durability. These trucks keep going – you only bring them in for routine maintenance, preventative maintenance check-ups and they are back on the road.”

Commenting on the decision to purchase the two DAF XF530 trucks, Blythe says that from the onset, the demo unit, the 480-hp DAF XF480, set a new benchmark in fuel efficiency, running at 37 litres per 100 km, which was impressive for Blythe and his team. However, a decision was made to go for the higher-horsepower DAF XF530 for several reasons.

Firstly, explains Blythe, although the 480 hp seemed adequate for the application at hand, the 530-hp units were the right choice because their high horsepower translates into reduced pressure on the drivetrain, thus ensuring long life for these critical components.

In addition, he says, the company’s routes are mainly from the coast to the inland regions, where there are generally some significant climbs, and the 530-hp vehicle makes light work of this demanding terrain, proving even more fuel-efficient in the process.

“The turnaround times on a 530-hp vehicle are generally better than on a 480-hp unit – one ends up doing more loads in a given timeframe,” explains Alec Jackson, sales representative at Babcock. “The regulated 80 km/hour maximum speed is one thing, but being able to maintain it over notorious climbs such as Van Reenen’s Pass is quite another. In the end, by deploying a high-horsepower vehicle in such tough terrain, one ends up doing a load or two extra a month versus when running a smaller engine truck.”

Blythe agrees, saying that aero speed is a significant efficiency metric in transportation, and the DAF XF530 is proving to be in a league of its own in that aspect. This is complemented by other efficiency parameters such as low fuel consumption and maintenance costs. When it comes to maintenance, Blythe has been impressed by Babcock’s maintenance contract, which he says is all-encompassing and was a ‘peace-of-mind’ factor that influenced the purchasing decision.

“Another key competitive edge which swung our decision towards DAF were Babcock’s competitive buy-back and trade-in deals, which make it easier for us to sell our DAF Trucks at the end of their useful life and upgrade our fleet,” says Blythe. “We were also quite impressed by the supportive in-house Babcock Finance team. Jumping through the normal risk requirements and liquidity confirmations hooks can be daunting, but the Babcock Finance team made the process smooth for us and probably within a week, all the admin work had been completed.”

In conclusion, Blythe hails the Babcock’s Executrax, a high-tech onboard fleet management system, which comes standard with all DAF Trucks. Executrax delivers seamless driver and vehicle management performance. It allows vehicle owners to track and report back on locations, driving behaviour and vehicle and driver safety – important parameters for the high-risk fuel industry. It also monitors the productivity of a vehicle in order to make transport more cost-effective and sustainable.

“Based on these factors, Real Energy has placed an order for four more DAF XF530’s, which will be delivered by mid-2025. Within a short space of time, we have built a formidable relationship with the client, and we look forward to being part of their growth story for many years to come,” concludes Jackson.