FleeT overview
Rock solid opeRAtioN Hashim Sharif Mudhir on how Al Akhilaa General Trading is preparing for expo 2020
A
l Akhilaa General Trading L.L.C. has been a valuable link for construction contractors in the UAE stretching back to its founding as Al Ashraf General Transport three decades ago. Founded to serve public works and government projects in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, it has progressed to be one of the top ten suppliers of aggregates and building material for projects across the emirates. With the country building towards hosting Expo 2020, Al Akhilaa’s CEO Hashim Sharif Mudhir tells T&FME that the company, which owns a sizeable fleet dominated by trucks from MAN, is excited to be part of the preparation and estimates that business activity could increase by as 22 TRUCK&FLEET ME AUGUST 2017
much as 40% during the run-in to the event. “We feel confident that our business will grow, especially considering Expo 2020 is coming up,” he says. “We will expand our fleet as construction projects surrounding the event ramp-up.” Al Akhilaa General Trading’s success has been built on a strong recruitment policy, strict safety controls and a professional approach – which has helped it to forge a reputation for quality among its governmental and private clients (many of which operate in the timesensitive and demanding ready mix sector). The company’s well-maintained fleet is consistently reviewed and renewed where necessary, he adds. In a business where uptime is everything and delivery times from the crushers in quarries to the project area must be strictly adhered to, he says that
From a logistics point of view, MAN is a trustworthy provider so we don’t need to worry about anything”
the MAN fleet of trucks and the support – including utilising its United Motors & Heavy Equipment CO. LLC (UMHE) workshops for full services – that comes with them is critical. “They provide peace of mind because we need to ensure that aggregates will be transferred on time from one location to another – and UMHE ensures timely delivery and high-quality of service,” he comments. “From a logistics point of view, MAN is a trustworthy partner so we don’t need to worry about anything.” Referring to servicing and maintenance, he continues: “The quick turnarounds with MAN and UMHE speeds up the servicing of our trucks, so we can get the trucks back to work quickly. They ensure efficiency, like ‘Formula 1’ efficiency.” “Our customers expect fast delivery, so