INTERVIEW
Ziyad says the company has built a fleet of 60 MAN trucks but is continuing to add vehicles, and will be bolstered by the end of 2018 with the addition of the 4x4 TGM, 6x6 TGS and the TGS 8x8 off-roader, a rugged vehicle with high clearance making it adept at supporting remote pipeline installation. “MAN helps because the quality of the trucks for the successful running of the business,” he says explaining why Cardiff has built up a sizeable MAN fleet. “The mileage is fantastic, fuel consumption is economical and the MAN trucks can go on- and off-road which makes it more flexible and better than other brands.” Fleet purchasing at Cardiff is driven by the needs of its clients. Ziyad says that the company’s renewal of its fleet targets a five-year rotation with the sale of older trucks contributing to newer replacements. Given the remote locations and harsh environment that Cardiff operates, inspections on the vehicles are conducted on a regular basis and support from MAN and Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons Co is vital. He adds that they have formed a strong partnership over time. “We started with a small number of vehicles but the truck number has grown to above 60 because of the trust and longterm relationship. The workshop and after sales support is very good thanks to the dealership in the UAE - Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons Co and we have benefitted from their quality and durability over a long period of time,” says Ziyad. “The vehicles have performed without major breakdowns providing peace of mind and re-assurance.” “We are delighted to have enjoyed such a long partnership with Cardiff,” says Khalifa Darwish, Managing Director, Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons Co. “We see it as our duty to help them continue to be a success. ” The UAE’s heavy truck fleet is an important part of the Oil & Gas industry and it is crucial that transporters are able to match the safety and environmental requirements of a sector that is becoming cleaner and greener. The company has established its own dedicated HSE department as part of an effort to protect lives and the environment from any hazard materials as required by UAE waste management regulations. “In the Oil & Gas industry, everything is reported and safety comes first,” he adds. “There is no compromise on safety rules and regulations. One of the major factors that we care about is safe transportation. Cardiff’s HSE department monitors and trains employees to work according to oilfield site rules and regulations. Whoever
the backbone of our service is extensive support from customeroriented operations team and welltrained drivers and operators who are specialised in the oil & gas industry”
violates safety rules, they will have to face actions according to the violation matrix and given safety orientation in order to improve the quality and standard of work.” Rises in fuel costs are a major pressure for fleet owners in the region and Cardiff is drawing on MAN’s expertise to better manage the overall cost of its vehicles and operation. “The continuous hikes in fuel price is having a serious major impact on the expenses side of the business. It is really very tough to maintain the same cost for trips with the current competitive market situation.” According to Franz Freiherr von Redwitz, Managing Director, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East, the work with Cardiff is a demonstration of how it provides customer-centric solutions in different segments, including Oil & Gas, to keep fleet costs manageable. “By focusing on individual transport costs, the correct MAN solution is recommended and supplied to any of the MAN operators in the region. Not only do we provide vehicles with an outstanding quality, our after sales services support our customers throughout the journey with MAN,” says Franz Freiherr von Redwitz. ”We guarantee maximum uptimes and therefore high profitability through our repair and maintenance contracts, extended warranty and MAN Genuine Parts that come with 2 years warranty. “MAN Truck and Bus Middle East also helps to save costs and improve overall profitability especially in the longrun through our MAN ProfiDrive driver
education program which is proven to increase fuel economy which, on average is a 10% improvement comparing a driver before and after the training session.” Another less-understood challenge for fleets is the temptation to save costs in a market that is more competitive than ever by purchasing non-OEM parts. MAN has invested millions into its genuine parts programme working with a carefully selected group of globally recognised suppliers who manufacture according to its demanding specifications and MAN Truck & Bus Middle East’s head of After-Sales’ Richard Brown believes this can help avoid failures and lower the the risk of accidents. “Counterfeit or grey market substitutes will cost less initially but the lower prices hide a haphazard production process using poorer materials and minimal checks which would have trimmed down the quality of the final product.” Whether it is truck quality, customisation, training or advice on parts, Ziyad says that Cardiff will continue to draw on MAN’s expertise to maintain its own high level of service. “MAN is our important partner as Cardiff has to provide the message to the UAE that we are able to provide services in oilfield operations safely. This is one of our priorities as it demonstrates that we are a quality brand to trust,” he says. “MAN also helps us by developing additional features that enable us to meet very high standards.”
A TEAM EFFORT (Left to right) Marketing Manager Basheer Mohammed, General Manager Shameer Mohammed, Finance Manager Jishar Mohammed head a team at Cardiff which is focussed on quality customer service and well-trained drivers. The company works in partnership with MAN Truck & Bus Middle East and Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons Co.
JULY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 15