Fuel efficiency, driver availability, productivity and connectivity are priorities for transport companies.
UD Trucks unveiled the New Quester with enhancements to the well-established heavy-duty truck. The new Quester will enable logistics companies to tackle critical industry challenges and boost their bottom line through Smart Logistics. It is to be introduced in fast-growing regions around the world. Building on robustness and reliability, the new Quester introduces key features such as ESCOT automated manual transmission, engines with higher horsepower and user-friendly telematics to deliver greater fuel efficiency, productivity, driver efficiency, safety, and uptime.
Fuel costs typically constitute 40 percent of operating costs for fleet operators. To boost productivity and profitability for business owners and logistics companies, the new Quester achieves further enhanced fuel efficiency of up to 10 percent from the current Quester with the ESCOT automated manual transmission, lighter tare weight and optimized driveline, depending on the operating condition, driving behaviour and vehicle maintenance.
ESCOT includes software which optimizes gear shifting according to engine rev, vehicle speed, loading weight and even road gradient. The smart system also includes a sensor that will select the optimum gear automatically instead of assuming a first gear selection. This takes away the need for manual gear shifting, which depending on the transportation operations, happens 1,000 to 1,500 times a day. This enables drivers to easily learn the operations of the new Quester and better focus on driving with ease.
Driver fatigue continues to be a serious industry challenge, contributing up to 20 percent of road accidents in the world . To address this, the new Quester is developed with an air suspended cab and ride comfort package with reduced cab vibrations of up to 18 percent. Driver’s comfort is also enhanced with ergonomic seats and lumber support for long-distance assignments.
The new Quester supports effective fleet management and driver performance with customer telematics such as real-time vehicle tracking and geofencing for better fleet visibility and optimization. Such smart connectivity features support the increasing trend of new logistics delivery solutions that are offered by technology and local start-up companies in South Africa, Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The trucks are equipped with UD Telematics, which has the capability to connect directly to UD Trucks workshops to monitor and detect each vehicle’s condition and service needs before a potential emergency occurs. Preventive maintenance analysis guides customers with monthly driving behaviour and fuel consumption reports, ensuring higher uptime and more optimal fuel economy over time. Source