44 | AutoPartsAsia | FEBRUARY 2018SPECIAL REPORT
taught at frequent intervals, which is a must
in today’s context. Therefore, the company is
conducting class-room and field sessions. It has
a group of ‘master drivers’ who have exhibited
their skills working around India and they will
train new-comers on the nuances of driving
specific to MAN trucks.
With 35 years of expertise, MAN ProfiDrive has
made a significant contribution to the all-round
support for business owners, fleet managers
and drivers in over 67 countries worldwide. It
has continuously improved and expanded in
terms of its daily dealings with customers as
well as the available training portfolio.
These initiatives compliment the reliability and
efficiency of the MAN CLA Evo haulage series.
The products offer unique benefits such as
higher payload in their respective categories;
improved fuel efficiency; 20-hour duty cycle;
and maximum product lifecycle. Offered along
with aftersales customer solutions such as
Repair Maintenance Contracts (RMC), lubricants
and coolant, customers get the best value
proposition. The established TCO (total cost
of ownership) concept is one of the significant
benefits that MAN customers have experienced
over the years. Some of the earliest vehicles
sold by MAN Trucks in India are still operational,
the company said. These include tractors that
transport over dimensional cargo (ODC) having
clocked nearly 10 lakh kms and continue to do
so, he indicated.
“We strongly believe in the heavy truck
business and want to gain volumes by
entering all market segments to achieve
sustainable growth in the haulage business
in India. Growth in industrial production and
in GDP will lead to higher transport volumes;
for example, if the GDP growth is five percent
in a particular year, the transport volume will
also increase by similar percentage points.
This would lead to a sustainable course for
the total industry, and here we would like to
get a bigger share. What I have seen of the
truck industry is that 10 to 15 percent growthMAN’s Pan-India Drive
T
he pan-India drive comprising four tractors and a rigid
truck concluded with all the vehicles arriving at Pithampur.
The activity included the CLA Evo 40.250, 49.250 and
49.300 tractors and 31.300 rigid truck. All these vehicles
carried rated payload to demonstrate performance in true
operating conditions. The three routes accounted for over 9,000
kms traversed by the vehicles that stopped at 29 dealer locations
across India.
The writer of this article was part of the drive between Kodada, near
Vijayawada, and Hyderabad, in the central part of India. Behind
the steering wheels of the 49.300 was Sathibabu, who is serving
as ‘Master Driver’ at MAN Trucks India. He was at ease while
negotiating curves and at barricades (despite being a tractor-trailer)
where even the passenger cars and utility vehicles passed through
with caution. The road to Auto Nagar in Hyderabad had at least 10
barricades meant to slowdown the vehicles for security check.
While Sathibabu’s skill is key, no doubt, the cooperation of the
vehicle has also to be considered. The response of the engine
was better than similar trucks. Besides, the convenient position of
steering wheel, ergonomically designed seats and other controls
placed at the right distance made the drive very smooth. Despite
Sathibabu being less than five feet tall, he was able to handle well
due to the driver-friendly cabin. The first thing that anyone could
notice was the low noise level in the cabin, uncommon in trucks
of similar configuration. This was evident in the air-conditioned
cabin and these form part of the key elements to enhance driver
productivity. Yet another observation was that the vibration in the
cabin was at its peak when the vehicle runs at around 40kmph. It
settles fast to nil when the speed crosses 50kmph and becomes
smoother thereafter.
The new CLA Evo series trucks are powered by D-0836, turbo
charged, inter-cooled engine, that is rated for 250HP and 300HP.
Mated with six and nine-speed gearboxes, the trucks are adapted
for specific operations. The electronically-controlled common rail
system makes the engine high on reliability and fuel efficiency,
besides being more environment-friendly.The crawler gear in long haul trucks helps the engine run within
the optimal RPM range, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Strong
rigid front axle and hypoid rear axles provide superior traction and
gradeability, and reliability. The tippers feature planetary rear axle
with hub reduction, which provides high ground clearance and has
proven its effectiveness in varying conditions. The inter axle and
differential lock imparts superior traction.
The driver environment offers best-in-class ergonomics, visibility
and control. The objective is to provide drivers high levels of
comfort for significantly reduced fatigue and enhanced safety.
The aerodynamic cabin with heat and sound dampeners and
an optional AC helps maximise man and machine performance.
Overall it was a smooth ride for this writer as the man and machine
were in perfect harmony.Cab assembling in progressCab trimming