New Quester The truck with Smart Logis

Japanese commercial vehicle maker UD Trucks unveiled in April in the MEENA region its new truck model which enables big savings through enhanced fuel efficiency, productivity and connectivity features

 

Fuel efficiency, battle for talent, productivity and connectivity are top priorities for fleets and transport companies all over the world.

UD Trucks, a leading Japanese commercial vehicle solutions provider since 1935 and a proud member of the Volvo Group currently active in more than 60 countries on all continents, says these challenges will be addressed in enhanced time-tested features known as ESCOT (Easy Safe Controlled Transmission) and UD Telematics embedded in its latest truck model, the New Quester.

First rolled out in January 2019 in Thailand, the UD Trucks export hub to growth markets in Southeast Asia, the New Quester was introduced to the Middle East, East and North Africa (MEENA) region in April. The same will be introduced in other fast-growing regions across the world in the coming months.

“We recognize immense potential in fast-growing markets such as Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America where business success is a key contributor to economic progress. Combined with our Ultimate Dependability standard and Gemba spirit, New Quester marks our commitment to continue championing Smart Logistics and providing unmatched value to our customers in these regions,” said Jacques Michel, President, Volvo Group Trucks Asia

• JVs Sales.

Following the respective market launches, New Quester’s driving adventure film series filmed around the world will showcase how the truck supports businesses in tackling actual, market-specific challenges faced by truck companies in fast-growing regions around the world.

The Smart Logistics Truck

UD Trucks said the new version of the brand’s well-established heavy  duty truck introduces a range of enhancements that will enable logistics companies across the region to tackle critical industry challenges and boost their bottom line through Smart Logistics.

Building on proven robustness and  reliability,  New  Quester introduces key features such as ESCOT automated m a n u a l transmission, engines with higher horsepower and user-friendly telematics to deliver greater fuel efficiency, productivity, driver efficiency, safety and uptime.

“The truck industry in the region is changing rapidly and customers are increasingly conscious of the total cost of ownership. With New Quester we have the ideal product to address these needs. Moreover, New Quester combines the best of three worlds: UD Trucks’ strong Japanese heritage and craftsmanship; Volvo Group’s innovative technology; and our strong local support for our valued customers, which we callour Gemba spirit,” said Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA.

“ We  are  humbled  by  the tremendous confidence and recognition that the Quester line has earned. With New Quester, we are looking forward to carrying on this legacy of being the truck brand that our customers want to partner with,” he added.

Better productivity and profitability

UD Trucks says the New Quester aims to boost productivity and profitability for business owners and logistics companies, for whom a rise in fuel costs consequently increases operating costs . It delivers enhanced fuel efficiency of up to 10 percent over the current Quester.

This is aided by the ESCOT automated manual transmission, lighter tare weight and optimized driveline, and is also affected by the operating conditions, driving behavior and vehicle maintenance.

ESCOT includes software which optimizes gear shifting according to the engine revs, 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.

New Quester’s enhanced fuel performance also aligns with the increasing global focus on curbing fuel consumption and meeting environmentally – friendly regulations in relation to emissions quality standards, all of which effectively reduces the new model’s overall carbon footprint.

More driver-friendly features

A game changer in the transportation business, New Quester with ESCOT automatically selects the optimal gear at the right time based on the operating condition.

This takes away the need for manual gear shifting which, depending on the transportation operations, happens 1,000 to 1,500 times a day.ESCOT’sautomated gear selection also enables drivers to easily adaptto operating New Quester and better focus on driving with ease.

In addition to making driving simple, New Quester also aims to help businesses expand the pool of driving talent with an easy-to-operate gear lever that uses a straight shifting pattern. In certain target markets, for example, the number of female Quester drivers is increasing due to its drivability.

New Quester opens the doors for companies to attract even more prospects to pursue truck driving as a career and diversify the pool of talent for this role. This increases overall drivability and safety for drivers with features that focus on increasing drivers’ comfort levels and reducing driver fatigue.

TRUCKING

Driver fatigue continues to be a serious industry challenge , contributing to up to 20 percent of road accidents in the world. To address this, New Quester is developed with an air suspended cab and ride comfort package which reduces cab vibrations by up to 18 percent. Driver comfort is also enhanced by the ergonomic seats and lumbar support for long-distance assignments.

Boosting business growth

In line with elevating business success through Smart Logistics, New Quester supports effective fleet management and driver performance with innovative customer telematics such as real-t i m e 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, for example, the Middle East.

New Quester trucks are equipped with UD Telematics, which make it possible 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 via monthly driving behavior and fuel consumption reports, ensuring higher uptime and optimized fuel economy over time.

Owners of New Quester will also enjoy increased uptime, with the clutch life span being 2.5 to 3 times longer when equipped with an ESCOT automated manual transmission as compared to a manual clutch, depending on operating conditions, driving behavior and vehicle maintenance, UD Trucks noted.

Built to deliver UD Trucks’ ethos of “Ultimate Dependability”, New Quester increases uptime through UD Extra Mile Support, which has proved popular with customers across MEENA, the company said.

Offering an extensive network of well-trained service technicians, it provides quality aftersales service with genuine parts , service planning and vehicle handover training that optimizes fleet performance, it added.

The MEENA region is one of the most dynamic in the world with diverse economies marked with steady growth in construction, tourism, mining, real estate, logistics, maritime, among many other industries that require dependable mode of transportation.