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SAFETY: DANGEROUS CARGOText and photos: Chris ReillyWrapped R500 raises ADR awarenessTM Crane & TruckHire in Alrode,Johannesburg,specialises in thewholesale distributionof petrol and dieselfuel products tonumerous customers.Their Scania R500tractor trucks are allADR-compliant.Scania’s ADR demonstrator stands out amongst Trys Schroeder’s fleet of ADR-compliant Scanias.Bruce McMurray loves the spaciouscab of his R500 ADR tractor.The three main safety benefits of ADR – Safety,Health and Environment.Trys Schroeder runs the familyownedbusiness TM Crane – withbrothers Paul, Manie, Adriaanand father Sampie – filling variousroles in the company.Starting with a little 4-ton Dyna truck in2001, the company has since grown into afleet of 163 trucks and over 150 assortedtrailers. Trys acquired his first Scania, aR580, in 2004 and now has six Scania R500ADR compliant trucks and a new R580.He’s waiting for another three ScaniaR270 rigid tanker trucks, with meteredfuel pumps, to be delivered by ScaniaSouthern Africa.The company has a contract todistribute soft drink products for a leadingbeverage company, and also hires outmobile cranes and crane trucks, thebiggest of these capable of lifting 100ton loads. The company moves any hardcargo it can get; containers, miningequipment, generator sets, earthmovingvehicles, even bulk consumer products.“It was Allan Webber (Sales Executive atScania Alrode) that convinced me to buythe ADR spec V8 truck,” says Trys. “It’sgot the power to pull two full tanker trailers,and the cab is very comfortable forthe drivers, who sometimes spend weeksdriving cargo almost nonstop. That makesa big difference.“I’m happy with the Scanias. We getvery little trouble from them, and when wedo, they get sorted out. It’s an excellentvehicle, and the drivers are happy.”Bruce McMurray has been drivingtrucks for 21 years, and hauls fuel tankersall over the country for TM Crane with aScania R500 ADR tractor. He loves the cabof his truck. “It’s the most comfortableride I’ve had, very smooth on the road,”says Bruce. He’s impressed with thehorse’s disk brakes, the EBS and theRetarder – “I use it more than the brakepedal” – and the heated mirrors are veryhandy in winter. He can also access thetoolboxes from inside the cab – he doesn’thave to get out in bad weather.There’s more room in the cab – Brucecan stand up without hitting his head onthe ceiling – and extra packing space forhis personal gear.The only thing he would like is a coolercab in summer. “Summer nights inPetermaritzburg can reach 30ºC,” saysBruce. “Extra air vents around the sleeperbunks would cool things down nicely.”Robert Mohr, Scania Alrode RegionalSales Manager, came up with the idea of‘wrapping’ Scania’s R500 ADR demonstratorvehicle. He commissioned Ivan Benn ofConcept Inc to create the graphic designsfor the ADR livery.“We want people to recognise the threemain safety benefits of ADR-complianttrucks hauling dangerous cargo. Safety,Health and Environment.” says Robert.“We borrowed the slogan ‘Safety isNot Negotiable’ with permission fromUnitrans, one of our customers, andadded another that sums up the principlesbehind ADR: Respecting Life andPreventing Injury.”22 SCANIA REVOLUTIONS • N o 3/2009 www.scania.com