As a leading transporter of oil and gas products, Konsortium PD Sdn Bhd, or KPD as they are commonly referred to, is well known for having set an extremely high bar when it comes to road safety. A key component in their operations are the trucks, which have to comply with the most stringent regulations, aligned with the goods the company is carrying. With the recent adaptation of Shacman trucks for their fleet, Konsortium PD is setting a precedent for transporters of dangerous goods for the use of Chinese trucks. During the vehicle hand-over in Seremban, Mr. Richard Tee Chu Wong, Managing Director of Konsortium Port Dickson Sdn Bhd, provided insights into the thinking behind the move to change from their European trucks to a Chinese make. “This is the first time we are using Shacman trucks. We have yet to see the long-term performance, however, we have confidence in the vehicles,” he told the present Konsortium PD customers, suppliers to the business and representatives of YonMing. Tee told Asian Trucker that the company’s reputation is now staked on the performance of the Shacman vehicles as the clientele comprises of the top brands in Malaysia. “Our clients demand the best and safest and we have all intention to uphold our reputation.” To address the current energy crisis, brought upon Malaysia by the war in the Middle East, Tee also hopes that the trucks will be energy efficient. In addition, he said that the trucks will be evaluated on their ability to cope with Biodiesel. “The Malaysian government is addressing the current crisis by mandating higher biodiesel content. This means that the engines of the Shacman trucks need to be prepared accordingly to cope with it.” Here, Konsortium PD is calling upon Shacman to assist in how to deal with the new energy source. \ Citing cost pressure, Tee said that the latest generation of Shacman trucks offers a viable option for transport owners like themselves now. “We have to use trucks with ADR specifications. Previously, Chinese trucks did not meet this requirement. However, now, that their specs have been upgraded, while the vehicles are competitively priced, we can actually put them to use in our operation,” Tee said. On the matter of the vehicles being part of a bigger ESG programme, Tee said that the vehicles would be deployed using the latest technology. He stated that it is important to be playing a role in the countries ambition to decarbonise. “For instance, the AMT gear box of these vehicles is helping the driver to operate more environmentally friendly.” Beyond the hardware, Tee lauded the efforts YonMing is making to align with these goals of the government. For instance, used lubricants would be collected by YonMing for recycling. Konsortium PD is known for their stringent monitoring of every vehicle’s performance and movement. With the introduction of the first batch of Shacman trucks, the company will now have the ability to compare them side by side with their other vehicles. “Now, we will get to see how good the Shaman trucks are, entering a new era in our company’s history,” Tee said in parting.