RDM Logistics, a family-owned South African cross-border transport company, took delivery of its 100th truck from New Vaal Motors Commercial Vehicles, marking a significant achievement in its growth journey.
This milestone vehicle is a Mercedes-Benz Actros 2652 Pure, reinforcing the strong and enduring partnership between RDM Logistics and Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
Founded in 2009 by Allan Taylor and currently owned and managed by Allan and his three children: Richard Taylor, Dale Taylor and Megan van der Waal, RDM Logistics began with a fleet of just ten trucks servicing the World Food Programme into Zimbabwe.
Today, the company operates a fleet of 100 trucks across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, transporting commodities such as grains, beer, chrome, lithium, soda ash, timber and mining equipment.
Despite navigating harsh market conditions, including the 2009 global recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, RDM Logistics has grown sustainably by focusing on reliability, efficiency and customer service.
“Reaching our 100th truck is a proud moment for our family and our team. Choosing Mercedes-Benz Trucks for this milestone was an easy decision. The brand represents reliability, advanced technology and strong after-sales support. This partnership has been instrumental in our success story,” says Dale Taylor, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of RDM Logistics.
Currently, 52 of RDM’s 100 trucks are Mercedes-Benz Actros models, a testament to the brand’s performance and durability. RDM maintains a strict equipment replacement policy, refreshing trucks every five years to ensure minimal downtime and maximum reliability for its clients.
Why Mercedes-Benz Trucks?
“My father, Allan Taylor, has been in the transport industry for over 45 years, and his decades-long relationship with Daimler Truck Financial Services (formerly Mercedes-Benz Financial Services) made our initial decision to partner with Mercedes-Benz a seamless experience.
“Our very first 10 trucks were Freightliners, and since then, the partnership has only deepened. From day one, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has provided not only robust, reliable vehicles but also exceptional after-sales support and a personal approach that fosters long-term trust.
“This relationship has played a significant role in our growth and success story. The reliability of Mercedes-Benz trucks means less downtime and greater consistency in delivering on our promises to customers,” Dale says.
He says although they are not on any maintenance contracts, they ensure that all their trucks are serviced and maintained at Mercedes-Benz truck dealerships. “We budget internally for servicing and maintenance, and over the 5-year period of owning each truck, we have always managed to keep costs within budget.”
“There are a few key features that we and our drivers enjoy. For us as a company, features like the Power Shift Control ensure smooth shifting and fuel efficiency, Lane Keeping Assist and Attention Assist ensure better safety for our drivers, assets and customers’ loads. FleetBoard and Mercedes-Benz Trucks Uptime assist us in monitoring driver performance, fuel consumption and many more key metrics for efficient fleet monitoring. For our drivers who spend many hours driving, the unparalleled comfort from the driver suspension seat, large cab space and the advanced multimedia cockpit all make the life of our drivers a lot better and easier,” he says.
“Mercedes-Benz is a brand that is there to support and aid any transporter from start to finish by providing a great product at a competitive price, great people and fantastic after-sales support,” concludes Dale.
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