Moving a rather unique product mix, Hatta Impian uses JAC trucks as they offer surprising benefits to this transport owner.

Being a provider of logistics solutions, Hatta Impian will have to address the specific needs of their client by matching them to the best suited vehicles in their fleet. Ler Kok Meng, Manager, Hatta Impian Sdn Bhd, knows how to make the wheels turn as he himself sometimes takes over the driving duties when there is a shortage of drivers. “We move an interesting mix of products: Hancock tyres, white goods and electrical goods of several top brands and alcoholic beverages, in particular cognac.”

With nine offices across peninsular Malaysia, Hatta Impian delivers these goods to retail outlets in all states. “Although these products have a high value, the volume does not require us to use 40-foot containers. Hence, the medium duty trucks from JAC are the perfect choice for our operation,” Ler told Asian Trucker. Out of a total of around 100 trucks, four are JAC N75. Drivers are very fond of the trucks, attested by Ler saying that there have been no issues with the vehicles. He reminded that commercial vehicles are generally built solidly and that it is the driver that makes the difference when it comes to fuel efficient driving, wear and tear and the overall performance of the trucks.

Making their daily trips between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the trucks have been running without any major issue for the past five years. In particular, the powerful engine is a feature that Ler and his team highlight. “Interestingly, although the engine is very powerful, to our surprise, we found it to be very fuel efficient,” he stated. As the trucks are on daily runs, this is, of course, a very important aspect for the operators. According to Ler, it is this fact that has allowed Hatta Impian to remain competitive while the market is seeing an ever-increasing competition for the kind of clients they serve. In his view, it is not sustainable for some operators that would compete by undercutting freight rates.

Lauding the powertrain, Ler pointed out that these models are from the previous generation of JAC trucks and that he would expect the next batch of JAC trucks to perform even better. Speaking about the performance of the vehicle, Ler stressed that service and maintenance is very important. Although the vehicles are no longer under warranty, he insists that the trucks are serviced in authorised JAC workshops. In his view, the technicians working under the banner of the JAC brand are best suited to handle any issues he is facing with the vehicle. “Spare parts availability, the fact that the people are constantly trained and experts on one brand only, these are all important factors when you opt for a workshop to service your trucks,” Ler opined. Underscoring this, he said that he cannot afford risking his reputation by using third party workshops that may not be able to provide the correct service solutions, thus potentially leading to unscheduled downtime.

Having run these JAC trucks for a number of years, Hatta Impian has made very good experiences with them. On the account of any issues faced, Ler said that they had to replace clutches, however, these wear items would be replaced within the expected time frames and mileage. “Again, we stress that it is important to service your vehicles as per the recommended schedule, and to use genuine parts for extended uptime.” Staking the company’s reputation on the reliability of the JAC trucks, he mentioned that he would recommend the vehicles for any transporter that is moving goods over long distances. With the long wheelbase, powerful engine, they are best suited for such operations, where there is not much maneuvering required.