New heavy duty trucks expected to build capacity

Players in the local mining, haulage and construction sectors are anticipating a boost in their production capacity with the availability of brand new heavy-duty trucks for purchase in Jamaica.

Tank-Weld has expanded into motor vehicle distribution, becoming the exclusive dealers of the China-made Shacman brand in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The company's new line of business has reduced the need for reliance on mainly America-made used trucks.

"This is a revolution in trucking. The partnership between Tank-Weld, Shacman and JN Bank is unbeatable; and I believe Shacman will become the truck of choice throughout Jamaica," said Tank-Weld's Managing Director John Ralston. The purchase of the trucks is being financed exclusively by JN Bank.

LARGEST SALE

New local miners, Conveyance Partners JA Limited, is among companies that are already set to expand their capacity using the new line of heavy-duty trucks. They have purchased 14 trucks for their fleet, which represents Tank-Weld's largest sale to date since entering the market nine months ago.

The nearly one-year-old Conveyance Partners JA, which mines bauxite ore for Jamalco in Clarendon, and handles bauxite for dome feeding at Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) Alpart in St Elizabeth, is a sister company of Conveyance and Konstruk'Shon Limited, an 18-year-old player in the building and construction industry.

Speaking at the handover of the new trucks at Tank-Weld's offices in Six Miles, St Andrew, on Saturday, managing director of Conveyance Partners JA, Naomi Dawkins, said the purchase of the new fleet of Shacman trucks is important, particularly in the context of the boost in production influenced by the reopening of the JISCO Alpart refinery in Nain, St Elizabeth, and several construction developments across the country.

"There is a shortage of trucks in Jamaica at this time, and a lot of mining is taking place for aggregate such as sand and gravel, hence, there is a lot of hauling," she explained.

She said the new fleet will position the company to exceed demand.

The company's project director, Collis McCalla, said the Shacman trucks are more efficient, as they are able to haul significantly more ore than the fleet of America-made used trucks on which it currently relies.

He also noted that the structure and make of the trucks results in more efficiency.

Curtis Martin, acting managing director of JN Bank, said the initiative would strengthen economic prospects in the mining sector.