Cross-Border Logistics: All About the Fuel Economy

In the expansive East African highlands, long-haul logistics vehicles play a vital role in sustaining regional economies—transporting construction materials, food, and essential goods across borders. Among the region’s largest logistics operators, S Company manages a fleet of over 600 tractor trucks serving industries from steel and cement to daily consumer goods.

Fuel Efficiency Drives Fleet Decisions

As part of its 2024 fleet upgrade, S Company sought to establish a new transport unit with a clear priority: fuel economy. Drawing from years of experience operating second-hand European trucks, the company’s leadership recognized that controlling operating costs—especially fuel consumption—was critical to long-term profitability.

After rigorous trials involving several mainstream models, including competitive Chinese brands, the SHACMAN X3000 Tractor equipped with the Cummins ISM engine emerged as a standout. Operating under high-intensity conditions—thousands of kilometers daily across East African highways—the X3000 delivered an impressive average fuel consumption of just 36.5L/100km. This result represented a >10% reduction compared to other Chinese models and matched the performance of S Company’s previous European trucks.

Breaking the Deadlock: SHACMAN’s New Powertrain

Despite the X3000’s strong showing, S Company’s final procurement decision reached a stalemate between choosing SHACMAN or returning to European options. At this critical juncture, SHACMAN introduced its next-generation X3000 powertrain—equipped with the M10 engine co-developed with Cummins.

This new configuration offered the same robust 440Ps output as leading European models, but with even greater fuel efficiency. During a week-long trial, the upgraded X3000 achieved an average fuel consumption of just 34L/100km—surpassing the performance of the company’s legacy fleet. Combined with lower spare parts and maintenance costs, SHACMAN’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) advantage became undeniable.

A Strategic Choice for Sustainable Growth

With operating cost optimization as its top priority, S Company decisively selected the SHACMAN X3000 with the M10 engine. To date, over 50 units have been procured.

“In the increasingly competitive logistics sector, the TCO advantage of our fleet is the cornerstone of our positive business growth,” said an S Company executive during discussions with SHACMAN.