The timing is right, the location is right and that’s why the good folk at TruckStore, a division of Daimler Truck Southern Africa, were upbeat and positive at the official opening of TruckStore’s massive new West Rand facility held this week writes Patrick O’Leary.
Anyone operating in the used truck arena will know that the past few years have been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. As Wolf Edmayr, General Manager of TruckStore, said at the launch event: “In 2023, the market saw a strong boom but then, in 2024, conditions shifted.” The shift was a downward one and that’s why Edmayr approved the purchase of kidney belts for his staff as the ride became an extremely bumpy one.
However, by late 2024 and into 2025, he says the market started to stabilise and light could be seen at the end of the tunnel. It was over this time that we saw another shift taking place in the used truck market. As most people know, the N12 highway that passes through Boksburg has, for many years, been the hub of used truck dealers with a cluster of them situated alongside the highway.
However, what became very noticeable is that with the West Rand providing large, affordable tracts of land alongside the N14 perfectly suited to accommodate massive truck yards, the used truck dealers started moving in and it is alongside this route that TruckStore has placed its new facility.
The location alongside the N14 offers easy truck accessibility, seamless arterial connections and stunning passing visibility and it is thus that Edmayr says the West Rand has now become Gauteng’s new used truck hub. That is not to say that the East Rand guys are off the map. Far from it. However, it would be true to say that the East Rand’s N12 and the West Rand’s N14 can now be considered the of used truck activities in Gauteng – and no doubt even further afield. It is thus that Mayer says: “It was essential for us to be present here.”
Drive along the N14 towards Krugersdorp and you cannot help but notice the proliferation of used truck outlets that have sprung up. It’s like driving through a tunnel of used trucks – so the competition is heavy. However, the West Rand TruckStore sees its competitive advantage lying in the fact that every truck sold will have the full backing of services offered by its parent OEM, Daimler Truck Southern Africa, as are offered to new truck buyers. This includes finance with Mike Honiball, Head of Daimler Truck Financial Services, saying he is stationing a full-time employee from his department at this venue. Such is the confidence of good things to come.
The facility has a large and wide range of stock and to get a true appreciation of the scale of this facility, you need to qualify for a pilot’s license, take off from Lanseria airport and look down on it. The holding yard is massive with hundreds of trucks on sale. And it’s not one size fits all. Trucks are categorised according to their kilometres travelled as well as several other factors. The four categories are Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
An important point to note it that it doesn’t replace the existing head office Centurion operation but is intended to enhance accessibility, flexibility and customer service. “With this new facility, alongside our Centurion operation, we are better positioned than ever to provide certainty, accessibility and trusted solutions in a dynamic market. This investment ensures that TruckStore remains relevant, competitive and ready for future growth,” says Edmayr.
Apart from Edmayr and his crew being positive, another person who is upbeat about this new development is Maretha Gerber, President and Group CEO of Daimler Truck Southern Africa, who spoke proudly of this new facility, emphasising the strategic importance of the investment. And rightfully so as South Africa was chosen as the first market outside of Europe to establish a TruckStore operation. That was in 2012, eleven years after Daimler Truck originally launched TruckStore as the organisation’s focussed used truck division.
“The opening of our West Rand facility is a clear demonstration of our commitment to Southern Africa. We are invested, we are present and we are here to stay,” Gerber stated with conviction and pride at the launch.
Driving value beyond the first owner
Someone once said to me that if OEMs do not have a focussed presence and firm commitment in the arena of used trucks, they are not in the trucking industry. This was indirectly endorsed by Gerber who stated that TruckStore plays a critical role in supporting customers through their re-fleeting cycles.
“For customers in the used-truck space, TruckStore ensures that vehicles continue to deliver value well beyond their first life cycle. The new facility strengthens our ability to serve our customers in the areas where they typically shop for used trucks, while reinforcing our long-term confidence in the resilience and potential of the regional trucking market.”
The opening of the West Rand facility represents more than a physical expansion, it reflects DTSA’s commitment to supporting economic activity and mobility across the region. As Gerber stated: “Ultimately, our business is about more than trucks. It is about enabling the people and industries that keep Africa moving.”
There we go. Let’s keep on trucking – way beyond the first life cycles of the trucks.
Click on photographs to enlarge.
