New Zealand truckies know their stuff, which is why, after a recent online survey asking drivers and owners about their preferred truck brand and why, Scania is stoked to find itself crowned ‘King of the Road’ (again).

The survey generated more than 900 respondents, and Scania didn’t just take the crown; it dominated every category – for the third year running.

As Scania NZ managing director Victor Carvalho says, there is no greater satisfaction for a brand and team than to have its hard work endorsed by its most important critics: its customers and industry peers.

“This ‘three-peat’ is a huge pat on the back for the Scania NZ team. To be recognised as No.1 for the third consecutive year across so many categories, from safety to comfort and performance to sustainability, is a real testament to their dedication towards Scania customers. But we’re not taking our foot off the gas – there’s always more to achieve,” he says.

Carvalho notes a particularly rewarding result from the survey is that more truckies aspire to drive a Scania than currently do – an encouraging trend for any brand. “The results speak loud and clear,” says Carvalho, “… resonating just like the sound of a Scania engine at full throttle!” He is also very proud to say this stakeholder success has not come about by chance.

Scania New Zealand has an ongoing programme of strategic investments across its national and regional networks to ensure its renowned customer service maintains pace with the brand’s ever-expanding presence in the country.

Encouragingly, they are investments that speak directly to many categories canvassed in the survey, such as after-sales servicing and parts, performance, training and sustainability.

Focus on service

This focus extends from developing new service centres and workshops in Invercargill and Hastings last year, to investing more than $40 million in spare parts stock and recruiting and upskilling of more than 400 technicians across the wider Scania network.

Carvalho points to Scania’s National Training Development Centre in Christchurch as a key driver in developing highly skilled, productive and efficient technicians who maximise the latest technology when servicing vehicles.

“It’s all about ensuring the best capacity to service our customer base,” he says.

Focus on customer benefits

Improving the benefits for customer experience is always top of mind.

“Every services-related investment we make is about boosting our customers’ operational success. Expanding our service centre network brings with it more skilled technicians and readily available parts, which speeds up customer vehicle servicing and minimises offroad downtime. Every dollar we invest directly benefits our clients’ bottom line,” says Carvalho.

“Our goal at Scania NZ is to lead the industry as the preferred solutions provider, sustainably delivering premium products and services to our customer base, backed by a strong dealer network.

“So, we want to say thank you very much again to both our current and soon-to-be customers from the survey for being such an important part of our journey so far.”

Category breakdowns:

• Comfort – Asked respondents about the trucks from the brand they considered to be ‘driver focused and a great place to spend time’. Scania revealed a commanding lead, being selected by 45% of respondents as No.1 in comfort, followed by 19% selecting Volvo as No.1, and 12% selecting Kenworth as No.1.
• Safety – Asked the respondents to select the brand that offers built-in safety and ‘all the latest features and technology for you and other road users’. Forty-one percent of respondents selected Scania No.1 in safety, followed again by Volvo at 23% and Kenworth with 12%.
• Performance – This category was summed up as ‘delivers all you need, from torque to tonnage’. Scania led this category with 42% of respondents selecting the brand No.1. It was followed by Kenworth at 19% and Volvo with 15% of the No.1 vote.
• Service and Parts – Respondents were asked to consider locations and availability. Scania was selected by 38% of respondents as No.1 for service and parts, followed by Kenworth at 19% and Volvo at 14%.
• Efficiency and Reliability – This category emphasised lowest running costs and best uptime. Scania led here again, being selected No.1 in efficiency by 38% of respondents, Volvo followed at 27% and Kenworth at 14%.
• Sustainability – Asked respondents about the brand they see as ‘doing their bit for people and the planet’. Scania was selected No.1 in sustainability by 41% of respondents. Volvo was selected as No.1 by 22% of respondents and Kenworth by 10%.
• Overall Value for Money – Respondents were asked to rank brands considering the full package. Here, 36% of respondents selected Scania No.1, 15% selected Kenworth No.1, and 13% selected Volvo No.1.