The Ports and Terminals industry is changing rapidly, navigating trends from digitalisation to electrification, and challenges from stricter regulations to the impacts of global conflicts. However, in amongst these trends, there is a common theme: organisations need help to reduce and manage operational expenses to remain competitive.
Maintaining a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) can be an essential factor in success, because operational expenses in port and terminal applications are typically very high. Maintenance and tyre costs alone can be significant. So, every small saving counts.
With in-depth knowledge from closely monitoring the market and its challenges, Hyster has a choice of products and services that deliver a low TCO to support ports and terminals.
Why Total Cost of Ownership matters
Total Cost of Ownership encompasses all expenses related to acquiring, deploying, operating, maintaining, and retiring a truck.
In the Middle East and Africa, acquisition cost and disposal (CAPEX or Capital Expenditure) on average makes up about 50% of the total costs of ownership. This is where Hyster has strategies in place offering customers competitive costs. For instance, Hyster has reassessed its sourcing strategy to provide optimal pricing, shorter shipping times, and consistent production while retaining the Hyster quality that ports depend on.
What’s more, Hyster® empty container handlers and Hyster ReachStackers come with a great variety of options. That means that our local Hyster dealers can tailor trucks according to your particular needs and budget. Our dedicated special engineering team can also tailor trucks further to meet highly specific handling or operational requirements.
Hyster Used is also in place for used Hyster trucks, including those models you use in ports. Since durable Hyster trucks retain value, this can help you to lower the depreciation costs of the trucks, which results in better rental prices.
Manage Operational Expenditure with Hyster
Planned operational costs, part of your OPEX, includes elements such as fuel or energy costs, training staff, maintenance, including tyres, servicing, operator costs, insurance, and depreciation. This, on average, makes up around 35% of the total costs.
Planning operating expenses is key to understanding your total costs and keeping them down. Hyster trucks can help as they are built with serviceability and commonality of parts in mind. This makes it easier to service and repair different trucks. Compartments and cabins are interchangeable, for example. Products are also designed with our customer’s tough applications in mind, so components have a long lifespan.
However, to optimise costs, selecting the right truck is also key. The diverse Hyster range of container handling trucks for ports helps make it easier to match the right solution with the right application. Hyster trucks are also designed with consideration for managing OPEX built in.
Take the Hyster RS46 ReachStacker for example. Productivity is key to keeping operating costs low. So these models feature our next generation XD operator cab to improve productivity and operator comfort. A powered full sliding cab option can also offer operators visibility enhancements and the largest cabin entry area in the market to support comfort.
Another key expense is fuel costs. Hyster has several features and options that can help those with port and terminal handling environments to achieve lower fuel consumption. From a solution which means the air-conditioning is automatically turned off if the door is left open for more than 30 seconds, saving energy costs, to an efficient hydraulic system that can contribute to fuel savings. Similarly, we offer cooling on demand, where the fan is only running when needed, saving fuel, and an optional empty seat switch which shuts down the truck if operator gets up from seat.
Our optional TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) allows you to easily check tyre pressure. It also warns the operator if tyre pressure is running low. Though tyres may seem a small part of a big truck, it’s important to operate the trucks on the right tyre pressure to keep operational and maintenance costs low.
Anticipating the costs of the unexpected
Your OPEX also must include unplanned operational costs, such as those associated with misuses and accidents, no maintenance or no operational systems, or unscheduled downtime. On average these expenses amount to approximately 15% of the total costs. However, this can easily escalate.
Unexpected operating expenses can be very costly and difficult to anticipate. Not only are these financially challenging, they can also be harmful to your reputation and customer relationships. While we always try to prevent our Hyster trucks from unexpected breakdowns, if this does occur, it is equally important to us to have solutions in place to support our customers.
Hyster, in collaboration with our trusted dealer network, is there for customers if something does not go to plan. We aim to offer first time fix to prevent unscheduled downtime; and aid ongoing availability of spare parts to deliver quick repairs.
The Hyster Tracker fleet management and telematics system is also a helpful companion in managing expenditure. At its core, it allows you to better understand your operations. Knowing statistics such as idle time, fuel consumption, and picks per hour will allow you to monitor productivity and make improvements where necessary.
As ports and terminals develop, they also face pressure to become ‘smarter’ – using software to make data-led decisions that result in greater efficiency and uptime. To support this, there is TIC 4.0 – the Terminal Industry Committee, of which Hyster is a co-founder. This started off with the award-winning iTerminals Project and explores the integration of technologies by enabling equipment to speak the same language. A key focus of the project is around improving preventative and predictive maintenance. While smart solutions might seem to increase initial costs or monthly fees, in the right application settings, they can reduce unscheduled downtime, saving money and protecting reputation.
Reduce TCO in your port or terminal
To identify the right container handling solutions to help you reduce your Total Cost of Ownership across your fleet, contact our dedicated Big Trucks team, or speak to your local Hyster Dealer now and discover the range of options available.
