Newcastle – One of South Africa’s largest transport operators has begun taking delivery of 165 new trucks in a major fleet expansion that is expected to create new jobs and strengthen mining logistics capacity.
The Ni-Da Group this week received the first 25 Volvo FMX trucks from an order of 165 units, with the remaining vehicles scheduled for delivery during 2026.
The investment represents a significant commitment to South Africa’s road freight industry at a time when transport operators continue to face rising costs, growing customer demands and pressure to improve efficiency.
According to the company, the fleet expansion will result in the employment of additional drivers and operational staff, while also supporting growth within its trailer and tyre workshop divisions.
Founded in Newcastle in 1988, Ni-Da has grown into one of the country’s major transport and logistics businesses, operating more than 600 vehicles across various sectors. The new trucks will be deployed primarily in the company’s side-tipper operations serving the mining industry.
Ni-Da CEO and founder Nico Oosthuizen said the company required vehicles capable of handling some of the toughest operating conditions in the transport sector.
“Heavy-duty work in harsh and dusty environments takes engines, gearboxes, axles and suspensions to their limits and beyond,” Oosthuizen said.
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He said reliability, uptime, parts availability and long-term value were among the factors that influenced the purchasing decision.
The Volvo FMX range is designed for demanding off-road applications and mining operations where trucks are often required to carry heavy loads over challenging terrain. The vehicles ordered by Ni-Da are equipped with Euro 3 diesel engines producing 324 kW and 2,200 Nm of torque.
For the local trucking industry, the deal signals continued investment in bulk commodity transport despite ongoing economic challenges facing the freight sector.
Volvo Trucks South Africa Managing Director Stuart Potter said the FMX range was engineered specifically for demanding applications such as mining and heavy-duty transport.
The remaining 140 trucks are currently being assembled at Volvo Trucks’ manufacturing facility in KwaZulu-Natal and will be delivered throughout the year.
As the vehicles enter service, the expansion is expected to increase Ni-Da’s capacity in the mining transport sector while supporting employment and economic activity linked to truck operations, maintenance and fleet management.
With mining remaining one of South Africa’s key economic sectors, investments of this scale continue to play an important role in keeping raw materials moving between mines, processing facilities and export markets.
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