Invited by Ctrack, Sally Assheton-Smith, assistant editor of FOCUS on Transport and Logistics magazine, headed for Wesbank Raceway to experience the tracking capabilities of the company’s world-class systems first hand.

As the chopper blades sliced through the air, a mini whirlwind seemed to coax my passage towards the awaiting helicopter, and while the pilot negotiated the bird into the air, I took a moment to replay the day’s events in my mind.

In association with the Road Freight Association’s Truckers’ Day, which was held at Wesbank Raceway on October 22, 2005, Ctrack performed a mock truck hijacking. As a representative of FOCUS on Transport and Logistics magazine, I was invited to participate under the guise of a suspected criminal. The goal of the exercise: to test the capabilities of the company’s technologically advanced tracking and recovery equipment.

The three unusual suspects – the driver, one of Ctrack’s technicians and I – piled into the specified truck. The plan was to head out of the raceway for approximately 30 minutes, in whatever direction took our fancy. The technician would then contact the control room, pretending to be the concerned owner of the vehicle, and report the so-called theft.

When the time limit lapsed, the technician’s role was to locate the Ctrack unit in the dashboard and disconnect the GSM tracking device – a task he performed like a true criminal in the making! Although Ctrack’s highly advanced equipment can pinpoint a vehicle’s position to within 10 metres, my obvious question was: “How does Ctrack pursue the vehicle without GSM?” Ah, now that’s a secret that this service provider is reluctant to share! And, I don’t blame them one bit – this is just the type of innovative thinking that gives Ctrack the edge on its competitors. No wonder the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) and the Vehicle Security Association of South Africa (VESA) have given Ctrack’s entire product range and supporting infrastructure the thumbs-up.

While Ctrack staff at Wesbank Raceway put their advanced computer equipment to work tracking the vehicle, we continued to speed away. To make the chase even more challenging for the recovery team, the would-be hijacker made a sudden and dramatic change to our travel route. But this did not deter Ctrack in the least, and, within minutes, the chopper was hovering overhead and the ground crew was hot on our heels, ordering the driver to pull to the side of the road.

Keeping it real, the ground crew held us at (unloaded) gunpoint. The realistic nature of the scene drew the attention of two undercover cops, who were more than willing to offer their assistance with what they deemed to be a very serious offence. Thankfully, the situation was explained before I went into cardiac arrest, and, after the adrenalin rush had subsided, I was escorted to the awaiting helicopter.

The chopper returned me to Ctrack’s Truckers’ Day stand. There I had the chance to heap praises on Ctrack’s system and backup staff , before a bevy of onlookers. But I did a little more than that – I put pen to paper and signed up for Ctrack Secure myself, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that my pride and joy would be in safe hands.

Invited by Ctrack, Sally Assheton-Smith, assistant editor of FOCUS on Transport and Logistics magazine, headed for Wesbank Raceway to experience the tracking capabilities of the company’s world-class systems first hand.

As the chopper blades sliced through the air, a mini whirlwind seemed to coax my passage towards the awaiting helicopter, and while the pilot negotiated the bird into the air, I took a moment to replay the day’s events in my mind.

In association with the Road Freight Association’s Truckers’ Day, which was held at Wesbank Raceway on October 22, 2005, Ctrack performed a mock truck hijacking. As a representative of FOCUS on Transport and Logistics magazine, I was invited to participate under the guise of a suspected criminal. The goal of the exercise: to test the capabilities of the company’s technologically advanced tracking and recovery equipment.

The three unusual suspects – the driver, one of Ctrack’s technicians and I – piled into the specified truck. The plan was to head out of the raceway for approximately 30 minutes, in whatever direction took our fancy. The technician would then contact the control room, pretending to be the concerned owner of the vehicle, and report the so-called theft.

When the time limit lapsed, the technician’s role was to locate the Ctrack unit in the dashboard and disconnect the GSM tracking device – a task he performed like a true criminal in the making! Although Ctrack’s highly advanced equipment can pinpoint a vehicle’s position to within 10 metres, my obvious question was: “How does Ctrack pursue the vehicle without GSM?” Ah, now that’s a secret that this service provider is reluctant to share! And, I don’t blame them one bit – this is just the type of innovative thinking that gives Ctrack the edge on its competitors. No wonder the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) and the Vehicle Security Association of South Africa (VESA) have given Ctrack’s entire product range and supporting infrastructure the thumbs-up.

While Ctrack staff at Wesbank Raceway put their advanced computer equipment to work tracking the vehicle, we continued to speed away. To make the chase even more challenging for the recovery team, the would-be hijacker made a sudden and dramatic change to our travel route. But this did not deter Ctrack in the least, and, within minutes, the chopper was hovering overhead and the ground crew was hot on our heels, ordering the driver to pull to the side of the road.

Keeping it real, the ground crew held us at (unloaded) gunpoint. The realistic nature of the scene drew the attention of two undercover cops, who were more than willing to offer their assistance with what they deemed to be a very serious offence. Thankfully, the situation was explained before I went into cardiac arrest, and, after the adrenalin rush had subsided, I was escorted to the awaiting helicopter.

The chopper returned me to Ctrack’s Truckers’ Day stand. There I had the chance to heap praises on Ctrack’s system and backup staff , before a bevy of onlookers. But I did a little more than that – I put pen to paper and signed up for Ctrack Secure myself, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that my pride and joy would be in safe hands.