A winning formula for flexible road haulage

Flexibility in road haulage – “the X-factor” – comes from combining a large fleet of trucks and trailers with comprehensive information systems, says Rory McWade, group chief executive officer of Cargo Carriers International Hauliers (CCIH) of Zimbabwe. Having a large fleet with trucks registered in different countries means that you have more options to play with, and can offer competitive rates based on high service levels. “For example, if you have a Zambian registered truck you can offer a better price for goods loaded in Zambia than if you have to come from outside the country,” he says. Being big also gives companies bargaining power. CCIH has a vast amount of experience, expertise and knowledge to offer along with a dedicated staff and a firm regional infrastructure, he added. “It is all part of being able to offer the X-factor. Just having one of the biggest trucking footprints in the region is not a competitive advantage unless the size is leveraged to offer solutions that other companies can’t because they do not have the critical mass,” he believes. “If we were operating in the United States or Europe, our job would be to move freight from A to B. Here in Africa the conditions are very different.” One of the innovations which has in the past been introduced in partnership with Volvo engineers is the fitting of a reduction system to the rear driving axles on a portion of trucks, which effectively turns the horse into a 4x6 vehicle that can handle the toughest routes in the region during extreme weather conditions. “Our fleet goes into places that others can’t, or maybe are sceptical about going to,” he says. Size also means that shippers or freight forwarders do not have to guarantee a return load, although the return load would be a priority and preferred business practice. INSERT Having a large fleet with trucks registered in different countries means that you have more options to play with.