Airfreight network adds muscle to CFR Freight portfolio

Global coverage and reach to almost any destination you can think of is now a reality for South Africa’s small and medium-sized freight forwarders with the move by CFR Freight to join a neutral network of international airfreight wholesalers. One of South Africa’s leading neutral sea freight non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs), the company has in the past four years steadily increased its air freight services since adding it to its portfolio. By joining the AirCargoGroup (ACG) they have upped their game once again. “We have been very export orientated until now, but by joining ACG we can offer a comprehensive import service to our clients,” says newly appointed director Peter Schmidt-Löffler. Taking a leaf from the sea freight portfolio, which saw the company become a member of the WorldWideAlliance – allowing it to offer global coverage to its customers – the move to join ACG has been well received, says Schmidt- Löffler. “This is essentially a gateway for the smaller company into the world. Not every clearing and forwarding company has a network of agents available at their fingertips and they can now use our network and literally deliver or collect to and from any place in the world, even the remotest parts of Africa.” ACG is an organisation of airfreight wholesalers offering a global platform and service tools for freight forwarders and giving them access to special airfreight consolidation rates, air cargo charters and specialised air transport handling. It offers its services exclusively to freight forwarders and logistics operators acting as a completely neutral intermediary worldwide. “Neutrality is very important to us,” says CFR Freight managing director Martin Keck. “We pride ourselves on our clients being able to trust us 100%. Neutrality is something we look for in the organisations we become members of. Looking at ACG all the members are reputable and established, and our clients can only gain from this move.” With offices in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Cape Town not only does CFR have national reach, but by joining ACG it has an international arm of note, says Keck “It has definitely been the right time for us to grow this portfolio. With the global coverage and reach we now have, our clients can export or import to and from anywhere in the world,” he said.