BEE company plans service expansion

Clive Emdon ONE OF the first black-empowered freight forwarding and transport companies, M &B Transport Services, plans to provide cross-border services from major South African centres in addition to its Sebenza offices in Edenvale. MD M aria Puzone says that from the outset the company took the strategic decision to specialise in cross-border haulage and to develop new routes and new destinations. “Part of our recipe for success has been to work the economies of Swaziland, Botswana and L esotho.” The company currently operates 3-5 vehicles a day to Swaziland and Botswana and one or two to L esotho. Serving several major blue chip retailers, it moves 3 000 to 5 000 cartons a day across borders to 28 stores in Swaziland and Botswana. According to technical director M ick Puzone M &B was bought out in August 2004 and now has a 26% black holding. I t has recorded growth of 50% a year since the takeover, he added. “The management structures are very representative of South Africa’s demographics,” says Puzone. “We are undertaking a number of social projects that include the establishment of education funds, the start-up of small registered businesses for long-term employees, and assisting in start-ups for suppliers in the service industry.” M&B Transport has a staff of 50 and a fleet of 30 vehicles.