Big investment in fleet expansion pays off

INDICATING THE massive
growth in the Zambian
economy and its impact on
transport operators, in the past
18 months GDC’s fleet in
Zambia has grown from 40
to 150 vehicles. This is the
maximum allowed by Zambian
law per company.
The main focus of GDC is
copper mining in Zambia and
the neighbouring Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In total, 720 loads weighing
28 tons each are moved every
month which include exports
and imports, with the majority of
exports being copper or copper
concentrates. Most of these
copper exports are transported
to Durban or Johannesburg.
On the import side, GDC
transports machinery, cement,
mining equipment and general
consumables including
construction consumables. Over
the past year the Zambian
economy has grown and
created a tremendous need for
consumables in all industries. A
lot of cargo is also transported
to the DRC for construction
purposes.
Desai, who believes the
biggest selling point of GDC
is the size of its operation. The
group as a whole has close to
500 cross-border vehicles in the
region (with the majority
based in Zimbabwe)
which means they have
the capacity to move
huge consignments. GDC
moreover owns a fleet
of specialised tankers
capable of carrying
petroleum products and
a fleet of acid tankers
which focus on the
movement of sulphuric
acid for the mines. The
company’s infrastructure is also
widespread, reaching from
the Copperbelt to Durban with
offices in every major centre
across the route.
The copper is moved in
convoy as security is becoming
increasingly important. All
trucks are tracked by satellite
and there are armed guards
both in the trucks and escorting
the trucks, especially through
Zambia and then again from
Musina onwards.