Border crossing the roadblock to efficiency

Delays at border crossings
remain one of the major
challenges for road
transport, says Warren Jayes,
manager of Leo Shipping
Services.
“For the most part road transport
is running smoothly, but the border
crossings are problematic as they
result in huge delays.”
Leo Shipping Services,
together with partners Alro
Shipping in Harare, Zimbabwe,
run both break-bulk trucks and
full containers between Durban
and Johannesburg while also
transporting to Zimbabwe, Zambia
and the Democratic Republic of
the Congo.
And with road transport
increasing between South Africa
and Zimbabwe it is imperative that
solutions to border post delays
are found. While the SADC and
government organisations continue
talks around the development
of one-stop border posts, trucks
standing for days at border posts
result in price hikes.
“The time frame for moving
cargo is extremely important and
makes all the difference,” says
Jayes. “We use both rail and road
depending on the needs of our
clients. Budget and of course
the weight of containers also
determine what mode of transport
is used as heavier containers more
suited to rail attract a cheaper
rate.”
While currently only utilising
the rail network between
Johannesburg and Durban, Leo
uses trucks for cross-border
operations, making efficient
border post operations all the more
crucial.
“It is all about delivering the
best service in the best possible
time frame at the most costeffective
price that gives a
company a competitive advantage
– and that is something we strive
to achieve every day.”