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.”