DIVERSIFICATION is the current focus for overborder transport specialist BP Freight – and that applies to destinations and product offering. “Whereas in the past we specialised in certain countries, now we offer an all-encompassing export service – and that extends to seafreight as well,” says MD Brendon Sundelowitz who is more than satisfied with current volumes. “Zimbabwe has been very good to us and we believe our office in Harare – which functions purely as a distribution centre – has played a key role in this growth as has aggressive marketing in South Africa.” The flows are fairly unpredictable with three 28-ton consolidations on some weeks and one on others. “We generally average two trucks a week into Harare, with a lot of mining equipment moving into Kwekwe and Gweru,” says Sundelowitz. Volumes are also on the up to Botswana, with three trucks a week into Gaborone, while Malawi is another up-and-coming market. “We’ll go to any sub Saharan country and although we may not do our own consolidation, we control the shipment by delivering it to the truckers and tracking it every step of the way.” Border issues remain a problem for all companies operating on the route, says Sundelowitz, but careful forward planning goes a long way to reducing delays, “Our only hiccup at Beitbridge comes in the form of physical customs inspections. We don’t have many problems with losses but cargo damage is largely caused during Customs inspections – and it’s an area over which we have no control.” A new focus for the company, and a lucrative new niche is same-day deliveries. “We’ve always done same-day deliveries for our import and export clients, but we’re now keen to develop it into a standalone division. We’re looking at cargo of any size on any domestic route, excluding courier business.”
