‘Cheaper is not always the best option’

WHILE IT’S certainly an important part of the mix, price should never be the only determining factor when it comes to choosing a freight agent, says director of Hike Freight Services Hilton Tait. “In South Africa most freight negotiations are decided by price, and the cheapest rate seems to secure business. “Importers fail to realise that in a market where cargo volumes exceed available capacity, agents need to have flexibility to utilise more than one carrier to achieve a smooth flow of imports. This applies to both air and sea imports.” Gauteng-based Hike Freight Services has been in partnership with Dimerco since 2006, a self-described “Asian based multinational total logistics provider”, with offices throughout China and South East Asia. “Dimerco has shown us that while price is important, a large part of their success has come from building relationships through quality service,” says Tait. “Improved service levels experienced by customers have resulted in many long-term relationships. Unfortunately this is an area which is not understood by South African importers.”