‘Competitive advantage lies in the supply chain'

23 Nov 2012 - by Liesl Venter

At the age of just 30 Daniel
Terbille is making an
international name for himself
in the freight forwarding
community.
Recently named the
Young International Freight
Forwarder of the Year
(Yiffy) by the International
Federation of Freight
Forwarders’ Association
(Fiata), Terbille is doing
himself and South Africa,
the country he credits for his
career in freight forwarding,
proud.
Born and bred in the small
town of Vreden in Germany,
it was in South Africa that
the freight forwarding bug
first bit.
“I have always been
creative and very passionate
about cars so for many years
my intention was to study
industrial design and enter
the automotive industry. But
after graduating from high
school, studying business
administration became my
first choice. A semester
of practical training led
me to Cape Town where I
completed an internship with
a local freight forwarder. I not
only fell in love with South
Africa, but was also hooked
by the freight forwarding
industry.”
The rest, as they say, is
history. Terbille returned
to Germany where he
continued his studies in retail
management, with a strong
focus on logistics and
supply chain management
in the retail industry, before
returning to Cape Town to
complete his degree after an
internship with Kuehne +
Nagel.
“I decided to settle in
Cape Town after completing
the internship and applied
for positions with freight
forwarders locally.”
He joined UTi Worldwide
where he is now senior key
accounts manager for retail,
managing major clients such
as Truworths and Shoprite
Checkers. It was also here
where he first heard of the
annual Saaff Young Freight
Forwarder competition.
“Companies are not
competing on products any
more but rather on supply
chains,” said Terbille. “The
competitive advantage lies in
the supply chain.
“I cannot see myself ever
not training or studying
further because that is what
allows one to have the edge
long-term.”
As the winner, Terbille will
now enjoy overseas training
opportunities in 2013.
He also attended the Fiata
annual congress in Los
Angeles where he presented
his dissertation. “Taking
part in this competition does
require a lot of dedication and
it is a lot of work, but it was
worth all of it. Not only from
a training point of view, but
also in terms of networking.
I have been in contact with
people I would not otherwise
have even met.”
And he encourages all
South African young freight
forwarders to participate.
“Be it for personal growth
or for career advancement
– or even just recognition
within your own organisation
– there is much to be gained
from participating,” he said.