CRF to focus on named-day consols

Independent groupage operator CFR Freight is set to grow its named-day consolidation service into Africa – with Lagos, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi high on the priority list. “An analysis of cargo volumes for 2011/12 revealed that six of our top ten export destinations were in Africa,” airfreight general manager Stephen Bishop told FTW. “We have seen considerable growth over the past two years, and the focus for the year ahead is to continue building on that growth.” Bishop believes the namedday concept is the way to go. An important part of CFR’s value proposition on the route is its full DAP (delivered at place) solution which is offered to 15 centres within Africa. “As a neutral consolidator we are looking to assist small- to medium-sized freight companies to expand their networks into Africa. We can offer them an all-in solution,” says Bishop. And while the company tends to use certain airlines more extensively than others, in the end it’s ‘horses for courses’, he added. “Some clients are looking purely at rates while for others time-sensitivity is an issue. Because of our relationships with the airline industry, we are able to market preferential rates with the majority of carriers and can give clients the option – we can tailor solutions to meet their needs.” And when it comes to rates, CFR believes in total transparency. “Any client can access our export tariff engine and have visibility of our market rates by logging onto our website which indicates the export tariff by destination. Clients who do not yet have access can apply online under our airfreight tab. “Our breakdown for every carrier is 100% transparent – and within that spot rates are also available. “We believe that for anything over a ton you should be getting a spot rate regardless of the preferential rates we have – so there’s always opportunity to negotiate further.” For the year ahead, brand awareness will continue to be a priority for the airfreight division, said Bishop, and its membership of the Air Cargo Group network will be a significant element of this brand awareness. “We are doing a fair amount of transhipping into Africa – and through our ACG membership we are seeing a growing number of requests for traffic from the Far East and Europe into the region, which we are co-ordinating from South Africa.” And while consolidations are the company’s key focus, it also has the capability to solution-solve in the region, says Bishop. “We have a charter division within the Air Cargo Group and project cargo – particularly into the mining territories – is an additional sector that we are able to serve.” CAPTION Stephen Bishop … ‘doing a fair amount of transhipping into Africa.’