There are big benefits
to be derived
from consigning
cargo directly to
Johannesburg on a through
bill of lading, says CFR
Freight seafreight branch
manager, Sean Menzies.
“We encourage our clients
to do so because it provides
them with visibility right
through to release in
Johannesburg – and also
provides reassurance in
that liability is covered
on the through bill on the
inter-depot movement from
Durban to Johannesburg,”
he says.
It’s a concept that appears
to be gaining traction
in a highly competitive
environment where there’s
no margin for error when it
comes to service delivery.
“We have grown into an
immensely diversified group
of companies,” says Menzies,
“with dedicated operations
in Johannesburg for both
inbound and outbound
shipments. Through close
collaboration with our
sister company ZacPak, we
have been able synchronise
our systems in real time,
thereby enhancing our
service capabilities in
Johannesburg for our
freight forwarding clients.”
With most clearing and
forwarding companies
based in Gauteng, the
ZacPak facility provides
an ideal launch pad for
projects into Africa and
Madagascar,” says ZacPak
managing director Willie
Nel.
And while congestion in
Durban has had an impact
on inbound cargo, this has
been mitigated through
optimising resources and
planning ahead, adds
Menzies.
Despite the static
economic environment, the
neutral groupage operator
has recorded a substantial
increase in airfreight
volumes, according to
managing director Martin
Keck. Menzies says that
the diminishing local
manufacturing sector in the
region has put pressure on
export LCL volumes.
“Imports have also been
slightly slower than coastal
volumes, which may be a
trend related to changes in
the new Customs Act,” says
Keck.
Economic realities aside,
CFR continues its focus
on developing direct LCL
services. “We constantly
analyse the information
we have, and gain insight
through engagement with
our clients to focus on new
opportunities,” says Menzies.
CFR Freight Group of
companies CEO Peter
Schmidt-Löffler says that
while the industry is feeling
the pinch of increasing ocean
freight rates in 2017, and
generally strong competition
in the market, CFR Freight
is upbeat. “We have very
exciting projects on the go
which we will share with our
clients in due course. In these
tough times there is just no
time to become complacent.”
CAPTION - Peter Schmidt-Löffler at CFR Freight's Jet Park facility.
