Driver training a key element of dangerous goods transport

A decision taken ten years
ago to raise its Safety, Health,
Environment and Quality
(SHEQ) standards is paying
dividends for logistics
provider Cargo Carriers
which has seen steady growth
in this sector of its business.
In the two year run-up
to the 2010 Fifa World
Cup™, the huge drive for
infrastructure development
led to a growing demand for
argon and oxygen, two pivotal
gases involved in the welding
and manufacturing of steel.
For Afrox, a leading
supplier of these gases, it
was important to have a
distribution partner who
could easily accommodate the
surge in demand, and do it
safely, said Andre Steenkamp,
national distribution manager
for Afrox..
In 2010, Cargo Carriers
was awarded 50% of Afrox’s
outsourced distribution for the
supply of argon and oxygen
to its customer base. Since
then, the value of the contract
has risen by 35%, with the
addition of six vehicles to
the fleet.
“An important success
factor in our relationship is
Cargo Carriers’ ability to
communicate seamlessly with
the Afrox scheduling centre,”
said Steenkamp.
For Cargo Carriers, coping
with the increased volumes
was achieved by utilising
advanced logistics software
and providing in-depth
training for drivers.
“Our ability to compete
in the gas industry not only
depends on the competitive
rates and high service levels
but also on operating the
absolute highest levels of
SHEQ we can achieve,” said
Andre Van Vuuren, marketing
director at Cargo Carriers.
Cargo Carriers’ Software
division, CargoWare,
implements advanced
logistics software that
optimises and manages fuel,
maintenance, route planning
and revenue, which are all
fully integrated into the client
ERP system.
Drivers at Cargo Carriers
are rigorously trained to deal
with emergency situations,
capable of handling what
most drivers cannot. “With
hazardous cargo, such as
gas, the ability to gain quick
control of any situation lies in
the hands of the driver,” said
Van Vuuren.
When you’re dealing with
gas, chemicals or powders,
compliance with the right
codes and practices means the
difference between winning
and losing business, he said.