‘Drivers key to successful trucking operations’

Professional, well-trained
truck drivers remain a
crucial element in the
successful movement of
cargo across borders in
southern Africa, as they
have to be able to deal with
any of the myriad problems
that the trucking industry
faces on a day-to-day basis.
From truck breakdowns
to long waits at border
posts, there are a host of
things that can go wrong
when delivering cargo,
says Boetie Greeff, CEO of
Westrans Trucking.
With more than 30 years’
experience in the trucking
industry, he believes that
drivers are a critical part
of a trucking business
success. “Once they leave
the trucking yard, and then
the borders of the country,
they must be able to deal
with whatever comes their
way. They also represent
your company. Training
of drivers cannot be overemphasised.”
With more than 40
drivers employed by
Westrans Trucking,
training is an ongoing part
of the business. “Different
operators have different
approaches that work for
them. If one had to write
a transport handbook one
would never have enough
paper because it is so vast
in the approaches one
can have,” says Greeff.
“At Westrans we focus
on training and ensuring
our drivers are capable of
handling the challenges
that they will come across.”
With a stern approach,
where no bribery is allowed
regardless of the situation,
drivers are often called
upon to make judgement
calls that can affect not just
the truck, but also the cargo
they are carrying.
“A driver who calls from
Zambia or Zimbabwe with
a problem must be able to
give a clear and reasonable
indication of the situation
and possible solutions,”
says Greeff. “That is why
truck drivers are a huge
asset and should be treated
as such.”
He says the trucking
industry is facing some
tough times with rising
costs and inconsistent
volumes. “A lot of the costs
cannot be passed on to the
customers, so trucking
companies are absorbing
more and more of these
increases. That is having
an impact on profitability,”
he says. “And with more
cargo owners only caring
about the cost on the
invoice and not about the
efficiency or the time
it takes to move their
cargo, it makes for very
challenging times.”
He says ensuring drivers
are trained is therefore
now more than ever an
important part of the mix,
especially in southern
Africa where there is a
shortage of well-trained
drivers.