‘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.