EDI clearances will speed transit time

Express Cargo one of first compliant companies
THIRTY TRUCKS, from one-ton bakkies to 35-ton rigs, depart from the container depot at Express Cargo’s Matsapha headquarters and other locations to service a wide variety of customers. “We are a full service shipping company. Anything that goes into and out of Swaziland we do,” said company director Mark Svenningsen. Because its container depot is the largest such privately owned facility at Swaziland’s industrial centre, and the only one with rail access, shipments from spare parts to humanitarian food relief move in and out continuously. “Our infrastructure is set up to service Swaziland. We have the biggest and I like to think the best all-around shipping service. We’re ahead in technological advancement,” Svenningsen said. Express Cargo is set to be one of the first road freight firms to be compliant with SARS’ new computerised customs EDI system, which will be a significant trimmer of shipping time between Swaziland and Johannesburg. “There will be chaos in the short term with costs, training and software investment that the smaller operators can’t afford, and they’ll fall away. We’ll see an industry shakeout, and what will emerge will be a faster service,” Svenningsen said. Express Cargo has offices in Johannesburg and Durban, with trained staff at the key border post customs offices. “If there are mistakes on shipping forms, we have guys there to fix them. Yes, we are carrying a high overhead, but we feel we’re offering a better service,” said Svenningsen.