Express road service into Mozambique launched

The LBH Group is introducing a specialised road freight express service running from South Africa along the length of Mozambique. The 2 500-km dedicated service runs from Durban and Johannesburg via Maputo in the south to Palma in the north and was launched to meet growing customer demand, according to managing director Athol Emerton. “We strive to offer a seven-day service where one-ton bakkies and other ancillary vehicles are used for deliveries of the pallet-box units to remote sites. “Furthermore, we undertake all the requisite customs clearances, a service we already provide to all our clients,” he said. The company has been providing ships’ agency, customs clearing, transport logistics and bulk commodity handling and management services in Mozambique and South Africa for more than 25 years. LBH Xpress will complement and be supported by LBH’s extensive range of offices covering the ports, mining centres and growing areas of development in Mozambique, he told FTW. “We have designed and built specialised pallet-box containers (each of which is one cubic metre) to cater for goods that require palletisation. The advantage is that the pallet has its own lid, which is secured and sealed prior to departure from the supplier’s premises,” he said. Initially the new road freight service will use new eight- and 15-ton Iveco and MAN trucks with custombuilt bodies capable of carrying 15-25 pallet-box unit containers. There is a 500 kg weight limitation per pallet-box unit. “We are looking at providing complementary equipment capable of handling and carrying other consignments that do not fit the unitised pallet-box concept,” says Emerton. Best known for the handling of bulk commodities, LBH has continued to expand beyond its initial role as a ship’s agency to providing clearing, forwarding, stock control, surveying and project management. The company provides logistics services and solutions to the ports, business centres and areas of development within Mozambique, “no matter how remote”. Mines and fleet operators are using the service to import spares and transport components for refurbishment or repair. “The hotel leisure and lodge industry, hardware as well as the automotive parts trade are well suited to the pallet-box concept. “As the business expands, more entrepreneurs and growing businesses will explore the opportunities this service provides,” he says. Although LBH Xpress will be associated with the LBH network of offices, it will be a stand-alone business and will be operated separately. INSERT We are looking at providing complementary equipment capable of handling and carrying other consignments that do not fit the unitised pallet-box concept. – Athol Emerton