Fleets registered in different countries provide big benefits

KEVIN MAYHEW ONE OF the major advantages any transporter has in southern Africa is to have fleets registered in separate countries to avoid the third country ruling applicable to regional movements for hauliers on certain routes, according to Craig Strydom, the divisional MD of the Super Group’s SA Cross Border, representing GDC and Whelson. The Group operates a fleet of 446 horse and trailer combinations that are registered in different countries, providing it with many options to move freight between southern African borders. “We have a major portion of our fleet registered in Zimbabwe, which generally caters for most needs, but there are situations such as that affecting Beira consignments to Malawi where foreign vehicle participation is disallowed. Bilateral agreement permits would only be granted if local transport was unable to meet volume demands. In this particular instance we can use trucks registered in other countries to fulfil its responsibilities,” he said. The company's fleet handles a variety of products that include sugar, tobacco, copper, maize, fertilizer, fuel, cotton and a range of mining equipment to destinations in the sub-continent. It recently secured a 35 000 ton contract of cotton in Zambia for the South African and overseas markets and it will concentrate on any food relief movements for the region.