Freightmax invests millions in ‘full-spectrum’ facility

The general freight business unit of the Imperial Logistics group company, Freightmax, has recently carried out a multi-million rand refurbishment of a Durban port-side container freight station (CFS), according to MD Brian Giddey. “This,” he told FTW, “was designed to enhance the Freightmax national presence and the core activities of supply chain management, the national linehaul fleets, and the separate rail logistics division.” It means that the company is able to offer customers a full spectrum of transport logistics services from this one harbour-side depot, according to GM Jacques de Villiers. “It’s a 70 000 m2 site, which comfortably accommodates 3 000 TEUs and 50 000 tons of bulk minerals,” he told FTW, “located only 2.5-kilometres from the Durban container terminal (DCT). “It has everything a port user could want in containerisation, cargo handling and port container transport services.” In the lengthy list of services, De Villiers highlights that the CFS is a customs-licensed container depot for uncleared full container load (FCL) overstays and customs examinations and offers FCL depot storage and empty (MT) container depot services (including container wash bay and husbandry facilities). It also has two weighbridges, a 17-wagon rail siding, a 22 000 m2. high-bay undercover warehouse, OS and SOS bond stores and has a certificate of acceptability to handle and store imported foodstuffs. “We’ve also got both road and rail facilities,” De Villiers added, “with a rail logistics division to handle that function, and a fleet of 30-ton capacity sliding skeletal combinations for container transportation by road.” Security, meantime, he described as “state-of-the-art” with the whole depot overseen by CCTV surveillance systems. “We have a primary aim,” said De Villiers. “And that is being able to offer extremely cost-effective containerised port logistics solutions. “Our target is to be one of the lowest overall cost-per-ton service providers in Durban, whilst exceeding customer expectations and service delivery requirements.” Freightmax has also been designed to cater for the challenges associated with large volume just-in-time (JIT) deliveries of export orders. Said De Villers: “Given our close proximity to DCT and the major MT container depots, the risk of late arrivals and short shipments is minimised. “Also, transport operators do not have to queue outside the facility on public roads, and we have a dedicated FCL express lane which ensures one of the fastest truck turnaround capabilities in the port.”