Customs Services MD Chris Scott has taken a proactive stand against the dearth of skilled staff in the logistics industry. He’s in the process of registering a training school that will offer a range of courses – from a one-day orientation option to a 10-week programme – providing industryrecognised qualifications. “There’s a huge need for training,” said Scott, who is determined to focus on the practical side . “We don’t want to present theory – our trainers will all be operationally experienced,” he told FTW. Courses will be held at Customs Services’ East Rand premises and will cover the full range of logistics-related issues – from international trade and supply chain management to customs procedures and international payments. And Scott, who has been in the industry for more than four decades, believes he has the operational know-how to make a difference. The biggest challenge that the industry faces, in his view, is the lack of competence of third party service providers like transporters. “A lot of entrants into the industry are not skilled – and we find truckers, for example, trying to muscle in on the Durban-Johannesburg leg at unrealistic rates that upset the balance, which is eventually restored but not without cost.” The goal of every logistics provider is to provide a seamless supply chain management service from ex works to destination – but there are so many parties involved and so many links in the chain, particularly when the container hits South Africa, and particularly if you want to use rail, that it’s sometimes taking as long to get containers from Durban to Johannesburg as the entire sea leg from the UK to South Africa, he said. But despite the challenges he remains upbeat about the year ahead. From challenges come opportunities – and clearly his incipient training school is part and parcel of this philosophy. INSERT & CAPTION Sometimes it takes as long to get containers from Durban to Johannesburg as the entire sea leg from the UK to South Africa. – Chris Scott
