Growing volumes justify daily trucks on Swazi route

FIFTEEN MONTHS since the opening of its Durban office, overborder specialist M&B Transport has upped the frequency on several of its services in response to demand. “We started in March last year with two boxes into Swaziland – we’re now doing full trucks in and out every day,” Durban branch manager Tim Comet told FTW. “On the Botswana route we’re still consolidating and sending cargo via Johannesburg, but anticipate that growing volumes will justify sending Superlinks directly into Botswana as well in the next 5-6 months.” Lesotho volumes are also growing, says Comet, with one customer filling an 8-tonner twice a week. “Our aim in the next year is to run directly from Durban into Lesotho.” Using the Compu-Clearing system, clearing and invoicing are completed on-line, facilitating speedy cargo transit. But operating in Africa always comes with challenges, most recently the unprecedented increase in permit charges on the Swaziland route. “Without prior warning we were told that permit charges would be raised from R15 to R50 last March.” It affects all road transporters and has to be factored into the rates charged to customers, along with the surcharge raised to compensate for the spiralling cost of fuel. "But we still believe that we offer among the most competitive rates in the industry," said Comet.