Industry and government should jointly address efficiency

It’s all systems go for logistics
company Texcon with major plans
in place to dramatically increase
volumes in 2009.
According to managing director Neil
Harris, much groundwork was done in
2008 assessing, performance managing
and visiting all the company's agents.
“Our foundation is now in place to
manage the expected volume growth
this year.”
Texcon, which provides a range
of specialised transport and logistics
services globally, where necessary
tailors a solution in order to meet
the specific requirements of each
customer. Offering sea, air and road
transportation, international courier or
freight, Texcon provides a full basket
of logistics solutions to any exporting
or importing customer to or from any
of the six continents around the globe.
“Years of experience in cross-border
transport allows us to offer a highly
specialised service for the movement
of all types of cargo using any mode
of transport throughout Africa. Texcon
has agents throughout the region
to ensure a fully integrated African
footprint,” says Harris.
“For roadfreight, the borders on
the continent remain a challenge in
terms of efficient service delivery
although everyone is in the same
boat. We manage border control
through extremely good and long-term
relationships with most border officials
and in-house agents.”
Border inefficiencies affect the cost
of the movement, says Harris. “The
problems are mainly due to the lack
of infrastructure to support growing
traffic volumes and a shortage of
experienced staff at the border posts.”
But despite the obstacles Texcon
managed to deliver to all the Engen
and Caltex service stations cross
border before the fuel increase. “These
were display boards, stickers and
other promotional items for instance,
promoting how pump prices should be
calculated due to the pumps
being unable to accommodate four
digit numbers,” said Harris, who firmly
believes that transport companies
along with governments of African
countries need to work together to
create greater operational efficiencies
and harmonised procedures and
documentation.