Industry growth pushes up demand for trucks

Abnormal load specialist Transnetwork Logistics may soon have to invest in 15 more trucks and lowbeds to meet the growing demand in the mining industry for project cargo transport, said company managing director Jeremiah Naidoo. “Over the last two years demand from the mining sector has increased dramatically and 99% of our project cargo work is for the mining sector,” said Naidoo. He told FTW he was expecting further mining sector development in southern Africa, notably Mozambique, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “This provides further opportunities for growth for us, which is why we are considering the fleet expansion,” he said, adding that the company’s offices in Zimbabwe Zambia and the DRC positioned it well to capitalise on the growth. One of the challenges that could restrict growth is port and road infrastructure, particularly in Mozambique, Naidoo said. “Over the last eight months I’ve noticed increased deterioration in Mozambique, as well as in South Africa,” he said. INSERT & CAPTION 99% of our project cargo work is for the mining sector. – Jeremiah Naidoo CAPTION Naidoo believes there has been increased deterioration on main mining sector routes in SA and Mozambique, including this road from Phalaborwa to Maputo.