It's all about personal service

For Ka Go 2 Go and Cargo 2 Congo it’s not about being the biggest. “It’s rather about being the best and offering the best service levels,” say brothers Richard and Gary Hall – Richard heads up Ka Go 2 Go while Gary is responsible for Cargo 2 Congo. And when it comes to Africa, being the best means knowing your way around, and having the infrastructure in place and the people on hand to ensure that if there’s a problem it’s speedily addressed and dealt with. Ka Go 2 Go was set up three years ago through the buy-out of an existing company. “At that stage we were running with subcontractors and had only two of our own vehicles,” said Richard. The fleet has since increased to 20 vehicles ranging from a 350kg bakkie to Superlinks – and everything in between. Four 10 tonners run an emergency express service to the region. “This year a lot of clients have been running their stocks very close to the line and this can have devastating effects should they have a few simultaneous breakdowns and that's where we come in – we can have vital goods cleared and on the Copperbelt in two to three days,” says Richard. “We used to send one or two a month – that’s now up to five or six.” And while last year’s recessive climate translated into a fairly slow year all round, this year has been remarkable. In fact April was the company’s best ever month. With volumes growing, the company has its own expansion plans – among them to establish a dedicated office in Lusaka. “We try to run a dedicated vehicle to Lusaka once a week, and are keen to increase the frequency. “We’re also looking at extending our services into Tanzania in the not too distant future.” Ka Go 2 Go is clearly a company on the move, and a big part of its successful growth strategy is related to personal service. “It’s our biggest drawcard,” says Richard, “knowing the person on the other end of the phone and having faith in his ability to move your cargo quickly and efficiently.” Another big drawcard is Ka Go 2 Go’s distribution facility – Cross Loading – in Chingola, “Speeding up truck turnaround, reducing damage to cargo and providing a more streamlined operation for clients was the motivation behind its launch – and our customers are reaping the benefits,” says Richard. Cargo 2 Congo built its business on project cargo. And four years since its launch it has built up a fleet of 50 trucks – 40 triaxles and 10 Superlinks – as well as a large subcontractor base. While the recession led to a downturn in project cargo business, it also created new opportunities – for Cargo 2 Congo it was diversification into consolidations. And that’s taken off brilliantly, says Gary. “A lot of clients who were sending two truckloads a month now only have 10 to 20 tons of cargo on the floor – so to service them and keep a few more vehicles busy we took on consolidations. “It’s been an excellent move and we’re already seeing an increase in volumes. “And it’s a service we will continue to offer once project cargo picks up again.” Gary is in full agreement on the success formula for Africa. “You need to know your way around, have the right contacts on the ground, and the infrastructure in place.” Through its association with Cross Loading, which has a mechanic on hand 24 hours a day, any truck breakdowns can be speedily dealt with. And that makes the difference if you’re looking at mitigating delays. In the end, says Gary, it’s all about service. “When we started we were always going to make sure that we did the basics correctly before looking at expansion – and it’s a philosophy that has paid off handsomely. “Our loyal customer base is the best endorsement that any operator could hope for.”