Massive coal volumes move by road to Zim

KEVIN MAYHEW REFLECTING THE growing trend from rail to road, United Global Logistics (UGL) of Edenvale has secured contracts to transport 3800 metric tonnes of loose coal per month from Witbank to Zimbabwe for the next four years. The company has also secured an on-going five year contract to move a minimum of 3000 metric tonnes of palletised hard board from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg. Managing director, Caston Dutuma, says UGL, which is a fully fledged third party logistics provider, opted to move the coal by road rather than rail despite a shortage of drop-sided road vehicles suited to transporting loose coal. It has six horse and trailer rigs of its own which travel as far as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is presently one of the largest providers of both north and south-bound loads into and out of Zimbabwe, said Dutuma. “The road option for the coal gives us more control of the movement, particularly as we have our own vehicles and a dedicated group of subcontractors that are capable of meeting the challenges of the contract for us by road. In line with our policy we analysed the customer’s entire supply chain pipeline to tailor a cost-effective logistics solution, ensuring that the customer’s processes compare favourably with the best practice on price, quality and service,” he explained. The company is actively involved in the movement of huge volumes of roadfreight cargo (FTL) and consolidated cargo into Africa including containerised cargo from the coast to Gauteng.