Maximising utilisation of assets prevents cost escalation

THE PHILOSOPHY at Shipping & General is that it’s not turnover that counts but savings which directly impact on the rates that the company is able to quote, says transport and operations manager Leslie Moonsamy. “These competitive rates by no means compromise service,” said Moonsamy. “Improved efficiency of all resources and maximised utilisation inhibits cost escalation.” The company’s proximity to all major depots affords significant savings in the cost of uplift, for example, and the choice of vehicles that form the fleet is based on a few simple criteria. “The consumption of the vehicle, its maintenance cost and repair costs are intensely scrutinised prior to purchase,” said Moonsamy, “thus limiting the overall running cost of the fleet at large. “The consumption of every vehicle is recorded and monitored daily throughout its lifespan. “Glib talking salesman and non-utilitarian features hold no sway when vehicle choices are made. “The range of vehicles from one-ton bakkies to Superlinks affords the advantage of using vehicles suited to the load.” Another element in the logistics matrix is the dedicated tracking-and-tracing of both full container load (FCL) and less-than container load (LCL) cargo. “If a container or an LCL shipment is not timeously uplifted it will invariably incur storage either at port or at the depot,” said Moonsamy. “This is common knowledge - and confining uplift to within the free-store period further reduces the landed cost of the goods.”