When moving things into Africa, TCS Logistics does things on a rather grand scale, according to director, Rogan Brent. Early in September TCS Logistics and Access Freight projects division moved four Komatsu 930E dump trucks from Durban to Chingola for a Zambian mining concern. Four dump trucks don’t, when reading it, sound like a big cargo. “But,” said Brent, “when you consider just how massive these machines are, then a different picture appears.” And, when the actual load to be hauled to Zambia is described, the sheer size of such a project comes to light. Together, the two companies had to execute the movement of a total of 36 abnormal truck loads – with the loads consisting of: four truck chassis at 50-metric tonnes each; the four rock bodies – cut in half for ease of transport; loads of the massive 4-metre diameter tyres; then the smaller breakbulk cargo and containerised components. Timing was also critical, according to Brent – with the vessel arriving in port on a Saturday morning at 02:00, and TCS having to have the 36 trucks lined up to receive the cargo on vessel arrival. The company’s team, headed personally by Brent, worked non-stop from vessel arrival until completion of discharge to clear the holds, he told FTW. “This,” he added, “included the welding of reinforcing and supports to the rock bodies for loading, as the rock bodies are asymmetrical and very difficult to load.” But, by 19:00 the next day all direct discharge cargo as well as the breakbulk and containers were loaded and ready for dispatch. And, the following morning, the convoy of rock bodies, loaded 5.2-m high and 4.8-m wide, departed Durban. It arrived on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg at 09:00 and proceeded under 22 own and eight police escorts through Pietermaritzburg in convoy – bringing the city to a halt. “The entire consignment was delivered to site without incident within 20 days, as per the contract agreement with the consignee,” said Brent. These four Komatsu 930 dump trucks – in the top-five biggest in terms of size and capacity – have since been assembled on site and are working. “This project was one of the many we carried into Zambia, DRC, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana this year,” said Brent. “However, this particular consignment was of particular significance due to the nature of this cargo. The months of preplanning paid dividends on the day. “In line with our TCS motto, ‘Africa Just Got Smaller’, this marked another successful project delivered and another satisfied client.”
