As part of an aggressive regional drive, Transtech Logistics has moved its Malawi consol service into a new league with the launch of a twice-weekly named day service. Operated in conjunction with Combine Cargo in Malawi, it offers a more frequent and reliable consol service from SA, says newly appointed GM of Transtech Logistics, Reiner Barford. The company, which has a strong knowledge of the Malawian market, has for some time offered a full truck load service with an irregular consol service for a few select customers. “The named-day option provides a differentiating factor in a stagnant market,” says Barford. “Combine Cargo has access to a large base of clearing customers and the two companies could work to gain the roadfreight forwarding,” he says. The twice-weekly departures are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with Transtech vehicles deployed on the route. According to Barford, MRA (Malawi Revenue Authority) has agreed to clearance of the entire consol truck in bond at Mwanza. Cargo is then offloaded at the Combine Cargo bonded facility where consignees or their appointed agents can arrange final clearance. “This will eliminate border delays in cases where one consignee hasn’t cleared goods and where traditionally the truck stood until all paperwork was sorted.” The company recently diversified its product offering with the launch of a Zambian service, also on a named-day basis. “In a tough market we identified the named day option as an added-value service,” says Barford. And while the start-up has been slow, the company has delivered on its named-day commitment, he says. Next on the expansion agenda will be a similar option on the Zimbabwe route, which is currently in development.
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The named-day option provides a differentiating factor in a stagnant market “ – Reiner Barford
