New Gauteng manager believes in hands-on approach

LEONARD NEILL
PRAKASH PARSAD describes himself as a ‘hands-on type of person.’ It’s a crucial element to ensure customer satisfaction, he says.
With almost 30 years of experience in the freight industry, Parsad recently took over from Deon Weelson as regional manager of Railroad Africa Gauteng following Weelson’s appointment as chief executive.
“He’s the man for it. He not only knows the freight business inside out but has an ability to develop the type of relationship with clients that is so essential for harmonious working,” says Weelson.
Parsad’s responsibility extends to national operations and marketing as well.
But he may never have settled in Gauteng had it not been for the sanctions imposed on South Africa in the early 1980s. At the time Parsad was logistics manager for United States Lines in Durban, having previously worked at Saftainer.
The demand for US companies to withdraw from this country found Parsad turning his interests to Gauteng where he joined Manica Trading . He then moved to Cross Country Containers and filled the post of MOL logistics manager before joining Railroad Africa eight years ago.
“If you want to provide good service and delivery to customers, you have to be involved in the entire supply chain,” he says.
“I am in personal contact daily with Spoornet, with our company’s vehicle owner-drivers and with the people at the City Deep container terminal.
“There are always problems to be faced, but managing them is the key to getting a container from one point to another.
“Just as important is the fact that I am blessed with a competent staff. All will go the extra mile to get a task completed. With that kind of backing, even though Spoornet is always short of wagons, we keep in close contact with them and one of us will find the answer.”