‘One of few companies offering consolidations direct from Durban’

Operating out of Durban
has several advantages,
says Vivian Govender
of Transmax.
“The Durban port is one of the
biggest in Africa and has the shortest
routes into Africa, but Durban itself
is often overlooked in favour of
Johannesburg. There is no doubt
that operating out of Durban has
its advantages to clients – the most
important being cost.”
Govender says it remains
cheaper to move cargo from port to
destination into Africa as opposed
to transhipping via Johannesburg
and then on to the final destination.
One of the few companies to offer
consolidations direct out of
Durban, Transmax services the
sub-Saharan region.
“We have developed niche
markets in Zimbabwe and Zambia
as well as servicing Malawi and
Mozambique.”
With a warehouse in Pinetown,
the company is able to handle both
hazardous and non-hazardous cargo.
“All our cargo is consolidated here
and is loaded directly to cross border
destinations preventing delays and
double handling that results from
transhipment via Johannesburg,”
says Govender.
But, he added, in recent times
there have been challenges doing
business in Durban. “The market
is saturated with a lot of small
companies trying to get by and
they are offering cheaper rates
without the knowledge of permit
requirements and border clearance
procedures. This can be very costly
with deadlines missed and it impacts
negatively on the industry.”