Overnight airfreight volumes increase

Consolidators report this to be a challenging but interesting year, and say they are seeing changes not only in volumes but also in the type of services that customers prefer. “Certain volumes on certain service types have increased – for instance on the airfreight side overnight cargo volumes have increased while normal air cargo has declined and moved to road due to the cost differential,” said Bruce van Wyk, managing director of Interloc Freight Services. IFS is a specialist in airport to airport transport and maintains a network of airport-based offices at OR Tambo, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London and George, with agent representation in Bloemfontein and Kimberley. “The increases are mainly due to new accounts while existing clients have marginally improved,” said Van Wyk whose firm moves mainly general cargo. As the company name suggests, Interloc brings together the differing parties in the shipping industry – freight forwarders, courier companies and airlines who then reap cost savings through operation integration and preferred capacity allocations. Established in 2005, Interloc itself is a relatively new player within the domestic airfreight industry, but its staff accounts for more than 25 years’ experience and long-standing relations in the domestic consolidations industry. IFS has a strategic alliance with Air Care Cargo, and its customers benefit from preferential contracted terms from SAA, British Airways, Express Air Services and Imperial Air Cargo. For ground transport, Van Wyk said, the company in-sources all vehicles. “And our capabilities include eight ton trucks to Super-Links.” As for the qualities that draw in new customers, urgency, accountability, expertise, location and economies of scale are what counts, he said.