Owner driver scheme provides grassroots empowerment

One of the largest transporters in
the region, Cargo Carriers
has marked 48 years of
operating in Swaziland by expanding
its support of local owner-operated
driving initiatives. The company
launched its cane transport operations
in Swaziland when the country’s
sugar industry began in 1961, and
later launched similar operations in
KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga
(Malelane) regions.
The division operates from five
registered depots strategically
placed throughout Swaziland and
Mpumalanga, (Big Bend, Simunye,
Mhlume, Malelane & Komatipoort)
and currently transports in excess
of 3 million tons annually into the
respective mills, with a fleet in
excess of 160 units. 350 Swazis
benefit from employment and training
opportunities.
Cargo Carriers’ Swaziland
empowerment scheme includes five
Cargo Carriers Swaziland truck
drivers operating as owner-drivers,
while a further 11 existing Swaziland
tractor drivers have been appointed
as tractor owner drivers. The aim of
the programme is to empower drivers
who would otherwise never have an
opportunity to become successful
entrepreneurs, says owner driver
manager John Sprenger. “Candidates
are identified and trained as drivers,
and acquire experience which they in
turn pass on to their families and local
communities. The new owner-driver
programme commenced at the start
of the new 2009 Swaziland cane crop
season with 11 candidates.
“The owner-driver programme is
all about a continuing partnership
– where the drivers are empowered
to determine their own success and
future, while at the same time leading
to increased productivity and enhanced
service levels. This is not boardroom
empowerment – instead it is aimed at a
grassroots level because that is where
the true success lies,” said Sprenger.
Cargo Carriers sugar division
provides logistics services across the
entire supply chain within the sugar
industry, ranging from mechanical
harvesting, infield loading and
haulage, direct to mill and zone to mill
cane haulage and the transportation
of the industry’s finished products,
namely alcohol, bulk sugar, bagged
sugar, molasses and fuel.
In line with its commitment to
safety, health, environment and quality
issues, the company is ISO 9001:2000
and 14001:2004 accredited.