Return loads make road a viable option

Road transport works well for
Botswana because of the availability
of return load capacity, says Anthony
Lee, managing director of Transport
Holdings Limited.
“Using the road network makes
sense as it is fast and efficient. Our
road infrastructure is also fairly good
and because we are able to exploit
return load capacity it also makes
business sense to use road.”
While the road and rail debate has
often reared its head, not just in South
Africa but also Africa, most roleplayers
agree that it is not about one or
the other, but rather the two modes of
transport working together.
“In principle it is true that some
commodities are better suited to rail
than road especially in terms of bulk
commodities,” says Lee.
“But practically it does not always
work, especially when the time value
of money is considered. Add the
return on investment requirement
to the mix and it becomes a
very grey area.”
In the meantime countries like
Botswana remain dependent on the
road network. “With no manufacturing
industry in Botswana everything is
imported and most of it is brought in
by road.”
According to Lee the past year has
not been easy for business with the
global recession affecting volumes and
price. “We were not as badly affected
as what we thought, but we saw a
drop of at least 40% in the volumes
in the mining industry. Other business
remained stable. I do believe we have
hit the bottom and that we are now
moving forward.”
For Transport Holdings this means
implementing a brand new IT system.
“This system will allow for fully
integrated labelling, track and trace as
well as warehouse management – all
crucial aspects of our business.”
He says it will also allow the
company to be more aggressive in its
pursuit of new customers and markets
in the coming months as the world
moves out of recessionary times.