SAIL plans own Gauteng facility

As the rail transport side of its business develops, so SA Inland Logistics (Sail) gets closer to establishing its own facilities in Gauteng, the industrial and business hub of SA. And that’s very close, according to Sail’s marketing director, Gerald Naidu. “We are becoming more and more involved in the rail side,” he told FTW, “currently moving cargoes out of Gauteng through an agent. “And some of these are pretty big movements – especially the increasing number of project cargoes we are handling.” Of course, in recent times the market has been nothing if not volatile. “But,” said Naidu, “it has been picking up in recent weeks, and prices are going up for traffic from Johannesburg.” Sail is presently moving increasing amounts of traffic by rail, and has a contract lined up with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). “It’s still only at the testing phase at the moment,” Naidu added. “But, if we find it comes good, we’ll move into rail in a bigger way. But a lot of our traffic will still move by road.” SA Inland Logistics is also exploring an entry into the movement of hazardous cargo – where companies have to prove themselves in being able to comply with all the demands of the Hazchem regulations. “We have acquired the specialised vehicles we need,” said Naidu, “and have instituted all the necessary specialist driver training. “We have to be fully knowledgeable and compliant with the standards to ensure that our cargo is safe, and we are moving it properly.” But Naidu is currently frustrated in his dealings with the Port of Durban. “We want to be able to deal directly with them,” he said, “on matters of interest and concern. “But, as long as they won’t talk to transporters, we just have to suffer all the problems and delays there are in the port.” He also felt that achieving this level of communication might require further effort. “We need to get in contact with the right people, those who can keep our trucks and cargoes moving. And, at the moment, we are proving pretty insistent on the need for closer communication with the port.”