Satellite tracking reassures into-Africa shippers

Tracking truck movements and
cargo delivery while monitoring
border bottlenecks and en route
emergencies is becoming a crucial
imperative for transport firms
and shippers, who need real-time
alerts of the movement of their
cargo. Moving a fleet out of SA
and through SADC countries,
Pietermaritzburg-based logistics
company Manline relies on satellite
tracking to keep tabs on its fleet
– with Botswana, Mozambique,
Zimbabwe and Zambia its
busiest routes.
Manline’s satellite tracking
system is manned by shift
controllers and fleet trackers
from the firm's Control Centre
in its Pietermaritzburg head
office. Data on the whereabouts
of trucks and deliveries in SA’s
neighbouring countries is received
and disseminated from this crossborder
facility. In SA, Manline’s
depots are located in Isando,
Van der Bjil, Germiston, Durban,
Empangeni, Pietermaritzburg,
Kokstad, Newcastle and
East London
The varied composition of
the Manline fleet – flat-deck
superlinks, tautliners bulk (tipper)
trailers, tankers and smaller
distribution vehicles – reflects
the needs of customers whose
cargo includes consumer goods,
industrial inputs and products and
agricultural goods.
Regardless of their type, all
vehicles are fitted with real-time
satellite tracking and on-board
computers.
Fleet Trackers at the Control
Centre monitor data movement
to adjust routes and guide cargo
more efficiently to its destination,
while allowing greater vehicle
productivity. The Control Centre
team, fleet-tracking technology
and flexible operational processes
can lead to cost savings for
its customers, says marketing
co-ordinator Lauren Hughes.
Manline developed its own
software programme, MAX
(for logistics Management and
Execution) to provide 24/7
internet-based data to shippers who
require real-time information on
their cargo.
“Customers receive status reports
via SMS messages, fax, e-mail or
secure web interface,” said Hughes.