'SOS' service answers need for urgent shipments

TERRY HUTSON WHEN IT comes to moving cargo into Africa, 2006 wasn’t similar to other years, says Elaine Harris, chief executive of FATS (Forwarding African Transport Services). “Normally we have peaks when no trucks are available and everyone has to wait 14 to 21 days, but more recently we only had to wait a week or so to start loading,” she says. One of the indicators of this ‘downturn’ is that rate adjustments are now only expected in March, as opposed to January, which Harris sees as indicative of the quieter period being experienced. On the other hand smaller LCL cargo (Less than Container Loads) definitely showed an upturn particularly late in the year and more specifically involving Zambia, which she describes as an indication of better planning by Zambian clients. “In Zambia there has been a definite mind shift regarding planning, perhaps a result of us having constantly made the point that improved planning is necessary. “But don’t get me wrong,” says Harris. “It’s still busy and still difficult to get cargo into Africa – everything is always urgent.” One of the innovations introduced by FATS during 2006, partly in response to these trends, was an ‘SOS’ service utilising smaller vehicles of 1, 4 and 8 tons, which are not only more readily available than the ‘heavies’, but also enjoy a much quicker turnaround time of between 7 and 10 days. These proved highly successful and efficient. Having started off 15 years ago with road transport, the company has begun expanding into air freight. In mid-2006 FATS opened an office in Johannesburg specifically to develop the air freight side of the business. It has recently taken on two additional sales staff, but otherwise the company operates solely from a large warehouse and office complex it owns in Durban. “With modern technology we don’t need offices elsewhere, all clearances can be done from Durban,” she points out. Meanwhile its export division and warehousing have grown enormously and FATS is looking to further expand these divisions.