'Spoornet has created inflated road freight industry'

IF SOUTH Africa’s rail system operated efficiently, 60% of long-distance road freight companies would have to either close down or re-orientate themselves as service entities to the national rail network. That’s the view of Robbie Forbes, MD of Gauteng-based freight forwarder Transit Freight Coordinators, who believes a considerable percentage of road freight is based on false economies created by the inefficiencies of rail. “It’s crazy that we move inter-alia thousands of tons of minerals nationally, and food for the World Food Programme into Africa by road. The opportunities and demand for an efficient rail service are immeasurable, and Transnet has sufficient infrastructure to do it. “If we could efficiently deliver in accordance with our clients’ requirements by rail, we would do it.” Forbes believes that rail freight signed its own death warrant through its total inefficiency resulting in the creation of the inflated road freight industry with which they must now compete to regain market share. He cites the example of the annual seasonal citrus crop, previously railed to the coast, currently undertaken by road hauliers. Transit Freight Coordinators transports general and industrial goods, perishables, short-shelf life goods and consolidated shipments from South Africa to Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Botswana.