‘Staff training always a top priority’

At Cargocare Freight Services staff training is always a top priority, with the company spending more than R200 000 a year on this vital area, says operations director Sue Wood. “Most difficult to find are good managers and good entry clerks,” says Wood, “but whether that’s related to our high quality standards is difficult to assess.” The company uses a combination of external as well as internal specialised coaching and mentoring learnerships to achieve its training goals, all aligned with a Workplace Skills Plan. And while it’s difficult to project the outlook for the months ahead, Wood is quietly confident that things are “evening out”. Despite the impact of the recession, Cargocare has managed to avoid the retrenchment route. “But salaries have been capped with no promise of a Christmas bonus,” she said.