There’s been steady growth
in cross-border volumes
since the festive season,
according to Mahaveer
Chavda, CEO
of Chavda &
Associates, with
mines fully
operational after
the December
slow- down and
with projects
kicking off.
And road
freight has
been in high
demand, he
said. “It significantly
reduces the clients’
costs and transit
time when compared
to air and sea
shipments which,
once cleared, still
need to be moved
to final delivery
sites. And these are sometimes
in remote places.”
For this reason, he said,
there’s been steady growth in
road freight
volumes – and
the outlook for
the year is very
positive.
But the lack
of knowledge
by importing
countries of
road freight
procedures is
a concern, he
added.
“A lot of South African
suppliers have not been
gearing up for exports
and they don’t
have the required
licences and other
documents.”
He said clearing
agents at the borders
were also not always
fully aware of these
procedures and
unnecessarily
delayed the
clearing
process at the
destination,
causing
unnecessary
standing time
which impacted
costs.
The company
is streamlining
the movement
of cargo into
northern
Mozambique
in particular,
he added.
It is also
entering into
partnerships
with strategic
clearing agents
at the borders
in order to speed
up the clearing
process and
minimise standing
time of its fleet.
INSERT & CAPTION
Steady growth in road
freight volumes – and the
outlook for the year is very
positive.
– Mahaveer Chavda
