Strong rand bites hard for overborder traffic Integrated service on offer

Anna Cox
SOUTH AFRICA could become a major transport hub in Africa, but it is losing out to competitors elsewhere on the continent because of the strong rand.
So said Derrick Gardiner, director of operations at Central African Road Services (Cars), which has been around for 50 years and is one of the few independent road carriers in the sub-Saharan region.
“Until we see the rand/dollar exchange rate improving, we will continue losing out badly to Maputo, Beira, Nacala, Dar-Es-Salaam and Walvis Bay. Customers have no loyalty and they will go where it is cheaper. The playing fields are not level,” he said.
Although there is much speculation regarding when things will improve, Gardiner says it is impossible to predict.
Cars specialises in cross-border transport to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company has a fleet of 125 truck/tractors and 250 trailers, bulk tankers for liquid edible oils, as well as 2-, 5-, 7-, 12- and 26-ton mobile forklifts for a variety of goods including paper, bales, tobacco, cotton and steel coils.
It has also established shed depots in Johannesburg, Harare, Lusaka, Kitwe and Blantyre offering a full spectrum of integrated services from anywhere in the world to these destinations, including groupage on the import side.
An air freight service, when cargo has to be transported urgently, complements the road transport option. Computerised tracking is standard on all its vehicles which are carefully monitored between depots. The company is accredited by the Chemicals Association Industry of SA (CAIA). All administrative staff and 75% of all drivers are trained in the handling of dangerous goods. It will receive SABS 9001 accreditation in September this year.