Synchronicity!

01 May 2013 - by Ed Richardson

Shippers can now reliably
reach the farthest corners
of Namibia through the
synchronisation of three different
services provided by the FP du Toit
Transport group.
FP du Toit Transport, ProParcel
Distribution and Jet.X Couriers
provide complementary services
that are fully integrated through
the company’s information system,
says Willie du Toit, managing
director of FP du Toit Transport.
The 45-year-old company
signalled its entry into the highspeed
electronic age with a new
look and the first brand refresh in
its history.
There is also a different approach
to the business, with a younger
team at the helm.
“I am now surrounded by
young techies who understand
the technology. They have even
upgraded me to a Smartphone,”
says Du Toit with a smile.
With the help of the integrated
information system, the team has
broken down any silos that may
have existed, and is leveraging the
strengths of the different services
in order to offer better service and
to reach into most of the Southern
African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC) countries,
according to Du Toit.
An example of the integration
is Jet.X courier parcels being
transported on ProParcel trucks,
which deliver fast-moving
consumer goods and other products
to destinations across Namibia.
Freight out of South Africa
reaches the Windhoek hub on longhaul
trucks operated under the FP
du Toit banner from warehouses in
Cape Town, Gauteng, Durban and
Johannesburg.
Freight arrives in Windhoek
within two and a half days out of
Johannesburg, and is then delivered
to remote locations in Namibia
within another three and a half
working days. Windhoek delivery
is often the same day as the freight
arrives.
Jet.X also provides an airfreight
service.
Clients benefit from the costeffective
utilisation of the fleet, says
Du Toit. “Volumes within Namibia
do not justify running dedicated
road or airfreight courier services
between the different cities.
“But space can be found on the
ProParcel trucks which run between
Windhoek and Keetmanshoop,
Walvis Bay, Grootfontein, Rundu
and Oshakati on a daily basis.
“With two drivers on board the
vehicles travel non-stop.”
The courier business is mainly
driven by the transport of legal
documents and pharmaceuticals,
which are carried in insulated
containers.