Transit to extend express roadfreight services

IN LINE with its ‘one-stop-shop’ philosophy, domestic airfreight consolidator the Transit Group is diversifying its services to include an express roadfreight product. Llewellyn Nel, regional manager of the company which operates at 11 airport-based branches, says it has entered into an agreement with an independent partner to kick-start the road freight service – currently only available on the JNB-CPT route but soon to be extended to JNB – PLZ and CPT – PLZ. “Ultimately Transit sees itself as an extension of an airline, offering more of a value-added, personalised service to the majority of its customers drawn from the courier sector,” explains Nel. Its main function is to offer an airport to airport service with a range of diverse commodities, including live animals, life-saving drugs, and of course the all-important business documents. One of the benefits of using a consolidator like Transit is the use of several airlines providing an extended domestic network and a variety of products, says Nel. Given increased security concerns, especially in the wake of 9/11, all airfreight shippers are required to ensure that they know their customers, as well as verifying the contents of parcels. “We have embraced the introduction of Part 108 of the Civil Aviation Regulation that relates to air cargo security,” says Nel. In terms of the legislation each and every airfreight item will have to be X-rayed, a measure Transit is addressing with the imminent purchase of specialised X-ray machines for around R4-million. This past year has been a satisfying ninth year of operation for Transit, which has recorded “phenomenal growth”, despite keen competition in the market place. The Cape Town branch, being the second largest of the group, accounts for 24% growth. Its contribution is in the order of 40% of total revenue of more than R62 million for the past financial year. Based at the Air Cargo Centre at Cape Town International Airport, Transit has a staff complement of 15 – with a dedicated customer service division and a 24-hour, seven days a week operation.