Warehousing adds element of control

Just under two years since its diversification into warehousing, SA Inland Logistics already has expansion plans in its sights. “We moved into warehousing by default,” SAIL director Gerald Naidu told FTW. “We were looking for yard space for our vehicles as well as office accommodation in order to bring the entire operation under one umbrella. The warehouse happened to be on site – and it’s been our biggest growth area.” For the customer, it’s a question of providing an allembracing service. “We control the goods from the time of collection through to final delivery – and that includes bringing them to the warehouse, packing, storing and loading onto our long-distance vehicles, providing a full logistical solution. And that’s what customers want – someone to manage the product under one umbrella.” Warehousing was a new field for SAIL. “Rail and road transport was our core business – and we approached warehousing cautiously. But we soon got to grips with what each customer wanted and it’s proved to be a lucrative growth area.” The current facility comprises 2 500 sq m with offloading ramps able to handle 80-100 containers over a three-day period. “The warehouse is designed in such a way that it has room for storage going up – which means that we can accommodate significant cubic volume.” Reflecting on 2011, Naidu says the company had an excellent year and is expecting more of the same. “If we come close to last year we would have done well,” said Naidu. SAIL is looking at acquiring more assets in terms of trucks and trailers and is currently working on a dedicated long-haul fleet for Johannesburg-bound traffic along with a dedicated local fleet. “This provides a good balance for us, enabling us to meet our clients’ requirements.”