Flexibility in road haulage –
“the X-factor” – comes from
combining a large fleet of trucks
and trailers with comprehensive
information systems, says Rory
McWade, group chief executive
officer of
Cargo Carriers
International
Hauliers (CCIH)
of Zimbabwe.
Having a
large fleet with
trucks registered
in different
countries means
that you have
more options to
play with, and
can offer competitive rates based
on high service levels.
“For example, if you have a
Zambian registered truck you
can offer a better price for goods
loaded in Zambia than if you have
to come from outside the country,”
he says.
Being big also gives companies
bargaining power. CCIH has a vast
amount of experience, expertise
and knowledge
to offer along
with a dedicated
staff and a
firm regional
infrastructure,
he added.
“It is all part
of being able
to offer the
X-factor. Just
having one
of the biggest
trucking footprints in the region
is not a competitive advantage
unless the size is leveraged to offer
solutions that other companies
can’t because they do not have the
critical mass,” he believes.
“If we were operating in the
United States or Europe, our job
would be to move freight from A
to B. Here in Africa the conditions
are very different.”
One of the innovations which
has in the past been introduced in
partnership with Volvo engineers is
the fitting of a reduction system to
the rear driving axles on a portion
of trucks, which effectively turns
the horse into a 4x6 vehicle that
can handle the toughest routes in
the region during extreme weather
conditions.
“Our fleet goes into places that
others can’t, or maybe are sceptical
about going to,” he says.
Size also means that shippers or
freight forwarders do not have to
guarantee a return load, although
the return load would be a priority
and preferred business practice.
INSERT
Having a large fleet
with trucks registered in
different countries means
that you have more options
to play with.
