The transport sector should
prepare now for SADC
regional economic growth
expected over the next four to
six years.
That’s the view of GSF
Trucking MD Dhiren Krishna
who believes that in the
transport sector expansion
strategies must pre-empt
economic growth.
“Over the last decade, the
SADC has
recorded
average growth
of 3% per capita
– and member
countries’
growth of
just under 5%
over the last
decade means
that across the
spectrum, from
heavy industry
(mining,
minerals and resources) to
consumables, perishables and
consumer goods, cargo needs
to be moved across the region,
both on the import and export
fronts.”
The company’s expansion,
both in terms of f leet and
infrastructure, is aligned to
its forecast for business
growth in the region,
says Krishna.
Launched with one
truck 16 years ago,
the Durban-based
company today has
a modern f leet of
over 60 rigs, low-bed
trailers, abnormals, a
45-ton container
handler and
f leet support vehicles based at
its 12 000 sqm Durban depot.
“The acquisition of a R6-million
Kalmar container handler
capable of stacking containers
five high means that we are
geared to not only transport
cargo, but to store containers
and tailor a delivery schedule
aligned to the customer’s supply
chain requirements,” says
Krishna.
He sees
perishable
cargo handling
as another area
where GSF can
offer complete
turnkey
solutions.
“We recently
acquired 15
brand new
gensets and
are acquiring
another 15 to
enable us to offer our clients
a reliable perishable handling
service, catering for fruit,
meat, fish, vaccines and antiretrovirals.”
The company has opened
its own operation in Cape
Town, and Johannesburg
is in the pipeline. “We
are also looking at
taking advantage
of Department of
Trade and Industry
programmes
and establishing
an operations
footprint in Zambia
to streamline and
optimise our SADC
operations.”
We are looking at
establishing a footprint
in Zambia to streamline
and optimise our SADC
operations.
– Dhiren Krishna
