Warehousing is one element of CMKCD's one-stop solution

Intermodal inland haulage operator
Cargo Movers Kaserne Container Depot
(CMKCD) provides a lot more than
cartage and storage.
“We use the depot as a staging facility for
final delivery,” director Kerwin Naidoo told
FTW. “Several major importers and exporters
bring in large numbers of containers which
they store in the depot. We then arrange for
delivery as and when their warehouse calls
for them.
“We offer our customers leniency in terms
of storing containers and a free period for
certain shippers. We also do a lot of empty
storage for shipping line customers as well as
maintenance and repairs.”
And according to Naidoo, demand for
empty storage has been picking up.
“Lately there seems to have been a
shortage of empties in Johannesburg – in the
past two days we have moved 1600 empties
from the coast to Gauteng.”
The current economic downturn is clearly
a factor, with a significant drop in the number
of imports.
According to information relayed to
Naidoo by a customer, in one province in
China160 000 companies closed down in one
month. “That market had a major impact on
South Africa.”
Naidoo believes the industry is already
responding to the impact of the economic
downturn.
“Road hauliers are being affected
drastically – not so much on exports but on
imports.
“And because of the shrinking volumes,
some operators are dropping rates to
ridiculous levels.”
FTW understands that some hauliers are
moving cargo on the Durban–Johannesburg
run for as little as R800 – compared to the
R2 500 average before the downturn.
“A number of transport companies have
also decided to shut up shop because they’re
running at a loss. Equipment is being sold for
next to nothing – but it’s unlikely that people
will buy up equipment now so even that
industry will take a big knock.”
According to Naidoo, TFR is putting
together a plan to attract more container
traffic – and rail contractors are waiting
for their new contracts. While tariffs must
increase, the level of the increase is likely to
be less steep than last year, in his view.
He believes that flexibility and service
are what provide competitive edge in a
tight market.
“We are very flexible in terms of
operating hours. Initially we were a
24-hour depot but for security reasons we
reduced our opening times. We currently
operate until 8-9pm in the evening, servicing
vehicles and doing pre-loads so that we can
forward plan.
“We’ve also beefed up our IT programme
which impacts positively on security and
information flow.
“Our objective is to provide a one-stop
shop. We can stage containers, assist in port
release and then arrange for cartage and
delivery to final destination.
“Whatever the customer’s need we will sit
down with him and find a solution.”