Poor rail efficiencies continue to hinder growth

Ten years since the launch
of its Gauteng operation,
Durban-based SA Inland
Logistics has continued to see
year-on-year growth.
“It’s a three-in-one operation
that includes a warehouse,
huge yard facility and office
accommodation. And the concept
is critical for us to be able to
bring in cargo,
unpack and stage
traffic,” SAIL’s
Roland Naidoo
told FTW. “That’s
what the customer
wants.”
While the
company has
championed rail
for many years,
poor efficiencies
continue to stymie
any moves from
road to rail.
“We often find with containers
discharged off the same vessel
that some containers are railed
up to City Deep and delivered to
the clients while others remain at
the port not planned for railage,”
said Naidoo.
He believes that there’s no push
or passion to make things work.
The company’s road operation
has however grown in leaps and
bounds. SAIL runs a dedicated
long-distance service on the
Durban-Gauteng route. All
vehicles are equipped with
satellite tracking devices and
the company is geared to handle
hazardous cargo.
“We provide our clients with
a 24-hour tracking facility,
be it via sms or e-mail. There
is uninterrupted f low of
information.”
The company
also offers a
dedicated LCL
service in the
Kwazulu Natal
region and
into Gauteng,
monitoring the
movement of the
containers
into the LCL
depots and
making the
necessary bookings
once the cargo has
been unpacked.
Retaining customers and
generating new business in
a tight economic climate is
all about innovation – and
solutions like the company’s
recently introduced android
device, which allows customers
to sign for receipt of their cargo
on the device, has been a game
changer for the company and its
customers.
INSERT & CAPTION
We provide our
clients with a 24-hour
tracking facility, be
it via sms or e-mail.
There is uninterrupted
flow of information.
– Roland Naidoo