While the public in general holds the perception that trucks only travel on tar roads to easily accessible delivery points, one of the challenges for the road transport industry is ensuring timeous and safe deliveries to remote locations.
One company which is focussing attention on this is Dachser Logistics South Africa The movement of goods and people to and from remote regions has always been a challenging process due to factors such as geographical obstructions, long distances, natural weather anomalies and even socio-political instability.
Operators of remote projects rely on environmental, communication and transport infrastructure that fosters expenditure reduction and efficient delivery, partnering with reliable logistics providers.
According to Detlev Duve, managing director of Dachser Logistics South Africa, technological advancements and heavy investments into transport infrastructure across the continent have enabled logistics providers like Dachser South Africa to take advantage of expansion into remote areas.
“The construction and mining industries are the most in need of logistics solutions as they frequently have sites in remote and inaccessible areas,” says Duve. “We’re finding that a high level of activity is continuing across remote locations. Many project managers face real challenges in a logistical sense, challenges which we can address through our specific experience in the African environment.”
To date, Dachser has undertaken remote projects in the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape regions. According to Duve, effective logistics planning for remote locations contributes directly to the success of remote projects being cost-effective and completed on schedule.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to move our customers’ goods and we take into account the distance, road infrastructure, carrier efficiency, fuel consumption and security,” says Duve.
“To ensure successful operations, it is important for us to have the right equipment and strategy to ensure that we can meet the delivery deadlines, given the obstacles we may encounter in these remote locations. It is crucial to select the best carrier to use for remote projects, a carrier that can manage poor roads and long distances.”
Duve further explains that in order to improve logistics in remote locations, companies need to invest in adding smaller distribution centres in areas where sufficient cargo justifies the investment.
FleetWatch has always considered the bread delivery companies to be the real experts at delivering into inaccessible areas but it seems this is broadening. That has to be good news for growth in the region.
If only more companies took this approach!