Page 8 - Logistics News June 2017
P. 8
News
BHL repurchase proves
FAW’s reputation for reliability
For the cynics and the doubters here’s proof that there are massive opportunities for
transport business in Africa.
AN OPERATOR who has successfully done important attribute - fl exibility!
business for over 20 years in Africa now – Buks “First world business models for logistics and
van Rensburg, Managing Director of Buks materials handling are not necessarily going to
Haulage Limited (BHL), has just supplemented work in sub-Saharan Africa,” he advises. “Where
his FAW truck fl eet, when he recently took I run transport throughout Southern Africa,
delivery of another 25 FAW 28.380FT truck and up to Zambia, the challenges are massive
tractor units in Johannesburg. and can change quickly. You need to be able to
“The key is that you must know and adapt and reorganise your team, the logistics,
understand this diverse continent with various routes, contracts and loads, quickly and easily.
levels of development, and diff erent economies. Obviously, you need the tools and infrastructure
The African environment is enigmatic; it is to communicate and plan fast. You also need
collective of many nationalities with many your support infrastructure to move with you
diff erent languages and cultures. Transport when needed.”
operators, especially those from South Africa, “For this you must have the best of the
need to acknowledge, accept and plan for the best. First and foremost are my drivers. They
challenges this presents,” advises Van Rensburg. are the most important asset in BHL,” says Van
He says that running heavy-duty trucks Rensburg. “Driving a laden vehicle weighing in
throughout Southern Africa requires one very excess of 52 tons GCM over 2 400 kilometres
32 June 2017 | Logistics News
