Small Freight Operators Business Skills Development

The Freight Transport Industry is still being highly dominated by large companies. In line with Government policies there is a need for transformation i.e., giving those who were not previously in a position to get into the industry an opportunity to do so. Despite some companies introducing what is called Owner-driver schemes, however, many of the drivers remain drivers of their own trucks and not entrepreneurs in their own businesses. These drivers need appropriate training to enhance their growth, and the same applies to emerging small individual operators.

The KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Transport, Mr S’bu Ndebele, identified this gap and decisively took action to empower small freight operators in the province.

The training, facilitated by the Freight Directorate of the Department, consists of five modules which are covered in a period of five days i.e. module per day. The modules are as follows:

  • Business Management

  • Marketing Management

  • Costing & Pricing

  • Freight Documentation

  • Financial Management

Training has been conducted in all four regions of the Department, namely Pietermaritzburg (26/01- 30/01/2004), Durban (02/02-0602/2004), Empangeni (09/02-03/02/2004) and Ladysmith (16/02-20/02/2004).

Training has been an outstanding success, and emanating from it, small operators have taken decisions to establish co-operatives with the aim of being effective in their businesses. They have also decided to formalise themselves into an institution with a single strong voice to address issues affecting them.

It is envisaged that the Minister of Transport, Mr S’bu Ndebele will officially launch this project on 16 March 2004, when those who successfully completed the training will be awarded certificates.

The most important benefit of this initiative is that these operators will be able to run their own businesses professionally, and be able to price and market their services effectively. It is also important to note that these candidates from rural areas will contribute towards rural economic development in the Province.

This is another success story of the KwaZulu- Natal Department of Transport and there is a demand even from other Provinces to extend the project so as to benefit the whole country. In the final analysis it is the closer working relationship between our Minister, Mr S’bu Ndebele, and our CEO, Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, that has borne these fruits.

 

back