There is often a fine line between profitable cross-border transport and risky business. FOCUS investigates the current trends within this market and examines whether recent upgrades in vehicle monitoring have made a positive difference to this largely untapped zone

Attempts to meet Southern African Development Community (SADC) objectives of opening cross-border trade routes for socioeconomic, political and environmental improvement are being hampered by the inefficient movement of goods along a number of road routes in the region.

The Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (FESARTA) is working closely with the SADC, addressing issues of road transport inefficiencies, where they relate to the growth of intra-African trade.

Established in 1993, FESARTA (previously the Federation of Regional Road Freight Associations) represents road freight transporters at official forums, addressing issues ranging from road usage legislation for hauliers, to combating HIV/AIDS along transport routes, and is active in both the SADC and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states.

Mike Scott, chairperson of FESARTA for the fourth consecutive term and Trading Division MD of leading JES-listed logistics management company, Cargo Carriers explains: "FESARTA has aligned its mission with that of the SADC, namely to harmonise and free up the road passage of goods for trade between the member countries, the final objective being a SADC trade operation similar to the European Economic Community (EEC). Road, rail and air transport in Africa face some challenging infrastructural problems, with road transport currently being the most important, and hence the most pressing concern for trade."

FESARTA and the SADC are working towards the creation of a SADC trade operation similar to the European Economic Community, in an attempt to free up the passage of goods - particularly by road - between member countries.

Cargo Carriers, the specialised transportation, supply chain and logistics service provider, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It provides a full suite of transportation solutions in vertical industries, namely sugar, steel, powders, fuels and chemicals, backed up by an extensive national and cross-border infrastructure, industry expertise and best-of-breed software.

While the region's physical infrastructure is being upgraded with 12 new and planned corridors across southern and east African states, traffic jams characteristic of certain border post crossings have become an impediment to the smooth passage of trade goods. One of the busiest border posts in the region - Beit Bridge, at South Africa's border with Zimbabwe - is a case in point.
Scott says, "The Beit Bridge crossing links the SADC's harbour-rich South Africa with Botswana, Zimbabwe, northern Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and the DRC to the north.

"South Africa, with its advanced technology and infrastructure, is one of the supply points for goods heading north. Approximately 250 commercial vehicles pass through this border post on an average day, facilitating the need for a 24-hour operation.
"The border post's extended operating hours represent just one of the initiatives that have been implemented to address the role of road transportation in achieving more effective regional trade, driven by both the private sector and government.

According to Scott, the problems in moving goods across the border post at Beit Bridge have decreased. Much work still remains, however, before this border is operating at peak efficiency. The chief causes for congestion are bureaucracy - in the form of enormous amounts of administration required - a shortage of staff and budgetary constraints. The bottlenecks also put pressure on inadequate facilities for hosting drivers, who are sometimes laid over up to three days while awaiting final clearances.

"There is a vast amount of documentation required. Electronic technology, for example the electronic scanning of cargo, will bring improvements when accepted on both sides of the border crossing," explains Scott. "In the meantime, the possibility exists for pre-clearance and the pre-framing of freight and documents on both sides of the Beit Bridge border post. Implementation of the 'one-stop border post' concept is also in progress. This means that north and southbound commercial traffic will be able to cross the border after a single clearance rather than having to obtain clearance on both sides of the border. Revamps to the N1 en route to the border, and of the parking area at the border, are due for completion in 2007. So while the passage of goods through Beit Bridge is not optimal, it is getting better."

Other priorities on FESARTA's "to do" list include addressing the issue of overloading on corridor roads and the regulation of weighing procedures and weight restrictions on roads across SADC member states.

So, while inefficiency at border posts negatively influences regional trade growth, the outlook is still positive. Scott concludes: "After decades in the logistics industry, I am finally seeing a positive contribution being made in terms of streamlining business processes at borders. Not all border crossings are as challenging as Beit Bridge. The Cape-Namibia, Maputo Corridor and Swaziland border crossings, for example, consistently have steady flow. Whatever the logistics concerns are, the core issue for enterprise now is that you have to have business courage and knowledge to move into Africa."