As the construction boom in Southern Africa continues so demand for cement grows and one consequence is frenzied activity in the transport industry servicing construction and cement companies. Recently Cargo Carriers signed a transportation agreement with Holcim, the world's second largest cement manufacturer.

J & G Transport is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargo Carriers and has an established relationship with Holcim Cement that spans a number of years. According to Johan Kruger, managing director of Cargo's chemicals, fuels and steel division, the company initially did work for Holcim in Maseru only, but due to its service it has now extended its services to Holcim's Bloemfontein.
J & G Transport Ficksburg operation runs a fleet of ten flat deck and bulk tanker vehicles delivering cement in Lesotho. The Free State's construction sector will benefit from six aluminium bulk tankers supplied by J & G Transport on Holcim Cement's behalf. The tankers are fitted with mounted air blowers which create the pressure necessary to transfer bulk cement into vertical storage tanks on the customer's premises.

With the 2010 Soccer World Cup and economic and social development driving the building industry in South Africa, Lesotho is also making significant investments in its physical infrastructure in a bid to support a growing tourism industry and increased demand for energy.

To illustrate, Kruger points to the new road being built into the centrally located town of Thaba Tseka and the construction of Metolong dam in the Lesotho Lowlands. Many of Lesotho's scenic routes have traditionally been hard to access for tourists using ordinary vehicles. The new road to Thaba Tseka will provide a circular tourist route taking in Maseru, Leribe and Berea, and lending easier access to the world renowned Katse dam and Sani Pass.
The rationale for the building of the Metolong dam is two-fold: water for consumption and water to be harnessed for hydro-electrical power. The Lesotho government is also in the process of building new headquarters.

J & G Transport has been transporting cement products in Lesotho for more than ten years. It has instituted systems that support cement transportation in an area plagued by challenging weather and road conditions.
Kruger says: "It is not uncommon to encounter bad weather and snow in the mountains of Lesotho. This, coupled with hazardous driving conditions like steeply inclined and badly maintained roads, makes driving tricky. Skilled drivers are crucial for the safety of trucks and loads. We can really say that our company has some of the best drivers in the transport industry. Our drivers are fully trained and receive refresher course each year."

To meet the increasingly demanding delivery deadlines, Cargo Carriers and J & G Transport have a main workshop and administration office in Ficksburg, with satellite depots in Maseru and Bloemfontein. Furthermore the company has refurbished its Maseru operation with new optimised equipment for Bloemfontein and additional new tankers due for delivery in June. The recent installation of Moffett truck-mounted forklifts boasts an unloading time of a few minutes.

With the South African government dedicating R416-billion to the electricity and transportation industries' refurbishment over the next three years, a 9,9 percent rise in cement demand in 2006 and leading international cement companies earning 40 percent of their sales from emerging economies, Cargo Carriers and J & G Transport are set to claim a competitive advantage by providing smart logistics to the cement market.