Transporter develops system to save millions

A solution has been developed to save unwary importers around the country millions of Rand in losses each year incurred because of unnecessary demurrage and storage charges at the main ports around the SA coast. The reason for these losses is because most importers are just as their name suggests - traders not freight transporters. They thus have a blind spot in their logistics control systems as their cargoes move through the ports.

IDC MD, Clifford Blackburn .. big savings

But those are costly places for the short-sighted with very strict parameters on just how long you can take to customs clear and move your container out of the harbour area. If you don't comply with these time-frames, you can run up additional bills totaling thousands of Rands per container for demurrage and storage that wasn't built into your original costing.

One of SA's major container road transporters has now put an in-house tracking system into place to try to beat this problem for clients. The transporter is International Delivery Company (IDC) and the system developed is the country's first real-time demurrage/detention and terminal storage management system designed to monitor the movements and actions of containers from the time the vessel docks to the turning of the container.

"After Portnet introduced the Corobis (computer cargo control) system, there was considerable pressure placed on the transporter to get the cargo out of the terminal," says IDC MD Clifford Blackburn.

"We have, therefore, had a system developed over the last eight months that will now allow the customer to control storage and detention charges. A full audit trail allows the client to keep track of his shipment not only while on the road but also through its documentation process."

The subscription system notifies the client - both billing, such as the shipping line/clearing agent, and the actual importer/exporter - via e-mail of each movement.

For users who require detailed information, a web interface is available which is linked to IDC's satellite tracking system so a container can be tracked to its nearest position.

"The client," says Blackburn, "receives a booking confirmation; is notified of collection from terminal; advised if documents are lodged late or if terminal storage is applicable for the container; and any other information that may impact on the bottom line."

Congratulations to IDC on the innovation it has shown in the development of this system.