Having established key working relationships, transportation brokerage firm, J.V.C Freight, has continued to grow its list of associations and clients in an ever increasing and demanding transport logistics market
Written by Jennifer Denby & Produced by Adiele Nazer
South African J.V.C Freight Carriers began operating in 1992 and has since developed solid credentials and a dedicated assembly of employees and clients. Raj Maistry, Managing Director at the firm, explains more: “We have enjoyed substantial growth, and now cater for almost every transport need in what is an increasingly challenging and demanding sector.”
Maistry says the firm’s success is almost certainly down to this ability to “provide every transport need under one organisation”. Today, J.V.C Freight offers an extensive and all encompassing range of services to various industries, while demonstrating commitment to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction.
“Throughout my career I have been involved with shipping agencies, and because of my travels, predominantly servicing the clearing and forwarding agents, I often came across people being let down by transporters,” he says, explaining that that he identified a niche in the market. “So I said to myself, 17 years ago, ‘If somebody can coordinate cargoes with a good knowledge of imports and exports, and of how the processes and ports operate, then there may be a business opportunity’. And years later we have become a very successful company.
“Today, we have 50 transporters on our books, which virtually covers the whole of South Africa. Our services include the provision of comprehensive logistics, distribution and transport services for corporate companies, and clearing and forwarding agents.”
J.V.C Freight has the resources to transport containers, normal and abnormal break bulk cargos within South Africa and to countries including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Mozambique.
LISTENING TO CUSTOMERS
With extensive experience in the shipping industry, J.V.C’s primary customers are clearing and forwarding agents. However, its services are broad and cover a range of industries, an aspect which is apparent in its blue-chip clientele, including Samsung Electronics, Sony S.A., Ninian and Lester, Illovo Sugar, Afritronics, BIC S.A., AGI, Nu World Industries, Timken S.A and Sinotech.
The greater part of this client base has been with the company since its inception, indicating a high level of dedication and standard of service.
Maistry believes J.V.C enjoys this loyal and high-ranking standard of clients through the company’s ability to listen; a skill he identified as missing from the majority of transporters. “As we meet new customers, we always listen to whatever their service requirements are. We then place the freight with appropriate transporters, and monitor the availability and delivery very closely. In turn, we supply all our customers, whatever they entrust with us, with status reports of exactly what’s going on with their cargoes.
“The advantage we have over transporters is that we don’t have trucks, we simply coordinate and ensure smooth deliveries. We go that extra mile for our customers and ensure that all containers are picked up and documentation is available and has been released,” he adds.
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
Maistry, who outlines the firm’s key business policies as superior performance, customer satisfaction, respect, business efficiency, discipline and good business ethics, highlights “honesty” as its main focus and an aspect that sets them apart from the competition.
J.V.C’s mission involves the innovation, development, implementation and management of logistics, transport and distribution solutions. In order to reach this goal, as well as looking to learn from and understand its customers, the firm constantly strives to be completely open with all business partners, customers and suppliers.
“If there are any problems, we are onto it straight away. A lot of people think, ‘Why go to a transport broker, why not go straight to the transporter?’ It’s because we do a lot of the things that they don’t, offering numerous added benefits. And, most importantly, with us everybody is completely honest,” says Maistry. “We tell our clients straight away if something goes wrong. Even after hours at home we monitor the pick-ups of our loads, and should there be any problems, we’ll email the customer the night before, in case they have people on hire for the next day.
“I think the key to our success is that we closely network with our customers. In other words, we keep them informed of all the shipments that they entrust with us; we are completely transparent in what we do,” he stresses.
KEY PARTNERSHIPS
“We’ve taken business relationships one-step further in that our transporters have become our friends; we socialise with them extensively and also show our gratitude by entertaining them. So they’re partnered with us very closely.”
Maistry is keen to highlight the company’s close affiliations to associations and organisations, which work to improve the stature of the company, as well as keeping abreast of the industry’s developments and changes. One of these associations is the Durban harbour Carriers Association, of which J.V.C Freight is a member.
“We have also recently done a joint venture with four other transporters and we have a rail contract with TFR, allowing a rail division to be attached to our transport division,” Maistry continues, pointing out various other partnerships. “This enables us to offer customers both road and rail capabilities and, as we’ve opened two container depots in Johannesburg, we offer storage options,” he adds, demonstrating an ability to adapt and improve the company’s capabilities in conjunction with the frequent and often challenging changes in the transport logistics market. In speaking with Maistry, it seems as though the firm is set for future success based on its determination to go above and beyond its clients’ needs.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
COMPANY NAME: JVC Freight Carriers (Pty) Ltd
MANAGING DIRECTOR: Raj Maistry
OPERATIONS: Leader in logistic brokerage
ESTABLISHED: 1992
EMPLOYEES: 22
TUNRVOVER: R98 million
www.jvcfreight.co.za