Several prestigious achievements mark the close of what has been an outstanding year for IMPERIAL Cargo, a member of the IMPERIAL Logistics group. “These accreditations are a confirmation of our strategy to add value in the service offering to our customers, and our vision to be a responsible and respected service provider of choice in the logistics industry in Southern Africa,” says Christo Theron, managing director of IMPERIAL Cargo. The company has received Road Traffic Management System (RTMS) accreditation for its Consol and Distell local fleets, as well as for its container fleet. RTMS is an industry-led, voluntary self-regulation scheme that encourages consignees, consignors and transport operators engaged in the road logistics value chain to implement a vehicle management system that preserves road infrastructure, improves road safety and increases the productivity of the logistics value chain, explains Christo Theron, managing director of IMPERIAL Cargo. “This system recognises sustainable, high standards in driver behavior and fleet maintenance. It measures loyalty and dedication to customers and staff – as well as national legislation compliance – through load control, driver wellness and vehicle fitness. All these factors impact the way in which we, as a logistics service provider behave on the road,” he states. The RTMS requirements, including an annual surveillance audit and a three monthly follow up, minimise vehicle accidents or breakdowns and ensure load safety, with on-time delivery every time, all the time. “Driver training,” Theron adds, “is a business imperative to ensure on-going compliance with RTMS best practice. In our experience, accreditation also lifts the morale of our drivers through the focus on driver wellness.”
Two further achievements that are ensuring that IMPERIAL Cargo ends this year on a high note are the company’s ISO 14001 accreditation and an impressive 90.2% attained in the SASOL SQAS audit.
ISO 14001 specifies the criteria for an environmental management system (EMS) for small to large organisations, Theron explains, adding that the accreditation reflects an organisation’s commitment to three key environmental management goals – namely legal compliance, pollution prevention and continuous improvement. “IMPERIAL Cargo chose to pursue the ISO 14001 as it assists the company to improve its business, reduce environmental risks and minimize our operation’s impact on the environment. It supports the Environmental Sustainability Policy of IMPERIAL Logistics,” Theron states. The Sasol SQAS Audit aims to reduce risk in the transportation and handling of Sasol’s products andensure that logistics service providers have world class safety and quality systems in operation. The audit also assists Sasol in selecting service providers. IMPERIAL Cargo’s 90.2% result is especially significant because it was attained by the company’s in-house SHEQ team, Theron notes. “Thousands of rands were saved since organisations will normally use consultants for implementation,” he explains “This is a very strict audit and we were proud to have been commended by SQAS auditor Thulile Mabogo, a specialist in transport risk.” As a result of its SQAS achievement, IMPERIAL Cargo received an “Approved Supplier Certificate” that is valid for two years. IMPERIAL Cargoprovides line haul and local transportation and warehousing across southern Africa.
