Details of an exciting, unique platform, designed to unpack the challenges and solutions to improve the success rate of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the road freight industry will be unveiled at the launch of the SME Road Freight Summit and Awards 2023. The launch takes place on Friday 30 June – on the Transport Forum’s online platform.

“The South African road freight industry contributes immensely to the economy of South Africa,” says Florence Musundwa, convenor of the SME Road Freight Summit. “Despite this, access to information, resources and support to gain competitive advantage in the road freight industry, however, is still a persisting challenge for SMEs.”

The industry continues to be affected by numerous cost increases including fuel prices, the Road Accident Fund levy and Carbon Tax. Delays at ports and border posts also have a significant impact on logistics costs. Additional costs include vehicle tracking and tracing systems, warehousing and distribution operating costs, municipal charges, escalating electricity costs, costs of compliance with legislation and standards and a proposed waste tyre recycling levy. 

“The Road Freight SME Summit 2023 is a platform designed to unpack the various challenges and possible solutions to improve the success rate of SMEs in the road freight sector,” continues Musundwa. The Summit endeavours to improve support given to SMEs in the road freight space, so as to ensure the design of effective intervention and support programmes which will enables SME growth.”

The event is aimed at trucking operators who operate more than 5 trucks ie. businesses that are already a going concern, but who need to scale to enjoy sustainability and profitability.

The launch Agenda includes:

• Critical success factors for SMEs in the road freight industry
• The risk relationships between compliance, sustainability and the cost of corruption
• Resilience: corporate governance, ethics and SMEs
• Introduction and purpose of the Road Freight SME Summit Awards
• Messages of support

The online launch takes please from 10h00 to 11h30 on Friday 30 June. 

The Advisory Council of the SME Road Freight Summit includes the following experts and Industry leaders:

• Florence Musundwa – Director: SME Road Freight Summit and Awards
• Mark Makhubalo – Chief Executive Officer: MLM Logistics
• Alex Potgieter – President: Global Federation of Chambers
• Oliver Naidoo – Chief Executive Officer: JC Auditors
• Lebo Letsoalo – Chief Executive Officer: Sincpoint and the African Women in Supply Chain Association (AWISCA)
• Ongama Mtimka (Dr) – Researcher and political analyst
• Kamogelo Mampane – Chief Executive Officer: TK Global Experts and the Supply Chain Council
• Sheina Gokool – Economist
• Annah Ngxeketo – Chief Executive Officer: Mamoja Project and Trading
• Christine Mackay – Director: Macatlas Freight
• Rose Luke (Prof) – Transport and Supply Chain Management: University of Johannesburg
• Catherine Larkin – Chief Visionary: CVLC Communication
• Mpho Nkhumeleni – Executive, Commercial Vehicles: Isuzu

Event supporters and sponsors include Grow Supplier ZA, JC Auditors, MLM Logistics, Mamoja Trading and Projects, The Road Freight Association, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport: South Africa, the Global Federation of Chambers and the Supply Chain Council.