A haulage company specialising in heavy and long-length loads is offering discounted rates on specific national routes within South Africa.
The offer, which targets heavy machinery, overhead cranes, crane test weights and awkwardly shaped loads awaiting road transport from major ports to Gauteng, comes from Transcon Haulers, a Johannesburg-based company with a varied and adaptable fleet of 22‑wheeler horse and low-bed trailer sets, extendable trailers and specialised, steerable dollies to manage over-length freight.
Loads of 20‑foot and 40-foot shipping containers and large machinery of similar size are routine cargoes for Transcon. Extendable low-beds are used for very large machinery of up to 30 tonnes.
The company’s long-length load capability is impressive, with steerable dollies recently negotiating the 4185 kilometres of road between Johannesburg and Kitwe for a cargo of twin steel crane girders measuring 35 metres in length.
The company’s current record for over-length loads is 40 metres, when various goods were carried between Cape Town and Johannesburg late last year.
Transcon’s recently announced discounted offer applies to cargo waiting in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban for Johannesburg-bound transport.
A Transcon spokesman explained that the aim of the special rates was to maximise fleet productivity by securing useful loads for return journeys from these ports, for trailers that would otherwise return empty.
“We believe that these discounted rates will represent a win for us as well as for the customer,” the spokesman said.
Although the discounted rates apply only to specific domestic routes, Transcon Haulers’ wider route network is international, covering major centres in all SADC countries.
The company claims an efficient and fully secure service, with real-time tracking on all vehicles and an optional escort service throughout the journey.
Temporary storage of on-trailer loads at the company’s Johannesburg premises comes with 24-hour manned security. Storage for longer periods can be arranged by request.
Transcon Haulers has in recent months improved its logistical efficiency to eliminate the need to wait several days for provincial transport permits, which previously caused occasional delays on trans-provincial journeys from the Western and Eastern Cape.
Transport is instead despatched immediately while the necessary permits are organised concurrently with the first leg of the journey, and couriered to reach the vehicles in time for their arrival at the next provincial border.
Transcon Haulers hopes to extend its newly discounted rates to cities other than South Africa’s main ports over the coming months.