COMPANY PROFILE
2014
Uni Freight
0823793000 | www.unifreight.co.za
company profile
Keeping it in the family Editorial: Harriet Pattison Production: Emily Woodhall
30 years ago, logistics company Uni Freight started out with just one truck. Today, it has a fleet of 100 and an expanding and loyal customer base. With experience, endurance and devotion, Uni Freight will keep your load moving…
For more than three decades, founder and CEO, Kobus van Tonder has been leading Uni Freight in the right direction. Previously working as a successful farmer, van Tonder decided to venture into transport and so, in 1984, he started up his own transporting career as the proud owner of just one truck.
A national transport company, Uni Freight has a steadily increasing footprint across Southern Africa and into neighbouring African countries, including Zambia and Namibia. Van Tonder explains the company mainly deal with “agricultural, mining and FMCG (fast moving consumable goods).”
EXPANDING NATIONALLY THE FAMILY BUSINESS Now, over 30 years on, the business continues to be heavily revolved around family with van Tonder’s wife and children all having an active role working within the expanding company. “Family is the heart of the business as most of the family are currently employed and the hope would be that the legacy continues” van Tonder explains.
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Starting out with just one truck, the company now manages an impressive fleet which has gradually increased since Uni Freight’s inception. Van Tonder explains: “I started the Company as an owner driver and today I manage a fleet of 100 plus vehicles as the CEO.” With such impressive expansion, van Tonder explains that the company has just replaced all its vehicles and invested in new machinery. “That is the reason why we
Uni Freight
replaced the European vehicles over three years as they are currently the highest spec vehicles in this country. We will then move onto the Euro 5 Vehicles when our fuel companies are able to provide suitable fuel.” Logistics and transportation is undoubtedly a huge and profitable business in South Africa and is vital for the economic growth and social development of the country. Millions of tonnes of exports travel out of Southern Africa every year and as of April 2014, figures showed exports in South Africa had reached R7 7421, 67 million. Uni Freight has many large projects under its belt with many more planned, as van Tonder explains: “Over the past few years there have been many key projects, mainly in providing food into Africa.” With innumerable logistic companies operating across Southern Africa and the export market
continually expanding, competition, for many businesses can often hinder expansion and progression. However it seems Uni Freight remains unfazed by this prospect: “There is significant competition but we strive to provide the best service and with hard work, team work, focusing on one goal and attention to detail, we are able to provide an excellent service for our customers” van Tonder says.
THE DONALDSON CHAMPIONSHIP Taking a break from logistics, the van Tonder family are keen participants in the infamous Donaldson Cross Country Championship. Held in Southern Africa, the event is considered to be among the toughest races in the world by many experts in the field. Cross-country motor racing is an adrenaline
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company profile
pumping sport which sees an array of specially modified vehicles, ranging from cars to trucks and motorbikes, all competing for the top spot driving through harsh off-road environments. The rigorous course and keen competitors – many of who travel more than hundreds of miles just to take part in the Donaldson championship - bears testament to its global reputation. The Uni Freight family participate in the championship with two specially built Ford Racing Rangers. Kobus van Tonder and son-in-law Freddie Kriel, also Uni Freight’s Service Manager, race as one team whilst van Tonder’s son and daughter, Jacques van Tonder and Lizelle van Tonder, race as
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another. Jacques and Lizelle van Tonder also take the title as being amongst the youngest competitors in the sport. Speaking of the reputation of the Donaldson rally, van Tonder says: “This is not the opinion of the competitors only, but a testament that is the winners of the Botswana rally are invited to take part in the Dakar. The international drivers and teams have rated this event the toughest. My son and children are keen competitors and love the sport. The Ford Rangers are currently very competitive too.”
THE WINNING STREAK Competing in the off-road race on 6th March
Uni Freight 2014, Kobus and Freddie came in at an impressive fourth place. A press release from Donaldson’s Championship states: “Of fourth placed Kobus van Tonder and Freddie Kriel in an ex-factory Ranger, were the standout performances.” Competing just a few weeks later on 29th March, Kobus and son-in-law Freddie succeeded in another successful performance: “There is enough quantity and quality in rest of the Class T field to give the factory teams a little cause for concern. Kobus van Tonder and Freddie Kriel (Uni Freight Ford Ranger) were the RFS surprise package with a memorable fourth place, and will be looking for more of the same on the short trip down the N3 from home base Harrismith.” Most recently, competing on 4th April, the Uni Freight duo impressed once more: “Kobus van Tonder and son-in-law Freddie Kriel, who were the RFS 450 surprise package in the Uni Freight Ford Ranger, completed the top 10. Only 14 seconds separated Botha/Vermeulen and the Uni Freight pair.” Looking to the future, van Tonder explains: “We are targeting some countries in Africa and global expansion is always possible.” For such a family
orientated business, it is clear this has attributed to the success and continued growth of Uni Freight, helping to build up a loyal and national customer database and expanding further afield into neighbouring African countries. It seems then that for now and certainly for the foreseeable future, Uni Freight really will keep your load moving…
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“Family is the heart of the business as most of the family are currently employed and the hope would be that the legacy continues”
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