‘I am concerned about these activities that take place, which is like economic sabotage because burning trucks on the main artery of our country, in terms of the economy, is concerning. Of course, the police will follow up on that those behind this. We are going to ensure we go after those people who torched those trucks because it is not acceptable.’ That was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on national television in July this year following the burning of 21 trucks in what seemed like carefully co-ordinated attacks in three provinces – KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The attacks, carried out by armed men who forced the drivers out the cabs before torching the vehicles, were the latest (and most high-profile) in a series of crimes aimed at the country’s road-based logistical system. The steady decline of the railways has resulted in South Africa relying heavily on trucking for goods transport – about 85% of all exports are carried by road, according to Research and Markets.

Congestion and traffic bottlenecks in urban areas have been a longstanding issue, causing delays and increasing transportation costs. Additionally, concerns about cargo theft have plagued the industry, leading to heightened security measures.

Crime, in particular hijacking, is a massive concern, with statistics from the South African Police Service reporting that 2 573 truck hijackings occurred during the first three months of 2023.

Jason Mellow, head of business insurance at MiWay, says that truck hijackings not only impact on the safety of drivers, but also result in significant financial losses for the company concerned. ‘To mitigate these risks, logistics businesses and drivers must prioritise security measures and take all the necessary safety precautions. Amidst this rising level of crime directed at the logistics industry, it is crucial to invest in advanced tracking systems that can monitor the vehicle’s location in real time and provide immediate alerts in case of any suspicious activities.’

In response to the challenges faced by the logistics sector, both private companies and state-owned enterprises have been investing heavily in advanced technologies. These initiatives aim to streamline operations, improve efficiency and enhance security to create a more reliable and cost-effective road freight network. One standout adoption has been smart fleet-management systems. Companies have embraced the latest software that allows real-time monitoring and tracking of vehicles and cargo. GPS-enabled devices and telematics transmit data about the vehicle’s location, speed and condition, providing logistics managers with valuable insights into their fleets’ performance and safety.

‘Implementing any form of tracking system or telematics solutions should be a proactive investment rather than a reactive investment,’ says Henry Smith, fleet sales director at MiX Telematics Africa. ‘One of the biggest challenges of asset management is keeping your assets secure at all times. The increased visibility and insight that GPS tracking technology gives can significantly increase the chances of reacting to high-risk or emergency situations. GPS tracking devices are no longer just for knowing the location of your fleet vehicles and assets and planning more efficient and faster routes. They can also help improve the efficiency and safety of your fleet operations.’

By leveraging smart fleet management systems, companies have reported significant improvements in their fleet’s overall efficiency. Reduced travel time, fuel consumption and maintenance costs result in substantial savings. ‘Keeping up to date with maintenance schedules is vital in extending the life cycle of vehicles, and doing so manually leaves too much room for error,’ says Justin Manson, sales director of Webfleet, a fleet-management provider that is a division of Bridgestone. ‘Not only does a commercial-grade telematics system provide regular reminders of upcoming scheduled maintenance for each vehicle, but it also monitors mechanical components in real-time to flag any repairs that may need to be done, thus avoiding larger workshop bills down the line.’

Another benefit is journey management, based on roadworks or traffic jams. ‘Using vehicle tracking data not only helps optimise regular routes so that they use less fuel, but you can also ensure that they are more efficient and faster,’ says Smith.

‘You can reroute drivers when necessary to avoid slowdowns so that they arrive safely and on time. Journey management can also be used to improve a fleet’s utilisation. You can track and monitor drivers and vehicles, time spent in specific locations, and routes taken to see if your resources are being over- or under-utilised. You can get insight into which assets and drivers and on which routes are contributing [negatively] to fuel consumption, maintenance costs and travel times. You can also see if delays are caused by traffic, lack of route knowledge, or detours for unauthorised reasons,’ he says.

While having a handle on the whereabouts of vehicles to monitor costs makes good business sense, telematics is also key to monitoring drivers’ behaviour and creating more sustainable driving habits.

‘Drivers and operators are the heartbeats of fleet-first companies,’ says Smith. ‘This is where significant change can be made when fleet leaders are looking to impact tangible change across their operations. It’s for this reason that our fleet management technology is developed to proactively monitor driving behaviours to not only heighten safety awareness and personal responsibility amongst drivers to handle unforeseen situations on the road, but also offer the opportunity to provide training and reward and incentive programmes.’

Off the road, companies have explored tech solutions within operations such as warehousing and inventory management. Blockchain technology has proven instrumental in combating cargo theft, a major concern for logistics companies.

The immutable nature of blockchain records allows for enhanced traceability, enabling swift identification of any unauthorised access or tampering. Automated warehouses with robotics have significantly reduced human errors and accelerated order processing times.

‘The technologies are already demonstrating their potential,’ Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for the Middle East and Africa, told the Africa Logistics website. ‘We will likely witness a shift from all-human facilities to collaborative human-machine facilities in the next few years. In South Africa, for example, we are looking at introducing additional technologies that are being trialled in other warehouses abroad, including robots to help employees lift heavy cargo and wearable eyeglasses that help employees automatically scan parcel barcodes simply by looking at them.

‘In these future logistics warehouses, people and robots will work together to deliver speed and efficiency.

‘These collaborative robots will be critical to improving worker safety, productivity and customer satisfaction. Machines won’t replace the human workforce but will complement them – especially in manual work and repetitive tasks. In turn, this is expected to make jobs safer and more focused on higher-value tasks. These roles are more attractive, encouraging more employees to join the workforce, which is a win-win for employers and employees.’

The role of AI – and the speed with which it can react to huge amounts of data – in logistics will become even more powerful in the future, according to Smith.

‘Improved fleet safety is a huge benefit of vehicle tracking and fleet-management systems combined with AI technology,’ says Smith. ‘AI paired with dashcam tech, for example, can detect risky driving behaviour such as distracted driving, aggressive driving, texting, yawning and fatigue that may lead to accidents.’

Another instance where tech not only rewards transport operators and their customers, but also ensures safer roads for other users over the long term too.

Images: Gallo/Getty Images, Freepik