Drones to the fore in distribution!

Crusade Logistics, a new black-owned logistics company, is setting new standards within the fuel-distribution industry thanks to the use of drones.

This innovative transport operator has received industry accolades for driver safety, fuel efficiency and reliability. “We mark out the routes first with drones to give drivers visual cues and familiar landmarks on an electronic journey plan. We have seen a marked improvement in driver safety and it also reduces the risk of trucks getting lost with a full load of fuel on-board,” says the company’s co-owner, Wesley Naidoo.

Currently bridging fuel for Chevron South Africa and the Caltex brand in KwaZulu-Natal, the 51-percent black-owned and 30-percent black female-owned fuel transporter recently secured Enterprise and Supplier Development (E&SD) funding from Chevron South Africa to expand its business. Chevron South Africa’s E&SD programme is not only aimed at growing its base of capable and reliable partners, but also improving opportunities for new black-owned entrants to drive transformation through its value chain.

“Start-up firms are held to the same exacting standards as more established suppliers and while there can be significant barriers to entry for new entrants, we are keen to enable their success by providing them with business opportunities within our fuel supply chain,” explains Chevron South Africa’s fleet operations manager, Noma Dumse.

“Chevron South Africa supports innovative and affordable funding mechanisms for the participation of black entrepreneurs in the fuel supply chain. E&SD funding is one of the best methods to allow for the development of black-owned small and medium enterprises and their increased participation in the mainstream economy,” Dumse adds.

Naidoo says the funding has made a huge difference to the company. “The interest-free E&SD funding and the fuel bridging contract with Chevron South Africa have boosted our cashflow and improved our access to additional credit, allowing us to expand our fleet from two to 14 trucks,” he explains.

“For us, one of the biggest benefits has been receiving mentorship from Chevron South Africa and integrating their best-practice standards and culture into our business. We have been so inspired by how this programme has assisted us, that we are now helping other small black-owned businesses. In our own way, we are paying it forward,” Naidoo adds.

Chevron South Africa has identified a number of black-owned transport operators, which it is in the process of enrolling into its E&SD programme and bringing on-stream. Other participants in the company’s E&SD programme include black-owned small and medium enterprises as diverse as advertising agency, Avatar; operational equipment cleaning business, Galion Laundry; and Caltex service station owners who have successfully grown their businesses as a result of the funding received.