We can’t wait to see you!

2024/10/10 07:30:00

Take a sneak peak at our 2023 Road Freight SME Summit

The Road Freight SME Summit was held on 20th and 21st of October 2023. The purpose of this event was to provide valuable insights and strategies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the road freight sector.

What value will the Road Freight SME Summit unlock?

The conference agenda and content will provide answers and practical approaches on critical success factors for Road Freight SMEs.

Assist the SMEs with the necessary pragmatic, technical and operational insights to enable them to scale their businesses.

Assist in informing the design and development of SME Business Development Implementation programmes and initiatives.

Assist the Industry to inform key policies on support provided to SMEs.

Event Date: 10th – 11th October

Event Time: 08:00am – 16:30pm

The Focus Rooms, Modderfontein

Event Schedule
Agenda Coming Soon

What can you expect to get out of the Road Freight SME Summit?

  • Insights and industry best practices to improve the success rate of SMEs in the Road Freight Industry.
  • Information that will enable SMEs to form and implement growth strategies for their operations.
  • Unpack opportunities both financial and non – financial business support is required by SMEs in the Road Freight sector, that can improve the growth and success of these businesses
  • Foster collaboration in support of the growth of empowering SMEs through a curated ecosystem platform that enables public and private stakeholders to exchange knowledge and best practice in investing in these SMEs.

How can SMEs in the road freight sector benefit from the summit?

Gain

Gain a clear overview of various financial and non-financial solutions for SMEs in Road Freight.

Present

Present your business services directly to key decision-makers from various companies, in a relaxed environment.

Benefit

Benefit from one-to-one engagement with potential clients from a wide range of sectors.

Create

Create highly competitive networks with like-minded individuals.

Topics to be covered

  • Critical success factors for Road Freight SMEs
  • SME growth strategy: Strategic leadership, management and foresight for the Road Freight Industry
  • Regulations and compliance in the Road Freight Industry
  • How to have an effective driver management and transport management systems
  • Industry trends on effective and efficient fleet (Vehicle) Management
  • The complexities of securing funding for trucking SMEs in South Africa
  • The challenges and regulations of cross-border transport – corruption and kidnappings
  • Finance and support challenges experiences by Road Freight SMEs in growing their businesses

What can you expect to get out of the Road Freight SME Summit?

  • Insights and industry best practices to improve the success rate of SMEs in the Road Freight Industry.
  • Information that will enable SMEs to form and implement growth strategies for their operations.
  • Unpack opportunities both financial and non – financial business support is required by SMEs in the Road Freight sector, that can improve the growth and success of these businesses
  • Foster collaboration in support of the growth of empowering SMEs through a curated ecosystem platform that enables public and private stakeholders to exchange knowledge and best practice in investing in these SMEs.

How can SMEs in the road freight sector benefit from the summit?

Gain

Gain a clear overview of various financial and non-financial solutions for SMEs in Road Freight.

Present

Present your business services directly to key decision-makers from various companies, in a relaxed environment.

Benefit

Benefit from one-to-one engagement with potential clients from a wide range of sectors.

Create

Create highly competitive networks with like-minded individuals.

SME Landscape:
Critical Success Factors for SMEs in the Road Freight Industry Across Africa

The African continent has been one of the fastest developing economies in the world and the road freight industry in Africa is a significant contributor to the continent’s economy and has been growing over the years. Increase in trade has led to the development of more transportation routes to carry the cargo from one place to the other, road freight accounting to close to 80% of Africas cargo transport.

Economic and Geopolitical Foresight:
The Greater Your Knowledge of the Trucking Industry the More Chance You Have of Success

Understanding the macro- and micro economic and geopolitical dynamics. The factors that make your organisation competitive as well as tactics and tools entrepreneurs need to identify to enable themselves to capitalize on opportunities.

Strategic Leadership:
How to Drive Growth and Agility

Change is inevitable and growth is planned for. Growth must sustain profitability and profitability must sustain growth. In today’s highly competitive and rapidly changing business & economic environment, every business owner must not only analyse their core competence and capability principles but improve them to remain competitive.

Growing Market Share:
What SMEs can Learn from Big Business in Sustaining Growth and Development

Sales in logistics can prove difficult to scale for small or growing companies who rely on long-term, account-based, business-to-business revenue streams. But it doesn’t take enterprise-level market penetration or a globally recognized brand to boost sales in logistics services and kick-start real business growth.

Panel Discussion:
Safety and Compliance

Compliance standards and road rules exist for a reason. Each one of them are intended to make the roads we travel in South Africa better and safer. Being compliant can help drive inhouse efficiency too. Fully-compliant vehicle fleets are known to be more reliable, secure and efficient, while continuing to drive new and better business.

Waste Disposal Challenges and Solutions
How to Save Money by Being Environmentally Compliant

Waste management within the transportation industry has been and continues to be extensively regulated by government and local agencies/bodies to ensure zero waste recycling methodologies as well as safe disposal of all forms of waste in the country. They create pressure for agencies to reuse industrial waste in transportation construction projects beneficially. The management of wastes and by-products generated by the transportation industry is also heavily regulated. Over and above the regulations, the transportation/trucking industry also faces a high expenditure on fuel.

Addressing Behavioural Change in Drivers within the Different Generations

Keynote Speaker: Ms Thulisile Manzini, Director General, Department of Small Business Development
Ensuring the sustainability of SME Transporters

Keynote Speaker: AFCFTA
Navigating the Road Ahead and Strategies for Success in the Ever-Evolving Landscape of Africa

SME Internationalisation: Cross Border
The Role of Institutional Support on the Sustainable Internationalisation of SMEs

Cross border challenges for SME Transport and Logistics companies paying more attention to border challenges within SADC and East Africa.

ABSA Panel Discussion:
Access to Funding and Business Development Support: Pitfalls and Opportunities

SMEs are facing compounding challenges, market to access being at the forefront. Governments and other institutions worldwide are launching programs to provide them with both financial and advisory support needed to meet the moment. ( Best practices and strategic approaches SMEs can consider to leverage from in growing their market share and a review of the kind funding and business support being afford from banks.

Growing Your Business:
ISUZU Panel Discussion: Total Cost of Ownership

Assessing the total cost of ownership means taking a bigger picture look at what the product is and what its value is over time.

Panel Discussion
Mining Companies and Transporters: Compliance and Requirements of the Transportation of Mining Commodities

Panel Discussion:
Inspirational SME Transporters Stories

Meet Our Advisory Council

Florence Musundwa
Director SME Road Freight Summit and Awards
Mark Makhubalo
CEO MLM Logistics
Oliver Naidoo
CEO JC Auditors
Charlin Ntuli
Supply Chain Manager Northam Plantinum
Kgomotso Mogale
Chairperson FLSA
Sheina Gokool
Economist
Sharné Liebenberg (AIISA)
Commercial Insurance Broker: Transportation and Logistics, Mont Blanc Financial Services
Kgabiso Manthata
Senior Sector Specialist Manufacturing | Renewables | Transport and Logistics, ABSA Group
Prof Rose Luke
Transport and Supply Chain Management University of Johannesburg
George van Heerden
CEO, GT Tyres
Annah Ngxeketo
CEO Mamoja Project and Trading
Catherine Larkin
Communication and Marketing Strategist CVLC

Event Sponsors and Partners