It all began with an internal advert at the Sasolburg Branch requesting potential owner-driver candidates to apply for vacancies in October 2001.

Applicants were evaluated in terms of their background, experience, disciplinary, accident and criminal records and creditworthiness. Candidates underwent a battery of tests to establish their job qualities and suitability as entrepreneurs.

Four were selected to progress to the next stage, a "live" two- month road/training room trial. The two-month trial was not all about driving. During the trial the drivers spent time undergoing extensive training covering financial matters, insight into the owner-driver environment and a four-day life skills programme which incorporated basic skills, financial life skills, problem-solving and communication.

The owner-driver programme is all about a continuing partnership; where the drivers are empowered to determine their own future, leading to increased productivity and enhanced service levels.

These are the 6 Sasolburg drivers who spent time undergoing extensive training with the Manager Owner Driver: (from left) Joseph Ramokhothoane, Petrus Motsoeneng, Abraham Getyesi, John Sprenger, John Mopeli, Daniel Mohopelo, Solomon Mnisi

Introduction of the programme has not been without snags. Many hours of negotiations with all the various role-players to agree on the finer details of the agreements slowed the process down.

A management Company, eEmpowerment Dynamics, was appointed by both Cargo Carriers and the Owner-Drivers.

With eEmpowerment Dynamics assistance, the following areas were covered:

• A Service agreement between the Owner-Drivers and Cargo Carriers was negotiated and signed; which strikes a balance between control and supervision measures and the driver’s right or ability to perform the service as he seems fit
• The selection of the most suitable vehicle; supplied by Tyco Trucks under a full maintenance lease arrangement: the International 9800I Eagle Pro Sleeper
• The raising of finance for the vehicles with Stannic
• The provision by Standard Bank of online Business Banking
• The provision of comprehensive insurance cover by Alexander Forbes
• The provision of credit life cover by Hollard Insurance
• The supplying of tyres and the provision of tyre management expertise by Maxiprest
• The supplying of cell phones and C - Track devises by Digicore
• The provision of fuel, trailer equipment, hosting facilities for the C-Track devises, infrastructure, systems, experience and back-up by Cargo Carriers

The success of the Owner-Driver Programme is dependent on the future relationships between the service providers and the Owner Drivers.

Cargo Carriers launched its Owner-Driver Programme on 8 August 2003 at its Sasolburg Branch.

The first four owner drivers in the programme are: Joseph Ramokhothoane (48), Solomon Mnisi (52), Daniel Mohopelo (52) and Abraham Getyesi (53), all of the Vaal Triangle area.

Owner-Driver Abraham Getyesi receives the ignition key to his truck-tractor unit from Cargo Carriers' Joint Chief Executive Murray Bolton.

The Owner-Drivers are no longer employees but now operate as independent contractors.

The introduction of the programme and launch is thanks to the Omnia Group's subsidiary, Bulk Mining Explosives (BME). Under the programme, the four will take responsibility for certain of the deliveries of explosives under a contract awarded by BME to Cargo Carriers in October 2002.

The four Sasolburg Owner-Drivers were offered a further five-year service contract from August 2008, as a result of both Cargo Carriers and BME jointly agreeing that the programme is beneficial to both parties.

Driver training was conducted onsite in Sasolburg by MB driver-trainer Trevor Goodwin covering the following areas:

• Vehicle familiarization
• Pre-trip inspection
• The new powershift system
• Interior / Exterior checks
• Active and passive safety systems
• Primary and secondary braking systems
• Foresighted and defensive driving
• Comparative analysis

The re-appointments is all about a continuing partnership where the drivers are empowered to determine their own future while at the same time increasing productivity and enhancing service levels!

From the left: Joseph Ramokhothoane, Abraham Getyesi, John Sprenger, Daniel Mohopelo, Solomon Mnisi		From the left: Rudie Wallis, Solomon Mnisi, Abraham Getyesi, Daniel Mohopelo, Hannes van der Westhuizen, Joseph Ramokhothoane, John Sprenger

The next batch of three Owner Drivers were appointed on 13 May 2005 in Swaziland to operate from the Big Bend Branch; dedicated to the movement of bulk sugar including export citrus produce to various destinations in South Africa.

The same procedure for the Sasolburg Branch launch was followed with these drivers; Jabulane Magagula, Alson Bhembe and Victor Dlamini.

The 3 Big Bend drivers who spent time undergoing training with the Manager Owner Driver (from left) Alson Bhembe, John Sprenger, Victor Dlamini and Jabulane Magagula.

Owner Driver Vehicle Handover		Alson Bhembe with his new vehicle and rig about to embark on his first trip from Big Bend branch.

Alson Bhembe passed away in 2008 due to illness. This resulted in a replacement owner-driver being appointed, Robert Gumedzi, in September 2008.

Robert signing his Service Agreement in September 2008

Two new Owner Drivers (Dennis Mkhabela and Mandla Mtsetfwa) were appointed 1st January 2007 in Swaziland to operate out of the Simunye Branch; dedicated to the movement of Potable Alcohol, in stainless steel interlink tankers, from the Simunye Distillery to various delivery points in Durban, Richards Bay, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Cargo Carriers has been awarded a five year contract for 5 vehicles with the Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation Limited and it was decided to give two existing drivers at the Simunye Branch an opportunity to become empowered via the Owner Driver Scheme by entering into a 5 year service agreement with the two drivers.

The same procedure for the Owner Driver launch at the Sasolburg and Big Bend Branch was applied.

From left: Hennie Jordaan, Dennis Mkhabela, Phinda Mhabane, Mandla Mtsetfwa and John Sprenger.

Due to the ongoing success of the owner-driver scheme, Cargo Carriers Swaziland (Pty) Ltd decided to appoint a further 11 existing Swaziland tractor drivers as tractor Owner Drivers.

The new Owner-Driver tractor programme commenced at the start of the new 2009 Swaziland cane crop season. Five of the 11 drivers are based at the Simunye Branch (operations started in April 2009), while the remaining six are based at Big Bend Branch and operations started in May 2009.

Cargo Carriers Swaziland has entered into a 48 month Service Agreement with each of the 11 new Owner Drivers and , in terms of the Service Agreements, certain portions of two Cargo Carriers Swaziland contracts will be outsourced to the Owner-Drivers.
These include:

• The hauling of infield cane (with road train bin trailers) from fields to loading zone or field edge.
• The hauling of cane from fields (with M & N 14 ton spiller trailers) to the mill.

Through a unique package, which includes the financing, insurance and maintenance of the tractors, the 11 tractor Owner Drivers will purchase one of either nine refurbished Bell 1766 4x4 haulage tractors from Cargo Carriers Swaziland or two rebuilt Dezzi H120T 4x4 haulage tractors from Desmond Equipment.

FHS Accountancy and Management Services (Pty) Ltd has been appointed to assist the Owner-Drivers with their finances.

Cargo Carriers will assist the Owner-Drivers by providing fuel and maintenance services for their tractors, properly maintained trailers, infrastructure, systems, experience and backup. At the Owner-Driver tractor launch, each Owner Driver received their refurbished tractor, which will be fully paid-off after 48 months.

The 11 candidates have received intensive training through Cargo Carriers' four day Owner-Driver training programme. This involved two days training and contractual and service provider issues, operating parameters, accounting matters and budgeting principles conducted by John Sprenger, Cargo Carriers Owner-Driver Manager. The remaining two days covered entrepreneurship, business management, problem solving and business communications and was conducted by LCC Capital.

The first task for each of the 11 Owner-Drivers is to employ a co-worker and two shared workers per branch to ensure that they can provide double shifted, 24/7 operation for the 8,5 month crop season. This deepens the nature of the Owner-Driver empowerment programme as the new Owner-Drivers must strike a balance between both control and supervision measures.

The success of the Owner-Driver programme is dependent on the Owner-Drivers rendering the outsourced transport work to the satisfaction of Cargo Carriers and its customers. Customer service cannot be compromised at any stage. It is vitally important that the Owner-Drivers ensure that the correct product, of the right quality, is timeously delivered to the customers as per the daily delivery schedule.

The Owner Driver programme is all about a continuing partnership; where the drivers are empowered to determine their own success and future. This is not boardroom empowerment. Instead it is aimed at a grassroots level because that is where the true success lies!

From left: 6 Big Bend tractor Owner-Drivers, John Sprenger, Hermine Young, 5 Simunye Branch tractor Owner-Drivers.		A Simunye Branch tractor owner-driver in the field hauling sugar cane with a Road Train Bin Trailer to field edges.

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