PRODUCTS & SERVICES

 




  • Cool Cat Carriers transports perishable goods including vegetables,
    meat, dough, ice cream, etc. as well as clothing, textiles and raw material.
  • Express for export of goods via P.E., Cape Town to Johannesburg International Airport.
  • We operate nationwide including Namibia and Botswana.




  • In the long haul side of the business that Piemans has stayed away from and contracted
    out from incepiton. The major contractor handling this side of the business is
    Randfontein-based Cool Cat Carriers.
  • It is not unfair to say that any problems with the transport side to the business belong to the transporter. We have very high standards and so do Cool Cat Carriers."

  • A long distance haulier of the first degree, Cool Cat Carriers does not belong to or have any affiliation with any of the burgeoning transport conglomerates dotted around South Africa. MD Steve Smith remains fiercely independent and maintains a hands-on approach to managing
    his 12 trucks, eight of which are the latest Freightliner Argosy.

    The other four truck tractors in the fleet are also American trucks but Smith prefers the new Freightliner cab. "Ride comfort is excellent. The cab is very spacious allowing the drivers to
    stand up and there is also enough space to fit two bunks. The aerodynamics are also much improved and this definitely has an impact on overall fuel consumption."

    As far as the Piemans contract is concerned, Smith delivers pies to the coastal regions covering Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, George and Cape Town over the weekends and handles inland distribution during the week. It is an extensive area including such towns and cities as Pietersburg, Nelspruit, Klerksdorp, Kimberley, and Bloemfontein - and even Botswana.

    Smith says that any of the vehicles not being used during a weekend run undergo a 68-point maintenance and safety check at the company's in-house workshops. In addition, the vehicles undergo a full service at least once amonth. "All our vehicles are kept clean, neat and tidy," he says. "If anything goes wrong, we are able to track the problem instantly."

    NOT ON THE CHEAP

    On the subject of outsourcing and price, Smith has some strong views saying that while many shippers feel they are saving money by outsorucing their transport to professional hauliers, this does not mean the transporter is able to do it on the cheap.

    "Rather than cheap transport, what hauliers should be providing is absolute reliability and outstanding service. I believe reliability depends on a relatively new and well-maintained fleet
    of vehicles. This includes the trailer and in our case, the refrigeration equipment as well.

    As Cool Cat Carriers, we are the first to admit we are not the cheapest but we are extremely
    proud of the high level of service we are able to provide."

    Smith goes on to say that it is by trying to provide 'cheap' transport that many hauliers land in trouble.

    "Cut-throat rates lead to a reduction in the overall standard of maintenance which, in turn,
    leads to which, in turn, leads to poor service. It also leads to overloading as the transporter
    tries to make up his losses. Overloading kills the trucks, increases wear and tear, tires
    the drivers out and increases fuel consumption - it just does not work. Rate cutting and overloading are games only a fool plays and I think this is one of the reasons so many
    hauliers are going bankrupt."

    Warming to the topic, smith adds that the shipper is often the driving force behind the overload
    in that he will force the haulier to either carry the load or find work elsewhere.

    "I believe the shipper should bear the responsibility of overloading. Not only should he pay a fine but he should also pay the haulier for the downtime while the truck is standing around waiting
    for the load to be transferred to another vehicle."

    With such strong and admirable thougths, it is no wonder the pies get delivered on time.
    And next time you tuck into a pie, spare a thought for the truck driver who travelled through the night to make sure it is exactly what you are paying for - fresh and tasty.