Unifreight to spend $7m on fleet upgrade

Tinashe Makichi Business Reporter
Unifreight Africa Limited will spend $7 million this year on upgrading its current fleet to meet market demands at the same time consolidating its presence within the region.

During the first five months of this year the company added 24 branded taut liner trailers to the Swift fleet increasing its capacity for volumetric deliveries for a number of key customers in the tobacco, sugar and bottling industries.

The Unifreight group is also in a process of replacing its crucial collection and delivery fleet under Swift business with the purchase of 10 Scania horses and rigids as well as 30 Isuzu purpose-built vehicles.

Speaking on the sidelines of the company’s annual general meeting yesterday, Unifreight group chief executive Mr Gary Smith said a significant capital expenditure was put in place by the beginning of the year earmarked for fleet improvement.

“The group is focusing on the development of its fleet to fully satisfy the market through adding more trucks. We are continually looking to improve on our fleet and hence what services we can offer to the market.

“I am happy to announce that during the first five months of 2015 we added another 24 branded Taut liner trailers to the Swift fleet increasing our capacity for volumetric deliveries for a number of key customers in the tobacco, sugar and bottling industries,” said Mr Smith in a trading update.

“In addition, we are looking to purchase another 12 Scania 460 horses to add additional capacity to our long-haul fleet and 10 motorcycles for our smaller town deliveries.”

Mr Smith said the group is looking for new business opportunities and markets to penetrate while constantly improving its IT to meet current global dynamics.

For the five months to May this year the group recorded a net loss of $350 000 and a 7,15 percent increase in revenue.

Mr Smith said despite current loss the group is expecting a reasonable profit by year end.