Toyota switches vehicle-transportation from road to rail

Previously, Toyota vehicles were moved by a logistics service provider with a fleet of road carriers, while rail transportation was only considered for surplus volumes.

Toyota South Africa Motors said that CAB included vehicle loading and yard management in its portfolio of activities, adding that it expected to benefit from the "significant bulk-carrying capacity" offered by TFR. "This will translate into long-term savings on vehicle movement and general logistics overhead costs," said TSAM in a statement. TSAM president and CEO Dr Johan van Zyl told Engineering News that, adding rail to the transport mix offered "significant benefits" as one consignment of vehicles moved per rail was equivalent to 10 vehicle carriers on the road. Van Zyl explained that the move to rail would also lessen TSAM's carbon footprint.

"We believe that the new arrangement will lighten our reliance and impact on the road transport network and allow for significant cost savings in the longer term," Van Zyl said. As the leading vehicle retailer and exporter in South Africa, TSAM sought to set an example for other manufacturers in South Africa by making use of the significant rail infrastructure that is available in the country, he added. Phase one of the agreement had already started as a pilot project, when the first cars were loaded onto the train at the Isipingo terminal in Kwazulu-Natal, and railed to the Kaalfontein terminal in Gauteng. The service currently moves 500 vehicles a week, meaning that 60 Transportation trucks have been taken off the N3 over the same period.

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