A Vital Service Offering
This year, City Logistics celebrates 30 years in business, and this anniversary is an opportunity to highlight many of their achievements. While transport remains a vital service offering, the company continuously looks to add value to their stakeholders and has expanded their market offering beyond the services traditionally offered by logistics companies. Innovation, geared to meet industry demands and customer needs, has played a significant role in the success of City Logistics, and the company has recently included a home delivery solution that capitalises on the shift to e-commerce retailing, with a part acquisition of Fastway Couriers.
City Logistics employs approximately 3500 staff in 14 branches across South Africa, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In short, they are geared to provide the most suitable and most cost-effective service to their clients.
The company has an enviable list of blue chip clients in retail, manufacturing and industrial markets. Clients include, among others, Mr Price, Hilti, MassMart, Proctor & Gamble, Pick 'n Pay and the Ford Motor Company. However, they are quick to point out that they value many longstanding partnerships that they service, all their clients are important, and that relationships with their clients extend to executive level.
Their service levels and client satisfaction is evident in their long-term client retention, but also in several key awards. Recent awards include:
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Ford Motor Company Supplier of the Year
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Institute of Quality EID Recognition Award
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SAAF Code of Ethics Award
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ABSA Fleet Card Gold Partner Award
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Mr Price Group Supplier of the Year Award
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Hilti Supplier of the Year
There is a strong culture of sharing successes as a team, and a concerted drive to promote the key business values of integrity and respect. "We're privileged to serve our customers, and we take great pride in our reputation as an ethical business," says CEO, Ryan Gaines. "We reinforce this on a daily basis, using team huddles to deliver a constant, consistent message on the importance of integrity in our strategy and our daily operations."
The company culture is clearly working, as there's a high employee retention rate. "We offer an inclusive, staff-friendly working environment," says Gaines, "and we promote an entrepreneurial spirit and "can-do" attitude throughout the business." There's a strong focus on health, with in-house medical checks and mobile clinics that have proved very effective with HIV treatment and education, as well as screening for diabetes and breast cancer. There is an in-house gym for staff.
The staff-friendly approach also includes on-going training and staff bursary programmes, allowing staff to grow in their careers.
City Logistics services include:
Distribution
A comprehensive distribution network has been established servicing all areas nationwide and cross border to Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Their daily operations include deliveries to all major shopping centres and malls throughout the country as well as overnight road freight services.
Linehaul
The Linehaul division with a fleet of over 350 vehicles is a continuous 24 hour operation, providing an interdepot service for the purpose of distribution as well as a point to point service. All the drivers are carefully selected and trained to ensure the safety of your cargo on route. City Logistics also selects the type of vehicle best suited for the safe delivery of the cargo.
Warehousing
City Logistics has warehousing space available for all merchandise storage at competitive rates. All the warehousing has the highest level of security, thus offering clients peace of mind knowing their merchandise is safe and secure.