Cargo Carriers
Cargo Carriers is a Southern African specialized transport and supply chain logistics provider, founded 1956 and headquartered in Johannesburg, serving hazardous and bulk industrial customers in chemicals, fuel, gas, steel, powders, mining and sugar through a 500+ truck fleet, proprietary Symphony and FleetLogiX software, cross-border subsidiaries and joint ventures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cargo Carriers does
Cargo Carriers, founded in 1956 by Desmond Bolton and headquartered in Johannesburg, is a Southern African specialized transport and integrated supply chain logistics provider serving hazardous and bulk industrial customers in chemicals, fuel, gas, steel, powders, mining and sugar. The company operates a fleet of more than 500 specialized trucks covering over 19 million kilometers per annum, with cross-border subsidiaries and joint ventures extending operations into Namibia, Eswatini and Zambia (notably a five-year Heavy Hauliers Zambia contract for the Kafue Dam project). Underlying technology consists of proprietary supply chain management software (Symphony, a Theory-of-Constraints-enabled platform with dynamic buffer management), FleetLogiX fleet management software with onboard transponders, and patented custom-built trailers including a Euro IV truck fleet that materially lowers emissions versus Euro I baselines. Cargo Carriers is privately held following a January 2019 delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, under a Level 2 B-BBEE ownership structure with 53.06% black ownership and 12.55% black-women ownership.
The business operates across multiple revenue streams: (i) B2B contract road-transport logistics at multi-year contract pricing negotiated on volume, distance, cargo type (premium for hazardous materials) and SHEQ requirements; (ii) supply chain consulting and software licensing through the CargoSolutions division; (iii) third-party warehousing and distribution via the CargoWare division in Johannesburg (c. 6,000 sq.m.) and Cape Town (c. 2,000 sq.m.); and (iv) Trading operations using an accredited transporter network for ad-hoc and contract freight plus brokerage. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales to named industrial customers such as Caltex, Engen, Chevron, Ubombo Sugar, Sinohydro, and Aerosud Aviation, with multi-decade long-term contracts. The 50/50 Uzuko Carriers joint venture with Caltex Eastern Cape Marketers is the flagship commercial channel, distributing fuel to 101 Eastern Cape forecourts at 274 million liters per annum.
Since 2018 the company has been led by CEO Solly Letsoalo and underwent a major transformation and B-BBEE restructuring, with Nelson Mwale as Chairman and a reconstituted board including the founding Bolton family (Garth Bolton, Executive Director; Murray Bolton, Non-Executive Director). Subsidiary structure comprises wholly-owned operating units CargoSolutions, CargoWare, Trading, Ezethu Logistics and Heavy Hauliers Zambia, plus the jointly-controlled Uzuko Carriers and Sitanani Carriers joint ventures. Differentiators include ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, SQAS and RTMS certifications, Responsible Care/CAIA membership, multiple Logistics Achiever Awards at Gold and Platinum levels, and a multimillion-rand operator training facility at Sasolburg.
Cargo Carriers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cargo Carriers
- Legal name
- Cargo Carriers (Pty) Limited
- Website
- https://cargocarriers.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cargo Carriers is a Southern African specialized transport and supply chain logistics provider, founded 1956 and headquartered in Johannesburg, serving hazardous and bulk industrial customers in chemicals, fuel, gas, steel, powders, mining and sugar through a 500+ truck fleet, proprietary Symphony and FleetLogiX software, cross-border subsidiaries and joint ventures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cargo Carriers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (484121), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)
- SIC
- Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tanker (Liquid Bulk) TL Carriers (TLADADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oil & Gas / Energy Project Transport (Rigs, Pipe, Modules) (TLADAGAE), Warehousing, CFS & Bonded Storage for General Cargo (Within Terminal) (TLAHADAI)
Keywords
Where Cargo Carriers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices12 records
Markets served
Cargo Carriers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Bulk Road Transport Logistics: Core revenue stream from providing specialized road transport logistics services for hazardous and bulk materials including chemicals, fuel, gas, steel, powders, mining products, and sugar. Services provided under long-term contracts to industrial clients requiring high SHEQ standards.
- Supply Chain Solutions: Consulting and implementation services through CargoSolutions division, offering bespoke supply chain management, logistics planning, and software-based inventory optimization services.
- Warehousing and Distribution: Third-party logistics services including warehousing and distribution operations in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with integrated software tracking and management systems.
- Trading Operations: Uses network of accredited transporters to move loads on contract or ad-hoc basis for importers and exporters, including full import capabilities and brokerage services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B Contract Logistics |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cargo Carriers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cargo Carriers is a Southern African specialized road transport and integrated supply chain logistics provider for industrial clients in chemicals, fuel, steel, powders/cement, mining, sugar, and gas sectors. The company operates specialized bulk and hazardous-material trucking fleets, third-party warehousing and distribution, and supply chain consulting/implementation services through its CargoSolutions, CargoWare, and Trading divisions. It also licenses proprietary supply chain and fleet management software including Symphony and FleetLogiX.
Product overview
Cargo Carriers is a unified platform-plus-divisions logistics provider offering integrated supply chain and transport logistics solutions across Southern Africa. The core offering spans specialized road freight transport for multiple industries (Fuel, Steel, Chemicals, Gas, Powders, Mining, Sugar) supported by three main operational divisions: CargoSolutions (supply-chain consulting, warehousing and distribution), CargoWare (third-party logistics with warehouse management), and Trading (accredited transporter network for imports/exports). The company also operates proprietary software including Symphony (TOC-based supply-chain optimization) and FleetLogiX (fleet management). Geographic expansion is enabled through subsidiaries (Heavy Hauliers Zambia) and joint ventures (Uzuko Carriers with Caltex, Ezethu Logistics in Eastern Cape). The company delisted from the JSE in January 2019 and operates as a private company with Level 2 B-BBEE status.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chemicals Transport Safe road transportation of dangerous goods including hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals and fertilizers with strict SHEQ compliance, Hazchem-trained specialist drivers, and emergency response capability. Targets enterprise chemical producers requiring SHEQ-certified hauliers.
- Fuel Transport Cross-border fuel distribution in Namibia (3.6 million km per annum from Rosh Pinah) and last-mile delivery to Caltex forecourts in the Eastern Cape via the Uzuko Carriers joint venture, using custom-built liquid chemical and petroleum tankers.
- Sugar Logistics Specialized sugarcane haulage from growers to mills in Eswatini (Swaziland) and the Southern African sugar belt, moving 1,850,000 tons per annum using specialized tractors and land trains to meet strict cut-to-crush time windows.
- Steel Transport Specialized road-freight solutions for steel plates and coils, transporting from Vanderbijlpark to Gauteng steel merchants and downstream fabricators, achieving 98% on-time delivery scores.
- Gas Transport Transportation of cryogenic gases for leading South African producers using specialized equipment and strict safety protocols to serve industrial and health facilities.
- Powders Transport Transportation of cement and powder products using bulk tankers from strategically located depots, including cross-border cement haulage into Zambia, achieving more than 98% on-time delivery scores.
- Mining Transport Transport solutions for mining operations including inputs, outputs, explosives, ore, and equipment, with high SHEQ standards, black ownership credentials, and localization support for remote mine sites.
- CargoSolutions Supply Chain Consulting Bespoke consulting service in supply-chain management and execution systems, including Theory of Constraints implementation, Symphony software deployment, logistics planning, and integrated warehousing and distribution solutions for manufacturing clients.
- CargoWare Warehousing and Distribution Third-party warehousing and distribution services from warehouses in Cape Town (approximately 2,000 sq.m.) and Johannesburg (approximately 6,000 sq.m.), supported by advanced warehouse-management systems with automation technologies.
- Trading - Accredited Transporter Brokerage Brokerage and ad hoc/contract load management using an extensive accredited transporter network, including full import capabilities, for importers and exporters moving goods across Southern Africa.
- Heavy Hauliers Zambia Cement Transport Wholly-owned Zambian subsidiary providing bulk cement transport for major infrastructure projects, including a five-year contract delivering up to 800 tons per day at peak for the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-Power Project (750MW) financed by EXIM Bank of China.
- Uzuko Carriers Last-Mile Fuel Distribution Empowered 50/50 joint venture with Caltex Eastern Cape Marketers providing last-mile fuel distribution to 101 Caltex branded forecourts across the Eastern Cape, delivering 274 million liters of petrol and diesel per year over 1.3 million kilometers.
- Ezethu Logistics Eastern Cape Operations Empowerment subsidiary providing logistics services in the Eastern Cape with satellite depots in Queenstown (launched 2016), East London, and Port Elizabeth, supporting fuel and powder distribution and WomenCo majority-women-ownership initiative.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced carbon emissions by more than 12% through efficient fuel usage and route optimization
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Cargo Carriers
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Cargo Carriers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Cargo Carriers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Active EducationminorPartnership for Scholar Road Safety Education programme. Cargo Carriers supplies reflective sashes to Active Education for training programme reaching public schools. Programme teaches road safety aligned to Department of Basic Education syllabus.
- Ezethu LogisticscoreEmpowerment subsidiary of Cargo Carriers. Launched satellite depot in Queenstown 2016. WomenCo initiative launched to enable women employees to acquire majority share in Ezethu Logistics. Level 3 B-BBEE company providing transformation-aligned logistics services.
- Caltex Eastern Cape Marketerscore50/50 joint venture established in 2010 creating Uzuko Carriers for last-mile fuel distribution. Partnership expanded multiple times - now covers 101 Caltex forecourts delivering 274 million liters annually across Eastern Cape, including rural Transkei and Karoo areas. Represents model B-BBEE joint venture in fuel distribution.
- CAIA (Chemical Allied Industries Association)coreSignatory to Responsible Care programme of Chemical Allied Industry Association. Promotes safe handling and transportation of hazardous substances. Sponsors Dangerous Goods Committee of Road Freight Association and Responsible Care Steering Committee.
- DEKRAcoreInternational accreditation body overseeing safety and quality standards for companies in technology, environment and mobility sectors. Conducts external audits and assessments of Cargo Carriers operations.
- Discovery HealthminorCargo Carriers participates in Discovery Healthy Company Index survey, receiving direction for rolling out targeted health programmes for workforce including wellness days and health screening.
- Discovery Healthy Company IndexminorAnnual health and wellness benchmarking programme providing Cargo Carriers insights for targeted health interventions including cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass, blood sugar, eyesight screening, and HIV counselling.
- Oasis WaterminorPartnership for transporting water to Vryheid communities in fuel tanker operations with Engen Petroleum.
- Sitanani CarriersminorJoint venture in Mpumalanga for fuel distribution, part of scholar road safety education support alongside Ezethu Logistics and Uzuko Carriers.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cargo Carriers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Imperial Logistics (now DP World Logistics): Imperial Logistics was one of South Africa's largest end-to-end logistics providers operating across bulk road transport, contract logistics, and freight forwarding, with similar multi-industry exposure and pan-African footprint. DP World's acquisition in 2023 expanded its scale further, making Imperial the closest large-scale Southern African direct peer.
- Bidvest Logistics: Bidvest Logistics is a South African integrated logistics provider offering road freight, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions. Comparable to Cargo Carriers in serving large industrial clients across multiple sectors in Southern Africa.
- Specialized Bulk Services (SBS): SBS is a South African specialist in liquid bulk and hazardous materials road transport, including chemicals, fuel, and gas. Directly comparable to Cargo Carriers on tanker fleet, dangerous goods expertise, and SHEQ-driven customer base.
- Grindrod Logistics: Grindrod operates integrated logistics, road freight, and terminal operations across Southern Africa, with historical exposure to bulk and containerized cargo. Comparable geographic footprint and multi-modal capability.
- Value Logistics: Value Logistics is a South African contract logistics and distribution provider serving industrial and consumer clients. Comparable in third-party warehousing, distribution, and route-based transport offerings to Cargo Carriers' CargoWare division.
Broad incumbents
- DSV (formerly UTi / Panalpina): DSV is a global freight forwarding and contract logistics incumbent with deep South African operations post-Panalpina and UTi acquisitions. Competes with Cargo Carriers in freight arrangement and end-to-end supply chain solutions, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
- Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is a global logistics incumbent with substantial South African road, air, and ocean forwarding operations. Overlaps with Cargo Carriers on freight arrangement and contract logistics for industrial customers.
- DHL Supply Chain (Sub-Saharan Africa): DHL operates contract logistics and road freight across South Africa and SADC, serving industrial and consumer clients. Comparable on contract logistics, warehousing, and freight forwarding but at global incumbent scale.
- DB Schenker South Africa: DB Schenker provides integrated land, air, and ocean services in South Africa, including contract logistics and supply chain management. Comparable to Cargo Carriers in serving large industrial clients with multi-modal solutions.
- Maersk Logistics & Services (SA): Maersk's Logistics & Services segment offers end-to-end supply chain management, customs, and inland logistics in South Africa. Comparable on integrated supply chain solutions for industrial customers, though Maersk is anchored by its ocean container network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cargo Carriers social profiles
Digital presenceCargo Carriers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Cargo Carriers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cargo Carriers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Cargo Carriers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Cargo Carriers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cargo Carriers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cargo Carriers
What does Cargo Carriers do?
Cargo Carriers is a Southern African specialized road transport and integrated supply chain logistics provider for industrial clients in chemicals, fuel, steel, powders/cement, mining, sugar, and gas sectors. The company operates specialized bulk and hazardous-material trucking fleets, third-party warehousing and distribution, and supply chain consulting/implementation services through its CargoSolutions, CargoWare, and Trading divisions. It also licenses proprietary supply chain and fleet management software including Symphony and FleetLogiX.
Is Cargo Carriers a public or private company?
Cargo Carriers is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Cargo Carriers founded?
Cargo Carriers was founded in 1956. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cargo Carriers based?
Cargo Carriers is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Cargo Carriers make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bulk Road Transport Logistics are the primary driver. The others are supply Chain Solutions, warehousing and Distribution and trading Operations.
Who are Cargo Carriers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Imperial Logistics (now DP World Logistics), Bidvest Logistics, Specialized Bulk Services (SBS), Grindrod Logistics and Value Logistics. Broad incumbents are DSV (formerly UTi / Panalpina), Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Supply Chain (Sub-Saharan Africa), DB Schenker South Africa and Maersk Logistics & Services (SA).
Does Cargo Carriers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cargo Carriers.
What industry is Cargo Carriers in?
Cargo Carriers's product category is Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADADAD, Tanker (Liquid Bulk) TL Carriers, with a secondary code of TLADAGAE, Oil & Gas / Energy Project Transport (Rigs, Pipe, Modules). Its NAICS code is 48423 and its SIC code is 4213.