As competition for consumer attention intensifies, businesses are seeking creative ways to stand out from their counterparts. In recent years, truck advertising – particularly on long-distance trucks – has gained popularity. These mobile billboards provide a cost-effective way to increase brand visibility and reach new customers nationwide, offering a broader audience than static billboards.

Truck advertising offers myriad benefits. For instance, a truck travelling the 1,400 km journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town can expose thousands of motorists to its message. According to a study conducted by Transpromotion, truck advertising is noticed by 98% of people travelling in cars. Unlike social media marketing, which can feel intrusive, this form of advertising reaches audiences organically. Furthermore, truck advertisements are constantly on the move, reaching new viewers without adding any cost to the advertising bill.

According to City Logistics, one of South Africa’s largest logistics companies, demand for branded delivery vehicles has increased significantly. The fleet has seen a large increase in trucks emblazoned with branding, highlighting the popularity of this advertising medium.

“Many businesses are leveraging vehicle fleets as mobile advertising tools, transforming everyday logistics into impactful branding opportunities,” commented City Logistics CEO Ryan Gaines.

This approach increases visibility and allows companies to communicate key initiatives, such as corporate social responsibility, through creative and meaningful designs.

Exposure is a significant advantage for businesses aiming to increase brand visibility. Take one of City Logistics’ valued truck advertising clients, for example: their mobile advertising campaign gained substantial traction, and a fleet of 12 trucks covered approximately 241,000km between September and November. This impressive mileage ensured that their brand reached countless viewers on the move.

The possibilities for mobile advertising continue to expand. For example, incorporating QR codes could enable businesses to track interactions and direct people to specific websites or online platforms. Companies can experiment with these unique approaches, demonstrating how these moving billboards could become more interactive. This integration has the potential to enhance engagement and increase website traffic.

Static billboards can cost as much as R200,000 per month, depending on their location. In comparison, mobile advertising on trucks presents a more affordable option. Branding a smaller truck offers as much as 98% savings compared to more expensive billboards, with larger line-haul trucks providing approximately a 95% saving. Pricing is determined by factors such as the number of trucks, contract duration, and the choice of payment options.

Mobile truck advertising offers businesses an effective way to stand out in a crowded advertising space. With its broad reach, cost-effectiveness, and ability to engage audiences organically, it provides a strong alternative to traditional and digital channels.

View original article here.

An AEO is a company involved in the international movement of goods, approved by SARS Customs as complying with World Customs Organization or equivalent compliance and supply chain security standards. This milestone is a testament to our unwavering dedication not only to logistics excellence but also to trade security and compliance.

We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the hard work and dedication of our highly knowledgeable and experienced Clearing Manager, Zhieer Allie, and his team. Their commitment to excellence has truly paid off.

Here’s to continued growth as we leverage our AEO certification to further streamline our operations and provide even greater value to our customers.

At City Logistics we strive to build a positive and empowering work environment, which allows greater productivity and drive to go the extra mile for our customers.

We are proud of the progress we have made to empower women, particularly within our own workforce to achieve sustainable development in the Retail Logistics Industry.

Get to know some of City Logistics’ phenomenal women. 

City Logistic’s Female Linehaul drivers:

Brightness Ntombela (Linehaul driver)

Brightness started her driving career with Mercedes-Benz through a service provider agency assisting with the movement of vehicles in the workshop, and wash-bay, and getting vehicles ready for delivery. 

Brightness then ventured off into the container and refrigeration market where she worked in three big organizations and transitioned from a local to a long-distance driver and spent many hours on the open road between Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town gaining a wealth of knowledge and enjoying the South African national freeways and beautiful scenery.  

Ncamisile Jili (Linehaul driver)

Ncamisile is based at our Linehaul Durban depot as a Linehaul Driver. She joined the City Logistics family in May 2023. 

“I grew up in uMzimkhulu, I am the last born in my family of three children. Driving has been my dream as a young girl and to change perception about a woman’s role in the logistics industry. Over the years women have been kept in offices as administrators and seen as not capable of driving the trucks or face challenges that come with driving a truck. This inspired me to change this and to show the world that we can do it as well. I love truck driving as it a male dominant career and most women are fearful of the challenge that it comes with. I love challenges hence I chose this career.    

City Logistics’ Debtors/ Billing clerk at Head Office- Anneli Mynhardt

Anneli has been in the Logistcis industry for more than 30 years and has been part of the City Logistics family for 12 years. She started off as a Debtors Clerk for the City Linehaul division when everything was still processed manually! 

“work smarter and not harder” is her motto so she has worked with City Logistics’ software developers to have all processes automated. 

Over the years she has learned as much as she could about the operational procedures and have found some areas where we could improve and so she again teamed up with the software developers and worked on improvements and on automating the invoicing process. We now have automated invoicing on about 80% to 90% of our customers billing!  

Her future aspirations are to continue with process improvements. She takes pride in her work and does it to the best of her abilities.She is a team player that wants what is best not just for the company but for her fellow colleagues as well.

“When I am not Anneli the Billing/debtors Clerk, I am Anneli the Adventurer, Partner Mother and Grandmother (“Oumum” according to my Granddaughter). I enjoy photography and birding in my spare time. I love nature as it brings me inner peace. I find a lot of pleasure in finding the beautiful things in life and capturing the moment. I also often do beach cleanups in my hometown Durban.  I enjoy the gym and believe that a healthy body is a healthy mind.”

Operations Manager- Zalisa Mkentani

Zalisa is our Operations Manager at City Logistics’ East London Depot. She joined the City Logistics family in 2018 and was promoted to her current role in just 3 years!

Zalisha provides support to her management team on the operations side and assists supervisors in meeting deadlines with deliveries and collections.

We are so proud of this phenomenal woman. She is a motivated individual who is in a constant pursuit of her personal development. She works hard and is an asset to the City Logistics East London depot. 

HR Training Officer- Nondumiso Mncube

Nondumiso is City Logistics HR Training Officer at Head Office Durban. She has been with City Logistics since 2019 and is now one of the key team members who makes sure that City Logistics’s staff keeps up to date with all their training ensuring continuous learning to provide our customers with innovative technology and superior quality, value and service.

“I am a 24 year old female who finished in 2017 at Kloof High School and started a learnership at City Logistics in 2019. I have grown greatly at City and have gained a lot of knowledge. I’m looking forward to continuing with my personal growth at City Logistics and I will always be grateful for the opportunities they provide for us.”

Admin- Amanda Porter

Amanda is based at our Port Elizabeth depot where she started off as a receptionist 26 years ago! She now handles and oversees all the admin at the the City Logistics PE branch.

Amanda is extremely passionate about her work and City Logistics. She loves a challenge and even receives and offloads vehicles when she has time. Her work is always up to date and accurate and has earned her respect from other depratrments. She is a true asset to the Company and the PE Branch.

Reach truck driver at the Pick n Pay DC- Alicia Marinus

Alicia Marinu was nominated as an outstanding lady who is our reach truck driver for the last 5 years at the Pick n Pay DC. This job scope is also unique to the Cape Town DC.

It’s a special skill set that she has acquired, and we are happy to have her on board performing a task that was usually reserved for males.

Admin Clerk- Maria Moloi

Maria Moloi is an admin clerk based at City Logistics Harrismith branch and has been part of the City Logistics family for 12 years! 

Maria is an outstanding employee; she is always available to assist even if the task is not related to her job description and she always has a smile on her face. She is very polite and is a true asset to City Logistics in the way she carries  herself .

Thank you to these and all the other inspirational women at City Logistics. You are the pillars of society, and we are honoured to have you on our team.

Here are some of the industry trends City Logistics noted that have had the biggest impact on retail logistics and will continue to transform the industry in the coming years:

The Growth of E-Commerce Delivery in South Africa

We live in a time where time and service matters. Retailers are investing in their online platforms to meet the growing demand. The increase in online shopping behaviour in South Africa presents an exciting growth opportunity for retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers.

City Logistics is a leading retail logistics company who specialise in delivering bulkier products, such as appliances, furniture and sporting equipment, we are also associated with Fastway Couriers for small parcel deliveries.

Effective communication is key with E-commerce deliveries to save time and money, we offer In Person Delivery Arrangements where our dedicated team personally make contact with your customers to arrange a delivery time that best suits them. We also go the extra mile for our Retail Customer’s customer where our highly trained assembly team will ensure that your products get delivered on time and assembled correctly.

In-store planning and ecommerce:

Planning is crucial for retail, it is important to stay informed with deliveries to save costs. Retail customers receive a pre-notification message of next-day delivery which integrates planning at store level.

Sustainable Logistics aka Green Logistics

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases, retailers are responding by offering more sustainable products and implementing environmentally friendly practices. At City Logistics, we care for the environment, by doing so we are also able to cut costs for our retail customers.

We are optimizing our retail distribution with more efficient and larger vehicles. This has made a significant impact on our carbon footprint by reducing vehicles and fuel consumption for our last mile kilometers. 

Our state-of-the-art Onroute app offers sign on glass features reducing our paper footprint.

Here are more of the steps taken by City Logistics to lead the way through environmental change.

Last-Mile Delivery Solutions

The final stage of the delivery process, known as last-mile delivery, has become an essential aspect of the retail supply chain, as it directly impacts end-users or customers.

At City Logistics we offer an effective Last Mile service that enables our valued retail customers to get goods delivered timeously. Our state of the art last mile visibility tool, OnRoute offers a digital platform focusing on the ‘Last Mile’ of the supply chain.  The app provides customers with real-time delivery updates, including live ETAs, and electronic proof of delivery (POD).

The app can direct drivers to their pick-up and delivery locations, and the estimated time of arrival is calculated based on live traffic updates.The app also has sign-on glass capabilities which allow for real-time delivery updates. This digitized approach has streamlined the trip management process, which in turn drives cost efficiency. 

Automation- The future of Logistics

The demand for faster delivery has created a need to increase the efficiency and speed of logistics operations. City Logistics’ automated mall delivery facility in Gauteng enables deliveries to high volume stores with minimal handling, improving efficiencies and saving costs.

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Collaboration and partnership

Choosing a reliable logistics partner is crucial for Retail. A partnership helps retailers streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

Navigating the omnichannel logistics revolution for our valued Retail customers is a crucial component of our logistic service. To provide a service in an ever-changing retail market, City Logistics offers e-commerce large and small parcel support, synchronise logistics and distribution across varied channels, in-store, IBT’s, cost-effective movement of goods, hold stock for new store deliveries, reverse logistics, and warehousing an extension of the omni channel instore.

Disruptions in the supply chain, such as natural disasters can have significant impacts on retailers’ operations and revenue. At City Logistics, we employ an effective supply chain management approach that includes contingency planning and risk mitigation strategies aimed at minimizing disruptions.

We tailor our retail logistics services to suit customer’s unique needs and allow flexible delivery frequency for each retail partner to adapt with the economic environment and high demand periods.

City Logistics offers a complete cost analysis with a breakdown where you can save time and money on Retail logistics. These insights keep costs down and provide valuable information for an ever-changing retail environment and competitive market.

City Logistics is proud to be the logistics partner for Sealand.

“City Logistics is an incredible partner to Sealand.

Thanks to the generous approach to sustainability embraced by City Logistics we are able to move waste material from the Mr Price retail business back to Sealand where it can be cleaned, sorted, and upcycled. This process diverts waste into a second life of tremendous value. In 2023 we anticipate diverting over 35 tonnes of waste from landfill to be repurposed for good. This would not be possible if not for the role that City Logistics plays in making this happen at zero cost to either Mr Price or Sealand.

City Logistics has a clear commitment to sustainability in this country in a very meaningful way. As a business we are truly grateful to them for their partnership and look forward to doing more and more together. While Sealand may be a small retail business comparatively, we are moving all of our logistics business to City Logistics as an extension of the greater partnership.” Adrian Hewlett SEALAND GEAR CEO:

Creating genuine circularity takes the willingness of committed partners. Doing good for the planet comes with investment in time and capital. We believe the loop that has been created between Hirt & Carter, City Logistics. The Mr Price Group, and Sealand is a unique case study for creating genuine value from others’ waste. In doing so, creating jobs in the private sector whilst also providing the platform to do good for the less fortunate in our country. Together we have the opportunity to make an impact and be an example of circularity for our community.

This partnership starts with the advertising banner material created and printed by Hirt & Carter which is then delivered to the Mr Price group by City Logistics as per the existing logistics flow. This advertising banner material is then displayed nationally in Mr Price stores for the life cycle of its campaign. Instead of these adverting banners being taken down and discarded, City Logistics delivers the advertising banner material to Sealandwho then upcycles the material into the lining of all the carbon-neutral bags and accessories they create. Therefore, continuing the idea of circularity by creating long-lasting and valuable gear from waste.

The Mr Price Group has integrated Sealand into its ERP system, giving the brand an important role to play in the business supply chain. Sealand uses the advertising banner material for the primary purpose of creating premium gear for the consumer market. In addition, all overflow material is then upcycled into school bags for educational projects, including a plan to integrate with the Mr Price Group Foundation this fiscal. In 2023 Sealand expects to divert up to 35 tonnes of advertising banner material by upcycling the waste.

City Logistics’ effective Last Mile service supports our valued retail customers to get goods delivered fast and affordable.

What is Last Mile Delivery?

Last mile delivery is the last leg of transportation that focuses on the movement of goods from a warehouse or a distribution store to the final delivery destination- which usually is a customer’s doorstep or retail store.

Last mile logistics is now more important than ever as the retail industry needs to keep up with increasing consumer demand for speedy shipping, especially in the growing e-commerce and retail industries. This is the most critical step in the delivery process and businesses need to ensure this stage runs smoothly, as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Why you need City Logistics’ Retail Logistics Solutions 

City Logistics is the Leading Retail Logistics company in Southern Africa, and supply chain leaders that delivers excellence in end-to-end logistics and supply chain management. 

Our state of the art last mile visibility tool, OnRoute developed by City Tech, offers an exciting, digital platform focusing on the ‘Last Mile’ of the supply chain.  The app provides our customers with real time updates about their delivery, such as live ETAs, parcel-level updates into stores, and electronic POD. 

Live tracking of vehicles and dispatch status ensures the customer is always kept informed throughout the delivery process. This encompassing visibility is essential for last mile optimisation and reducing inefficient communication and costs.

What makes the City Logistics Last Mile Logistics Solutions the best?

Our last mile solution is optimally managed internally as a result of this complete visibility, which ensures our service offering to our clients is as efficient and cost effective as possible. 

Who can benefit from the Last Mile Logistics Solutions management service? 

Our end customers benefit most from our last mile management service as they receive critical visibility of the last mile, which is known as the ‘most expensive mile’, so by having this visibility it creates opportunity to better manage this cost and levels of efficiency.

Effective last mile logistics depends on a reliable delivery partner that can handle your final mile deliveries with a bespoke solution. Let us simplify and connect your supply chain from end to end.

Get in touch with our Sales Manager gavinw@citylogistics.co.za 

Interview with Werner Pelser, Mr Price Group Logistics Director.

Find out more about our Retail Logistics services here https://citylogistics.co.za/retail-solutions/

Brian Venter- Managing Director for Distribution

Brian Venter has been part of the City Logistics team since March 2015 and steps into the role as the new Managing Director – Distribution at City Logistics. Previously an operations director at City Logistics, Brian is taking up the challenge of managing the Distribution business, supported by a strong executive team. This is a new role within the group to support the growth of City Logistics group.

Brian is passionate and driven to serve our customers in the most efficient and effective way. With his experience and extensive industry knowledge Brian is well placed to lead the distribution team to meet their strategic objectives. Congratulations on the new role Brian we are looking forward to you growing our customer base with innovative solutions and great service.

Anthony Naicker- Managing Director of Line Haul and Support Services

Anthony Naicker has been part of the City Logistics team since July 2002 and steps into the role as the new Managing Director – Line Haul and Support Services. Anthony will also remain as an Exec Director on the City Logistics main board supporting the overall group direction.

Previously the Transport Director at City Logistics, Anthony is well respected in the industry for his deep knowledge and understanding of fleet management. He is widely used by OEMs for insight and advice around product performance. Moving into a more strategic role using his extensive knowledge Anthony will lead the Line-haul business to capitalize on digital opportunities and support a growing customer base. He will also support the City Logistics divisions by leading the functional areas of industrial relations, fleet management, procurement, risk management, and compliance.

Anthony is a strong leader with the ability to create clarity and accountability. He has a strong, supportive team and will be focused on creating further efficiency as City Logistics grows. Congratulations Anthony on your new role, looking forward to seeing you take City Logistics forward.

At City Logistics we are passionate about what we do, passionate about Retail and service excellence. We are proud to have Brian and Anthony part of our Exec team and looking forward to growing with our customers.

City Logistics connects our customers, with their customers, from 12 strategically placed depots across the length and breadth of our home South Africa.

Find out more about all the City Logistics Depots:

City Logistics Durban – Riverhorse Valley

Doubling as City Logistics’ head office, the Riverhorse Valley depot in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal measures 9 450 m2 and showcases some of the company’s most impressive sustainability measures. For instance, the site boasts a green water tank project capable of supplying the entire warehouse and ablutions facility (30 000l throughput capacity), conserving a great deal of water in the process. The branch is conveniently located in Durban, a key city in South Africa’s broader economy with around 60% of all imports and exports passing through its port.

City Logistics East London – Woodbrook

Located in the suburb of Woodbrook, City Logistics’ East London depot has 1 965 m2 of floor space. Helping the company meet its ever-evolving sustainability objectives, this branch features cleverly placed water tanks and pumps to greatly reduce its reliance on the municipal water supply. Since East London is the Eastern Cape’s second largest industrial centre, with a particular focus on automotive manufacturing, this depot plays a key role in keeping the local economy’s wheels turning.

City Logistics Port Elizabeth – Deal Party 

Since large parts of the Eastern Cape are still grappling with drought, City Logistics’ Port Elizabeth depot – which measures 2 278 m2 – has two separate water tanks fitted for rainwater harvesting. The tanks run through a five-stage filtration system that removes impurities and provides completely clean, potable water. Staff members are furthermore well briefed and trained on water-saving measures, while this branch also makes use of a waterless cleaning service to keep its vehicles in spotless condition. Considered the home of South Africa’s automotive industry, Port Elizabeth (known as Gqeberha) plays host to the African headquarters of several Fortune 500 companies.

City Logistics George – George Industrial

Located in George – the second largest city in the Western Cape province and considered the commercial hub of the popular Garden Route – this City Logistics depot covers 1 073 m2. Its sustainability efforts are concentrated on electricity conservation, with the branch making use of plenty of natural light thanks to the broad fitment of translucent roof sheets. In addition, the depot’s office and canteen areas feature lighting systems activated by motion detectors, while energy-saving LEDs are installed inside and outside the warehouse.

City Logistics Cape Town – Eikenbosch

Billed as City Logistics’ second largest depot, the Eikenbosch facility in Cape Town – a city that serves as one of South Africa’s main economic centres, the country’s legislative capital and a popular international tourist destination – covers a whopping 12 956 m2. This facility boasts a 120 kWp solar PV system designed to provide 100% of the branch’s energy requirements during sunlight hours, even feeding surplus energy back into the grid when supply outstrips demand. City Logistics aims for this property to soon achieve a Green Star SA Rating of four from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

City Logistics Bloemfontein – Estoire

City Logistics’ Bloemfontein branch serves a multitude of areas, covering most of the Free State, Lesotho and the Northern Cape, as well as key parts of the Eastern Cape. The depot measures 3 755 m2 and benefits from reduced electricity consumption through energy-saving measures such as comprehensive LED lighting. Though Bloemfontein is South Africa’s judicial capital, its economy is strongly driven by the private sector, with this branch serving the needs of many.

City Logistics Harrismith – Hardustria

Thanks to the installation of translucent roof sheets, the 1 740 m2 Harrismith depot makes use of plenty of natural light, reducing the facility’s dependence on electricity during the day. In addition, this site recently gained a new solar system and a network of energy-saving LEDs. It furthermore uses a pair of 10 000-litre tanks to assist in reducing water consumption. Conveniently located in Hardustria, the depot is close to the Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone, which is considered the mid-point of the Durban-Johannesburg freight transport corridor.

City Logistics Nelspruit – Riverside

City Logistics’ Nelspruit depot in Riverside covers 1 260 m2 and has cleverly reduced its dependence on daytime electrical lighting through the implementation of translucent roof sheets. LEDs, meanwhile, further lower this branch’s energy consumption. Also known as Mbombela, Nelspruit plays host to one of the largest manganese processing facilities in the world, ably supported by the agriculture and forestry sectors.

City Logistics Gosforth Park- Raceway Industrial Park

The Gosforth Park depot in Germiston measures a staggering 20 145 m2, which renders it the largest facility in City Logistics’ vast network of depots. In order to make the most of natural lighting during the daytime, this enormous branch features translucent roof sheets, while its energy consumption is further reduced via the clever use of LED lighting. As one of Gauteng’s industrial nodes, Gosforth Park offers quick access to the N17, N12 and N3 highways.

City Logistics Centurion – Extension 11

Functioning as a middle point between the bustling centres of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the facility in Centurion – an area featuring numerous office parks and also playing host to the Waterkloof Air Force Base – is ideally located in many ways. The depot covers a considerable 8 512 m2 and benefits from the extensive use of LED lighting in order to greatly reduce energy consumption as part of City Logistics’ nationwide sustainability drive.

City Logistics Polokwane – N1 Industrial Park

While Polokwane – the capital of Limpopo – is particularly popular with eco-tourists thanks to its multitude of wildlife-viewing opportunities, it is also a key centre of trade for the surrounding agricultural area. City Logistics’ depot in this region measures 2 496 m2 and recently gained an LED lighting system in order to reduce its energy consumption.

City Logistics Klerksdorp – Uraniaville

Like many of City Logistics’ branches, the Klerksdorp depot makes use of plenty of natural light during the day thanks to the fitment of translucent roof sheets. This 2 200 m2 facility – which serves an area of the country that is particularly strong in the agricultural and mining industries – furthermore uses a range of LED lights to assist in reducing its consumption of energy.

Let us connect your supply chain from end to end. 
Get in touch with our Gavin, our Sales Manager on gavinw@citylogistics.co.za or contact your nearest branch.