HALVING AFRICA'S FREIGHT TRANSPORT COSTS: COULD IT BE DONE?

Recent research has revealed that long distance freight transport in three African CFA Franc zone countries (Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire and Mali) is around five times more expensive than in Pakistan. A wide range of factors appear to account for this difference. Pakistan gains from a very competitive working environment. Low cost simple trucks are used which are strengthened to take heavier loads. A sleeping compartment is added so that high levels of utilisation can be achieved through working day and night with two drivers per truck. The drivers are responsible for all aspects of vehicle running. They are able to achieve very low maintenance costs by driving very slowly and by continuously checking and maintaining their trucks. Major repairs are carried out by small roadside workshops and spare parts are cheap and widely available. In contrast, in Africa an uncompetitive environment allows high costs to occur through the use of expensive and sophisticated vehicles which achieve a low utilisation. Vehicle maintenance costs are high because parts are very expensive, driving speeds are high and drivers have little responsibility for looking after their vehicles. Transport cost levels in Africa could be substantially reduced through encouraging more competition, adopting cheaper vehicles, raising mechanical skill levels and giving drivers more responsibility. (A) This paper was presented at "Transport and Communications in Africa", an International Symposium held on 27-29 November 1991, Brussels, Belgium.