SADC Logistics Glossary
Key terms and definitions used in cross-border trucking and freight logistics across Southern Africa.
B
Backload — Cargo carried on the return leg of a trip. Finding backloads is critical for reducing empty running and improving revenue per kilometre.
Bill of Lading (BOL) — A legal document issued by a carrier that details the type, quantity, and destination of goods being shipped. Required for international freight.
Border Post — An official checkpoint where trucks cross from one country to another. Major SADC border posts include Beitbridge (South Africa–Zimbabwe), Chirundu (Zimbabwe–Zambia), and Kazungula (Botswana–Zambia).
Broker (Freight Broker) — An intermediary who connects shippers with transport operators. Brokers arrange transport but typically do not own trucks.
C
Cabotage — The transport of goods within a country by a vehicle registered in another country. Most SADC countries restrict cabotage to protect domestic operators.
Clearing Agent — A professional who handles customs documentation and procedures on behalf of importers and exporters at border posts and ports.
CMR (Consignment Note) — A document used in road freight transport that serves as proof of the contract of carriage and receipt of goods.
Corridor — A designated transport route connecting major economic centres or ports. Key SADC corridors include Durban–Harare, Johannesburg–Lusaka, and the Beira Corridor.
Cross-border Transport — The movement of goods or vehicles across international borders, subject to customs, immigration, and transport regulations of each country.
Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) — South Africa’s regulatory body overseeing cross-border road transport permits and compliance.
D
Deadhead — Driving a truck empty (without cargo) to reach a pickup point or return to base. Deadheading increases costs and reduces profitability.
Demurrage — Charges incurred when a truck, container, or trailer is delayed beyond the agreed loading or unloading time.
Dwell Time — The total time a truck spends at a border post, port, or loading facility waiting to be processed. High dwell times are a major cost driver in SADC logistics.
E
Empty Running — Operating a truck without cargo, typically on a return leg. Reducing empty running is one of the primary goals of load matching platforms like Kweli.
F
Flatbed — A truck trailer with a flat, open platform and no sides or roof. Used for transporting large, heavy, or irregularly shaped cargo like steel, timber, or machinery.
FTL (Full Truck Load) — A shipment that fills an entire truck. FTL shipments go directly from origin to destination without stops for other cargo.
G–H
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) — The maximum total weight of a vehicle including its own weight, passengers, fuel, and cargo. GVM limits are enforced at weighbridges across SADC.
Haulage — The commercial transport of goods by road. In SADC, long-haul trucking typically refers to cross-border freight over distances of 500 km or more.
I–L
Intermodal — Transport using more than one mode (e.g., ship to port, then truck to destination). Common on the Beira and Durban corridors where port cargo transfers to road transport.
Load Board — A platform where shippers post available loads and carriers search for freight. Kweli functions as an online load board for SADC.
Load Matching — The process of connecting available cargo with available truck capacity. Kweli automates this at lx.kweli.co.za, matching loads to operators on specific corridors.
LTL (Less Than Truck Load) — A shipment that does not fill an entire truck. LTL freight may be consolidated with other shipments heading to the same destination.
O–P
One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) — A border facility where both countries’ immigration, customs, and security checks are done at a single stop, reducing transit time. Chirundu was the first OSBP in Africa.
Owner-Operator — A truck driver who owns their own vehicle and operates independently. Owner-operators are a significant part of the SADC trucking market.
Permit (Cross-Border) — Authorization required to operate a commercial vehicle across international borders. Permits are issued by each country’s transport authority (e.g., CBRTA in South Africa).
S
SADC (Southern African Development Community) — A regional economic bloc of 16 member states in Southern Africa. SADC promotes regional trade integration and transport corridor development.
Shipper — The party that sends goods (the cargo owner or consignor). Shippers use Kweli to find transport for their freight.
Side-tipper — A trailer that tilts to the side to unload bulk materials like sand, gravel, coal, or grain. Common on mining and agricultural routes.
T–W
Tautliner — A curtain-sided truck trailer that can be loaded from the side or rear. One of the most common trailer types in SADC freight transport.
Transit Country — A country through which goods pass on the way to their final destination. For example, Botswana is a transit country on the Johannesburg–Lusaka route.
TMS (Transport Management System) — Software used to plan, execute, and optimise freight movements. Kweli provides TMS-like functionality at lx.kweli.co.za.
Webcard — A Kweli-specific term for a shareable digital profile that shows a member’s company details, fleet, routes, and community trust ratings.
Weighbridge — A facility where trucks are weighed to ensure they comply with road load limits. Overloading fines are common at weighbridges across SADC countries.
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Operator, shipper or broker — Kweli connects you to cross-border loads and keeps the record of how each deal actually went.