About Moffats
BAckground
MOFFATS LOGISTICS (Moffats), a progeny of MBS Transport (Pty) Ltd, commenced operations in 2020 under the leadership and vision of Mervin Shkaidy for a best of breed transport & logistics company. Mervin Shkaidy, the founder of MBS Transport (Pty) Ltd built the company from a single vehicle to a fleet of 163 vehicles at its peak. He is the key driver of Moffats, as he has been with MBS Transport. MBS was started in 2005 by Mervin.
As a result of numerous factors (domestic conflict and litigation), MBS Transport (Pty) Ltd was reassessed and Mervin took a strategic view that a new entity was the most appropriate direction for the future. Moffats operates as a logistics/transport/mover of goods & commodities in various parts of South Africa. Moffats is rapidly building a reputation for service excellence and customer satisfaction backed by competent and capable people.
Coal was the backbone of MBS Transport’s success – and Moffats Logistics continues to have coal as a key commodity.
In addition to being a carrier, Moffats recognises that there are downstream opportunities that can be leveraged off including recovery and towing of vehicles, 3PL and as an agent for Wonderseal.
Moffats offers diagnostic and due diligence consultancy services for businesses within the sector that are looking for operational efficiencies and higher profit margin as value added services or are ailing as a result of poor operational practices.
Experience
Moffats has growth potential and is been set for a continued upward trajectory. Key to its success has been the intellectual and operational capability of Mervin Shkaidy who has been in the industry for over 16 years, Mervin has developed acumen, skill and knowledge in the sector and is supported by a team of experts that he has trained personally.
Mervin’s capability in the sector flows from his beginnings as a motorbike mechanic, then a car mechanic and finally a diesel mechanic. He has an understanding of the mechanics of the vehicle and its many moving parts which contributes to the success he has built. There are not many fleet owners/operators who have this compelling advantage.
Mervin pursued a career with VW South Africa and rose in its ranks form a humble motor mechanic to the After Sales Director for South Africa reporting to the CEO. While pursuing his career, he also attained an MBA through Rhodes University.
As an industry player Moffats is bound to have public liability cover and carries a minimum of R350 000 per truck cover at any given point.
Moffats offers services principally for the movement of goods and raw materials across South Africa. Moffats under the thought leadership of Mervin Shkaidy also offers advisory services and consulting services to the industry.
The sector is characterised by large companies with very large fleets upwards of 500 vehicles. These companies are generally white and retain control of the market. Due to the footprint of these entities and an established, long standing financial base, can sustain operations under most conditions and compete on a price sensitive basis.
The opposite end of the continuum is characterised by operators with no more than four vehicles with extremely low fixed costs while vehicles are poorly maintained and aged. These operators are able to accept low rates which are not feasible and cannot sustain systematic operations.
Middle range and new operators are constrained by the upper and lower end operators who compete aggressively and can operate on a price sensitive basis. For upper end operators, access to markets and resources is established and challenging for middle operators to penetrate. For lower end operators, financing is a minor consideration and operations are undertaken on an opportunistic basis with a degree of agility and flexibility.
Moffats, as a middle range operator finds itself operating on this landscape. Its personal touch and level of expertise which enables superior service, reliability and trustworthy operations differentiates it from its competitors.