A Decade Of Freight And Logistics: Keeping The Old TV Bus Going

Dedication is the very foundation of the work we do, and after a quick chat with Steven, director of Heneways Group, we beefed up our story bank to paint that picture for you. For over a decade, Steven was closely involved in freight logistics for an old double-decker TV broadcast bus for the Sunshine Golf Tour.

To give you a visual, the bus in question had been gutted and refurbished, equipped with TV cameras and screens; all the tech needed for broadcasting golfing tournaments on the go. Keeping it operational and on-the-go was a monumental task to say the least, not something you’d expect to be a part of our freight and logistics responsibilities.

The Aging TV Broadcast Bus

The bus had seen many tours. It was a legacy all in itself. And as with all long standing legacies, it was not without the need for maintenance. It had a knack for breaking down at the most inconvenient of times, ensuring that there was never a dull moment for the team en route.

Steven recalls how every year, without fail, something would go wrong with this bus - anything from needing repairs in Mauritius, Kenya and even Durban, to replacing parts like starters, batteries and gearboxes. To put it plainly, Steven got to know this bus very well to the point where he was constantly ‘problem-solving on the fly’ to keep this baby running.

The Logistics Roadblocks

One of the biggest freight and logistics challenges that accompanied this bus was coordination when things got hairy. Since the bus was trailing the international Sunshine Golf Tour, we had to lean on agents in various countries to service and repair the bus.

In Mauritius, for example, the bus would often break down right before it was due to be shipped, and liaising with local agents to have it towed onto the ship was a task that we became very familiar with. Its travels to Kenya came with similar issues, requiring Steven to graft closely with local teams to get the bus up and running again.

Chugging Past The Challenges

Steven and his team were tasked with making sure all customs inspections of the expensive broadcast apparatus were as smooth and delay-free as possible. This is expected in our business, but actually getting underneath the chassis and into the engine was (typically) not. Still, Steven did what needed to be done to keep the tour ticking on time.

Steven knew this bus like the back of his hand, and through blood, sweat, and tears, he got the team (and the bus) to where they needed to be. He worked closely with drivers, who often leaned on him to troubleshoot any hiccups en route. Against the odds and the elements, come rain, wind, or hail, Steven did whatever he could to get this bus onto the ships in time, sometimes even getting his hands dirty right there on the wharf-side.

The Final Destination

For Steven and the Heneways family, the success of the Sunshine Golf Tour was the main priority, and we would take anything this bus had to throw at us to get the job done. Steven's efforts paint a perfect picture of just how far we will go to support our clients, as well as how every client becomes a part of our stable of responsibility… even that old beauty of a bus.

In case it’s not immediately clear, your security with us extends far beyond freight and logistics. We are committed to solving any problems along the way. So, how can we support you today?