Mining Haulage

WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

No stranger to embracing change, the Mining Haulage Company Ltd has dynamic plans for continued growth and diversification, as company director Richard Kazala-Laski tells Endeavour.

GIANTS IN Copper

MOVEMENT

Refocusing the organisation to meet widespread goods

movement and logistics requirements proved to be a

lucrative decision and eventually resulted in the current

incarnation of the company evolving in 1994; a specialist trucking

company geared for the safe and efficient transportation of mining

materials. Naturally, such a dramatic reorganisation of the company

could have necessitated crippling financial investment were it not

for the foresight of the experienced management team. Purchasing

secondhand ERF trucks from the UK, MHCL sprung into operation

and slowly began to grow thanks to support from valued customers

and a collectively dedicated workforce. With significant experience

under its belt, MHCL initiated a total overhaul of the financial systems

underpinning the organisation, leading to accessible cash flow and the

opportunity to purchase new trucks and, as the company continued to

experience huge growth, specialist equipment.

With MHCL firmly established in the mining materials

transportation industry, maintaining its enviable position is attributed

to a customer-centric attitude. Richard Kazala-Laski explains that,

“We (MHCL) believe that the main driving force behind our

business is the full satisfaction of our customers. Without any

satisfied customers we would not have a supported business. We

therefore boast about our ability to meet customers’ exact standards.

Our services are done in a timely manner and are customer focused.”

He goes on to highlight that where competitors fall short is the

separation of fiscal success and company balance, illustrating that

MHCL embrace both elements for a far more unified approach to

every project.

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MINING HAULAGE COMPANY LTD

Founded in 1973, the Mining Haulage Company Ltd (MHCL) is a recognised market leader within the competitive transport industry. Initially created with a focus on transporting just acid and abnormal loads, it was quickly expanded to begin providing passenger transportation services before the highly skilled and market-aware management team identified a potentially more profitable gap in the market.

A family business, MHCL was originally founded by Richard’s

father, Walter Kazala-Laski, but he was handed the reigns at the

tender age of 19 following his father’s sad passing. With 20 years

experience now helping him to drive the company forward, Richard

clearly operates in accordance with a sense of family values and

locality, keeping the organisation supported solely by Zambian

shareholders which are delighted by reports that MHCL currently

holds in excess of 17% of the market share, making it one of the four

major hauliers currently in operation, in Zambia.

Keen to expand the business outside of Zambia at some point in

the future, Richard explains that the current primary focus remains

firmly within the country, with no plans to ever relocate the business.

At present, consideration is being given to listing MHCL on the stock

market, making it a public company, but this will not disrupt current

activities such as the recent diversification into equipment sales,

alongside established services including transportation of mining

materials and hiring of excavation machinery.

Enjoying what Richard calls a ‘silent partnership’ with the

government, MHCL are committed to employing an exclusively

Zambian workforce in an attempt to actively contribute to a much-

needed reduction in unemployment levels. With a 315-strong staff

body, the company is clearly making a serious contribution to the

country’s economy, hiring all levels of expertise from school leavers

through to skilled mechanical engineers.

One thing that remains the same, regardless of position in the

company hierarchy, is an expectation on all employees to be sure they

know what is expected of them and to complete a job to the highest

standard possible, on the first attempt. This “do it right the first time,

when in doubt ask” ethos prevents valuable time being wasted and

leaves staff available for new projects and likely to have their (rolling)

two-year contracts renewed. Discussing communication between

colleagues, Richard proudly reveals that,

“Our company has an open door policy, therefore every manager

is available to interact directly with any employee at any level, and

this applies to the Directors as well. We believe this encourages

communication feedback and opens opportunities for discussions

on important matters. This also avails the directors a chance to know

more about what is happening at grass root levels. Employees are

encouraged to outline any areas of concern as well as report any

customer grievances / concerns while highlighting the work that the

client is happy with.”

Identifying the dedicated staff of MHCL as a key reason for the

continued development and success of the organisation, Richard

is keen to explain that alongside the rest of the management team,

he believes that every team member has the ability to excel in their

chosen area, and with commensurate encouragement and support,

the work they produce will be of an exemplar standard. Encouraged

to participate in tasks that will solidify a ‘team’ mentality, it can come

as no surprise that MHCL hires based on merit and irrespective of

gender, disability and even former convictions. If a potential employee

is capable of performing duties most commonly associated with a

position they have applied for, and demonstrates a clear aptitude for

the role, they will be considered fairly alongside all other candidates.

This enlightened recruitment policy is just one more element that sets

MHCL apart from its competitors.

When discussing the value MHCL places on customers, Richard is

adamant that they

“Value our customers and their needs must always come first,

therefore each contract and its requirements are studied very carefully

and attention is paid to every detail to ensure that we understand

the customer needs in order to

deliver the service requested.

The security of our customer

goods is highly important to us

and we treat these as though

they were our own while in our

custody, this means we treat

them with extreme caution and

care, we track our vehicles with

live tracking 24 hours a day

every day of the year to ensure

we are able to advise our clients

of the exact whereabouts of our

vehicles carrying their goods at

any given time.”

Unsurprisingly, such

commitment to customer

satisfaction is supported by

an equally comprehensive

aftersales charter that

encourages feedback and

suggestions for improvement.

The seamless development of

professional relationships with

clients has directly assisted in the securing of a small, reliable, tested

and trusted supply chain, helping MHCL to guarantee all clients the

provision of a timely and recommendable service, with no weak links

or room for error, at the best possible price. Operating from a central

location in the Chingola light industrial area ensures that all pertinent

locations are within easy reach, further solidifying the consideration

given to any issues that may compromise reliability.

With a reputation for excellence firmly established, what does

the future hold for MHCL? Moving into equipment sales has been an

exciting development, with brand new machinery being imported and

offered either at a one off price, or as part of a repayment scheme

which will allow small firms to start investing in their own growth,

without bankrupting themselves. In addition to a new specialism,

the company is investing in new and improved premises that will be

capable of housing the ever-increasing vehicle fleet and workforce

and a cutting edge stock control system. Clearly delighted by these

developments, Richard comments that,

“The new developments will help in the provision of a new income

source which will breed the ability for further growth, and in turn

generate a larger customer base with more satisfied customers, as

well as employees. The new stock software will increase the level

of control on our stocks and give better comparison between stock

movement and sales.”

The result of considerable financial investment, these

developments mark the beginning of another phase of anticipated

growth for MHCL, but not one

to overlook social responsibility

in favour of financial benefit, the

company operates in accordance

with clear environmentally

green initiatives designed

to reduce waste production,

promote recycling and prevent

spillages on public roads. They

even see greater value in the

refurbishment of furniture than

simply procuring new items, and

for those pieces that are beyond

restoration, they are offered

to anyone that can make use of

them. Equally as admirable is

the sponsoring of local sports

teams and provision of extensive

premises tours to schoolchildren

who wish to learn about

machinery and perhaps begin

working towards a career within

the company.

A remarkable company

in every aspect, it is no wonder that the family run business has

consistently succeeded in branching out into new areas, leading to

substantial growth and recognition within a perpetually competitive

marketplace. With no misplaced pride, Richard concludes by stating

that,

“Mining Haulage Company Limited has an aim to provide a

quality and distinct service in the industry. We are confident beyond

reasonable doubt that we are the best at what we do, we are indeed

‘Giants in Copper Movement’.”


“ We are confident beyond reasonable doubt that we are the best at what we do.”

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www.ryderfleetproducts.comThe Highest Quality Used Trucks On the Market • Thousands of Tractors, Trucks, Trailers, and Vans for Sale • Locations in the U.S., Canada, and United Kingdom • Single ownership – Complete Maintenance History With

Each vehicle • Thorough Pre-Sale Inspection to Assure Quality • Assistance with Inland & Ocean Freight

Vehicle Sales




Freight Assistance











Why Ryder Road Ready™ Used Vehicles Are Better:




• Single ownership – Complete Maintenance History with Each Vehicle




Vehicle Sales




Freight Assistance










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00260 966861122

WWW.MININGHAULAGE.CO.ZM

Mining Haulage

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Transcript of Mining Haulage