About Us

Freight Solutions was founded in 1993 and has grown into one of South Africa’s trusted partners for freight and transport solutions. In 2000, the business was sold to new owners and expanded. Since March 2003, Marco Johnston and Philip Darné have been the owners of Freight Solutions, initially renting the vehicles for the first year while building the platform for long-term growth.

Freight Solutions was originally built around a specialised side lifter operation, created to service customers without loading ramps and/or with tight space constraints. This service allows a container to be placed on the ground for packing or unpacking, with the truck returning later to collect the container for delivery to the harbour or container depot — meaning vehicles often visit a site more than once. Our 6-metre side lifter can access virtually any site and can lift up to 22 tons, making it a highly sought-after solution.

As shipping lines became aware of the service, it quickly became a convenient and popular way to pack and unpack containers. From there, Freight Solutions expanded into conventional deliveries, long-haul transport, and broader logistics solutions. Our yard space is also used to store customers’ containers (where required) as part of a complete service offering.

Today, Freight Solutions operates from our 25,000m² yard and a 6000m² Warehouse in Markman, Port Elizabeth, with additional hubs in Pretoria (25,000m²) and Johannesburg, giving customers a strong national footprint for reliable execution across South Africa. The business is supported by long-term operational continuity, Under the leadership of owners Marco Johnston and Philip Darné, Freight Solutions has grown steadily with a clear focus on service excellence, safety, expansion, and customer partnerships. With Chris van Vuuren joining in 2009 and Ashley Finlayson joining in 2013, their combined leadership and customer focus have helped take Freight Solutions from strength to strength, expanding capacity, improving service delivery, and building long-term client partnerships.

Our Equipment

We’re equipped to handle any job, big or small, with:

• Over 120 truck tractors and 260 trailers, including 12m double axles, 12m tri-axles, 6m trailers, tippers, tautliners and super links
• 10 side lifters — among the largest fleets in the Southern Hemisphere — capable of lifting up to 45 tons
• Crane trucks of various sizes and reaches
• Kalmar reach stackers for efficient container handling
• Forklifts ranging from 2.5-ton to 16-ton capacities
• Specialised equipment including lowbeds, multi-axles, step decks, extendable trailers, links & flat decks for abnormal loads

Our Services

Freight Solutions is a one-stop shop, offering:

• Local transport Nationwide
• Longhaul transport Nationwide
• Machine Moving & Rigging
• Container Transport & Break-Bulk Handling
• Abnormal Loads (permits, escorts, route approvals)
• Express Services (trucks, LDVs/bakkies, 8-ton tautliners)
• Sidelifters & Tautliners Superlinks
• Storage (short/long-term, 24/7 access, CCTV security)
• Value-Added Services (fumigation, palletising, wrapping, lashing & strapping with certificates, crating/de-crating)
• Projects & Rigging for complex logistics
• Loading Dock services
• Armed escorts available across South Africa

Safety, Tracking & People

Freight Solutions continues to expand its fleet and capabilities. All truck tractors are fitted with live tracking, and operations maintain constant communication with vehicles while also being able to track the location of each vehicle at any time. The fleet is maintained in-house, supported by full-time artisans.

Our drivers are committed to the job and fall under the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight Industry. Staff are provided with company uniforms and standard safety equipment, and because they are our first point of contact with customers, we place strong focus on professionalism and service. We want both our customers and our people to be proud to be associated with Freight Solutions.

Nationwide Reach

From Port Elizabeth to Pretoria, Johannesburg, and beyond, Freight Solutions services all of South Africa. Whether it’s a local haul or a national project, our team ensures freight is handled safely and delivered on time.
Freight Solutions sincerely thanks all loyal customers for their ongoing support over the years. Your trust has been instrumental in our journey and continued success.