Our focus is on providing services in the segment of international transport, sales and renting of construction machinery and equipment (for civil engineering). In all these segments, we have demonstrated how creative and flexible we can be when it comes to quickly re-organizing our operations.
Decades of professionalism and success of the Perić Trans Company is a guarantee of the quality that their clients expect and are the reason why they see them as a reliable partner. Thanks to innovation and modernization, they provide business security to their clients. We talked to Branka Perić Šljivić, Director of International Road Transport Department, Perić Trans
This year you are celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary and it is safe to say the word ‘professionalism’ aptly describes your company that has been quite successful all these years.
That’s right. Our company celebrates its 30th anniversary and successful business at the end of this year. During all these years, the company has been expanding, has increased the number of employees and branched out into three sectors – international transport, sales and rental of construction machinery and equipment (for civil engineering). In all these sectors, our company is known for top quality services which put us at the very top in our sector.
To what extent has the decades of experience and the importance of always giving clients quality service influenced the choice of services that you give priority to?
Our focus is on providing services in the segment of international transport, sales and renting of construction machinery and equipment (for civil engineering). In all these segments, we have demonstrated how creative and flexible we can be when it comes to quickly re-organizing our operations, and readiness to overcome various challenges by implementing large-scale and demanding projects. Successful companies learn to recognize the needs of their clients over time.
Clients view you as a reliable partner, and the innovations and modernizations you constantly invest in have certainly contributed to that. What are you currently focusing on and what can clients expect from you?
The precision of delivery is very important for international transport, as well as the reliability of vehicles and equipment we use so that the goods are delivered on time, without delay and damage. For that reason, we have bought new vehicles, thus offering customers business security which is validated by the standards we use – GDP, IFS, ISO 9001 and PHARMA Certificate. We are currently focusing on the transport of medication, in line with the relevant pharmaceutical standards. In the construction machinery sector, we have 250 pieces of construction machinery at disposal, which are available to our clients for short- and long-term lease, as well as sales. In the civil engineering segment, we specialize in water management and we are involved in canal-related work.
This year, carriers in the European Union are facing a series of changes when it comes to road transport, both at the Union level and in the individual Member States. Do you see these challenges as an opportunity or obstacle?
There are a number of measures that have been implemented, such as Germany increasing drivers’ minimum hourly wage by 22%. Due to the rules regarding the payment of the minimum wage, which stipulates that drivers while transporting goods abroad have to be paid minimum wage valid in a country of work, carriers in the EU must pay their drivers accordingly. Currently, we are seeing a record increase in transport prices in Europe, caused by higher prices of fuel, labour and toll.
The precision of delivery is very important for international transport, as well as the reliability of vehicles and equipment we use so that the goods are delivered on time, without delay and damage.
Transport has a huge impact on the development of a country’s economy. Can you make a comparison with the neighbouring countries or the EU? How much are we lagging behind the rest of the world?
As far as the Serbian transport sector is concerned, the biggest limiting factor for better utilization of the vehicle fleet and better results is the time our drivers spend waiting at border crossings and internal terminals.
Both transport companies and companies that export and import are at a loss here, because their transit time for transporting goods is extended, deliveries are late and there are long delays that affect the flow of goods and lags in planned production.
The state has launched the long-awaited project of extending Horgoš and Kelebija border crossings, and we hope that with the opening of an additional freight terminal, this long-standing problem will finally be behind us.
Also, one of the proposals that could help solve the problem of time waste is ensuring custom clearance of cargo at Batrovci, Horgoš and Preševo border crossings.
This opportunity would give the Serbian road transport strong wind in its sails and with the same number of vehicles, we could transport more goods than ever before. This would also mean that more vehicles would be at our clients’ disposal because at the moment, it takes our vehicles two to three days from the moment they arrive at the Serbian border to the final unloading of goods.