Adcock Ingram accelerates owner driver project

Meshack Matswi, an owner driver, with Tobie Krige, Adcock Ingram's MD: distribution.

The project, started in 2012, has proved extremely successful with a total of 19 owner driver entrepreneurs now contracted to Adcock Ingram’s distribution service. From a modest start of 12 vehicles based in Midrand, the project has expanded to include teams in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and at the Adcock Ingram Critical Care facility in Aeroton. The owner-driver scheme was developed to give promising candidates ownership of a business, while realising the company’s enterprise development objectives.

Changing lives

The owner drivers are directors of their enterprises and owners of the vehicles, while usually employing two or three assistants in each business. Adcock Ingram contracts with the business owners to distribute their products across allocated territories. The drivers go through training in various standard operating procedures, and sharing new logistics technologies and business management skills, to ensure these entrepreneurs get the best shot at business success.

“Today marks the expansion of the fleet, with the addition of eight vehicles, bringing the fleet of our owner driver entrepreneurs to 52 vehicles,” says Tobie Krige, managing director of distribution at Adcock Ingram. “I am passionate about this programme and have seen how it changes the lives of the business owners.”

Business success

Speaking at the launch, Meshack Matswi, one of the first-phase, and now an established owner drivers, talked about his experiences and the value of being a director. “I am fortunate that my business success has enabled me to build a three-bedroomed home and has given my family the financial security that allows us to live happily and without stress.”

“I have grown so much since being given this opportunity and have gained skills that I use in running my business and which empower me to assist the newer owner drivers in the development of their enterprises. It is most fulfilling and the support I have gained from management has been excellent,” says Matswi.