ABOUT

Container Domestic Services was formed on the 1st of April 1991 by Derek Morillion and Jet Pieters. The two purchased the Cape Town branch of Presto Containers from Rauties Transport, which they had managed up until that point.

Derek Morillion was part of Presto Parcels since 1980, with Jet Pieters joining Presto Containers (as it was known then) in 1986. Presto was mainly involved with transportation of intercity FCL containers of domestic goods. In 1999 Cape Town Port opened their gates to allow private transporters access to import containers. CDS was the first private company to enter the port by receiving harbour permits to collect import containers for local and national delivery. CDS is also one of the founding members of the CTHCA (Cape Town Harbour Carriers Association) and the CID (City Improvement District) in Airport Industria. We are proudly still members to both associations to date. In March of 2018, Vernon Rawstorne (biography below) became a 50 percent partner in Container Domestic Services joining Jet Pieters after acquiring Derek Morillion’s shares who has since retired.

After 27 years of existence, CDS is very proud of the fact that not one driver has ever resigned from the company. Their fleet of 21 trucks is strictly inspected to meet stringent standards set when it comes to the maintenance and roadworthiness of our trucks and equipment. The entire fleet is evaluated by the City of Cape Town in association with the cities Air Quality Management system and emission control which is adhered to. Our trucks are accompanied by 49 trailers of various sizes to handle 6 or 12m containers, as well as open loads. CDS also has a container depot housing a 100 ton mobile Gantry, a Crane truck to load and off-load containers at any destination effortlessly and a Side Lifter with a 30 ton lifting capacity that can transfer containers to other trailers, trucks or place containers on the ground.

CDS has a dedicated Operations team who efficiently plan and manage orders from our operations headquarters, situated at our depot in Airport Industria Cape Town. The CDS Ops team track, trace and communicate with drivers to give

our clients up to the minute live updates on all accounts regarding scheduled reports, status alerts and several event notifications on our fleet of trucks throughout the container delivery process.

CDS, as a responsible and diligent corporate South African company, appointed VLAME OHS as their preferred service provider to ensure full compliance to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 as well as to add value to the quality of service and value chains. Every load and all freight is treated with the utmost care and safety, by each individual within the supply chain at CDS, allowing all our clients ease of mind.

Our mission statement is to provide our customers with an excellent and friendly service in order for our link in the logistics chain to be professional and stress-free.

Jet Pieters

Vernon Rawstorne

Vernon Rawstorne

Director

In 1989, Vernon and two friends started a small parcel express courier company out of their garage – EWC Express. They bought two small 1-ton vehicles, and between the three of them took turns delivering freight. One year later, they had grown enough to rent their first small warehouse space. By 1992, they were occupying three small warehouses and had expanded their business into the international market. As EWC continued to grow, they were able to open permanent offices in Durban and in Cape Town, and even a temporary international office, which was located in London.

Over the course of 21 years, they were able to grow the company into a business with over 200 vehicles, an excess of 20 000m2 in warehouse space, just over 600 staff members and offices in all major cities around South Africa. With EWC express S.A (pty) Ltd having reached its full

potential, they sold the majority of their shares to Imperial Logistics in 2010, after which Vernon stayed on for a further 4 years as the CEO to ensure a smooth transition. In 2015 he started consulting within the logistics industry, with hopes to help other companies grow and succeed in the same way EWC Express S.A. did. He did so by becoming the Logistics Process and Operations Consultant for Intertown Transport (ITT), assisting in road freight, line haul, small parcel delivery and increasing operational efficiency and streamlining new process flow.

In March 2018, Vernon became a 50% partner in Container Domestic Services joining Jet Pieters after acquiring Derek Morillion’s shares who has since retired from the company.