News Room

Adcock Ingram Accelerates Owner Driver Project

Adcock Ingram Accelerates Owner Driver Project

An Enterprise Development Initiative

Midrand, 01 July 2016 – A line-up of newly branded trucks created a colourful background as a number of owner drivers received the keys to the new vehicles at a handover ceremony at Adcock Ingram Healthcare in Midrand.  The celebration was attended by stakeholders and staff and marked the latest phase in the Adcock Ingram owner driver enterprise development initiative.

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 Adcock Ingram owner driver scheme was developed as an innovative scheme to give promising candidates ownership of a business, while realising the Company’s enterprise development objectives.

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 Company empowers the drivers 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.

Adcock Ingram is the only local pharmaceutical company with a full service logistics division. “Today marks the expansion of the fleet, with the addition of 8 vehicles, bringing the fleet of our owner driver entrepreneurs to 52 vehicles,” said 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.”

Speaking at the launch, Meshack Matswi, one of the first-phase and now 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,” said Matswi, speaking at the handover function.  “I have grown so much since being given this opportunity and have gained business 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.”

While handing over the keys, Krige emphasised the commitment of the participants.  “I am privileged to be here today to formalize this next phase of the owner-driver project.  We believe in adding value to life and as a company, we are committed to helping combat unemployment. There is a great entrepreneurial spirit shared by our owner drivers and it is amazing to see how much dedication and effort people can put into something when given the chance,” Krige concluded.