Dar Es Salaam - Greatlakes Freight Limited (Dar Es Salaam, Head Office)
Greatlakes Freight Limited is an independently owned freight forwarding company headquartered in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The organization emphasizes a substantial asset base, reporting ownership of more than 600 trucks regionally and an additional fleet of over 400 trucks operated by professional subcontractors. This footprint supports a broad spectrum of freight and transport services across East, Central, and Southern Africa, underlining the company’s capability to manage complex logistics networks and large-volume shipments.
The company describes its service portfolio as including ship agency and ocean freight, import and export cargo handling, project and break bulk operations, warehousing, international freight forwarding and air freight, customs clearance, and integrated road and rail services. This mix positions Greatlakes Freight as a comprehensive logistics partner for a wide range of goods, from general cargo to specialized or oversized shipments, across multiple modes of transport.
Quality and compliance appear central to the company’s operating framework. Greatlakes Freight highlights ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications, which align with an emphasis on quality management systems, safety, and occupational health and safety standards. The corporate narrative reinforces a philosophy of reliability, speed, and a global-local network approach, aiming to deliver consistent service levels for customers operating across regional borders.
Geographic reach is a notable feature. While the headquarters are in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, the company maintains subsidiary offices in Mombasa, Kenya, and Beira, Mozambique. In addition, satellite offices extend to landlocked neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the broader region, with partner offices at key border points that connect Eastern Africa. This network is described as enabling efficient cross-border movement and access to a wide range of trade corridors, which is essential for customers seeking dependable regional logistics solutions.
Service lines are framed to cover both standard freight forwarding needs and specialized cargo. The offering includes road freight with a stated fleet of 600+ trucks, ocean freight with strong carrier partnerships, and air freight services for time-sensitive and high-value cargo. Customs clearance and cargo handling are presented as core competencies, along with warehousing and value-added services (VAS) designed to optimize inventory management and reduce operating costs for clients. The company also highlights capabilities in ship agency and general, special, and dangerous cargo handling, indicating a breadth of expertise across different regulatory and safety requirements.
From a strategic perspective, Greatlakes Freight positions itself as a local service provider with a global reach. The firm emphasizes a technology-driven approach, compliance and safety, and a commitment to transparency, reliability, and high-quality service. The emphasis on staff values—professionalism, integrity, teamwork, respect, and transparency—signals an organizational culture oriented toward customer-focused service delivery and continuous improvement.
Industry coverage and applications span multiple sectors. The company notes operations across agriculture, manufacturing, food processing, construction, mining, oil and gas, and renewables, suggesting the ability to tailor logistics solutions to sector-specific needs, including handling of complex and potentially hazardous cargo where applicable. Memberships with Tanzania-based associations such as the Tanzania Customs Agents Association (TACAS) and the Tanzania Shipping Agency Corporation (TASAC) further anchor the firm within the regional regulatory and professional framework.
In terms of market positioning, Greatlakes Freight emphasizes its extensive regional network, cross-border capabilities, and end-to-end logistics services. The combination of fleet scale, network strength, and a comprehensive service suite supports operations that require coordinated transport across multiple modes and geographies. While the company underscored its experience in East and Southern Africa and its ability to handle a variety of cargo types, it also highlights its capacity to offer competitive rates through established partnerships with shipping lines, which is a key consideration for customers seeking cost-effective solutions for regional movement.
Overall, Greatlakes Freight Limited presents itself as a well-established regional freight forwarder with significant asset-based capacity, multi-modal capabilities, and a commitment to quality and safety standards. The company’s profile reflects a structured approach to delivering reliable logistics services across a broad geographic footprint, with an emphasis on compliance, customer service, and scalable solutions to support a diverse range of industries across East and Southern Africa.
Operational highlights include a multi-country network, a mix of owned and subcontracted trucking assets, and an emphasis on both traditional freight forwarding activities (ocean, air, and road transport) and value-added services such as warehousing, cargo handling, and customs clearance. The presence of ISO certifications and membership in key regional associations suggests an alignment with industry best practices and regulatory expectations, contributing to the company’s ability to meet client requirements in a demanding cross-border logistics environment.
As the East and Southern African logistics landscape continues to evolve, Greatlakes Freight Limited’ s integrated service model positions it to respond to growing demand for reliable, compliant, and efficient cross-border freight solutions. The organization’s stated mission and values reflect a commitment to delivering high-quality service with transparency and accountability, which are essential attributes for customers navigating complex supply chains across multiple jurisdictions.
