Momentum Logistics

OFFERING A COMPLETE SUITE OF CUSTOMISED SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

FIRST-CLASS THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER

Recently appointed as Managing Director of Momentum Logistics, a third-party logistics (3PL) subsidiary of Gulftainer, Daniel Caton tells us what attracted him to the United Arab Emirates and the region’s leading fully integrated 3PL provider Writer: Jack Salter | Project

It’s well documented that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the perfect logistics hub, strategically located in the Middle East between Europe, Asia, and Africa, backed by excellent infrastructure and a very friendly business environment.”

The logistics industry in UAE is thriving, according to the recently appointed Managing Director of Momentum Logistics, Daniel Caton, who has observed massive growth in the sector during his time in the country.

Having grown up in the Heathrow area of West London, an equally important logistics hub that plays a

SUPPLY CHAIN OUTLOOK: WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT WORKING IN UAE?

Daniel Caton, Managing Director:

“The multicultural environment of UAE makes it exciting. Personally, it’s allowed me to travel to so many countries around the Middle East and Africa.

“On top of that, I’ve had the pleasure to experience these countries and collaborate with people from different backgrounds and cultures. That cultural diversity brings out creativity, innovation, and has made me grow as a person.”

big part in the local community, Caton originally moved to UAE in 2010, pursuing the opportunity to further his career in the industry outside the UK.

“Since I got here, the number of warehousing and logistics developments alone is astonishing,” he reflects.

“My first role was with Kuehne + Nagel in Dubai Logistics City, and there was maybe a handful of warehouses and just a load of desert. Now, there’s hundreds of supersized warehouses and every company you can think of.”

Momentum Logistics was formed just a couple of years before Caton relocated to UAE as a subsidiary of Gulftainer, a leading operator of regional ports and terminals and provider of customised supply chain and logistics solutions.

Launched in 2008 to enhance Gulftainer’s service offering, the company has since evolved and built a strong reputation of its own in the region as a leading fully integrated 3PL provider.

In his short spell at Momentum Logistics, having only joined in September 2023, Caton has already

witnessed the company’s association with Gulftainer in the ports and geographies that the latter operates in.

“Gulftainer operates ports in the UAE’s Northern Emirates, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and southern areas of Iraq; we specialise in those strategically located trade gateway areas,” he states.

“As Momentum Logistics, we’ve invested heavily in warehousing and transportation, adding value to our clients’ supply chains via operational efficiencies, cost savings, and so on.”

COMPLETE SUITE

With operations spanning the Middle East, Momentum Logistics offers a complete suite of customised supply chain management solutions, including transportation, freight forwarding, warehousing, logistics cities, and container services.

The company has hundreds of dedicated and experienced employees across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the US (it is the first and only operator from the Middle East to manage ports in the US), providing logistics solutions to a loyal band of clients.

JASPA General Trading Co LLC

JASPA holds over 30 years of experience in the automotive sector and caters to the UAE and GCC region. It offers experience through its range of customised tyre solutions and training to fleet owners to help optimise their operations. The company caters to the complex ecosystem of fleets, logistics, transportation, and rental companies by offering end-to-end solutions for their constantly evolving needs with a fully equipped mobile services van and a network of fitment partners located across the UAE.

Tel : +971 4 224 9353 | Toll Free: 800 - JASPA (52772) Email: sales@jaspa.com | www.jaspa.com

The in-house technical team conducts rigorous product and performance testing to check its suitability for the application with stringent standards. The company’s on-field expertise ensures trust among customers and has been rewarded with turnkey contracts from major fleets and government entities in the UAE. The company aims to provide a seamless digital solution for customer complaints and after-sales support to get rapid resolutions to any warranty claim or complaints.

MOMENTUM LOGISTICS’ BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

CONTAINER SERVICES

Momentum Logistics offers a wide spectrum of services, from container inspection to trading, leasing, and conversions.

INLAND TRANSPORTATION

The company has been setting the pace for cost-effective and safe inland transport and distribution in UAE.

INLAND CONTAINER DEPOT

Momentum Logistics has the only inland container depot in UAE, with excellent connectivity to highways across the region.

LOGISTICS CENTRES

The one-stop logistics centres allow Momentum Logistics’ customers to enhance their supply chains by routing cargo through its excellent facilities.

CONTRACT LOGISTICS

Designed to cater for clients seeking to outsource a large proportion of their supply chain under the governance of a single contract.

FREIGHT FORWARDING

One-stop freight solution offering a diverse range of customised services, including air freight, ocean freight, customs clearance, and land transport.

“WE HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN REJUVENATING OUR FLEET WITH ALL NEW SCANIA TRUCKS AND TRAILERS, ENSURING WE HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE, FUTUREPROOF, AND COMPLIANT VEHICLES”

– DANIEL CATON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MOMENTUM LOGISTICS

“They’re complemented by our team of customs clearance and freight solutions experts who take care of our clients’ precious cargo, and supported by one of the youngest truck fleets in the region,” informs Caton.

Indeed, Momentum Logistics has carried out a fleet replacement programme over the last few years, introducing modern, fuel-efficient vehicles.

The fleet now comprises 200

commercial vehicles and 240 multipurpose trailers, deployed at multiple depots to optimise utilisation.

“We have invested heavily in rejuvenating our fleet with all new Scania trucks and trailers, ensuring we have the most up-to-date, futureproof, and compliant vehicles,” outlines Caton.

Scania was the obvious choice to initiate Momentum Logistics’ fleet replacement programme, as a world-leading provider of transport solutions that offers an extensive range of purpose-built trucks and buses for heavy transport applications.

The company’s fleet was recently recognised at the 2023 Truck and Fleet Awards, which celebrate those who play a key role in the operations, logistics, and projects at the heart of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economy, as the company received the Heavy Fleet of the Year award.

“The Truck and Fleet Awards were a great platform for us that showcased our achievements, as well as our improvements in safety,” acclaims Caton.

SAJA’A INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PARK

In 2024, the flagship project that Momentum Logistics is embarking on is the development of the Saja’a Industrial Investment Park (SIIP), in a continued effort to develop logistics cities throughout the Middle East. This 750,000 square metre (sqm) site, strategically located on the outskirts of Sharjah, will be home to

warehouses, distribution centres, a transportation park, a container freight station and repair workshop, offices, personnel accommodation blocks, a mosque, and a food court.

Ideally positioned to connect all three of the city’s seaports and Sharjah International Airport, SIIP is expected to become the focal point to unite modes of transport linking with Gulftainer’s terminal operations, creating a truly integrated multimodal logistics facility.

“SIIP is in a prime location to be a warehousing and distribution hub in the Northern Emirates,” states Caton.

“Due to the success of our existing bonded Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Sharjah, we are delighted to expand our logistics footprint in the Northern Emirates to Saja’a, the manufacturing and industrial heart of the UAE.

“We plan to break ground on our first warehouse construction this year,” he reveals.

“Collaborating with the right partners and maintaining strong supplier relationships drives our growth and ensures long-term stability”

“SIIP IS IN A PRIME LOCATION TO BE A WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION HUB IN THE NORTHERN EMIRATES”

– DANIEL CATON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MOMENTUM LOGISTICS

INVESTING IN EMPLOYEES

Another of Caton’s personal priorities for 2024, in his first full calendar year at the company, is to invest in the training and development of Momentum Logistics’ employees.

“Ultimately, our staff are the backbone of our business, and from what I’ve seen in my first few months here, we’re blessed that Gulftainer invests significant time and money in empowering our staff through individual and team development programmes.

“A lot of our employees have been

here for a long time, which is a good thing and means they enjoy the company culture,” he notes.

Along with having skilled and motivated staff members, Momentum Logistics’ partners and suppliers are critical to its success.

“Collaborating with the right partners and maintaining strong supplier relationships drives our growth and ensures long-term stability,” concludes Caton.

“I believe it’s really important to build relationships, gain customer loyalty, attract new business, and

then strengthen those partnerships with regular communication, making sure we understand the needs of our clients and partners, and identify opportunities for collaboration and improvement.”

MOMENTUM LOGISTICS

Tel: (+971) 6506 2000

info@momentumlogistics.com

www.momentumlogistics.com

MOMENTUM LOGISTICS

Sharjah, UAE

Tel: (+971) 6506 2000

info@momentumlogistics.com www.momentumlogistics.com