A Year of Resilience, Innovation and Purpose for Vector Logistics

2025 has been one of the hardest years the logistics sector has faced. Rising costs, unreliable energy supply and supply chain volatility tested every part of the industry. For Vector Logistics, however, the year became a powerful reminder of what is possible when people, partnerships and purpose stay at the centre of the business.

Chief Executive Officer Keith Pienaar says the year should not be remembered only for its challenges, but for the resilience his team showed. “The environment challenged every aspect of our business. What stands out most is not our ability to survive these conditions, but to adapt through them,” he explains.

Despite external pressure, Vector Logistics strengthened service consistency, deepened customer collaboration, and invested in long-term priorities, including sustainability, digital transformation, and people development. In many ways, 2025 became the year the business proved its resilience. Not only to endure, but to advance.

Operational focus lifted performance across the business. More innovative route planning and a more efficient network helped reduce unnecessary kilometres. Digital tools such as real-time tracking and predictive analytics improved visibility for internal teams and customers. Renewed attention to operational discipline and leadership capability lifted execution standards organisation-wide.

A major milestone was the introduction of Vector Logistics’ fully electric, bumper-to-bumper net-zero trucks. These trucks eliminate tailpipe emissions and use net-zero refrigeration technology. They operate cleaner and more efficiently, and offer drivers safer, more comfortable cabins. For customers, they provide access to a greener and more responsible supply chain.

Sustainability runs through every part of the business. Solar installations, energy-efficient warehouses and improved waste management support long-term energy and environmental goals. Partnerships with organisations such as SA Harvest help strengthen food recovery and reduce waste. Teams receive training on energy awareness and leaders are equipped to integrate ESG thinking into daily operations.

Partnerships remain a core advantage. Collaboration with major customers supports the development of better visibility solutions. Work with technology partners accelerates electric-vehicle adoption. Community partnerships, including work with the Imbumba Foundation, broaden the company’s social impact. Shared value continues to deliver stronger outcomes for all.

Looking to 2026, several trends will influence South Africa’s logistics sector. These include stricter decarbonisation expectations, rapid advances in data-driven operations and increased demand for cold-chain transparency. Companies that prioritise sustainability, technology and collaboration will define the next era of logistics.

For Vector Logistics, the lessons are clear—agility matters. Technology must scale. Sustainability strengthens competitiveness. Partnerships amplify impact. And people remain the business’s greatest asset.

“In essence, 2025 did not just test us. It refined us,” says Pienaar. That refinement now guides a bold, future-ready path for 2026 and beyond.