Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Examples of Transportation Business Ideas If you enjoy helping people get from A to B or delivering their goods, one of these could be the transport business idea for you. Before you get started here are some insights to ensure your business is competitive.

By Nicole Crampton

You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Bigstock

Transportation is vital to the progress of every city. There's always something or someone that needs to be transported, and someone willing to pay for this to happen. There are numerous potential transport business ideas you can start; from Uber driving to specialised medical transportation.

Before you launch your transport business you can gain some strategies from these 10 transport business ideas:

1. Uber

Uber is a platform that connects drivers with people looking for transportation. You can sign-up for the app and support yourself full-time by driving for Uber. Before you get going here is an example of a transport business you can gain some insights from:

Business Name: Uber

Website: https://www.uber.com/za/en/

Established Date: 2009

About the business:

Harry Campbell offers other drivers' advice through his experience on his blog and podcast. He recommends taking an Uber ride to research your competition. You'll really notice the different in the experience between a 4.9 rating versus 4.6.

Innovative business offering

He recommends buying a phone mount as it can make your customer feel unsafe if you're checking the map in your lap while driving.

2. Uber Eats

Uber Eats is a food delivery platform that connects restaurants and hungry people together by delivering food from the restaurant to their door. This could be your new transport business opportunity.

Related: How Uber Used a Simplified Business Model to Disrupt the Taxi Industry

Before you sign-up, here are some strategies you can incorporate into your transport business to ensure you remain profitable:

Business Name: Uber Eats

Website: https://www.ubereats.com/en-ZA/

Established Date: 2014

About the business:

Ezra Dubroff offers drivers advice by contributing to Rideshare Guy.com, he says he was able to maximise his Uber Eats earnings by focusing on driver incentives like Quest and Boost as well as surge pricing.

Innovative business offering

To ensure you get to the delivery first you can position yourself near UberEATS partnered restaurants. This will save you time delivering the item as well.

3. A Courier Business

Courier businesses are in high demand as more consumers buy products online and want them delivered as quickly as possible. If this sounds like the industry you want to be in, then this could be a possible transport business idea for you.

Here is an example of a transport business you can gain insights from:

Business Name: E.P.X. Courier Services

Website: http://www.epx.co.za/

Established Date: 1999

About the business:

E.P.X. Courier Services focus on knowing and understanding their clients' businesses. They aim to have personal relationships with their clients and their staff.

Innovative business offering

In addition to their customer centric services, they have an inhouse team that provides seamless, fully integrated services to their corporate clients.

4. Specialised Transportation

If you want to offer a niche transportation service, this will reduce the amount of competition you have. An example of this type of transport business is abnormal truck loads, where trucks carry or transport abnormal or larger loads.

Related: How To Keep The Wheels Turning For Your Transport Business

Before you invest in a vehicle, here is an example of a transport business you can gain insights from:

Business Name: Concargo

Website: https://www.concargo.com/abnormal-transport/

About the business:

Concargo Gigantic Loads and Heavy Haulage South Africa specialises in heavy transport companies, which offer expertise and service according to their customers needs.

Innovative business offering

Concargo Gigantic Loads and Heavy Haulage South Africa offers specialised services in road haulage and specialised rigging of exceptional abnormal out-of-gauge indivisible oversized cargo from port of entry.

5. Minibus Taxi

Minibus taxis are the main source of transport for a large percentage of South Africans. If this appeals to you, you can open your own transport business helping South Africans get to and from work and deliver them safely to their destination.

Before you invest in a vehicle here is an example of a transport business you can learn from:

Business Name: Unicab

Website: http://unicab.co.za/

About the business:

Unicab's fleet caters to family shuttles, group travel, private gateways and transfers. Their taxis are available 24/7 all year round.

Innovative business offering

Unicab also offers an app, which allows you to book a ride from where you are. It helps the driver find the client and automatically charges the credit card that is loaded, but also accepts cash.

6. Medical Transportation

There are those who drive ambulances and transport the sick or people who have been in accidents, had heart attacks or are in labour. You could also drive a refrigerated vehicle and transport perishables such as blood or organs to hospitals.

Business Name: Kushesh Express

Website: https://www.kushesh.co.za/

Established Date: 2008

About the business:

Kushesh Express specialises in servicing the distribution needs of the medical and pharmaceutical industry. They focus on securely transporting medical supplies and equipment throughout South Africa.

Related: The Ultimate 101 List Of SA Business Ideas To Get You Started

Innovative business offering

They offer account manager services to each of their clients to continuously improve their offering and services, and they compile daily reports to measure staff performance and turn-around times on delivery to ensure they're ever-increasing their standards.

7. Airport Transfer Services

There are hundreds if not thousands of people landing at airports every day, some of which will need transportation to their end destinations. This could be the transport business for you. Here is an example of a successful transport business you can gain insights from:

Business Name: Mzo Shuttle Services: City Link Cabs

Website: https://www.citylinkcabs.co.za/

About the business:

City Link Cabs specialises in transporting customers to and from airports within Gauteng, as well as various destinations within the surrounding areas.

Innovative business offering

City Link Cabs offer professional transport services to individuals, groups or teams, organisations and school children. City Link Cabs also offers a door-to-door shuttle for conferences, hotels, functions, private parties and chauffeurs.

8. Bicycle Rental

As individuals try to become eco-friendlier, bicycle rental services are growing in demand. If this sounds like something you are passionate about, you could start your own transport business.

Before you start to invest in bicycles, here is an example of a successful transport business you can learn strategies from:

Business Name: Bike Market

Website: https://bikemarket.co.za/#rentals

About the business:

Bike Market offers quality bicycle rentals for all ride types, from the casual Sunday ride to the 9-day race. All of their rentals also come with helmets, bottle cages, water bottles and tubeless repair kits.

Innovative business offering

In addition to their rental service, Bike Market buy and sell pre-owned bicycles, equipment and accessories. They also offer full or partial services for their client's bicycles.

9. Moving Van Business

People are constantly on the move, which means there's constant demand for moving companies. This could be the transport business idea for you.

Related: Driving Profits In Transport

Before you invest in a large vehicle, here is an example of a successful transport business you can gain insights from to ensure your business remains sustainable and profitable:

Business Name: Amazing Transport

Website: https://amazingtransport.co.za/

About the business:

Amazing Transport aims to ensure their clients moves goes smoothly and efficiently. They also offer well-trained staff that aim to meet their clients every need. They cater for small through to large-scale corporate relocations and storage.

Innovative business offering

In addition to the transport services, Amazing Transport also offer transit and all risk insurance options for their client's goods, as well as storage and warehousing facilities.

10. Senior Services

The elderly also need to get to the shops, the hairdresser and to their doctors' appointments, but some of them are not able to drive themselves. If this is something, you're passionate about this could be the transport business idea for you.

Here is an example of a successful transport business you can gain insights from:

Business Name: SilverRide

Website: https://www.silverride.com/

About the business:

SilverRide offers flexible transportation options to meet the needs of their clients. They will pick their clients up from inside their homes and transport them safely and securely into their chosen destinations.

SilverRide offer this service for elderly customers who need assistance walking or require additional assistance.

Innovative business offering

In addition to their transportation services, SilverRide also offer tailored concierge services to their coordinated and managed assisted rides.

Related: 20 Innovative Business Ideas Doing Well Overseas (That Could Make You Money In SA)

Nicole Crampton

Entrepreneur Staff

Sales Enablement - Content Developer

Nicole Crampton is an SEO specialist who contributes to Entrepreneur.com/za. She has studied a BA Journalism at Monash South Africa and has continued her studies with a Creative Writing degree from UNISA. Nicole has completed several courses in writing and online marketing, and continues to hone her skills and expertise in digital media, digital marketing and content creation.

Side Hustle

At 16, She Started a Side Hustle While 'Stuck at Home.' Now It's on Track to Earn Over $3.1 Million This Year.

Evangelina Petrakis, 21, was in high school when she posted on social media for fun — then realized a business opportunity.

Starting a Business

Which Business Model Is Right for You? Here's What You Need to Know Before Choosing One.

Choosing the right business model is pivotal in shaping your entrepreneurial journey. Explore the benefits and challenges of various models — from franchising to lean startups — to find the one that aligns best with your vision and market needs.

Business News

Hybrid Workers Were Put to the Test Against Fully In-Office Employees — Here's Who Came Out On Top

Productivity barely changed whether employees were in the office or not. However, hybrid workers reported better job satisfaction than in-office workers.

Leadership

The Entrepreneur's Two-Letter Money Maker: No

Saying 'no' is a power move, an opportunity-enhancer, a limit-setter and an overall good idea.

Business News

Are Apple Smart Glasses in the Works? Apple Is Eyeing Meta's Ran-Ban Success Story, According to a New Report.

Meta has sold more than 700,000 pairs of smart glasses, with demand even ahead of supply at one point.

Starting a Business

What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship — 5 Hard Truths

Here are five things you need to consider before becoming an entrepreneur.