Assessing the Effect of Human Resource Competence on Cargo Clearance Performance at Dar es Salaam Seaport, Tanzania

This study assesses whether Human Resource Competence (HRC) improves Cargo Clearance Performance (CCP) at Dar es Salaam Seaport. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and technology-adoption theory, the study surveyed clearing and forwarding agents, customs officials, and port administrators and estimated relationships using PLS-SEM. The reflective measurement model met reliability and validity thresholds (loadings ≥ .71; α, CR ≥ .86; AVE ≥ .60). In the structural model, HRC had a positive, significant effect on CCP (β = 0.34, t = 5.98, p < .001), and the model explained 51% of CCP variance (R² = .51) with predictive relevance (Q² = .31) and acceptable fit (SRMR = .064). Findings indicate that competence training quality, system proficiency, problem-solving, and coordination translates into faster, more accurate, and more efficient clearance. Practical implications include role-specific training, competency assessments embedded in HR cycles, targeted coaching for exception handling and data quality, and periodic Time Release Studies to track gains. The study positions HRC as a strategic complement to digital and process reforms in achieving sustained port performance.