NEWS\\\


Forwarder Kuehne & Nagel is all set to open its new super-hub at Bad Hertzfeld in the centre of Germany on 1 June, a senior vice- president told FBJ on 5 March. Jim Hedderwick, in charge of road logistics for north-west Europe said that around 50 direct lines would operate to and from the new hub daily, creating one of the largest forwarder-operated networks of its kind anywhere in Europe. While the pallet networks


have lately shown interest in continental Europe, including Germany, KN’s new network would be quite different in concept, Jim Hedderwick explained. “We are


not replicating the pallet networks – we will cater for freight of all sizes – subject to the normal size and weight limits.” He added that while the pallet networks have set up domestic operations in various European


countries, it would


take them some time before they could join them up and operate a full cross-border network in Europe: “We don’t see them as major competition, at least at the moment.” Creation of the


Bad Hersfeld


facility follows KN’s acquisition of German operator Carl Drude in October 2011. It has a 7,200sq m transhipment terminal with


Kallas OKs cross- border gigaliners


Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas described as “ridiculous” suggestions that adjacent member states that both allow longer trucks -


‘European Modular System


combinations’ or gigaliners - on their respective territories are not allowed to operate them between their two countries. He said he had received an opinion from the European Commission’s legal service which suggested that the Commission would not have any authority to ban such cross-border movements in any case. The Commission is


expected in future to interpret Directive 96/53/EC laying down the maximum dimensions and weights as authorising such cross- border operation. In an earlier letter to European


forwarder’s association, Clecat, Kallas


however seemed to


explicitly refute that suggestion and that only the European Court of Justice could arrive at a legally binding ruling on the issue. Brussels sources suggest that some MEPs may try to insist on a legislative amendment.


Cabotage under scrutiny again


The European Commission met with stakeholders to discuss further opening of the road freight cabotage market on 28 February. The hearing will provide information for a report to be draſted by the Commission in 2013. Under existing rules, introduced


in May 2010, an operator may carry out up to three cabotage operations within seven days aſter


unloading an international


consignment. However, the Commission


wants to build a Single European Transport Area in which restrictions on the activities of non-resident operators are kept to a minimum, if not completely eliminated. The existing regulation


1072/2009 also requires the Commission to carry out an


assessment of the market by 2013 and to analyse whether further liberalisation can be considered. If this is the case, the Commission should accompany this report by a legislative proposal. According to the Commission,


in 2010, almost a quarter of all heavy goods vehicles in the EU were empty and relaxing the rules would allow hauliers to optimise fleet management and loads. However, it also noted that


disparities still exist between member states in enforcing the rules on employment conditions. EU vice-president Siim Kallas


has called for a high-level group of independent academic experts to deliver their assessment on the internal market for road haulage by May 2012 which the Commission will take into account in its report.


105 loading bays, specialising in hub operations for international groupage networks. KN says that the new operation will help it increase departures and reduce lead times while improving vehicle fill rates. KN’s existing international hub at Haiger, which offers links between 38 countries, cannot be expanded any further.


In Germany itself, KN will


continue to partner with the IDS groupage network, covering 11 of its franchise areas. Announcing its annual results,


KN said that it had strongly outperformed the market in most of its major segments. Yngve Ruud, president, north west Europe, said that the UK outlook


Issue 2 2012


KN super-hub set to open in June


remained uncertain and the first quarter of 2012 was expected to be challenging, but KN had seen strong growth in turnover of 14.7% in 2011.


Airfreight volumes had


grown by 30%, despite a very weak market overall, and KN was now in the top ten service providers with around 3.5% of the total market and focussing on perishables, pharma


2012


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19


and aerospace. Assimilation of RH Freight was


moving ahead smoothly and the company’s contract logistics division had also gained significant business. This was in contrast with KN’s French contract logistics work, where the company acknowledged that it had significant issues to sort out.


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