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Issue 6 2018 - Freight Business Journal


(FTL) service. Exis tin g


locations at Stelingerstrasse and Büttnerstrasse in Hanover will be consolidated into the new branch and will at the same time significantly increase the capacities of the existing


network. DHL Freight will test new


solutions and technologies at the site in order to further optimize. For example, DHL Freight is planning a control centre at the new location, in which all information on shipments as


Booming economy but driver shortages too


Germany’s economy is performing well, says Dr Andreas Froschmayer, corporate director corporate development


strategy at


forwarder Dachser. “We are seeing growth in


both domestic and cross-border freight services including the UK”


On the other hand: “Growth


leads to shortages in terms of capacities and manpower. The


shortage of drivers has been a burning issue for several years; the shortage of logistics operatives (people working in warehouses for example) will lead to further challenges in future.” In line with its motto ‘find,


lead, retain’, Dachser places great emphasis on education and training as well as on employee management and employee communication.


well as live information from operations will be centrally recorded. Data will be supplied by


intelligent forkliſts equipped with cameras and sensors for scanning goods and to guide the driver through the warehouse


With Germany’s economy


going full steam ahead, Dachser started construction of a new logistics centre to the south- west of Freiburg in August 2018. It will include a 6,200sq m transit terminal with 82 docking bays and a two-story office building. It has also opened a new warehouse was opened in Überherrn. Meanwhile, with some


German cities about to introduce bans on diesel vehicles, Dachser has developed a city distribution toolbox and is testing pedel- powered delivery vehicles and etrucks as alternatives.


Pallets across the country


In Germany, as elsewhere, the Palletways model of collection, delivery and direct input into the transport network is highly efficient and helps to optimise both asset utilisation for members, says local managing director, Abraham Garcia Martinez. He explains: “We cover almost 90% of Germany with our 24-hour service and the rest of the country with our 48-hour service. Our products include Premium (24 -48 hour in Germany, 48 hour in Europe) and Economy options (48 and 72 hour, respectively) as well as an AM and timed services according to individual arrangements with our customers. Palletways specialises in


committed to providing services for smaller businesses who require an express pallet delivery solution and for individuals wishing to send goods on a single pallet. Customers can choose to book directly with one of our members or use our online booking tools.” The main benefits of the


Palletways business model are the pan-European access members have to 20 countries and Palletways European-wide IT-platform. “There is also enormous flexibility from the direct input of pallets into our network as well as optimised volume utilisation of our members’ truck fleets. Direct input provides a highly efficient option for regular delivery as well as for fluctuating


mobility for members - for example an Estimated Time of Delivery system, linehaul arrangements and management information for business development. Customers can also connect their transport management soſtware to Palletways’ European-wide IT- systems. Martinez adds: “Another


important and unique feature of our services is the side loading and unloading of trucks which allows


oversized and non-


standard stackable freight to be transported with a very low chance of damaging the goods. Other benefits for Palletways’ members include an attractive pricing model, reduced administrative costs, sales and marketing support, state of the art IT systems and a European- wide binding approach to ensure high quality.” Palletways is the largest and


‘express’ distribution of small consignments of palletised freight across 20 European countries., he continues: “We have customers of all sizes, from those handling only a few pallets, to those managing many thousands a year. Our larger customers include big corporations including


third party logistics


suppliers, blue chip manufacturers and large retailers. But we are also


seasonal demands. We are also in the process of implementing one of the most advanced IT platforms in the industry. This will result in real-time visibility, from order acceptance to proof of delivery, offering new levels of transparency and efficiency.” Palletways is also developing


a number of new apps which will enhance convenience and


fastest-growing express palletised freight network in Europe. The group is made up of more than 350 network partners, with a combined total of over 400 depots. Palletways Germany comprises 62 members with a total of 72 depots, serving 20 countries on a daily basis. It also operates 18 central and regional hubs in different European locations. There are hubs in the UK, the Benelux Union, Italy, Iberia, France and Germany. Germany is served by a central Palletways hub in Knüllwald-Remsfeld and a regional hub in the Dutch city of Nijmegen.


using the fastest route. A solution for measuring the volume of parcels using camera sensors is also to be used in the terminal, up to six times faster than by hand. In addition, ring and glove scanners are to be used in the future to make it easier


///GERMANY


for terminal staff to consolidate freight. Solutions and the experience


gained will then be combined with other pilot technologies to form a ‘lighthouse’ project that will represent DHL Freight’s vision of the freight terminal of


the future. Green measures will include


a photovoltaic system, heat exchange pumps and LED lighting, the aim being to achieve the gold certificate from the German Sustainable Building Council.


Rhenus to form river joint venture


German forwarder Rhenus is planning to set up a joint company with Dutch port services provider, the LBH Group, to service the inland waterways sector and the onward carriage of goods. The two partners will draw


up the legal framework over the next few weeks for the deal, which still has to be approved by the cartel authorities. The LBH Group was founded by the brothers Jan and Bert


Lagendijk in Rotterdam in 1984 and today has operations at European ports and on all five continents. Rhenus itself can trace its roots back to the Rhine and Main rivers and now has a diverse, global network of business sites with extensive port capacity. Managing director of Rhenus


Port Logistics, Thomas Maassen, said: “By cooperating with LBH, we’d like to significantly strengthen our joint position


at Rotterdam. We’ll therefore be able to offer the customers of both the LBH Group and the Rhenus Group an even more efficient and flexible range of services in future than we’ve done in the past.” Managing partner of the LBH


Group, Bert Lagendijk, added: “It’s our goal to be able to offer our international customers a complete chain of services from the departure country to the final recipient. We’ve found a suitable partner in Rhenus to support and strengthen us in this field.”


General cargo is still something


of a niche area in the German market, says Martinez. According to


analysis by research


organisation Fraunhofer IIS, the German logistics market volume was worth €253 billion in 2016 but the general cargo segment accounted for only €9 billion of that total. Dominant players in the market include: Dachser, DB Schenker and Deutsche Post DHL and the networks of IDS Logistik, Cargoline and System Alliance, 24plus, Online Systemlogistik and the INL/Star/VTL cooperation. Within this busy market place,


Palletways is a comparably small network but, says Martinez: “We however position ourselves as a niche provider being very simple to use, the best value for money


and covering national and pan- European destinations. We are also unique given that Palletways combine excellent employee industry knowledge with our state of the art IT-platform.” Palletways has recently seen


an increasing trend towards smaller and more individual freight loads


from B2C deliveries


through e-commerce growth. It is well positioned to respond to this trend. Small loads of 1– 6 pallets are a growing element of its service structure, “and our business model ensures optimised asset usage, high flexibility, transparency, quality and timeliness as well as advanced real-time visibility. It’s therefore no coincidence that the B2C share of total transport volumes for Palletways UK is


increasing. In Germany this segment is also rapidly growing.” Of course, there are several


challenges facing the German logistics industry which are also affecting Palletways. These include; rising transport costs, a growing driver shortage, deteriorating infrastructure, and looming driving bans in inner cities as well as other environmental restrictions. Further improvements to processes including productivity- enhancing analysis and planning tools supported by our state of the art IT platform will help deal with these challenges. The expansion of the network is also crucial, extending coverage within Germany and increasing the number of international destinations for customers.


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