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Day: 24 July 2019

Industry View: IRU Logistics and Innovation Forum in London in February 2020

Posted on by David Priestman

On 21st February 2020, IRU will host its second Logistics and Innovation Forum in London. The conference will be a unique opportunity for transport operators, service providers and national transport associations to share knowledge, connect and learn about new solutions on a subject of utmost importance to the industry: safety.

Among other leading figures in the road transport sector, attendees will hear from Kristian Kaas Mortensen, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Girteka Logistics, who will deliver a keynote speech at the conference. Girteka Logistics is a Lithuanian Logistics Company that operates over 6,000 trucks and employs more than 13,000 truck drivers.

Ahead of the LIF Event, IRU caught up with Kristian to talk little bit about safety in the road transport sector:

Hi Kristian, you’ll be travelling to London for our Logistics & Innovation Forum in February. What is Girteka Logistics most looking forward to getting out of the event?

Firstly, I’m grateful for the invitation and truly looking forward to joining everyone in London! My primary interest at events is always to meet other people from across the industry, and to listen and learn about the very latest trends and developments.

Secondly, I hope to be able to share some of Girteka Logistic’s experience and challenges both today and going forward. Girteka Logistics sees a strong opportunity for continuous, sustainable organic growth in our industry. Our vision is to own and operate a fleet of 10,000 trucks and trailers by late 2021, so at the event I look forward to discussing how we plan to achieve this growth while at the same time remaining focused on road safety and innovation.

You mentioned safety there, which happens to be the theme of this year’ forum. How is Girteka Logistics using innovation to improve safety?

We are working on a number of initiatives to improve safety throughout our fleet, including working on our own e-Transport platform in the years to come, which I will speak about in much more detail at the forum.

We are also making the most of what technology can offer us. Just last year we invested in a high-technology tablet for every single truck and a paired smart phone in the hands of every single driver. Now we have 6,000 high-tech trucks where we can support the driver on the road in real time, wherever he or she is.

Additionally, we have a new fleet equipped with a high degree of systems such as automatic emergency braking systems, stability control, and lane departure warning. Longer term, automation will improve safety by reducing human error and congestion on the roads.

What role do you see governments playing in improving driver safety?

I believe our number one priority is our core asset – our more than 13,000 fantastic drivers. For years, we have invested in our professional driver’s academy, to ensure safety on the road. This has helped us to attract and keep the best drivers in the industry.

From governments, we value investment in infrastructure, i.e good pavement quality, lane-markings, road signs and signals. These are all vital to improving safety.

Finally, what does Girteka Logistics see as the major innovation opportunities for road transport?
You can’t pick up a newspaper these days without reading about automation. It will obviously be revolutionary when we start being able to fully benefit from it. Although full adoption is still some way off, at least part automation is already on the horizon. This will improve safety in many ways, and we are eager to adopt these technologies into our business.

Please click here to register your interest in the Logistics and Innovation Forum and keep updated with the event.

Industry View: IRU Logistics and Innovation Forum in London in February 2020

Posted on by Keith McKinley

On 21st February 2020, IRU will host its second Logistics and Innovation Forum in London. The conference will be a unique opportunity for transport operators, service providers and national transport associations to share knowledge, connect and learn about new solutions on a subject of utmost importance to the industry: safety.

Among other leading figures in the road transport sector, attendees will hear from Kristian Kaas Mortensen, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Girteka Logistics, who will deliver a keynote speech at the conference. Girteka Logistics is a Lithuanian Logistics Company that operates over 6,000 trucks and employs more than 13,000 truck drivers.

Ahead of the LIF Event, IRU caught up with Kristian to talk little bit about safety in the road transport sector:

Hi Kristian, you’ll be travelling to London for our Logistics & Innovation Forum in February. What is Girteka Logistics most looking forward to getting out of the event?

Firstly, I’m grateful for the invitation and truly looking forward to joining everyone in London! My primary interest at events is always to meet other people from across the industry, and to listen and learn about the very latest trends and developments.

Secondly, I hope to be able to share some of Girteka Logistic’s experience and challenges both today and going forward. Girteka Logistics sees a strong opportunity for continuous, sustainable organic growth in our industry. Our vision is to own and operate a fleet of 10,000 trucks and trailers by late 2021, so at the event I look forward to discussing how we plan to achieve this growth while at the same time remaining focused on road safety and innovation.

You mentioned safety there, which happens to be the theme of this year’ forum. How is Girteka Logistics using innovation to improve safety?

We are working on a number of initiatives to improve safety throughout our fleet, including working on our own e-Transport platform in the years to come, which I will speak about in much more detail at the forum.

We are also making the most of what technology can offer us. Just last year we invested in a high-technology tablet for every single truck and a paired smart phone in the hands of every single driver. Now we have 6,000 high-tech trucks where we can support the driver on the road in real time, wherever he or she is.

Additionally, we have a new fleet equipped with a high degree of systems such as automatic emergency braking systems, stability control, and lane departure warning. Longer term, automation will improve safety by reducing human error and congestion on the roads.

What role do you see governments playing in improving driver safety?

I believe our number one priority is our core asset – our more than 13,000 fantastic drivers. For years, we have invested in our professional driver’s academy, to ensure safety on the road. This has helped us to attract and keep the best drivers in the industry.

From governments, we value investment in infrastructure, i.e good pavement quality, lane-markings, road signs and signals. These are all vital to improving safety.

Finally, what does Girteka Logistics see as the major innovation opportunities for road transport?
You can’t pick up a newspaper these days without reading about automation. It will obviously be revolutionary when we start being able to fully benefit from it. Although full adoption is still some way off, at least part automation is already on the horizon. This will improve safety in many ways, and we are eager to adopt these technologies into our business.

Please click here to register your interest in the Logistics and Innovation Forum and keep updated with the event.

UK University Launches New Logistics Degree Course

Posted on by David Priestman

The UK’s University of Bolton has launched a pioneering degree course in partnership with well-known transport and logistics company Eddie Stobart.

The Eddie Stobart and University of Bolton’s three-year BSc degree programme in Logistics & Supply Chain Management guarantees a graduate job for successful students.

Students will be interviewed by representatives of both the university and Eddie Stobart before being accepted on the course.

They will combine classroom learning with a variety of work placements and get the opportunity to be exposed to all key areas of the business.

Once they have successfully completed the degree, they will be taken on in a graduate job role in the company.

The university is now inviting applications for the degree programme, which will start its first cohort in the forthcoming academic year (2019-20).

To apply for the course, visit https://www.bolton.ac.uk/eddie-stobart/

Pictured: Kondal Reddy Kandadi, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, joined Alex Laffey, Chief Executive Officer of Eddie Stobart, at the company’s headquarters in Warrington to sign the contract.

UK University Launches New Logistics Degree Course

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The UK’s University of Bolton has launched a pioneering degree course in partnership with well-known transport and logistics company Eddie Stobart.

The Eddie Stobart and University of Bolton’s three-year BSc degree programme in Logistics & Supply Chain Management guarantees a graduate job for successful students.

Students will be interviewed by representatives of both the university and Eddie Stobart before being accepted on the course.

They will combine classroom learning with a variety of work placements and get the opportunity to be exposed to all key areas of the business.

Once they have successfully completed the degree, they will be taken on in a graduate job role in the company.

The university is now inviting applications for the degree programme, which will start its first cohort in the forthcoming academic year (2019-20).

To apply for the course, visit https://www.bolton.ac.uk/eddie-stobart/

Pictured: Kondal Reddy Kandadi, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, joined Alex Laffey, Chief Executive Officer of Eddie Stobart, at the company’s headquarters in Warrington to sign the contract.

CSR Commitment in Q-Pall’s New Netherlands HQ

Posted on by David Priestman

The construction of European plastic pallet specialist Q-Pall’s new Netherlands headquarters has begun. The new location in Veghel along the A50 and is expected to be complete by the end of this year. The new building will house both the new European headquarters and a new industrial hall and will further expand this company, which was founded in 2005, and also offers good opportunities for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is especially important to Q-Pall.

Q-Pall’s commitment to CSR is shown by the design and the construction of the new headquarters and the new industrial hall. Foundation piles were already present at the building site, which were taken into account in the design of the location. This not only saves on construction costs, but also prevents unnecessary use of materials. In addition, the new construction enables Q-Pall to take other major steps in the field of CSR. For instance, an air/heat pump and solar collectors will not be missing on the roof, and the new building will be virtually energy-neutral.

The design of the building is sleep and simple, but due to large windows, large overhangs and the integration of things like the awning into the facade, it will be a beautiful building. It is the next and large step in Q-Pall’s desire to produce sustainable plastic pallets in an efficient way.

Q-Pall is a major European player in the field of manufacturing plastic packaging materials, particularly plastic pallets. What is characteristic is that Q-Pall has the production of plastic pallets take place on the location where there is a need for those pallets as much as possible. This is achieved by transporting the moulds that are used to create the pallets to the local production facility. Transporting only those moulds results in enormous savings on transport kilometres, and therefore, on CO2 emissions and the costs of trucks.

A concrete example: if plastic pallets are produced in the Netherlands that are intended for the French market, this means many full trucks need to make long trips to the south and back. By only transporting the mould to France and producing the pallets locally, huge savings are achieved in terms of transport kilometres and, as a result, the CO2 emissions. There are currently production locations in Balk (NL), Ringe and Marktoberdorf (D), Ribe (DK) and Nantes (F).

 

CSR Commitment in Q-Pall’s New Netherlands HQ

Posted on by David Priestman

The construction of European plastic pallet specialist Q-Pall’s new Netherlands headquarters has begun. The new location in Veghel along the A50 and is expected to be complete by the end of this year. The new building will house both the new European headquarters and a new industrial hall and will further expand this company, which was founded in 2005, and also offers good opportunities for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is especially important to Q-Pall.

Q-Pall’s commitment to CSR is shown by the design and the construction of the new headquarters and the new industrial hall. Foundation piles were already present at the building site, which were taken into account in the design of the location. This not only saves on construction costs, but also prevents unnecessary use of materials. In addition, the new construction enables Q-Pall to take other major steps in the field of CSR. For instance, an air/heat pump and solar collectors will not be missing on the roof, and the new building will be virtually energy-neutral.

The design of the building is sleep and simple, but due to large windows, large overhangs and the integration of things like the awning into the facade, it will be a beautiful building. It is the next and large step in Q-Pall’s desire to produce sustainable plastic pallets in an efficient way.

Q-Pall is a major European player in the field of manufacturing plastic packaging materials, particularly plastic pallets. What is characteristic is that Q-Pall has the production of plastic pallets take place on the location where there is a need for those pallets as much as possible. This is achieved by transporting the moulds that are used to create the pallets to the local production facility. Transporting only those moulds results in enormous savings on transport kilometres, and therefore, on CO2 emissions and the costs of trucks.

A concrete example: if plastic pallets are produced in the Netherlands that are intended for the French market, this means many full trucks need to make long trips to the south and back. By only transporting the mould to France and producing the pallets locally, huge savings are achieved in terms of transport kilometres and, as a result, the CO2 emissions. There are currently production locations in Balk (NL), Ringe and Marktoberdorf (D), Ribe (DK) and Nantes (F).

 

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