Logistics Business Magazine, September 2025

The September 2025 issue of Logistics Business magazine is packed with insights into the technologies, strategies and solutions reshaping global supply chains. A strong focus is placed on artificial intelligence and automation, with Samsara showcasing its latest driver safety and fleet optimisation tech from the Beyond event in San Diego. Further AI coverage includes interviews with Coupa’s international head and Transporeon, both exploring how data-driven platforms are transforming spend management and freight visibility.

Supply chain strategy takes centre stage in an exclusive interview with Siemens’ Alexander Tschentscher, who advocates a shift from reactive resilience to strategic robustness. Meanwhile, Ewals Cargo Care shares how its “warehouse on wheels” model and modal shift approach are reducing emissions while expanding operations across Europe. Port innovation is also in the spotlight as PEMA President Achim Dries outlines how ports and terminals are digitising, automating, and gradually weaning off diesel in favour of electrification and smart power management.

Inside the warehouse, automation continues to surge. Hyster discusses its big-truck innovations at TOC Europe, and a new automated distribution centre in Coventry demonstrates what’s possible in modern DC design. Case studies from CLAAS, Axfood, and others show how internal logistics and fulfilment strategies are evolving to meet increasingly complex demands.

Sustainability is another dominant theme throughout this edition. The magazine looks at how plastic pallets, automated packaging and green fuels—such as HVO used by DHL’s Formula 1 fleet—are cutting carbon without compromising performance. E-commerce brands like Bathroom Mountain and major supply chain software providers such as Soloplan and IFS also feature prominently, revealing how automation, AI and smart planning tools are supporting faster, leaner, and more resilient operations.

From warehouse doors to multimodal transport, and from predictive software to people-centric AI, this issue offers a comprehensive and engaging snapshot of the forces shaping logistics in 2025.

The Benefits to Trailer Side Skirts

As the European Union tightens its regulations on trailer aerodynamics, Ewals Cargo Care are taking proactive steps to meet and exceed these standards. The upcoming Vecto-rules, mandating a 10% reduction in CO₂ emissions for new trailers by 2030, represent a forward-looking approach to addressing climate change. Although trailers themselves do not directly emit CO₂, their design plays a critical role in the fuel efficiency of the trucks towing them. Improving the aerodynamic performance of trailers can lead to significant reductions in fuel consumption, which in turn lowers overall CO₂ emissions.

Consider a conventional box-shaped trailer, which creates significant air resistance when hauled by a truck. Adding features like side skirts, rear trailer tails, and smooth underbody panels can streamline airflow and reduce drag. For instance, a study by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) showed that adding side skirts to trailers can improve fuel efficiency by up to 7%, while trailer tails can contribute another 4-5%. These modifications collectively reduce the energy the truck needs to maintain speed, leading to lower fuel consumption and a corresponding decrease in emissions.

Ewals’ approach to innovation

Ewals Cargo Care are starting with a pilot program to test a single trailer equipped with Aerodymax’s side skirts. This innovation can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 5%. This pilot will allow Ewals to evaluate their performance in various transport modes, including ferry and rail. Lashing trailers on ferry ships and positioning trailers with side skirts into train wagons will require monitoring for potential damage or wear and tear. However, they hope for a positive result from the pilot. By embracing innovative solutions like aerodynamic skirts, Ewals are not only complying with regulations but also innovating in sustainable way.

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