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Tag: Transport

PFS serves up fulfilment order at Laver Cup

Posted on by David Priestman

Fulfilment provider PFS defied expectations when it achieved a 24-hour fulfilment order for OnRunning during the recent Laver Cup tennis tournament.

PFS has worked with OnRunning since July 2021, managing the direct-to-consumer and B2B order fulfilment for its  retail channels. As a global sponsor of the Laver Cup, OnRunning was met with unprecedented demand for its special edition shoe, THE ROGER Advantage LC22, created and launched in celebration of Roger Federer as he played the final tournament, concluding his legendary tennis career as part of “Team Europe”.

With customer demand at a high, OnRunning submitted a request for 300 pairs of THE ROGER to be shipped from the PFS Distribution Centre, based in Southampton, over to the Laver Cup venue in London as quickly as possible. With one hour before close, and a delivery time of 10am the following day, PFS was able to fulfil and deliver within the deadline. As part of its process, PFS provided real-time updates to the OnRunning team, working overtime to pick the order in just over two hours rather than the four it would usually take, and delivering it using one of PFS’ express/same-day delivery couriers.

Samuel Frei, Head of Operations at OnRunning, commented: “PFS helped to make the Laver Cup event a great success for us. Without the stock delivered by the team so quickly and effectively, we would have missed out on key sales for THE ROGER Advantage LC22. PFS understood our needs and have all the capabilities required in a fulfilment provider to deliver. Since July 2021, PFS has met our high expectations, and we look forward to the relationship continuing as they support our order fulfilment operations.”

Joe Farrell, VP of International Operations at PFS, commented: “OnRunning had an immediate need that required our teams at PFS to move quickly to deliver. We pride ourselves on being agile and dynamic in the way we work, but the team took the meaning to greater heights. I’m extremely proud of the efforts put forth to make it happen. OnRunning is a fantastic brand, and we look forward to executing and supporting their growth for years to come.”

PFS dispatched every unit of THE ROGER Advantage LC22 available in the distribution centre, enabling the sale of 314 pairs of shoes over the course of the event.

 

ALMAC 2022 to explore trending industry topics

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The forthcoming Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) is the important thought leadership event of its kind in Asia, which brings together industry professionals from all sectors along the supply chain and shippers, to exchange latest market intelligence and explore business opportunities around the world. ALMAC 2022 takes place on 22-23 November online and at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Hong Kong has long been the preferred logistics hub in the region thanks to its strategic location, world-class infrastructure and multi-modal transportation links. In 2021, Hong Kong International Airport handled 5 million tonnes of airfreight, still ranking as one of the world’s busiest air-cargo centres. Also, the city remains in the world’s top-10 container ports with an annual throughput of about 18 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of containers. In more than 30 months, the COVID pandemic has presented significant challenges to the global supply chains. Looking ahead, as the journey to recovery begins, the ALMAC promotes a platform for exchanging views among global industry leaders.

Running under the theme “The Future of the Sustainable Supply Chain: Connectivity ∙ Collaboration ∙  Innovation”, the ALMAC will gather supply chain stakeholders, including shippers, to examine the importance of building connectivity, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation in creating a sustainable future for the industry and global trade development. It will cover trending topics such as opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), supply chain transformation, intermodal connectivity, smart supply chain, logistics automation and sustainability.

 

GXO completes Clipper acquisition

Posted on by Keith McKinley

GXO Logistics, Inc., the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, has received regulatory clearance from the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for its acquisition of Clipper Logistics plc. On 24th May 2022, GXO completed its offer; however both companies continued to be run independently pending completion of the regulatory review.

GXO Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Wilson said: “GXO and Clipper are both industry leaders and together, we’re even stronger. As one company, we expect to accelerate growth by expanding our geographic presence in key markets and verticals, bolstering our roster of blue-chip customers and enhancing the breadth of innovative warehouse capabilities we provide.”

Prior to the acquisition, GXO operated more than 900 facilities globally totalling approximately 200m sq ft with 120,000 team members. With Clipper, GXO gains more than 50 sites, 10msq ft, 10,000 team members, and adds geographic presence in Germany and Poland, in the life sciences sector as well as expertise in premium services, including reverse logistics and repairs, which are key growth areas for GXO.

Wilson added: “We share a commitment to ESG, providing an exceptional customer experience and harnessing technology to improve efficiency, productivity and employee safety. Being a great fit culturally will underpin our future success and make for a seamless integration.”

GXO expects to realise significant productivity opportunities and cost synergies within two years from transaction close. The integration process will begin promptly and progress through the latter part of the year to ensure a successful holiday peak season for customers.

 

BYD debuts new zero-emission trucks

Posted on by Keith McKinley

BYD, a world-leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles and power batteries, revealed two exciting zero-emission eTrucks to European customers at the recent IAA Transportation 2022 event in Hanover

The two pure-electric trucks – the ETM6 7.5-tonne urban delivery truck and the ETH8 19-tonne truck designed for logistics and waste collection – feature BYD’s very latest technology for safe, reliable and efficient electric transport, and have been designed with European customers in mind.

A focal attraction of the BYD stand was the official European reveal of BYD’s new and highly adaptable eBus Blade Platform, incorporating the ultra-safe, and highly durable Blade Battery that it says is revolutionising battery electric transportation.

Expertise in battery and electronic technologies have been central to this, supported by BYD’s experience in new energy solutions. This knowledge, combined with an exceptional depth of research & development resources, has enabled BYD to master the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as power batteries, electric motors, electronic controls, and power semiconductors.

Such technological expertise and a relentless dedication to zero-emission electric mobility has been the foundation to BYD becoming a world-leading NEV manufacturer. BYD has built up an extensive global footprint in this sector that covers six continents, including more than 70 countries and over 400 cities, saving more than 12 million tonnes in carbon emissions. There are now more than 2.5 million BYD new energy vehicles on the road worldwide today, of which 90,000 are commercial vehicles.

Javier Contijoch, eBus Sales Vice President at BYD Europe Commercial Vehicles, said: “We are pleased to introduce BYD’s latest technological innovations to European customers, spanning eTrucks and eBuses. The launch of our eBus Blade Platform is especially exciting and represents further progression in electrification for this sector. We already enjoy solid relationships with many strategic partners and look forward to establishing more collaborations, to bring localised services and high levels of knowledgeable support and value to customers in Europe.

“We assist this further with BYD’s unique capability to offer total solutions supporting energy management and charging infrastructure. We see the future as electric, and through partnerships, we want to help European customers have the smoothest of journeys as they electrify their fleets.”

BYD is the first and only provider of 100% emissions-free full-market transport solutions in Europe, including an IFOY award-winning range of electric forklift trucks. For over two decades, BYD has been at the helm of technological innovation in pure-electric solutions for commercial transportation. BYD was the first company in the world to introduce fleet of commercial electric buses and has since evolved to become a world leader in this field.

Fraikin appoints new MD

Posted on by David Priestman

Contract hire, fleet management and rental specialist Fraikin has appointed Peter Backhouse as UK Managing Director in a move which sees him return to the business, having originally led the company between 2010 and 2015.

Prior to his reappointment, Backhouse had spent much of this year working in a consultancy role for Fraikin, sharing a wealth of industry experience which has included 13 years holding senior supply chain and logistics positions at both BT and Jewson, 11 years with Ryder between 1997 and 2008, with seven as Vice President and Managing Director of its European fleet and supply chain business. He was also Managing Director of Bunzl Healthcare for two years before joining Fraikin for the first time, returning to the industry as a consultant in 2019.

Backhouse says: “I’m delighted to be returning to a leading fleet company in Fraikin as Managing Director, especially at such an exciting time for the industry. So much is changing right now with new legislation, new environmentally friendly drivelines and new connected technologies. With such a fast pace of evolution it’s vital for businesses to access the most expert, independent, and up-to-date advice when making decisions about future fleet strategy.

“Fraikin is in a fantastic position to be the fleet partner of choice, and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to re-join the company. We pride ourselves on delivering market-leading fleet solutions, utilising our deep industry knowledge and experience to deliver a complete tailored service package to customers. As a totally independent business, our team can also recommend the best outcome for every individual customer’s unique needs, regardless of vehicle brand.

“Plus, with strong funding fully secured and ready to use, we are also in the enviable position of being able to look at significant fleet investments, with both new and existing customers. Our Board and Shareholders are fully committed to develop and grow our UK business and we are excited and ready for a strong and positive future.”

Transaid exceeds 50,000 professional drivers trained in Africa

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Transaid used its recent annual showcase event in London to celebrate two major road safety milestones met during 2022, whilst also highlighting the significant challenges facing its professional driver training projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking before an audience of around 100 corporate members and supporters, Road Safety Project Manager Neil Rettie announced that since 2008, Transaid had trained more than 100 professional driver trainers, who have in turn delivered training to more than 50,000 mostly HGV, PSV and forklift drivers – having a lasting impact on road safety standards.

CEO Caroline Barber paid special thanks to the industry for its steadfast support, saying: “Achieving these milestones in 2022 has only been possible thanks to our strong partnerships, incredible teams and partners in Africa, and the remarkable backing from the transport industry and those that fund our work. Despite another challenging year, your support has remained constant, and I know that you are as committed to Transaid’s mission as ever.”

Looking to the future, Neil said that Transaid must work hard to support female drivers in gaining employment after completing their training – explaining that when entering a male dominated sector, women are often compared directly to male candidates for employment who already have years of experience.

He also highlighted that the environmental impact of transport means Transaid will place a renewed focus on teaching fuel-efficient driving, whilst also adjusting training to cater for the introduction of buses and motorcycle taxis with electric drivelines. Neil also warned that spiralling shipping costs are making it unrealistically expensive for Transaid to send donor vehicles to countries where they are needed to establish and grow training fleets – and invited offers of assistance from logistics or shipping partners.

As well as shining a spotlight on Transaid’s breadth of road safety projects, which includes work with the FIA Foundation in Kenya to establish a national motorcycle helmet coalition, the event included an update on its access to health initiatives, which have continued apace in 2022 with implementation of the MAMaZ Against Malaria@Scale programme.

The showcase was also an opportunity to present the annual Victor Simfukwe Awards – which recognise outstanding contribution and are held in memory of the former Transaid team member who passed away in 2019 following a road traffic accident in Zambia.

GXO graduate Abbie Rennison was highly commended for her nine-month secondment to Transaid’s professional driver training work in Uganda, whilst former Transaid Chair Jo Godsmark, who stood down in the summer, won the overall award for her unwavering commitment to the organisation. Jo spent nine years on the board of trustees, including six years as Chair, and will next week take part in Transaid’s Cycle Malawi event – the latest in a string of major fundraising commitments.

The event was kindly hosted at the central London offices of law firm Ashurst LLP.

Zeus grows rapidly with Primark

Posted on by David Priestman

Zeus, the UK-based start-up which is disrupting the freight industry with its next-generation digital platform, has expanded into Europe after signing up the pioneering international fashion retailer, Primark.

The partnership, which will see Zeus handling freight transport for the retailer on distribution routes to France, Italy and the Czech Republic, comes as Zeus recently marked its second anniversary. Under the agreement, Zeus is starting with distribution to destination stores in Italy and fixed ad hoc work to Czechia and France.

Primark is a leading international retailer providing affordable fashion for everyone, from great quality everyday essentials to stand-out style across women’s, men’s, and children’s, as well as beauty, homeware and accessories. It currently has over 400 stores globally, employs more than 70,000 people in 14 countries, with 20 stores in France, 11 in Italy and two stores in their newest market of the Czech Republic.

Zeus was founded in 2020 by young entrepreneurs Jai Kanwar and Clemente Theotokis, and has since undergone phenomenal growth, serving 40 enterprise-level clients handling over 600,000 tonnes of cargo annually worth circa £6bn.

The firm experienced a 100% conversion rate from manufacturers who trialled their platform in 2021, which offers a near ‘zero-touch’ approach to managing road freight, with complete end-to-end tracking, reconciliation, and system integrations.

The platform also reduces road freight administration for both shippers and hauliers, while helping carriers grow quickly with fast payment terms and a generous loyalty programme that includes 50% discounts on premium Apollo and Vredestein truck tyres and prepaid service cards.

Zeus, which aims to reduce the industry average of 30% of trucks running empty to just five% by 2025, achieved a 326% growth in total volume in 2021, and is on track to deliver a 400% growth in revenues by the end of 2022.

Chief Commercial Officer, Zeus, Sam McGuirk, said: “Primark is a great example of how quickly our unique model and freight platform can be applied into  new countries. New verified haulage firms join daily, and we already have over 10,000 trucks signed up. We met Primark’s need for high volume market activation and hope to further build on this relationship.”

Alistair Lindsay, Chief Operations Officer at Zeus, added: “Primark is our latest European client and represents a huge step for Zeus, which we are taking ahead of schedule. This client needed a rapid solution and our technology, teams and unique mixed model approach delivered this. Our easy-to-use platform is designed to help companies like Primark rapidly scale their middle mile supply chain while also helping hauliers find new freight that fits their fleet.”

 

IAA TRANSPORTATION attracts full halls

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The first IAA TRANSPORTATION exhibition ended extremely successfully on Sunday. Organisers, visitors and exhibitors were very satisfied with the new concept, which this year covered the entire transport and logistics spectrum.

1,402 exhibitors from 42 countries and a total of 230 national and international speakers were represented at IAA TRANSPORTATION and they presented their technical innovations, developments and concepts for tomorrow’s climate-neutral mobility.

“Following on from IAA MOBILITY, we have successfully developed and reinvented IAA TRANSPORTATION. We are now exhibiting the entire logistics spectrum, ranging from trucks to cargo bikes and delivery vans to parcel drones. This courage has paid off as the tremendous response from exhibitors and visitors showed that our new approach was the right way to go,” said VDA president Hildegard Müller at the close of IAA TRANSPORTATION in Hanover.

“Transport and logistics are the lifelines of our society and economy. The new IAA TRANSPORTATION concept has provided answers to the many challenges that the industry is now facing throughout the world. It became clear in Hanover that: our industry is delivering what is needed for a sustainable future.”

IAA TRANSPORTATION shines out through its Internationality

IAA TRANSPORTATION 2022 once again consolidated its position as the world’s largest platform for the transport and logistics industry – around two-thirds of the exhibitors were international companies. Visitors came from 72 countries.

The many global innovations that were presented here all focused on the electrification and climate neutrality of the drive train. The vehicle manufacturers presented a huge variety of electric and fuel cell-based drives as well as hydrogen combustion engines. New and also a trend: Replacement kits that enable the diesel drives fitted in buses and trucks to be replaced by a new battery drive system. This concept will enable haulage companies and local transport companies to modernise their existing vehicle fleets during ongoing operations.

Bodywork and trailer exhibitors also presented a wide range of innovations that included electrified trailer axles and more especially, lightweight trailers that will reduce a tractor’s energy requirements. The bus manufacturers focused on the electrification of intercity buses and coaches.

“Our industry is resolutely driving forward the biggest transformation in its history and this is also making an important contribution towards solving the challenges that society is facing,” said Müller. “The message from Hanover is this: We have the competence and the will to combine better logistics with more climate protection. The transport and logistics industry is now putting their innovations on the road – the climate neutrality mission is now in full swing.”

IAA TRANSPORTATION welcomed a total of more than 1,400 journalists from 57 countries. The exhibitors organised 89 press conferences. International media from 97 countries accounted for 77 percent of the coverage. Posts on social media channels were viewed more than 2 million times. Apart from Germany, there was very intensive exhibition reporting about the exhibition in the USA, Canada, India, Japan, China and South Korea.

Our exhibitors in detail: A total of 1,402 exhibitors presented themselves at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2022 and nearly two-thirds of them were international companies. 260 of them were exhibiting bodies, trailers and semi-trailers and there were nearly 600 suppliers as well. 68 international start-ups were also present in Hanover for the first time. Six cargo bike manufacturers also presented their new products, making an important contribution to low-emissions and city-friendly logistics.

The majority of the visitors rated IAA TRANSPORTATION’S new concept very positively. In particular, the range of innovations, the new models and the internationality of the exhibitors were rated as extremely good. Above all, the opportunity to try out new products for yourself proved to be very popular: IAA Test Drives, which was one of the experience formats, was given top marks by three-quarters of the visitors.

Around 7,500 test rides took place as part of IAA Test Drives and IAA Cargobike Parcours. A total of 61 commercial vehicles could be tried out as part of IAA Test Drives and the entire test operation was carried out in a climate-neutral way. Visitors could test the latest models under real conditions on the IAA Cargobike Parcours. The rush for the test drives was great and many test drives were fully booked out.

The next IAA TRANSPORTATION will take place in Hanover from the 17th to 22nd September 2024 (press day on September 16th 2024).

Scottish transport industry sets fundraising record for Transaid

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Transport and logistics companies from across Scotland recently came together for the inaugural Scottish Transaid Dinner, held in memory of the late Jayne Gray of Stirling-based H & R Gray Haulage. The evening raised an incredible £105,110.50 and marked the largest sum of money ever collected for Transaid on a single night.

Delayed for two years by the pandemic, the dinner was organised by Transaid Chair and former Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken, together with a team of Scotland’s next generation hauliers including Lynsey Mitchell from John Mitchell Haulage & Warehousing and Nicola Robertson (Malcolm) of The Malcolm Group.

Hauliers from across Scotland were invited to attend, with more than 200 people coming together at The Bothwell Bridge Hotel, in Bothwell. Funds were raised through ticket sales, sponsorship, and a special charity auction which included a horsebox which sold for £10,000, and a rare bottle of Macallan whisky fetching £4,500!

Speaking after the event, Joan Aitken said: “This was a stupendous show of support by the Scottish transport industry and a demonstration of fellow feeling towards those in Africa who do not have the benefits of safe transport.”

Florence Bearman, Head of Fundraising for Transaid, said: “We have waited a long time to enjoy this special moment with our supporters in Scotland, and the generosity they have shown towards Transaid is truly unprecedented. Every single penny will support our work delivering road safety and access to health projects.”

The evening included a touching tribute to Jayne Gray, and a chance to celebrate Transaid’s activities, which currently span nine countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

 

 

Manifest Vegas: Sponsor list continues to expand

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Manifest Vegas 2023 is doubling with 100 Sponsors now signed on. The list is impressive and the Manifest team is excited to announce new Headline and Gold sponsors such as Maersk, Ryder System, and Swisslog.

Since sharing the first list of 50 supporters this summer Datamatics, Envase Technologies, LOADSMITH, Mujin, MVMNT, Mastercard, Phononic, Platform Science and Schneider have all signed on.

What can you expect from these names joining the show? An Expo Hall filled with activations in which the Supply Chain and Logistics community can take part. There is an extensive list of unique experiences such as thought leadership taking place on The ‘Fest Live set as well as podcast studio. Perfect networking locations at the Biergarten, Rosé All Day Bar, Mocktail Bar, Coffee Bar and the coworking lounge. Attendees will also be able to grab a sweet and/or salty treat at the Donut & Bacon Bar, and back by popular demand the Expo Hall will be filled with puppies at the Puppy Park!

Thanks to Manifest’s sponsors and their creative ideas, attendees will enjoy meeting and learning about these innovative companies as well as have a little fun!

An expected 200+ Exhibitors will be on-hand in the Expo Hall from 31st January to 2nd February 2023 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, and they will participate in both traditional meetings and non-traditional activations mentioned above. The full floor plan will be shared next month. Ticket prices increase 31st October 31st, 2022 so register now using this link to obtain discounts exclusive to readers of Logistics Business.

 

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