Road

In a strategic move aimed at bolstering its operational capabilities, Infrabel, Belgium’s railway infrastructure manager, has secured a leasing agreement with Lineas, the country’s leading rail operator, to lease up to 20 locomotives for the next six years. This contract not only grants access to the locomotives but also entrusts Lineas with their maintenance, ensuring their availability for nationwide use as shunting trains, crucial for enhancing operational efficiency across Belgium’s rail network.

The Kazakh-Chinese joint commission on road transportation held a meeting in Aktau, during which new directions of cargo transportation were discussed. For the first time, transit road transportation of goods is carried out along the China-Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan-Georgia route through the ports of Kuryk and Baku. Three Chinese trucks, each weighing 80 tons, departed Urumqi, passed through the transit route and were loaded onto a ferry at the port of Kurik to continue their journey.

Contargo, based in Wörth am Rhein, has unveiled the inaugural battery-driven electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 customer vehicle, marking a milestone in e-mobility for container transport. Expected to cover over 800 kilometers daily in Wörth and its vicinity, the vehicle showcases Contargo’s commitment to innovation.

DACHSER’s logistics center in Karlsruhe is set to grow with the acquisition of approximately 27,800 square meters of warehouse space in Rastatt. Strategically positioned at the Rastatt North freeway junction near the Rhine ports in Karlsruhe, the new facility is slated for completion by early 2025, enhancing the company’s warehousing capacity in the Middle Upper Rhine logistics region by around 42,000 pallet spaces.

DACHSER has solidified its presence in the Italian logistics landscape by acquiring an 80 percent stake in the joint venture DACHSER & Fercam Italia, effective March 28, 2024. This acquisition marks the completion of DACHSER’s majority takeover of the groupage and contract logistics divisions of Fercam, following a competition law review and approval by the European Commission in November 2023. The joint venture, formed to focus on groupage and contract logistics operations in Italy, began its operations at the beginning of the year, with DACHSER officially joining on March 28, 2024, and completing the purchase.

Ukraine and Montenegro have agreed to introduce a “visa-free transport visa” for freight transport, which will come into force on June 1, 2024. The Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs of Montenegro on the liberalization of all types of cargo transportation between countries.

DACHSER is fortifying its European food transport and storage network with the acquisition of Brummer, its partner in the European Food Network for temperature-controlled food transport. The acquisition includes Brummer Logistik GmbH in Germany and Brummer Logistic Solutions GmbH & Co KG in Austria, encompassing the entire operational business of the Brummer Group. The deal’s specifics, including the purchase price, remain undisclosed pending approval from German and Austrian competition authorities.

Mainfreight continues to expand its offerings by optimizing road haulage routes through its Belgium branch. The recent adjustment includes shortening the route from Ghent to the UK hub, opting for a more efficient 85 km shipping route from Zeebrugge to Tilbury, rather than the previous 250 km road journey through the tunnel. Similar route adjustments to destinations like Leeds in the UK result in significant kilometre savings, enhancing both time efficiency for drivers and availability of international drivers. These optimizations enable Mainfreight to serve a larger number of destinations more cost-effectively while providing enhanced sustainable transport options throughout Europe.

DACHSER, a key player in the logistics industry, witnessed a challenging financial year in 2023 amidst weak demand and overcapacity post the pandemic boom. Group revenue dipped to around EUR 7.1 billion, with transported volumes and tonnage experiencing notable declines. Despite these challenges, DACHSER reported a significant increase in turnover compared to pre-crisis levels in 2019, reflecting resilience in adapting to market fluctuations.

Rhenus Group is launching a Green Steel Logistics Hub at its Dortmund site, scheduled to commence operations in autumn 2024. The hub aims to facilitate environmentally conscious transhipment and transportation of steel, particularly targeting companies involved in steel production, handling, and processing. Rhenus is implementing sustainability measures, including modernizing existing warehouses with features such as solar panels covering 4,000 square meters to generate electricity for crane equipment, the building, and charging infrastructure for upcoming electric trucks.