Austrian logistics agent cargo-partner connects China and Europe by truck whilst Gruber Logistics ensures somewhat cleaner skies above the Austro-Italian Brenner Pass. cargo partner's new
services are driven by the recognition that trucking is an increasingly viable alternative to air, sea, or rail transportation across the vast Eurasian land bridge. Gruber Logistics' improvements
are a welcome step towards a solution to decades of pollution problems.
cargo partner has introduced truck runs from China to Europe. These take between 22 to 25 days, going via the Middle Coridor and ferrying across the Caspian Sea in Central Asia. The same time is needed for return road transports from west to east.
Reacting to market demand
The vehicles avoid touching Russian soil due to the sanctions regime imposed on Russia by Western and other countries as a result of Moscow’s assault on Ukraine. The first transport was completed
in early JUL23: a temperature-controlled shipment of lithium batteries for an automotive customer. Adding trucking solutions between China and Europe was requested by a growing number of
customers engaged in electronics, e-commerce and the automotive sectors, states cargo-partner. Based on its established and dense network in China and Europe, the company stresses in its release
that it offers comprehensive door-to-door solutions from a single source, which helps to reduce transit times and avoids delays in unloading and reloading.
Constant monitoring
cargo-partner’s first transport via the Middle Corridor took place from mid-JUN23 to early JUL23, and consisted of a temperature-controlled shipment of lithium batteries for a German-based
automotive customer. Since the batteries were declared as dangerous goods, cargo-partner took care of all customs formalities and handled the required certificates and documentation. In addition,
specialists constantly monitored not only the transport process, but also the temperature of the shipments.
During the initial phase only full truck loads can be booked
cargo partner's road transportation team in China is responsible for the trucking services. It offers the market tailored concepts with permanent data access (tracking) from beginning to end. To
secure the optimal route, cargo-partner’s team of experts react immediately to changing local circumstances, selecting the most favorable route and border crossing for every single transport.
Transit times vary depending on the origin and destination points, and currently the service is only available for full truck loads.
In addition to the competitive transit times, the new transport option has the advantage of being able to move goods that cannot be shipped by air or rail.
e-trucks run across the Alps
And the trucking sector has announced other news: the introduction of long-distance services operated by battery-powered VOLVO trucks across the Brenner Pass in the Alps, between Italy and
Austria. Due to the increasing volume of freight traffic, not only are the road and rail infrastructures and logistics hubs frequently overloaded, but greenhouse gas emissions along the route are
also steadily rising. A challenge both for the local residents and the fragile mountainous region. Now, Gruber Logistics has decided to set new accents. The company is focusing on alternative
drive systems and innovative solutions to decarbonize heavy-duty transport. As part of its sustainability strategy, the Group has already shifted around 40 percent of its traffic from road to
rail, but trucking remains an indispensable factor in Gruber’s modal mix.
Green corridor
The utilization of electric vehicles is the next step in decarbonizing transports. Martin Gruber, CEO of Gruber Logistics Group, says: "To enable the spread of e-powered trucks, we need to
think not only about the vehicle’s technology and the needed infrastructural, but above all rethink the entire logistics supply chain from A to Z."
That said, the manager urges that current logistics models be transformed a doptimized so that they can operate at their full capacity. This is to be achieved, among other things, through the
intelligent and individual combination of e-vehicles, drivers, and technology. An important factor is also to take existing loading options into account when planning the vehicle's route and
estimated operating time.
During a visit to the headquarters of Gruber Logistics,:Daniel Alfreider, Provincial Councilor for Mobility and Infrastructure of the Province of Bolzano, said: "It is important to us as the
Province of Bolzano takes measures along the Brenner axis to create a 'Green Corridor'. Through the efforts and tests of Gruber Logistics, we are at least one step closer to this goal. Only
through well thought-out and tested logistics models can the turnaround be achieved. In this area, Gruber Logistics is a pioneer not only in South Tyrol, but throughout Europe."
Heiner Siegmund
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