TNT wins 18-month Gibson contract

International courier company TNT Express recently announced it is to be the sole express delivery provider to Gibson Brand Inc. across Europe, the Middle East and Africa – regions of increasing importance to Gibson, the famous musical instrument manufacturer.

Amsterdam-based TNT has won an exclusive 18 month contract with Gibson, which will entail management of the delivery of the full range of Gibson Brand Inc. products to 300 authorised dealers in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. TNT will deliver via its road network through its well-known Economy Express service, taking special care to ensure that the delicate instruments and professional audio equipment is protected in transit and arrives in perfect condition.

As well as handling deliveries to customers, TNT has also been tasked with handling returns from dealers to Gibson’s distribution centre in Vianen, Netherlands, for repairs or replacement. This will be done as efficiently as possible thanks to TNT’s recently launched e-RMA (Return Material Authorisation) tool. Through this online portal, Gibson customers can arrange a return shipment with ease, with complete visibility as to the progress of their return and replacement is available online.

Alex Smits, EMEA DC Manager Gibson Europe stated, "Reliability is the number one reason we’ve chosen TNT Express to manage our express transportation activities in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. With e-RMA we have a great dashboard that provides excellent visibility of return shipments to our distribution centre in the Netherlands. I am confident this will contribute to our promise to customers: "We get you back playing."

DHL subsidiary opens largest parcel sorting hub in Czech Republic

Professional Party Logistics (PPL), a subsidiary of DHL Freight, has opened a new parcel sorting in hub the Czech Republic . The facility, the product of a 24.7 million Euro investment, is the largest of its kind in the country and is expected to make parcel delivery in the Eastern European country faster and more flexible than ever.

The new hub has increased sorting capacity drastically: it is capable of handling up to 18,000 parcels per hour, compared to the former hub’s 4000 an hour capacity. The new facility also comprises 190 loading and unloading ramps for trucks and vans and houses a rolling conveyor of almost 3km in length which can travel up to 3 meters a second.

Stefano Arganese, CEO of DHL Freight in Eastern Europe said "The need for a bigger and better parcel hub was driven by a continuous growth of B2B and B2C parcel shipments in recent years. The new capacity and the cutting edge sorting technology allow us to cope with the growing volume of shipments and strengthen our position as a market leader for fast shipments in the Czech Republic".

FedEx first quarter growth led by International Economy service

FedEx Corp reported a year-on-year improvement for the first quarter yesterday. Consolidated results showed a 2% increase in total revenue from $10.8 to $11 billion and a 7% rise in operating income from $742 million to $795 million. FedEx CEO Frederick Smith said overall growth in demand was the main cause of the company's recent success.

FedEx Express, the parcel delivery division and by far the largest part of the business, saw a slight 0.3% decrease in revenue from $6.63 to $6.61. This was attributed to lower fuel surcharge revenue and one fewer operating day. Nevertheless, operating income for the division was up 14%year-on-year from $207 to $236 million.  

While US domestic volume and revenue was flat, export volume grew 4% - with most of this coming from the lower end delivery services: FedEx International Economy grew 15% while FedEx International Priority saw a slight decline. 

Speaking of the results, CFO Alan Graf Jr. commented,“We remain confident in our full year earnings outlook despite tepid global economic growth. FedEx Express continued to execute on its profit improvement initiatives during our first quarter. We remain focused and are committed to FedEx Express achieving its $1.6 billion operating profit improvement target by the end of fiscal 2016.”

FedEx Ground, the division for day definite delivery across North America, reported an 11% increase in revenue from $2.46 to $2.73 billion, while the FedEx Freight Segment saw a relatively modest revenue increase of 2% from $1.4 to $21.42 billion. 

DHL pilots crowdsourcing app for deliveries in Stockholm

DHL announced yesterday that it is to pilot an innovative crowdsourcing platform for parcel deliveries in Stockholm. While crowdsourcing has been an increasingly popular practice for some time, this is the first example of such an initiative by one of the giants of the express parcel delivery industry, and, if successful,  it could have huge implications for the sector. 

The new platform, named "My Ways",  is enabled by a specially developed mobile app which connects shippers seeking flexible delivery with individuals willing to transport parcels along their daily routes for a small fee. Peter Hesslin, CEO of DHL Freight in Sweden explained: "MyWays is not only a service for those requesting flexible deliveries; it is also a service for those who would consider delivering a package and earning a little extra money. This is what makes the platform so unique. As soon as the package arrives at one of DHL's collection locations, the recipient and the deliverer confirm the fee and delivery details, all within the mobile app."

The app has been developed by DHL's innovation unit Solutions and Innovation, which researches current  and future trends in the industry. The pilot is due to run until the end of the year and DHL are yet to make any announcements relating to potential further roll-out if it proves successful. 

Source: DHL

DPD to offer same day delivery in Germany

Following its recent acquisition of a 20% share in the Munich-based tiramizoo city courier portal, which offers delivery within time frames as little as 90 minutes in 15 German cities, courier company DPD has stated it plans to offer its German customers same day delivery by the end of 2013. 

Chief Operating Officer of DPD GeoPost Boris Winkelmann commented, "by participating in tiramizoo we are taking a leading role among parcel services on a key market of the future. At the moment same-day deliveries are still a niche market, but we regard its growth potential in future years as enormous. Offering delivery on the same day is already highly attractive for service-oriented shippers and consumers, and this is why we aim to make a same-day service available to our customers by the end of this year."

As well as end of year targets, DPD are also planning to offer one hour delivery windows by 2014, which Winkelmann asserts "will set a new benchmark on the German parcels market".

Sending a parcel to Germany

Germany has the strongest economy in the European Union and has long been the UK’s largest EU export partner country. If you’re planning to send a parcel to Germany for business, you’ll be looking for the best possible rates and a parcel delivery service that you can trust. As well as offering up to 70% savings on delivery services from top couriers such as DHL, UPS and TNT, Transglobal Express has a strong presence in Germany. We established an office in Frankfurt in 2011 and we know the German market well.

Sending documents to Germany

If it's documents rather than a parcel that you need to send to Germany then you could save up to 50% off the parcel rate.Whether it’s a contract, letter or certificate, Transglobal Express offers excellent rates for document delivery to Germany. . If your consignment weighs less than 1kg and will fit into a 335 x 240mm UPS envelope then this service is for you. Get a quick quote for document delivery to Germany through our easy-to-use quote form. Don’t forget to select “documents” as your consignment type!

Transit Times to Germany

Transit times to Germany can vary depending on the courier service you select and the precise destination of you parcel. Since Germany is a member of the European Union, customs clearance is not required of parcels from the UK, making transit times quicker than they would be for a non-EU country. Generally speaking, an express service such as DHL Express Worldwide, UPS Express Saver or TNT Express can offer next day delivery to Germany from the UK; road-based economy services can take a few days longer. If you know your collection and delivery postcode you can calculate the transit time using the tools on our Transit Times page.

Parcel delivery to Russia: tips and advice

Russia is a vast country, spanning two continents and nine different time zones. At over 17 million square kilometres, it is the biggest nation in the world by area and comprises both the densely populated cities of Moscow and St Petersburg in the West and the more remote areas of Siberia to the East of the Ural mountains. When sending a parcel to Russia, you therefore need to use a carrier with experience and an established network in the country if you want to ensure the smoothest possible delivery.

Transglobal Express offers parcel delivery to Russia via DHL, UPS, and TNT, all of whom have been operating in Russia for decades, and all of whom can boast extensive networks throughout the nation. DHL, for example, has over 150 offices and 7 major depots across Russia, and can service over 600 Russian towns and cities.

Booking with Transglobal Express means you will save up to 70% on sending parcels to Russia without having to compromise on quality. We have major contracts with DHL, UPS and TNT, and are able to secure the best rates due to the amount we send with them. We pass these reduced rates onto you.

It's important to note that only commercial shipments to Russia are admissible- customs regulations means that parcels cannot be sent to private addresses - you must send your goods to a recognised business address.
If you're sending documents, these can be delivered to either a business or a private address. Be warned that Russian Customs authorities only accept paper documents in this category- information stored on CDs or other media will not be classed as a document, and will therefore be subject to parcel regulations and clearance procedures.

Although Russian Customs are renowned for being stringent, you should not let this discourage you from sending parcels to Russia- there are some great business opportunities in the country, and UK-Russia trade is growing at impressive rates, with an average of 21% annual growth since 2001.

As long as you choose a reliable carrier and ensure you inform yourself of the most up-to-date customs regulations in advance of dispatching your goods, you should not encounter any issues at all.

If you book your service through Transglobal Express you will have the added peace of mind of being able to track your parcel every step of its journey, from collection through to delivery. Our customer services staff have years of experience in facilitating delivery to Russia, and are on hand to assist you throughout the process should you need any help.

FedEx Express opens new stations in Germany

FedEx Express has opened four new stations in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous German state. The new facilities have compelled the courier company to increase their workforce in the region by 25%, creating 150 more jobs, in addition to the 600 already in the area. 

With the addition of the four new stations, FedEx now operates almost 50 facilities across Germany. The stations act as small distribution centres for shipments from regional customers and are sorted on site before being delivered throughout Germany, Europe and worldwide. 

Carl Graham, Managing Director of Operations at FedEx Express Central and Eastern Europe, said the expansion was intended to boost both proximity to customers and service flexibility: “[Germany’s] economic focus on exports in key industries such as chemicals, engineering and automotive means that it has to depend on reliable logistics service providers. We offer companies quick and reliable connections to their international trading partners and, in doing so, promote growth in the region,” he commented.

DHL, one of FedEx’s largest competitors, is headquartered in Bonn and will no doubt be observing the US-based courier’s further expansion into the region with interest.

DPD Germany builds Social Media presence

In a move to encourage more direct engagement with customers, international courier DPD launched new Facebook and Twitter pages for its German branch earlier this month. As well as using the sites as promotional platforms, DPD will also offer customer services via both sites, and have gathered over 1000 Facebook "likes" and 49 Twitter followers so far.

Boris Winkelmann, COO of DPD GeoPost (Deutschland)  explained,  "As part of our B2C strategy we are increasingly aiming at direct communication with consignees and putting them in charge of the delivery of their parcels. With our presence on Facebook and Twitter we are highlighting our efforts to integrate parcel shipping as simply as possible in the everyday lives of consignees." Frank Rickert, Social Media Coordinator at DPD, added, "As a dialogue instrument Facebook offers tremendous potential, which DPD as a service-oriented company intends to use to the full." 

The rise of e-commerce has meant that commercial shipping to private consignees is of increasing importance  to DPD, a trend which reflects the door-to-door courier sector as a whole. Business-to-consumer (B2C) activity necessitates greater flexibility than the B2B model and social media is one way in which DPD, along with many other courier companies, are responding to this need. 

In May, we pointed out the increasing importance of social media to the major global carriers and this trend is showing no signs of letting up. Would you use Facebook or Twitter to book or track your delivery services?

DHL receives certification for chemical transportation

DHL Global Forwarding, the freight branch of DHL, has received the ISO certification for the standard of its chemical transportation in Germany. Facilities in several German cities including Hamburg and Frankfurt were audited by SQAS (Safety and Quality Assessment System) requirements. 

Volker Oesau, CEO of Middle and Southern Europe for the DHL branch commented, "The chemical industry is an important sector for our air and ocean freight business. We are continually analyzing the industry's needs and implementing appropriate solutions. We plan to put further stations of DHL's European network through the SQAS certification process in the upcoming months".

The DHL stations were audited by the independent inspection company SGS AS by means of a standarized questionnaire. Emphasis is placed on the safety of the procedures in place, as well as the environmental compatibility for the transportation and storage of chemicals by logistics service providers. 

TNT Express to cut over a quarter of its Italian workforce

TNT Express plans to cut approximately 850 jobs from its workforce in Italy, it was announced this afternoon. The courier company currently has approximately 3000 employees in its Italian Business Unit, and is preparing to reduce this number by over 28%, to around 2150. 

The plans are a response to what TNT has termed the "harsh economic environment" in Italy and are in line with the company's overall strategy - redefined after the failed merger with UPS -  which entails the loss of 4,000 jobs across the company by 2015.

TNT has insisted that this move does not represent any intention to reduce services in Italy but is intended to secure the company's long-term market-leading position in the country. The job losses will affect 20 facilities across Italy, but TNT has stated that service levels across the whole Italian network will be maintained. 

Source: TNT

TNT Express trials Brussels mobile depot

TNT Express introduced a mobile depot in Brussels this Wednesday 29th May. The initiative will be trialled for three months in the first instance and aims to improve the efficiency of parcel delivery to TNT Express customers in the Belgian capital.

The mobile depot is a large custom-designed trailer which will serve as a storage and sorting centre between the TNT Express hub at Brucargo and the centre of Brussels.

The depot will be located in Parc du Cinquantenaire, the large public park in the European quarter of Brussels.  Electric tricycles (‘cyclocargos’) will replace TNT Express vans for deliveries to Schaerbeek, Etterbeek and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode as part of the depot's deployment, eliminating an estimated 900 kilometres of van movement a week in the busy city centre.

As well as improving efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of TNT Express' parcel delivery service in the area, the increased visibility of TNT in the city is no doubt intended to enhance the courier's brand as well. 

Deutsche Post DHL to roll out new electric vehicle fleet in Bonn

By 2016, around 141 electric vehicles will be on the road in and around Bonn, Germany, resulting in decreased CO2 emissions of over 500 tons per year, according to a presentation made this morning by Deutsche Post DHL's CEO, Frank Appel.

The "street scooter": one of the electric vehicles to be rolled out.

The project, whose initial phase will see 79 electric vehicles in service by the end of the current year, will introduce Germany's first "carbon-free vehicle concept" and will support both mail and parcel delivery in the city and its surrounding areas, Deutsche Post DHL have stated.  

"This pilot project is unique worldwide and can serve as a role model for other cities and regions,"  Frank Appel commented. "We operate one of the world's largest vehicle fleets. And because we see the effects of global trade on the environment, we accept responsibility: Alternative drive systems have already been in use in our fleet for years. With about 8,500 vehicles with environmentally friendly drive systems across our operations, we have one of the most efficient fleets in the sector."

Post Danmark teams up with major Danish retailer Coop to expand national parcel delivery service

Post Danmark, the designated Danish postal operator, has entered into a partnership with Denmarks’s leading retail chain Coop in order to enhance its parcel delivery network. The postal company aims to install 300 automated package locker terminals in Coop stores across country by the end on October 2013, and e-shoppers will be able to be pick up their parcels from these newly created hubs.

Partnerships between postal or courier services and retail outlets are not uncommon (FedEx recently announced its partnership with Bangalore-based printing chain Printo in a move to develop its Indian network)  but this is the first collaboration of its kind in Denmark.

Representatives from both parties recognise the opportunities for both companies. Sales Director of Post Danmark Anders Mittage said, “The agreement strengthens our position in the parcels market by offering the most distribution points and the most flexible options for customers.” He also mentioned that Coop’s long opening hours will be of especial convenience to customers, who will consequently be able to pick up their parcel outside of normal delivery hours.

Michael Leo, chain director for SuperBrusgen and Coop, commented, “We want to be the local hub, and so we are delighted to offer this additional service.”

Source: Post and Parcel

Is flexibility and time sensitivity important to your parcel delivery? Get a quote from Transglobal Express and select one of our premium time sensitive services. 

Capitalising on developing markets is essential for the future of air cargo, says Air Atlanta spokesperson

Baldvin Mar Hermannson, vice president of sales and marketing at the Iclelandic ACMI provider Air Atlanta, has expressed concerns about current surplus capacity on the air cargo market in Europe and has pointed to expansion into the Middle East and Africa as a possible solution.

In an interview with Air Cargo Week today, Hermannson stated, "Saudi Arabia is [...] a big market for us, but Africa is promising too. We have a lot of business in Lagos, Nigeria and [...] we hope to announce the arrival of a further African carrier soon."

An Air Atlantic 747-200

While logistics giant FedEx has recently expanded its networks in Latin America as part of the growth strategy for its freight division, Hermannson admits that for smaller, European countries, the South American market could be a hard nut to crack.

Hermannson added, "demand in and out of Europe will play a pivotal role this year. And as I previously stated, capacity will outweight demand."

Not every corner of Iceland's freight sector is threatened by overcapacity however. Robert Tommasson, MD of Cargo Express has commented this week that insufficient capacity, particularly on US routes, has impeded growth of Iceland's air freight markets, particularly in September-April when the seafood industry, the main driver of air cargo, is at its busiest. 

Source: Air Cargo Week 

Video: UPS and TNT vs. DHL - who will win over Europe?

The UPS and TNT merger is unlikely to be stopped. Despite the deadline being postponed to 20th December, both international express companies remain confident about their 5.2-billion-Euro deal which they hope to close by the end of this year.

Image c/o 3plnews.com

With UPS owning a big slice of the USA market and TNT growing stronger in Britain and Europe, DHL may find itself under pressure. In fact, experts have suggested that the merger could result in a joint market share of 25 percent in three European countries as demonstrated in a recent video by The Economist.

UPS close to final offer for TNT Express EU market shares

After TNT Express' initial rejection of a share agreement in late February, the United Parcel Service (UPS) has now been given a strict deadline by the Dutch government asking the courier to hand its final offer to buy TNT Express European market shares. 

Image c/o TNT

The international courier offered to pay 9 EUR per TNT Express share which added up to a total sum of 4.9 billion EUR. 

However, the second-largest European parcel delivery company rejected last month's the offer. Yet, the discussions continued.

According to Bloomberg, the Dutch government has now set a date. UPS has got until 16th March to state its concrete terms and intentions.

If TNT Express decided to go forward with the sale, UPS would have a share of 17.3 percent in the EU express parcel market - only tenths away from DHL's market share.

Source: Bloomberg.com

SNP Concerned about Royal Mail's Commercial Pricing

Mike Weir MP and spokesperson for SNP Postal Affairs recently challenged the latest recommendations made by Ofcom with regards to the Royal Mail and its commercial pricing freedom.

Scotland’s governing political party warned about price increases for parcel deliveries into rural and remote areas such as the Highlands or Scottish Isles. Moreover, Mike Weir called upon people’s mutual understanding of the current one-price-policy which would ensure parcel deliveries to any area.

The MP also expressed strong concerns about the takeover of online parcel delivery services and disadvantages for SMBs or private customers.

“Ofcom’s attitude appears to be that Royal Mail could not raise the costs too high or large companies may simply go fully electronic and use email and the internet. That does not take account of the fact that the postal service serves both senders and recipients and many recipients, especially in more remote areas, do not have access to fast broadband, or indeed broadband at all."


The consultation on the future of the universal service obligation will close on 5^th January 2012.

Related articles

• The Great Christmas Parcel Rush - Ways to Avoid Long Waiting Hours (transglobalexpress.blogspot.com)
• Increase in UK's International Market Growth & Parcel Volumes thanks to E-Commerce (transglobalexpress.blogspot.com)

Source: SNP / Post & Parcel

Increase in UK's International Market Growth & Parcel Volumes thanks to E-Commerce

"Not only has online shopping become increasingly popular for people buying Christmas presents in the UK, our retailers are in demand with people overseas." (Nick Landon, MD of fulfilment and packets, Royal Mail)

Image c/o Britishcurlies.co.uk

As stated by the Royal Mail's MD, Nick Landon, the UK e-commerce industry has seen record-breaking sales this Christmas. Not only have Brits sent parcels nationwide but international parcel deliveries have increased rapidly, especially during this week. 

The Royal Mail reported figures of over 600,000 parcels and packages being processed at its Worldwide Distribution Centre at London's Heathrow airport. The parcel volumes are currently twice as high as normal. 

Moreover, people have been particularly keen on importing and exporting goods to Australia with a large majority being purchased via e-commerce websites. Down Under's growth market saw an increase of approximately 31% in November this year followed by Greece (21%), Finland (20%) and the Netherlands (20%). 

These figures suggest that the eurozone crisis may not have affected the UK's international markets as much as we thought it would. 

Source: Post & Parcel / Royal Mail

Related Articles

• The Great Christmas Parcel Rush - Ways to Avoid Long Waiting Hours (transglobalexpress.blogspot.com)

UK ranks 6th amongst World’s Most Connected Countries

~ DHL GCI calls for better connected world in order to improve trade 

“It’s clear that global connectedness has enormous room to expand, even among the most ‘connected’ countries. […] The free trade of products and services contributed significantly to global prosperity.” (Dr Jan Muller, Deutsche Post DHL)

Connectedness, as stated by Dr Jan Muller, proves to be the central part of future economic growth. Recently published research by express delivery and parcel services market leader, DHL, strongly focusses on the “Global Connectedness” of countries. 

Moreover, it emphasises the connection between information, capital, trade and migration. According to DHL Global Connected Index (GCI), this tightknit bond can have a significantly improve trade flows, especially for larger countries. 

Out of 125 ranked countries, the UK came 6th. In fact, it out-ruled its competitors in terms of breadth. High scores were given for the UK’s four main strengths such as information, trade, capital and migration. All of them are closely intertwined contributing to a great breadth. In conjunction with long distance exports with the USA, this special "connectedness" helps the UK in having a high impact on international trade flows.

Beyond that, the UK’s transport and communications structure were ranked second in the world by DHL, the company itself being a prime example for an innovative, highly connected parcel delivery service.

(Source: DHL)