TNT to integrate UK fashion logistics branch into main UK network, cutting 130 jobs

Following announcements in December that TNT Express planned to cut almost 250 jobs from its UK and Ireland division, reports of a further 130 expected job cuts from the UK Fashion division were revealed last week.

The latest round of cuts is intended to bring about efficiencies in TNT's business operation by integration of the UK fashion arm with the main UK business operation. UK and Ireland managing director Alistair Cochrane insists that this would be of benefit to fashion customers: “Combining the greater resources and more expansive infrastructure offered by TNT Express with the industry specific expertise and services of TNT Fashion will bring direct benefits to the speed and quality of service for our customers, and therefore long-term success of both their business and ours,” he said.

The integration process will begin in March 2014, and TNT have said that they are working closely with staff and trade unions to support those employees most affected by the changes, "including considering redeployment options where appropriate".

TNT has been slim-lining its operation since its failed merger with UPS last year, and has already divested from China and reduced its staff in Italy and France.

Yodel named worst parcel delivery service in Money Saving Expert poll

Yodel was named the worst parcel delivery service for the second year running earlier this month. A poll on the renowned Money Saving Expert website asked for the views of almost 9,000 users and 58%  of those who had had goods delivered by Yodel rated their experience with the company as bad, compared with only 22% stating is was good.

Marin Lewis, founder of the website, commented, "Yet again Yodel has come bottom of the delivery pile. It's not quite as hideous as last year when 71% rated it bad – but it should act as a serious warning to anyone thinking of using it, or a company that uses it."

According to Martin, part of the reason for people's dissatisfaction was the "indirect nature of delivery firms". Yodel delivers for a number of major retailers including Amazon, Tesco Direct and Argos, meaning that many customers have no choice but to use them if they are purchasing from such companies.

"It's time we put pressure on retailers to stop inflicting this type of delivery on us." urged Martin, "any customer who has an abominable delivery service should complain to the retailer and ask them to justify why they use firms with such dire reputations."

Hermes also came out quite badly in the poll, with 30% of customers reporting a bad service from the company. The most highly-rated services were DPD, Collect Plus, Royal Mail and UPS.

DHL Express Panama receives grade A security certification

The DHL Express hub in Panama recently became the 200^th facility in the world to get ‘A’-security-verified by TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association).

Image c/o DHL

Since 1997 TAPA’s leading security professionals from the high value and risk product sector worked on streamlining security guidelines which address handling processes and procedures as well as warehousing and transportation standards. 

“Currently, every one of our major global Hubs ad Gateways are all TAPA ‘A’ certified. In addition to our Panama Hub, we recently achieve certification of our new North Asia Hub at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China", announced Adrian Whelan, Senior Vice President an Head of Global Customs at Security at DHL Express at a recent press conference.

20 DHL Express facilities in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and other Americas countries have been TAPA-certified since 2010.

“The TAPA FSR is considered the benchmark security standard that is recognized around the globe. DHL’s multiple FSR certifications, across a variety of markets, highlight their strong global commitment to supply chain security”, said David Wit, Chair at TAPA Americas.

Source: DHL

Transglobal Express donates £5k to The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity

Bromborough, 25^th September 2012: Transglobal Express, one of the leading UK courier and freight forwarding companies, has donated £5,000 to The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

“I believe Clatterbridge provides vital services to people with cancer. My stepfather spent his final weeks in Clatterbridge some years ago suffering from cancer. More recently a close colleague was diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment at the Centre”, said Lawson Archer, Managing Director at Transglobal Express Ltd.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre focusses on providing outstanding care for approximately 27,000 cancer patients at their centres on the Wirral, a satellite radiotherapy centre in Liverpool and their network of chemotherapy units across Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire. Transglobal Express’ donation will help with the funding of vital research and world-class equipment needed in order to provide support services which would otherwise be unavailable.

Kim Smith, Corporate Fundraising Manager: “Support from businesses in the local community is vital to us. With so many people being touched by cancer, a lot of workplaces will have colleagues, clients, friends or family who may have experienced the work that we carry out. These donations and partnerships make a huge difference and allow us to raise awareness of the centre and charity. We would like to thank Transglobal for this amazing donation that will really help to make a huge difference.”

Transglobal Express proactively supports local and international charitable organisations such as 3^rd World Hope and most recently, The Bowel Movement. For further information about how to donate to The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, please visit www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk.

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Media Contact

Transglobal Express – PR & Media
Miriam Sauter

Tel.: +44 (0) 845 145 1212 

Email: miriam.sauter@transglobalexpress.co.uk

Internet: www.transglobalexpress.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/transglobalexpr

Company Profile

Transglobal Express is one of the UK’s leading independent freight forwarders. Since its incorporation in 1993, Transglobal Express has gained an excellent reputation for our high quality air freight, sea freight and international courier services. We aim to provide value for money, worldwide delivery services through a range of top carriers.

For more information: www.transglobalexpress.co.uk

Download Press Release

Ref. 25912expr

Nissan and FedEx Express unveil new e-NV200 all-electric delivery van

Yesterday, Nissan and FedEx Express presented the result of their latest joint venture, the all-electric delivery van, e-NV200. 

Cargo-friendly features

According to the automotive manufacturer, the e-NV200 features a new telematics system,  benefits from smooth acceleration, new power outlets and has enough space to transport cargo in its compact body. 

“As a global fleet operator, FedEx Express is always looking measures to improve the efficiency of its vehicles. (…) We are delighted to collaborate with a global player like Nissan in the development of an urban all-electric delivery van”, said Russell Musgrove, MD of Global Vehicles at FedEx Express.

Image c/o autoguide.com

Nissan to reduce carbon emissions

When developing e-NV200 Nissan primarily focussed on finding a mobility solution for entrepreneurs whilst also featuring components to help save energy and reduce carbon emissions. Tests began back in December 2011 in order to see if the 100% electric vehicle could perform in real-life situations. 

Hideto Murakami, corporate vice president, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, promised, “the eNV-200 [would] offer all the spaciousness, versatility and practicality of a traditional diesel or gas-powered compact van, but with zero CO2 or other pollutant emissions at the point of use. What’s more, it will provide an outstanding driving experience that is unique to EVs.”

All-electric parcel delivery vans for FedEx Express

By currently operating 130 all-electric vehicles worldwide and more to come in the near future, the courier company, FedEx Express, hopes to decrease its carbon footprint. According to FedEx Express, 80% of its overall goal of increasing the global fleet’s carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 had already been achieved.

Nissan and FedEx have been testing their e-NV200 in London as well as on the roads of Japan and are hoping to expand to Singapore, USA and Brazil by 2013.

Source: news.van.fedex.com

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.

How to address a letter or parcel to Australia? Tips on address formatting

When sending parcels to Australia, there are a few addressing guidelines which you should keep in mind.

For this reason, we have put together a quick guide for addressing parcels/letters to Australia. Here are two formatting options.

I. Traditional Address Format

1st Example

UK address format	U.S. address format
Mr Jack Dooley 120 Hammersmith Grove	Ms Emma Riley 22 Avebury Street
London	West End QLD 4101
W6 7HB
UK	AUSTRALIA

UK and Australian traditional residential addresses have a lot in common. However, there a couple of differences which set them apart.

(1) Firstly, the name of an Australian town / city is directly followed by an abbreviation for the state it is located in. “QLD”, for instance, is short for “Queensland”. 

Other abbreviations are as follows:

    ACT - Australian Capital Territory

    NSW - New South Wales

    NT  - Northern Territory

    SA  - South Australia

    TAS - Tasmania

    VIC - Victoria

    WA  - Western Australia

(2) Secondly, Australian postcodes are displayed after the name of the state.

II. Apartment or Commercial Address

2nd Example

UK address format	U.S. address format
Mr John Smith Apartment 8 120 Hammersmith Grove	Mr Tom Yates Suite 10a Floor 3, 50 Old Burleigh Road
London	Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
W6 7HB
UK	AUSTRALIA

(3) If you would like to send a parcel an apartment or commercial address in Australia, insert the “suite” number below the name of the recipient, followed by the floor number, house number and street name.

Important Notice:

A charge for customs clearance processing of AU$165 payable at the destination may be applied to personal effects consignments shipped with DHL. Please complete an Australian Customs Form, a packing list and provide a photocopy of the photo page of your passport. You can hand all of this to driver on collection. A quarantine charge of approximately AU$45 may also occur.

Should you wish to send a document or parcel to Australia via courier, express or standard parcel delivery, then please visit TransglobalPremium.co.uk. 

PR | Transglobal Express encourages heavyweight shipments to USA & Far East in the run up to Christmas

• Special rates for TG Express Worldwide available until 31^st December 2012

Bromborough, 11^th September 2012: From now on customers will be able to take advantage of Transglobal Express’ new heavyweight rates, which are amongst the most competitive available.


“By utilising the surplus capacities of one of the world’s largest courier companies, we are now able to offer our customers special rates for heavyweight shipments to USA and the Far East. These special rates are available with immediate effect and will run until Christmas”, said Lawson Archer, Managing Director of Transglobal Express.

As one of the leading independent courier & freight providers in the UK, Transglobal Express aims at offering quick, safe and cost-efficient services. TG Express Worldwide comprises all of these benefits. On-forwarding and final delivery is completed by one of the world’s leading carriers known for its outstanding service quality and reliability.

During the booking process, customers will be given the opportunity to book a collection from their UK address or organise their own delivery to a Transglobal Express receiving point.

As with all of our services, TG Express Worldwide has been fully integrated with the user account area, from where customers can access their labels and track their shipments. This promotional offer is expected to run until 31^st December 2012. Bookings for can be made at www.transglobal.org.uk.

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Media Contact
Transglobal Express – PR & Media
Miriam Sauter
Tel.: +44 (0) 845 145 1212 
Email: miriam.sauter@transglobalexpress.co.uk
Internet: www.transglobal.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/transglobalexpr

Company Profile
Transglobal Express is one of the UK’s leading international courier and freight forwarding providers. Since its incorporation in 1993, Transglobal Express has gained an excellent reputation for its high quality air freight, sea freight and worldwide courier services. 

In 2005, Transglobal Express moved its premises from Birkenhead to a purpose built office and warehouse facility based in the Wirral International Business Park, enabling the company to centrally control and manage its International Courier, Air Freight and Sea Freight shipping services.

Download - Press Release (PDF)

  

UPS granted extension for TNT Express offer period

UPS and TNT Express have agreed on 9th November 2012 as the new extension deadline in order to fulfil their Offer conditions. 

Image c/o inautonews.com

A regulatory announcement will be made on 5the September by UPS who first their plans to acquire TNT Express back in March. Since the antitrust condition will not be completed before the original expiry date, namely 31st August, UPS has been allowed to extends its Offer Period according to Article 15, p. 1 and 2 of the Decree on public offer Wft. 

According to Analytiqa.com, any tendered shares from the initial offer period may be subject to a withdrawal as defined in the Decree, Article 15, p. 3. 

Both courier companies said that they would stay committed to complete the offer at the end of this year's 4th financial quarter.

Source: Analytqa.com / UPS / TNT Express

Parcel delivery unsuccessful - what's next?

What happens if the delivery of your parcel wasn't successful? 

If the courier driver has attempted to deliver your parcel three times without being successful, it will be held in the local depot. It is important to keep in mind that this practice may differ depending on the country your sending to and on the carrier transporting your shipment.

Normally you should receive a notification card from the driver telling you to contact the depot, arrange to go there and collect your shipment. 

What's next though?

First of all, don't panic! If you forgot to collect your parcel or have not received a notification card, you can still get it back.

Tip: Keep hold of your tracking number and the contact details of your courier / carrier, so you will able to ring them personally and ask where to collect your parcel from. Before sending anything, make sure to check the collection and delivery times for your courier service.

Your parcel(s) will be put into storage at your carrier's local depot for an average time of 3 to 14 days.

Image c/o DHL

Should you fail to collect your parcel(s) within this time period, they may be processed for a return back to the sender - who may liable to pay for any additional surcharges.

In worst case scenario, your shipment may be abandoned.

DHL Break Bulk Express opens up new revenue stream for DHL Express Russia

Last week, DHL Russia introduced its new import service, DHL Break Bulk Express. DHL Express announced that it will offer customers a single customs clearance and tax payment process for parcels from Russia. The new DHL express delivery service is going to available for any shipments going to countries outside of Russia.

“As one of the biggest customs brokers in Russia, we always aim at improving our service. Most of the shipments imported by DHL Express are cleared within one hour of the aircraft landing”, confirmed Elena Emelyanova, DHL Express Russia.

In future, customers will also benefit from minimised warehousing costs. This is due to the fact of DHL having implemented this parcel delivery service which will transport consignments to the receivers as soon as customs have cleared them.

DHL Express Russia also mentioned that it may give discounted rates to first-time import customers.

Sources: DHL.ru, postandparcel.info

How to send a parcel to USA

Depending on the size of your shipment, time scale and budget, there are various ways to send a parcel to USA.

Transit Times

First of all, be aware that transit times may vary between 1 and 6 working days – the deciding factors being prices and the type of service, for instance air or road delivery. Think about the urgency of your delivery.

Is a client expecting your goods within the next couple of days? It this case you could be best of paying a little bit extra and increase your chances to receive good feedback which would reflect positively on your business.

If your shipment is not urgent and you would like to save money, send your parcels to USA via a cheap courier service. By choosing this option, your parcels should normally get delivered within 5 or 6 working days providing that it passed U.S. customs without any problems.

Online Tracking

No matter which parcel service you choose, free online tracking should always be offered by your chosen courier service. This will enable you to follow every step of your parcel delivery to USA. Thanks to today’s high-tech software systems, you will also be able to see a confirmation of collection and delivery in online tracking account.

Insuring your parcel

If you are sending valuable items and would like to insure them, a premium can be added at the end of your order. This way your shipment will be ensured against any loss or damage up to a certain value such as 1,000 GBP. Contact the courier service of your choice for further details. 

Measurements & extra charges

Lastly, always measure your parcel twice – once before your booking and the last stage of your order. This will give you peace of mind and hopefully prevent you from a bad surprise such as having to pay extra charges due to false measurements. 

Once your booking has been completed your parcel will be collected by a courier driver alongside the necessary paperwork (labels, packing list, customs forms if applicable) and be shipped to the USA whilst you can follow up on every transit stage online.

DHL launches new direct flight between USA and Australia

DHL, one of the leading international courier services providers, has expanded its air network by opening up a new direct flight connection between the USA and Australia.

Image c/o DHL

Starting this month, the aircraft is said to leave Cincinati twice a week. It will transport up to 113 tons worth of goods to Sydney and Melbourne. DHL hopes that the new flight connection will help strengthen its position in the Australian and New Zealand Market which expert predicting a growth of 12 percent for this year.

"The new flight, operated with modern, environmentally-friendly freighters, will birng a number of clear benefits for customers: it will guarantee uplift on a route that is already in high demand, while reducing deliver ytimes on shipments picked up in the US and destined for key destinations in Australia", said Charlie Dobbie, Executive Vice President, Global Network Operations, DHL Express.

Furthermore, the parcel service provider is also planning on shorting its transit times for delieveries to Brisbane of Melbourne. Last year, 12.5 percent of all imports into Australia came from the USA making it Australia's second largest import partner.

Here is more information about prices and parcel services to Australia.

Sources: DHL / Transglobal Express

Phase II launched in UPS and TNT Express acquisition process

• UPS expected to complete its acquisition of TNT Express in the fourth quarter of 2012

After months of negotiations, the EU Commissions finally made a call on Phase I of the TNT Express’ acquisition process. The EUR 5.16 billion transaction carried out by courier services provider UPS aims at creating a highly customer-focussed worldwide parcel services leader. UPS also plans on utilising TNT Express’ extensive European road network in order to facilitate trade flows and increase its competitiveness in the European and American markets.

UPS expects Phase II of the investigation to last up to 25 weeks and may therefore extend it initial offer period beyond end of August.

Source: UPS

Cheap Parcel Service & Quality? – Getting The Balance Right

When choosing a parcel service, most of us are guided by price. As with many things cheap parcel services can offer great or little quality. The key is to recognise warning signs and check for certain criteria before making the booking. 

Step 1 – Check for transit liability & terms and conditions

• High quality parcel service providers will offer customers a standard liability up to 50 GBP. They may also offer enhanced transit liability, which will cover you against any extra loss or damage. That way you can ensure that you will receive compensation in case anything happens to your shipment.

Step 2 – Which carriers will transport my consignment?

• As the customer you can and should expect to be given full transparency over your parcel delivery. This also includes information about the carriers who will ship your parcels. A  good courier service will have the details about each courier service provider available on their website. 

Step 3 – Can I expect any surcharges?

• Again, information about surcharges should be easily accessible from the website and clearly displayed during the booking process. For example if your collections or delivery address was located in a remote area.

• It may happen that you have to pay for surcharges due to having tried to ship restricted items, or if you have provided incorrect details about the size, weight or length of your shipment. You may be debited for these surcharges at a later stage. For this reason, it is always a good idea to measure your consignment twice in its final packaging as well as to check back with your courier service and customs office, should you send a parcel abroad.

Step 4 – What about collection times?

• Standard parcel services do not guarantee collections as the driver may have a large amount of parcels to collect on the day of your collection. Depending on the carrier, you will be given three hour windows or specific collection periods. 

• You can contact your courier service’s customer service team and ask them to follow up on the failed collection, should the driver fail to collect your parcel within those hours. Be aware that compensation will not be given in these situations.

Step 5 – What about delivery times?

• When requesting your quote, you will be shown an overview of estimated transit times. This can vary depending on customs, bank holidays, outstanding charges etc. However, a good courier will endeavour to deliver your consignment as quickly as possible. 

Step 6 – How do I book a cheap parcel service?

• Independent courier service providers such as the Transglobal Express Ltd. offer discounted rates of up to 67 percent with leading carriers including DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx and DPD. Their cheap parcel services underlie high quality standards and offer you a great deal of flexibility with regards to speed of delivery and your budget. 

• You can book online and request a free quote at TransglobalPremium.co.uk – no registration necessary until you decide to  book!

Image c/o 123rf.com

DPD introduces “Total Zero” - free carbon neutral shipping

From now on, DPD customers will have their parcels shipped carbon neutral via Total Zero. The new carbon neutral commitment will initially be available to private and business customers in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, BeLux and Switzerland. 

“We are proud and exited to officially launch Total Zero in these six markets. DPD have been preparing for this moment for some time now and I am sure that our customers will be delighted to know that we are now delivering carbon neutral parcels at no extra charge”, said John Acton, MD of DPD & Executive Vice-President of GeoPost S.A.

The new DPD courier service commitment benefits from a triple mechanism which measures and reduces the emitted carbon and subsequently offsets it. GeoPost’s partner, the French offset company, CDC Climat, will help with the carbon offsetting by supporting international projects such as reforestations in Columbia. 

Action is convinced that DPD’s environment friendly courier services and CO2 offsetting initiatives will mark “an exciting new chapter in our company’s history and we hope that carbon neutral shipping at zero cost will one day become the standard across the industry.”

DPD anticipate to make Total Zero available in additional destinations across Europe in 2013.



Sources: DPD & YouTube

TNT Express to courier French lingerie by Huit

The French lingerie company, Huit, has signed an exclusive two-year contract with TNT Express.

The courier service provider is going to ensure the domestic and international shipping of Huit's luxury lingerie and swimwear products which will be delivered to over 30 countries. 

Huit is a lingerie supplier for high-end retail clients in Europe, Canada and Australia. The company first hired TNT Express' courier services in 2008. From now on, TNT Express is going to be Huit's exclusive provider of express parcel services.

Source: Analytiqa.com

New UPS facility opens in Canada’s Greater Moncton region

UPS has opened its doors to the Greater Moncton neighbourhood. A new multi-million dollar facility in the city of Dieppe will create 250 new jobs.

“The Greater Moncton community has been very supportive of us throughout the years. As part of our legacy, we will continue to show our support and give back to the people and businesses that have been so good to us”, said Shelley Gares, Director of Operations, Atlantic Canada.

UPS have had a presence in Greater Moncton for over 18 years, employing over 400 people and operating 19 franchised locations in Atlantic Canada. Yet, parcel delivery services only began on 23^rd April 2012. Gares stated that she was keen on “providing the same quality of service and safety standards to the region that we are known for across the globe”.

Shelley Gares (UPS Atlantic Canada) and Mayor Yvon Lapierre

The new facility is said to represent only the first stage of UPS’ expansion plans for Greater Moncton. Further developments will commence throughout this year. UPS courier services already kicked off in Halifax and Nova Scotia in May 2012. Beyond that, six cities will be added to the UPS network.

Further information about the project can be found on the UPS.com/Neighbourhood.

Source: UPS
Picture c/o newswire.ca

FedEx Freight Forwarding expands network in Turkey

Turkey’s enormous potential for the freight forwarding market has not been left unnoticed. In fact, FedEx was one of the first major courier companies to invest in the Eurasian state.

 

In May 2011, FedEx Trade Networks opened its first offices in Istanbul. Today, the express parcel and freight forwarding company owns two additional branches in Ankara and Izmir. 

With an economy expansion of 8.5 percent last year and an annual foreign trade volume of $375 billion, Turkey is considered to be the fastest growing economy in Europe. 

When it comes to sending parcels to Turkey, the transport by sea is one the most popular options making up 55 percent of Turkey’s foreign trade volume. An additional 25 percent are transported by road. 

FedEx Freight Forwarding now plans on increasing its volume by targeting specific sectors including automotive, technology and textiles.

Source: Analytica, FedEx