German premium freight and courier service provider, In Time Express Logistik, formed by the mergerof In Time Direkt-Kuriere Transport and RS Logistik in July 2008, has announced the successful
integration of the two businesses and its re-branding under the new name.During the integration process, quality and operating standards including environmental andsafety management have been fully harmonised across the expanded network. The number of ‘class A’owner drivers, operating in very close partnership with In Time, increased from 450 to about 600through the integration. The network today comprises 21 branch offices (up from 17), 18 in Germanyand three abroad in Sweden, Hungary, Romania. The two service providers saw strong sustained growthin recent years with an aggregate turnover of about €87 million in 2007.
Managing Director, Gerd Röttger, said: “We were able to achieve a lot of the synergies withinweeks of the takeover as we rolled out the proven transport management system developed by In Timeacross all branch offices.” The group has rounded off the integration process by revamping itsbrand identity with a modernised corporate design.
However, growth in premium freight cargo volumes and revenues has been dampened by thecooling of the economy as from the middle of the year, In Time said. The group’s operations areprimarily impacted by the production cuts in the automobile sector, the largest market forroad-based, time-critical logistics services in Germany. Reduced demand for premium freightservices from the OEMs and automotive suppliers is forcing all logistics service providers in thisfield to adjust their costs.
In Time Express Logistik has already implemented measures to cut personnel and overhead costsin the second half of 2008 including the suspension of plans for a new office in Austria and theclosure of a UK representative office in favour of partnerships with local operators.
“The group is thus well prepared to weather the current market downturn which economists saymay last until 2010,” said Röttger. With its robust funding and financially strong shareholders,the company is set to benefit from the inevitable consolidation in the European premium freightmarkets. “We are confident that we will continue to gain market share and emerge even stronger fromthe forthcoming recession.”
