TNT has further expanded its operations in Europe starting the construction of a newinternational depot in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and ordered 192 aerodynamic box trailers from
Cartwright for its UK operations to ensure minimal damage to the trailers and reduce repaircosts.In the southern Dutch town of Eindhoven, TNT has broken ground on a new 6,350 sqm depot toreplace the existing, rented facility which has become too small. The Eindhoven depot, due to becompleted in June 2015, will feature state-of-the-art sorting and loading equipment, and 99 loadingdocks for vans and trucks. It is expected to increase productivity, throughput as well as workingconditions for the 250 staff at the site.
With the depot, TNT hopes to increase its capability to handle increased parcel and freightvolumes across north-western Europe, with direct deliveries to customers and daily road line-haulsto Liege, Arnhem, Northampton, Paris and Zurich. It will particularly serve customers in thehealthcare and high-tech industries. The new facility is part of the company’s strategy to investin its core European network, enhance operational efficiency and service quality.
In the UK, TNT ordered 192 box trailers with a new innovative, aerodynamic design from thecommercial vehicle bodybuilder and trailer manufacturer Cartwright. In recent months, the companyhas worked closely with Cartwright engineers to modify aerodynamics at both the front and rear in away to minimise cost of damage to the trailers and make them easier to repair.
As part of the new design, the trailers feature modular side skirts enabling quick and simplerepairs in case of damage, which minimises vehicle downtime. Other features include aerodynamicaerofoil and the Cheetah Fastback sloping roof, which are both very popular features amongCartwright customers, according to extensive research that has shown excellent fuel savings. “TheTNT trailer is quite possibly the most fuel effective trailer on UK roads,” Cartwright said. Thenew trailer fleet will bear TNT’s recently launched ‘the people network’ branding.
Steve Davis, National Engineering Manager of TNT UK, commented: “We are always looking for waysto minimise damage to our fleet. We like the aerodynamic design provided by Cartwright but therewas a need to minimise this recurring damage issue. Working together with Cartwright, we have comeup with an evolution of a design which we hope will go a long way to eradicating the problem.”
Mark Cartwright, Group Managing Director of Cartwright, commented: “TNT is a long-establishedand valued customer of Cartwright and it is a mark of our relationship that we work closelytogether to convert problems into solutions. In this case, we have modified the trailersaerodynamic design in order to reduce the need for repairs. It is our company policy to work inpartnership with our customers in order to create solutions which add value to not only theiroperation but also to benefit them commercially through innovation wherever possible.”
Meanwhile, TNT was recognised at this month’s Supply Chain Global Awards ceremony in London asthe winner of the Aftermarket Parts Logistics category. The Supply Chain Global Awards honouroutstanding contributions to the supply chain and logistics sector in the global automotiveindustry.
TNT has provided aftermarket parts logistics services to the automotive industry for more than25 years and is strengthening its focus on key industries, including automotive, in line with thecompany’s strategy. It was selected for the Aftermarket Parts Logistics award due to its consistentcustomer focus and firm commitment to help customers reduce costs and eliminate waste from theirsupply chains. The judges also recognised TNT’s fast road transit times across Europe, appreciatedby both dealers and customers in the automotive sector.
