German express operator GO! has announced price increases of 3.7% on average for domestic and international shipments, which are part of the standard pricing list, with effect from 1 February 2016.
GO! explained that, like the entire transport and logistics industry, it is exposed to “key cost drivers”, commenting: “The price increase that has become necessary results from higher labour costs due to the increasing lack of skilled workers and drivers.”
“At the same time our energy costs and the cost of compliance with legal requirements are rising,” GO! managing director Ulrich Nolte said.
“We offer our customers individualised, tailor-made logistics solutions and support them with a continuous, high-performance service and transport quality. In order to implement this customer promise also in the future on a daily basis, we are forced, due to various factors, to adjust our prices to the current circumstances," he stressed.
GO! has recently invested especially in IT projects and demand-oriented network expansion. In November last year, the company invested in reconstruction of its station in Hamburg to optimise shipment handling and create more storage capacity. The total effective area for logistics operations was expanded by 35% to over 1,000 sqm, with two additional truck gates for loading and unloading of the vehicles speeding up the handling of import and export shipments. In addition, the hall lighting was converted to energy-saving LED technology contributing not only to cost reduction but also to environmental protection.
The company explained at the time: “The expansion measures became necessary after the transport volumes had risen steadily in recent years, with an increase of 10.8% so far in 2015. At the same time, the station is thus prepared for further shipment growth.”
Founded as a consortium of 15 regional courier and express operators in 1984, GO! Express & Logistics has 1,400 employees, over 3,000 couriers and more than 100 GO! stations in Germany and Europe with a global network of partners. The express operator transports around five million shipments annually.
