DHL launches new heavyweight door-to-door service

The focus on ease of use for the customer is highlighted by the fact that DHL promote and execute the delivery of this service in a ‘One Country’ perspective.

The service means that customers can now ship heavyweight goods in the same way as smaller, lighter packages. The benefits include day definite transit times and no hidden charges. This demonstrates DHL’s expertise in managing customers’ requirements, irrespective of size or volume, with the minimum amount of paperwork and a one all-inclusive dollar per kilo priced invoice.

DHL Middle East, the region’s preferred express and logistics provider, has launched a region-wide door-to-door heavyweight shipment delivery service, XL Express.

Phil Couchman, Regional Director, DHL Middle East, said:

‘Effectively we are treating the region as one country with XL Express. Utilitising our region-wide experience we guarantee our customers’ heavyweight shipments are treated with the same level of expertise as smaller packages. It’s about providing our customers with a simple and convenient solution so goods can be transported throughout the region as easily as if it was one country.’

‘Our customers now view the Middle East as a ‘One Country’ entity and thus want a transparent, cost effective and seamless distribution service for their distribution needs, this is where the DHL XL Express service fits with the expectation that our customers have today’.

With XL Express, the industry leader guarantees reliable shipment transportation through its vast overland road network, with an efficient customs cleared service that allows customers to track and trace their shipments online 24/7.

‘With plans for rail freight still far away road remains king in this region for the logistics industry. Challenges exist such as pressure on infrastructure, ease of customs clearance and traffic congestion. However, with no alternative the strategic development of road transport and efficient trucking services is vital. Our customers are demanding this and we have responded with this enhanced service,’ explained Couchman.

The XL Express service utilises the great expansion in DHL’s road freight network. The company’s Jebel Ali hub, which handles over 60% of all Middle East imports, acts as a catalyst for its growth, alongside other distribution centres spread across the region including Amman and the regional hub in Bahrain.

Currently, DHL has access to a dedicated fleet of 250 vehicles for the XL service, a large number of which are owned. Much of the fleet is also top of the range with air ride suspension and GPS tracking facilities fitted as standard specifically for the DHL fleet. This huge fleet operates daily within the Middle East and Europe, transporting shipment weights ranging from 45kgs to 18,000kgs.

Couchman added: ‘With our unrivalled expertise in the region, our customers know they can rely on DHL to take care of all their land transportation requirements, this includes a range from Day Definite time bound deliveries to Full Truck Load (FTL) capabilities. It is clear that XL Express is the most secure, reliable and efficient way to deliver any size of shipments.’

The XL Express service is available at 100 DHL offices across the region. New routes to Europe and North Africa through Istanbul and Cairo have been recently introduced and future route developments include Iran, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Russia.