Swiss Post set to outsource some trucking activities

Swiss Post has announced that it “intends to no longer operate its own truck fleet with vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes for internal transport”. Instead, it plans for these routes to be competitively tendered and purchased from external transport companies. In a statement issued today (5 September), Swiss Post commented: “Subject to the results of the consultation process, 187 driving jobs will be affected by the realignment. Swiss Post will make all affected employees a reasonable offer of continued employment. A social plan has been prepared.”

The company added that discussions with the unions are taking place “with a view to the concrete implementation of this plan”.

Swiss Post said that it has to take steps to rationalise its trucking activities in the face of “increasing price and competition pressure”.

According to the company statement: “In the parcels market, [Swiss Post] has operated fully in free competition since 2004, while around 70% of volumes on the letters market are subject to competition.

“In view of these developments, Swiss Post has been reducing its truck fleet for internal transport in the past few years. The majority of the remaining trucks over 3.5 tonnes will have to be renewed in the next few years. With this in mind, Swiss Post intends to no longer operate its own fleet of trucks over 3.5 tonnes for internal transport in future and instead to completely outsource this activity to external providers.”