DHL cuts LCL journey time for Shanghai-Atlanta service

DHL has launched a new direct service from China to the United States, offering weekly Less than Container Load (LCL) deliveries with 21-day transit times. Working with its in-house carrier Danmar Lines, the company said its new service from Shanghai to Atlanta would cut journey times by seven days compared to existing LCL options.

LCL freight sent from Shanghai to Atlanta is currently shipped via Los Angeles, where it is unloaded from its consolidation container only to be combined with other freight before onward journey to Atlanta.

The new service avoids the rehandling process in Los Angeles, with the consolidation containers loaded directly onto rail transport destined for Atlanta, from where DHL’s inland network could transfer shipments to other major cities in the southwest United States.

DHL said that as well as a reduced delivery time, the more efficient service would cut the risk of damage or loss – and reduce the carbon footprint of shipments by nearly 17%.

The introduction of the new LCL service comes as trade volumes from China to the US increased this year by 21% compared to 2009.

Tara Caputo, director at DHL Global Forwarding, said it was part of a broader development of LCL services on more traditional and niche routes.

DHL currently has 440 weekly point pairs of LCL services from China to the US, while around the world the company handles close to two million cubic meters of LCL freight each year.

Caputo said: “Metro-Atlanta has the tenth largest economy in the US, with a 2008 GDP of $269 billion, with Atlanta-Savannah the fifth-ranked trading partner with China. The Shanghai-Atlanta direct LCL service will further enhance our connectivity within the extensive global network.”