TNT Logistics saving 180 road trips a week in UK
TNT Logistics is saving 180 trips from Ipswich to the midlands each week by switching road journeys to rail, and leaving it to a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U400 to act as a highly productive ‘shunter’.
The development means TNT Logistics is able to offer improved productivity, cost-effectiveness and clear environmental benefits. The Unimog is providing a vital service in the day-to-day operation of the 62,000sq m warehouse of one of the worlds largest automotive manufacturers, receiving and despatching parts to dealers throughout the UK, including Northern Ireland.
Each week 75 special wagons arrive at the warehouse, located off the A5 in Staffordshire and the Unimog, with special rail guidance equipment, takes the wagons direct to the platform within the warehouse for unloading and then empty wagons to the locomotive for return.
The daily average saving on road travel is equivalent to 18 44-tonne road trailers, which until September 2002, travelled to and from the port in Ipswich each day.
This is the first time that TNT Logistics has operated a rail-based system in the UK. It forms part of a comprehensive service package, including despatch, inventory management and operation of a call centre for dealer enquiries and orders. About 85% of parts deliveries are by rail from Germany, with 15% coming by road from other European countries.
