Global news in brief

Gefco has launched a daily departure and delivery service from Coventry in the UK to 15 countries across Europe. The new EuroDailyService service aims to provide better journey times and increased frequency through more direct routes, according to the company. Gefco also said it will bring cost efficiencies for its 1,500 customers in the UK, as well as new clients.

 

One of Gefco’s established customers is brakes and suspension supplier Federal Mogul, which has used Gefco for around 90% of its paid traffic to and from Europe.

 

Dave Eccles, Federal Mogul logistics co-ordinator, said the new EuroDailyService will further benefit its operations and that it intended to continue using Gefco for many years to come.

 

Gefco has the largest privately-owned integrated overland network in Europe and is making greater use of the Channel Tunnel as part of the new service. The company says the EuroDaily service has already reduced lead times to Lyon and Toulouse by 24 hours.

 

Gefco UK’s managing director, Alain Vignon, said: "By reaching wider and faster markets, we are able to meet the changing demands of all our clients. And by making full use of our network capabilities, we are also able to bring greater sustainability and stability to our operations.

 

Over the past three weeks, North American finished vehicle technology provider, CargoTel, has secured a number of licence agreements for its transportation management system (TMS). The browser-based systems are designed especially for the finished vehicle logistics industry.

 

Among its new clients are Renegade Transport (Brooklyn, NY); Moore Transportation (Plano, TX); GTS Auto Carriers (Edison, NJ); Wheeler Trucking (Detroit, MI); and Whitefire Logistics (Baltimore, MD).

 

Francis Lopez, vice president, Sales & Marketing for CargoTel, said: “What we’re seeing in the US right now is a burgeoning class of small- to medium-sized, non-union carriers coupled with a trend of OEMs wishing to diversify their supply chain, particularly with land-based transport. These carriers need a more sophisticated technology solution, which includes e-commerce capabilities with the OEMs, so it’s a really good fit for our products.”

 

CargoTel, which is based in Baltimore, Maryland, has also recently announced expansion plans for the European market.

  

Fiat’s parts subsidiary Magneti Marelli has signed a deal with Chrysler’s Mopar division to supply dealers with aftermarket parts as part of a ‘one stop shop’ service for GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia vehicles at Chrysler Group dealerships.

 

Last year, according to Chrysler, more than 2.6m customers with competitor vehicles visited its dealerships for light maintenance, including oil changes and tyre rotations.

 

Beginning this month, Magneti Marelli will supply Mopar and Chrysler dealers with parts including brakes, shock absorbers, struts, and oil, air and fuel filters. Other product lines will be gradually phased in over the coming months. Magneti is bringing 26 product lines and more than 3,000 part numbers to Mopar’s product portfolio.

 

The agreement also includes Shell Lubricants, which will bring Pennzoil and Shell Rotella motor oils, the most preferred brands in their respective categories

 

“Over the past few months, we have worked closely with Mopar on distribution synergies and our parts range proposition,” said Dino Maggioni, CEO of Magneti Marelli Aftermarket. “We are ready to develop our presence in the US aftermarket, bringing our product expertise and becoming the brand source for the company’s all-makes parts.”