Yusen Logistics now fully integrated in Europe
Yusen Logistics has completed the European integration of its previously separate business divisions, NYK Logistics and Yusen Air & Sea Service, with the launch of its German unit this week.
As part of its global integration of the two businesses, the final European phase in Germany completes a process that began at the start of 2011 in Poland and Hungary. Russia, Spain, Benelux, the Czech Republic, Italy, France and the UK were all integrated by the beginning of the summer this year.
According to the company, the time required to complete the integration in Europe, which was initially aimed at the end of March, was primarily due to the need to cater for the different regulations and taxation systems in the individual countries.
Alex Okamoto, managing director, Yusen Logistics Europe, said: “We are absolutely delighted to launch Yusen Logistics in this fundamentally important market. It is also incredibly exciting to see our company now fully launched in Europe.”
He went on to say that the company was confident that it could be a major player in the European logistics market.
The company aim is to combine the global expertise in airfreight forwarding, ocean freight forwarding, land transportation and customs clearance as well as logistics plan proposal and implementation. Yusen Logistics will be managed globally through five strategic areas: Japan, East Asia, South Asia & Oceania, Europe and the Americas.
With regard to the impact on automotive customers, an NYK spokesperson said that the merger of the NYK Logistics and Yusen Air & Sea Service will allow the company to better serve the logistics needs of its customers in ocean/air freight forwarding and contract logistics’ at one stop’.
“The benefit is not limited to ocean freight. For the automotive sector, we offer the PDI operation, terminal business and milk run as well as cross dock,” he said. However, the company said it was too early too early to specify how the business will organise individual trades at this stage.
The company’s outline for structural reform includes the strengthening of vehicle transport by sea through the establishment of a more flexible fleet mixture that can accommodate fluctuations in cargo volumes and changes in fleet planning policies. It is also aiming to enhance its ability to meet export demand from China and India.
Schneider LTL service ‘attractive’ for auto
Schneider Logistics has introduced a new less-than-truckload (LTL) service that the company said will be attractive to shippers in the automotive aftermarket, including those providing the movement of heavy truck equipment.
Called Integrated Delivery Services (IDS), it will pool cargo from shippers of competing brands that nevertheless share similar delivery schedules, routes and cross-dock locations. According to Schneider the service will offer customised routes, dedicated delivery, pool distribution, reverse logistics and LTL consolidation.
The cost savings achieved in running a shared network versus an independent network is what is most attractive to the automotive industry, said a spokesperson for Schneider, adding that the solution also offers advantages of predictability and consistency of service and a better claims experience over traditional LTL.
"Schneider saw an opportunity to provide a smarter solution for shippers moving LTL freight in the same geographic markets," explained Todd Jadin, vice president of IDS for Schneider Logistics. "Integrated Delivery Services is especially attractive to shippers in the automotive aftermarket, heavy truck and equipment manufacturers, and specialty retailers. Companies within each of these industries run common routes and have similar distribution locations and dispatch schedules.”
Piloted in Denver, Colorado, IDS now currently operates there and in seven other networks across the US: Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas; Lenexa, Kansas; Jackson, Mississippi; Winchester, Virginia, and Memphis, Tennessee.
Markets targeted for expansion include the Midwest and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
UK manufacturing growth led by exports
The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that car manufacturing in the UK rose 10.7% in August and is up more than 4.4% in the first eight months of the year compared to last year. Of a total of 86,250 vehicles made in August, 67,288 were exported, equal to 78% and an increase of 18% on last August. For the year-to-date, of the 847,196 vehicles produced in the UK 699,333 were exported, accounting for 82.5% of the total, an increase of almost 19% on last year’s figures.
The leading markets for exports from the UK were Germany, Italy and Russia/Northern Europe.
Nissan remains the UK’s biggest carmaker in terms of volume followed by MINI, Land Rover, Honda and Toyota.
By comparison, UK commercial vehicles exports saw a decrease in exports in August and for the first eight months of the year. The total number of commercial vehicles manufactured in August was 6,433 of which 3,568 were exported (55.5%), down 0.4%. For the year-to-date 76,980 commercial vehicles were made and 44,868 exported, a drop of 18.7%.
Total figures show that in August exports of both passenger and commercial vehicles accounted for 76% of production.
Elsewhere in Europe, Germany saw exports increase by 8% between January and August this year over the same period in 2010 according to figures from the German association of vehicle makers, the VDA. The country exported 2.95m cars during that period of a production total of 3.85m.
Honda award for BNSF’s Portland services
North American rail provider BNSF Railway has been recognised by American Honda with the Rail Origin of the Year Performance Excellence Award for its services at the port of Portland in Oregon.
The award was presented at the American Honda Automotive Logistics Conference in Torrance, California.
“Throughout the year BNSF has met and exceeded our goals for rail origin criteria at Portland, which has aided in the movement of Honda and Acura products," said Dennis Manns, Honda assistant vice president, Logistics. "We thank BNSF for their contribution to Honda's success."
The award criteria included the percentage of loaded cars without damage, rail cars ordered versus supplied and the quarterly audits on properly following all standard operating procedures.
“We are honoured that Honda has recognised our performance,” said Marc Allen, BNSF assistant vice president, Consumer Products Marketing, Automotive. “We are committed to Honda and to all of our automotive customers, and receiving this award shows that our efforts to meet customer expectations are successful.”
