fbpx
Size of letters 1x
Site color
Image
Additionally
Line height
Letter spacing
Font
Embedded items (videos, maps, etc.)
 

DSV Intermodal Transportation

29/ 04/ 2024
  How did it all start? We came up with the idea of launching intermodal transportation back in 2019, when during the “peak” seasons, regular permits were expiring almost every hour, available transport dwindled, and trucks had to rely on ECMT permits. There was a pressing need for an alternative to road freight transportation. After all, even a temporary halt in international trade between Ukraine and Europe could have had severe consequences. The difficult situation at Ukrainian borders in late summer 2023 expedited the implementation of intermodal transportation. With the onset of the war, the need to obtain permits was canceled under bilateral agreements with the EU. This decision did not suit Polish carriers at all, as Ukrainian transport companies nearly pushed them out of the logistics market, while checkpoints struggled to handle the influx of Ukrainian traffic volumes. The blocking of all border crossings virtually halted international road freight delivery: there were long queues at the border (the approximate waiting time varied from 12 to 21 days), there was a shortage of transport, deliveries were postponed indefinitely, and road transportation tariffs were rising daily... Full truckload (FTL) transportation was becoming unprofitable for both customers and logistics companies. This course of events became a kind of impetus for our team. After a thorough evaluation of all risks and our capabilities, we made the decision to introduce a contrailer  transportation service to facilitate border crossings without delays and to fulfill commitments to customers and partners. In addition, intermodal transportation is the most environmentally friendly option and is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the supply chain. The concept behind such transportation mode is quite simple: road-rail-road, but it significantly minimizes truck mileage and, consequently, reduces CO2 emissions. DSV, as one of the largest transport and logistics companies in the world, set a course for green logistics (DSV Green Logistics) back in 2021 and implemented a set of solutions to accelerate the green transition of the entire industry. How did we launch the contrailer transportation? Pre-project work lasted several months. We closely collaborated with local railway operators to choose the best ones; additionally, we integrated our DSV Global Equipment Services, which provided European semi-trailers; and we engaged trucks from our own DSV network. All this is aimed to offer our customers not only an alternative and effective solution, but also an optimal price-quality ratio that meets international standards for import and export transportation. Collaboration with our representative offices helped to close the European component of intermodal transportation: our truck with a semi-trailer is loaded at the senders site, transported for customs clearance and terminal in Forst (Germany), then the trailer is loaded onto a railway platform, secured and transported to Ukraine by rail to Mostyska-2 station (Lviv Oblast). The estimated transit time by rail is 3-4 days. Here, in Ukraine, at the terminal, the contrailer is unloaded, hitched to a truck and delivered to the destination customs office. Thus, the majority of the route (about 600 km) is covered by the railroad, which does not cause much damage to the environment. What are the possibilities of intermodal service? The contrailer has virtually no weight restrictions enabling the transport of general and heavy cargoes: all that can be placed in a standard trailer (as in FTL transportation), as well as cargoes falling under 1-24 groups specified in the Ukrainian Classifier of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity (UKT ZED). Temperature-sensitive and pharmaceutical goods are not recommended for intermodal transportation. Transportation of dangerous (ADR) goods requires prior approval for the permitted mode of transportation and Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity (UKT ZED) code by the railroad and the manufacturer, a two-stage check for packaging reliability, the availability of permits and certificates, compliance with the rules and requirements of the Regulations Concerning the International Transport of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), etc. Our train can accommodate up to 18 cargo units, both in import and export directions. At the stage of testing the service, we provide our customers with the option of shipping even just one container. For effective logistics planning and to ensure the regularity of international shipments from Europe to Ukraine or vice versa, the intermodal service offers delivery twice a week.  The service currently covers Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland and the western Czech Republic. Depending on the origin and destination, the cargo delivery time is around 8-9 days. Should there be a requirement to arrange the delivery to or from any other European country, our specialists can provide a tailored solution specifically designed to meet the clients unique needs. What is required to organize transportation? Since the railway is the primary link in intermodal transportation, the organization of transportation must be meticulous, structured, and clear. Prior to commencing the organization of transportation, a preparatory stage is conducted, involving the submission and collection of information on the cargo type and specifications, weight and dimensions, amount or number of pieces, packaging and transportation conditions, accompanying and customs documents, as well as the pickup and delivery location, etc. Considerable attention is devoted to documentation. As a rule, to avoid the loss of documents, we specify shipping documents in the CMR. Given that intermodal transportation is a complex process involving several participants, and human error can potentially cause disruptions, we control the availability of all documents. Therefore, shortly before the shipment, we have a ready-made package of documents, and on the day of pickup, we provide the vehicle for loading, which immediately goes for customs clearance and then to its destination. By the way, in Europe, it takes 3 hours for loading/customs clearance or unloading/customs clearance, whereas in Ukraine, it spans a day. What are the benefits of intermodal service? Intermodal transportation is based on a combination of regular rail shipments and flexible road transportation, creating an effective mechanism for guaranteeing the reliability and continuity of the supply chain. The main advantages of intermodal service include the following: Precise planning and scheduling of shipments; Managed transit time; Low risk of cargo damage and heightened traffic safety; Transparent service costs; Simplified document flow, Optimization of the logistics process, Environmental friendliness. Moreover, intermodal transportation enables us to prioritize rational planning and achieve results even in challenging conditions. What are our plans for the future? We value our customers time and their confidence in the future, so we believe that intermodal transportation is the future. It is about reliability, timeliness and environmental protection. In the near future, we plan to actively develop the service and explore new opportunities: significantly expanding our geography, organizing consolidation warehouses in Europe specifically for FTL cargo, increasing our rolling stock fleet, and implementing innovative practices. Our goal is to be useful at the right time, to develop a favorable environment for Ukrainian business and to be closer to our customers and their needs. Based on the materials of the press service of the DSV Road Department in Ukraine. If you would like to try out the intermodal service or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our specialists: [email protected]

How did it all start?

We came up with the idea of launching intermodal transportation back in 2019, when during the “peak” seasons, regular permits were expiring almost every hour, available transport dwindled, and trucks had to rely on ECMT permits. There was a pressing need for an alternative to road freight transportation. After all, even a temporary halt in international trade between Ukraine and Europe could have had severe consequences.

The difficult situation at Ukrainian borders in late summer 2023 expedited the implementation of intermodal transportation. With the onset of the war, the need to obtain permits was canceled under bilateral agreements with the EU. This decision did not suit Polish carriers at all, as Ukrainian transport companies nearly pushed them out of the logistics market, while checkpoints struggled to handle the influx of Ukrainian traffic volumes.

The blocking of all border crossings virtually halted international road freight delivery: there were long queues at the border (the approximate waiting time varied from 12 to 21 days), there was a shortage of transport, deliveries were postponed indefinitely, and road transportation tariffs were rising daily… Full truckload (FTL) transportation was becoming unprofitable for both customers and logistics companies.

This course of events became a kind of impetus for our team. After a thorough evaluation of all risks and our capabilities, we made the decision to introduce a contrailer  transportation service to facilitate border crossings without delays and to fulfill commitments to customers and partners.

In addition, intermodal transportation is the most environmentally friendly option and is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the supply chain. The concept behind such transportation mode is quite simple: road-rail-road, but it significantly minimizes truck mileage and, consequently, reduces CO2 emissions.

DSV, as one of the largest transport and logistics companies in the world, set a course for green logistics (DSV Green Logistics) back in 2021 and implemented a set of solutions to accelerate the green transition of the entire industry.

How did we launch the contrailer transportation?

Pre-project work lasted several months. We closely collaborated with local railway operators to choose the best ones; additionally, we integrated our DSV Global Equipment Services, which provided European semi-trailers; and we engaged trucks from our own DSV network.

All this is aimed to offer our customers not only an alternative and effective solution, but also an optimal price-quality ratio that meets international standards for import and export transportation.

Collaboration with our representative offices helped to close the European component of intermodal transportation: our truck with a semi-trailer is loaded at the sender’s site, transported for customs clearance and terminal in Forst (Germany), then the trailer is loaded onto a railway platform, secured and transported to Ukraine by rail to Mostyska-2 station (Lviv Oblast). The estimated transit time by rail is 3-4 days.

Here, in Ukraine, at the terminal, the contrailer is unloaded, hitched to a truck and delivered to the destination customs office.

Thus, the majority of the route (about 600 km) is covered by the railroad, which does not cause much damage to the environment.

What are the possibilities of intermodal service?

The contrailer has virtually no weight restrictions enabling the transport of general and heavy cargoes: all that can be placed in a standard trailer (as in FTL transportation), as well as cargoes falling under 1-24 groups specified in the Ukrainian Classifier of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity (UKT ZED).

Temperature-sensitive and pharmaceutical goods are not recommended for intermodal transportation. Transportation of dangerous (ADR) goods requires prior approval for the permitted mode of transportation and Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity (UKT ZED) code by the railroad and the manufacturer, a two-stage check for packaging reliability, the availability of permits and certificates, compliance with the rules and requirements of the Regulations Concerning the International Transport of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), etc.

Our train can accommodate up to 18 cargo units, both in import and export directions. At the stage of testing the service, we provide our customers with the option of shipping even just one container.

For effective logistics planning and to ensure the regularity of international shipments from Europe to Ukraine or vice versa, the intermodal service offers delivery twice a week. 

The service currently covers Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland and the western Czech Republic. Depending on the origin and destination, the cargo delivery time is around 8-9 days. Should there be a requirement to arrange the delivery to or from any other European country, our specialists can provide a tailored solution specifically designed to meet the client’s unique needs.

What is required to organize transportation?

Since the railway is the primary link in intermodal transportation, the organization of transportation must be meticulous, structured, and clear.

Prior to commencing the organization of transportation, a preparatory stage is conducted, involving the submission and collection of information on the cargo type and specifications, weight and dimensions, amount or number of pieces, packaging and transportation conditions, accompanying and customs documents, as well as the pickup and delivery location, etc.

Considerable attention is devoted to documentation. As a rule, to avoid the loss of documents, we specify shipping documents in the CMR. Given that intermodal transportation is a complex process involving several participants, and human error can potentially cause disruptions, we control the availability of all documents.

Therefore, shortly before the shipment, we have a ready-made package of documents, and on the day of pickup, we provide the vehicle for loading, which immediately goes for customs clearance and then to its destination. By the way, in Europe, it takes 3 hours for loading/customs clearance or unloading/customs clearance, whereas in Ukraine, it spans a day.

What are the benefits of intermodal service?

Intermodal transportation is based on a combination of regular rail shipments and flexible road transportation, creating an effective mechanism for guaranteeing the reliability and continuity of the supply chain.

The main advantages of intermodal service include the following:

  • Precise planning and scheduling of shipments;
  • Managed transit time;
  • Low risk of cargo damage and heightened traffic safety;
  • Transparent service costs;
  • Simplified document flow,
  • Optimization of the logistics process,
  • Environmental friendliness.

Moreover, intermodal transportation enables us to prioritize rational planning and achieve results even in challenging conditions.

What are our plans for the future?

We value our customers’ time and their confidence in the future, so we believe that intermodal transportation is the future. It is about reliability, timeliness and environmental protection.

In the near future, we plan to actively develop the service and explore new opportunities: significantly expanding our geography, organizing consolidation warehouses in Europe specifically for FTL cargo, increasing our rolling stock fleet, and implementing innovative practices.

Our goal is to be useful at the right time, to develop a favorable environment for Ukrainian business and to be closer to our customers and their needs.

Based on the materials of the press service of the DSV Road Department in Ukraine.

If you would like to try out the intermodal service or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our specialists: [email protected]

If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Start
in the Telegram bot
Read articles. Share in social networks

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: