Logistics suffers from poor Brexit preparation of customers, according to DSLV
20. January 2021
Peter Hüwel appointed new CEO North America at Hellmann
20. January 2021
The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and the Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BME) are organizing the 14th Forum on Rail Freight Transport, which takes place today and tomorrow. Only with the latest technologies can the growth targets of the industry and politics be realized. The forum took place from January 19 to today, January 20, 2021.
On the occasion of the 14th Forum on Rail Freight Transport, which is taking place entirely digitally for the first time, the two host associations, the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and the Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BME), have made it clear how important the digitalization of the freight rail system is for the growth targets of the industry and politics.
Corona Crisis a Severe Setback
VDV Vice President Joachim Berends and BME Managing Director Dr. Silvius Grobosch: “The Corona crisis is a severe setback for the industry. Nevertheless, the climate protection goals of the federal government continue to apply, which cannot be achieved without an increase in freight transport by rail. If we want to achieve the growth target of 25 percent market share in an overall growing market by 2030, we must fully leverage the potential of digitalization as quickly as possible: The industry has already begun the transformation. However, the federal government is more than ever called upon to promote the Digital Automatic Coupler and the Rail Freight Data Hub as key measures.”
Future Markets of the Crisis
In addition to digitalization, the Forum on Rail Freight Transport taking place on January 19/20, 2020, will focus intensively on the future markets of rail and will particularly highlight consumer goods and trade logistics. VDV Vice President Berends: “Politics and business have set the goal that rail should transport significantly more goods in the future. To achieve this, it must necessarily open up new markets and offer competitive solutions for the consumer goods industry and trade logistics. The federal government is also called upon to adjust the framework conditions for new rail connections, combined solutions of trucks and rail, as well as for the standardization of European rail systems to make rail more attractive.”
140 Participants Are Involved
This year’s specialist forum will be attended by around 140 shippers, rail freight forwarders, as well as railway service providers and transport companies. In addition to VDV and BME, the event is supported by the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the DSLV Federal Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics, and the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade, and Services (BGA) e.V. “This cooperation shows the breadth of topics that will be discussed at our event. Thus, the Forum on Rail Freight Transport is a central platform for representatives from the fields of rail freight transport, logistics, forwarding, trade, industry, and science,” Grobosch concluded.
Photo: © Oliver Lang/Deutsche Bahn AG / Caption: Also a topic at the 14th BME/VDV Forum on Rail Freight Transport: The Digital Automatic Coupler (DAK). The new coupling mechanism accelerates the assembly of freight trains.
