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Combined transport is a way to address the driver shortage. While this mode of transport also requires drivers, they are at home in the evenings, significantly increasing the attractiveness of this profession. Smaller freight forwarders have easy access to combined transport through FIT4RAIL.
(Berlin) The partly dramatic events in Great Britain show how important truck drivers are for supply security. There is already a personnel shortage in continental Europe, which is exacerbated by the high average age and the resulting wave of retirements. It is therefore crucial to enhance the attractiveness of this important profession.
Here, combined transport (CT) offers a solution. The longest part of the transport route is covered by rail, while the so-called first and last mile is transported by truck. This allows truck drivers to spend their evenings at home instead of having to overnight in a cramped cabin – a significant criterion for choosing this profession.
shift2030 and Rail-Flow support small freight forwarders
However, access to combined transport is not easy, especially for small freight forwarders. They often lack the necessary equipment (CT-compatible semi-trailers) as well as a partner network to deliver the shipment to the destination on the last mile by truck. To enable small freight forwarders to offer their drivers an attractive workplace, the initiative shift2030, together with its partner Rail-Flow, has launched the action “FIT4RAIL.” With its Intermodal Capacity Broker (ICB), Rail-Flow creates a low-threshold entry point, allowing even small forwarders to use combined transport comfortably and reliably without having to make investments. This innovative solution is also part of the EU-funded project “Facilitating Intermodal Transport” and will be officially launched on December 1, 2021.
Climate-friendly transport solutions
At the same time, freight forwarders can offer climate-friendly transport solutions with FIT4RAIL, which are becoming increasingly important for their customers. More and more shippers expect their forwarders to increase the share of rail transport to achieve set climate goals. With combined transport by rail, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 80%.
Photo: © Loginfo24/Adobe Stock
