ELVIS and MANSIO Launch First Encounter Transport Services

Successfully Launched: The European Cargo Alliance of International Forwarders (ELVIS) AG and the software developer MANSIO GmbH have processed the first encounter transport services of the new ELVIS Cross Load Network. The first trailers have now been handed over at the ELVIS hub in Knüllwald. The goal is to establish an encounter network for full truck loads.

(Alzenau) The trailers are exchanged at a central point halfway along the route. This system reduces empty trips, time, and costs, and helps combat the driver shortage. The system-supported comprehensive solution also provides seamless transparency along the entire supply chain. A total of eight forwarding companies are involved in the pilot phase.

“With our ELVIS Cross Load Network, we have created an opportunity for forwarding companies to significantly increase their competitiveness. Especially in these economically challenging times, companies need new ways to significantly enhance the efficiency of truck deployment,” says Nikolja Grabowski, board member of ELVIS AG. Together with the Aachen-based software developer MANSIO, ELVIS has developed systematized encounter transports for the alliance of more than 250 partners to optimize its own transport business.

Central Exchange Point at the Hub in Knüllwald

The concept has started with a central exchange point in Germany – located at the ELVIS hub in Knüllwald. The network will be gradually expanded throughout Germany. The system works as follows: Forwarding companies drive their trucks to the hub, hand over their trailer to another forwarding company, and take one of their trailers back to the respective origin region. Standardized trailers from a pool are provided so that the own trailer does not have to be handed over to foreign drivers. “Due to the driving and rest times of the truck driver, the maximum utilization of the vehicle today is 30 percent. With our encounter transports, we increase this to up to 60 percent,” says Grabowski. The reason for this is that after the encounter, the truck can be put back into service with new driving personnel. In today’s tramp traffic, the truck remains idle after such a tour because the driver must observe their well-deserved daily rest period. With higher utilization rates, the share of fixed costs is correspondingly reduced.

The concept also scores points in terms of sustainability. With fixed route points at the ELVIS hub and at their own location with corresponding charging infrastructure, the use of electric trucks is also possible in long-distance transport. Since the return load is always available at the encounter point, unnecessary empty trips to the next loading point are eliminated. With the ELVIS Cross Load Network, forwarding companies also create attractive offers for interested applicants. Because drivers can return home every day, the profession becomes more attractive. This eliminates the often tedious search for parking spaces on highways.

Gathering Feedback from Forwarding Companies

The pilot phase is being used to gather valuable feedback from the forwarding companies. Gradually, more partners will be onboarded. The goal of the ELVIS Cross Load Network is to cover all of Germany this year and then expand across Europe. Additional features such as CO2 tracking are also expected to be available in the future. Julian Blasig, Chief Operating Officer of MANSIO, says: “We are pleased with the very successful start of the pilot phase. The intensive collaboration with numerous forwarding companies in the concept development has paid off.”

Photo: © ELVIS