Creating stability during an upheaval
Ready for its 35th anniversary in 2024; equipped for the future. Italy’s myriad family businesses form the backbone of the nation’s logistics industry. Manuel Scortegagna, the owner and director of Scortrans, spoke to Christian Doepgen about the development of groupage services, European markets and intermodal transport, and alternative drives, photovoltaics and digitalisation. Scortegagna, who also plays a role in Fedespedi, keeps a keen eye on the industry.
How has your company’s profile developed over the last three years?
We all know very well what’s happened worldwide over the past three years, with Covid-19, wars, and economic and climate change. Following these events, Scortrans managed to adapt its organisation to enable us to cope with all the changes that occurred and to maintain the performance standards we’re used to as a leader in the transport and logistics industry. It wasn’t simple, but thanks to the flexibility, professionalism and foresight of our team the results were positive.
Which regions are doing well with demand as far as groupage is concerned?
From our point of view we’ve enjoyed good growth in the last three years in the Balkan republics, the Iberian Peninsula as well as in Turkey.
Have the Nordic and Baltic countries managed to maintain the pace? What about Western Europe?
Unfortunately, because of the war, Finland and Sweden were the countries that seemed to be in most difficulty, whilst the trend was more constant in Western Europe, at least until May this year.
How has the shape of your truck fleet changed over the last few years?
We’ve renewed our fleet on the basis of new technologies for the use of increasingly sustainable vehicles powered by hydro-diesel fuels.
Has Scortrans introduced any innovative digital tools recently?
Scortrans began implementing digitalised systems as early as 2022, in order to keep up with the fast-moving times and to provide continuous online information for our customers.
What achievement in the field of sustainability are you particularly proud of?
We’re very proud of our photovoltaic system, which gives us great satisfaction in exchange for energy savings and less pollution. We’re also proud of the LED lighting in all of our buildings.
Have your intermodal traffic volumes decreased?
No, on the contrary – they’re increasing, despite the difficulties resulting from a largely under-sized and also under-equipped network.
What, in your eyes, is Fedespedi’s perspective of the situation of the transport and logistics industry in Italy?
Fedespedi always seeks to put its members in the best possible position to face the difficulties of the market, and therefore always pays great attention to the prevailing market trends.
What business plans do you now have in place through to the 35th anniversary of Scortrans in 2024?
We’re always very enthusiastic about facing the future and are proud to have now reached the milestone of 35 years in business. Our main objective for 2024 is to complete our the digitalisation of our operating systems and the renovation and expansion of our offices.