Barcelona–France: skipping the track-gauge trap 
It’s a debut. A direct freight-dedicated rail connection to France has started operations from the port of Barcelona for the first time. From now on, the French cities of Toulouse and Lyon will be served by rail cargo links without the need to change locomotives when crossing... more
Canada: new rules for transport registration
Canada’s ministry of transport has launched a new online platform for registering and identifying persons and organisations that import, offer transport services, handle, or transport dangerous goods in Canada. The aim of the new registration system is to reduce risks... more
Sovereign Speed gears up
The Germany-headquartered logistics provider has diversified into the temperature-controlled transport sector and acquired a high specification multi-temp’ Cool Liner trailer from Krone. Founded in 1998, Sovereign Speed is renowned as a ‘high-speed’ freight mover and... more
Californian haulier changes hands
The USA-headquartered transport company CRST International has acquired Gardner Trucking. Founded in 1989, it is one of California’s largest truckload carriers and a provider of specialised regional truckload services, logistics, drayage and warehouse services for bulk and... more
Spot rates continue to fall
The latest Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates index for Europe shows that the spot rates index dropped further below the contract rates index in Q3/2023. The spot index fell for the fourth consecutive quarter, while the contract spot index climbed for the first time... more
US intermodal offer extended
In the USA the haulier J.B. Hunt and the class I railway BNSF have launched their new 'Quanton' solution, to transport service-sensitive highway freight using rail and offering customised solutions. The 'Quantum' team is made up of J.B. Hunt and BNSF operators housed... more
Germany’s rail industry is growing - abroad
Deutsche Bahn generated record sales of EUR 7.8 billion in Germany in H1/2023, an increase of 15%. However, growth is taking place abroad, with exports accounting for around 40% of sales. The domestic market shrank by 8% to just under EUR 5 billion. Incoming orders in... more
Pay-per-use for electric lorries
Truck manufacturer Scania and digital freight forwarder Sennder have founded a JV in Berlin to accelerate the electrification and decarbonisation of the European road logistics sector. The two companies are introducing Juna, a pay-per-use model for e-trucks, which are two to... more
Pilot project for e-trucks to start in Florida
The USA-based land transport group Crowley will work with autonomous e-truck specialist Terraline in a pilot project for the EV500 Test Truck, which is scheduled to beginn with Terraline’s trucks in 2024. The two companies also signed an agreement for a formal option to order... more
Improving efficiency and road safety
The Germayn-based Nosta Group has completely replaced its in-house vehicle fleet. The full-service logistics provider has now put 34 new vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz Actros 5L series on the European road networks. According to Nosta, upgrading the fleet is a further step... more