The company’s cargo transportation route for one full truckload (FTL) from Stuttgart to
Sheffield initially looked like this:

As a result of this outdated shipping logistics chain, multiplied by 5 FTLs a day, 5 days a week, the German manufacturer was:

– overspending on fuel costs
– overspending on road toll fees
– losing the battle against CO2 emissions

With the goal to reduce overall spending, the company wanted to establish a much more strategic shipping process. That shift in efficiency would also help the company make significant strides towards its target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

NDQ approached our German client’s logistics challenge as a balancing act. We aimed to identify opportunities for cost savings, implement sustainable logistics solutions, and drive more environmentally friendly outcomes.

A first monumental cost-reduction for this German manufacturer came from the decision to adopt an unaccompanied shipping model. Prior to making that change, an individual driver was attached to every single shipment and tasked with escorting the client’s cargo from pick- up to drop-off.

In the new model, trailers are placed onto cargo ships to complete a large portion of their journey unaccompanied. Once they reach their designated port, they’re ready to be picked up and driven to their final destination.

Unaccompanied transport is an extremely cost-effective shipping solution. The approach adds flexibility through route customisation options, adaptable pick-up scheduling, and extended operating hours, creating even more room for improvement.

Our client’s decision to adopt an unaccompanied shipping strategy came with a secondary – but significant – opportunity for impact. The newfound flexibility of unaccompanied transport allowed us to change the port of departure as well as the port of destination.

On the European mainland, we made a shift from Dunkirk, France to the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium. On the UK side, we selected a cargo port much closer to Sheffield, the shipment’s ultimate destination.

By increasing the distance travelled over sea, we were able to reduce the full kilometre-count per shipment by 345 km. When shipping out 5 trailer loads a day, 5 days a week, this led to a 34,500 km reduction every month.

Not only do these kilometres represent a decrease in operational costs, they are also driving a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

While technological advances are slowly beginning to reduce the impact of truck transport on the environment, there are still much cleaner, greener modes of shipping your cargo from point A to point B. A shift from road transportation to rail transport represents an 82% decrease in CO₂ emissions. And emissions levels generated by sea shipping are a staggering 97% lower than those from road transport. (calculated from European Court of Auditors data)

For this German manufacturer, our team at NDQ drastically reduced the number of kilometres driven on the road between origin and destination.

On the European mainland, we implemented a near-total shift from road to rail between Stuttgart and the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. This impactful change resulted in an approximate savings of 680 km per shipment, multiplied by 5 FTLs a day, 5 days a week. On a monthly basis, the calculation amounts to an astonishing 68,000 km reduction.

By mapping out a shipping strategy that involved fewer kilometres driven, we also significantly
lowered road toll costs, cut fuel spending, and minimised time lost to traffic congestion.

By reimagining an outdated shipping logistics strategy through a lens of cost-savings and sustainability, NDQ was able to fully transform and future-proof this client’s transportation process.

The outcome? An impactful reduction in kilometres travelled by road, taking 112,500 monthly kilometres down to a mere 10,000 km.

This client trusted NDQ’s expertise: they embraced our recommendations and allowed us to implement bold, sweeping changes to their logistics plan. As a result, this German manufacturer has now significantly lowered operational costs – and is much closer to honouring the company’s global commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2030.

NDQ is the one-stop-shop for all your UK and Ireland consignments. Get in touch to discover how our team of experts can address your unique shipping needs and create customised shipping solutions for your company.