DHL launches innovative road transportation across India

by Najuka G

•   DHL SmarTrucking, a TechLog company, aims to build a 10,000-strong IoT-enabled and temperature-controlled fully-owned fleet in India by 2028

•   Move will create employment opportunities for over 20,000 drivers

Mumbai, India, 23 May 2018 – Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), the world’s leading mail and logistics company, today announced the launch of DHL SmarTrucking, to provide an innovative trucking solution across an extensive linehaul express road network in India. DHL SmarTrucking is the company’s first official move to accelerate the development of technology-enabled logistics solutions around the world, under its newly formed board department, Corporate Incubations, which was launched in April this year. The company has also appointed Neeraj Bansal, as CEO of DHL SmarTrucking, who will be responsible for leading the company’s growth in India.

“India is an incredibly important market for Deutsche Post DHL Group. Presently, road freight comprises the majority of the total freight movement and is the largest transportation segment in India,” says Juergen Gerdes, Board Member for Corporate Incubations, Deutsche Post DHL Group. “With greater efficiency from DHL SmarTrucking, we expect to transport 100,000 tonnes of cargo and cover a distance of approximately 4 million kilometers across India daily.”

DHL SmarTrucking solutions epitomize ‘TechLog’ – logistics made smarter through the use of new and emerging technologies. Following a successful three-month pilot that covered over 2,770,000 kilometers, DHL SmarTrucking leverages Internet of Things (IoT) technology and data-driven insights for route optimization. This reduces transit times by up to 50 percent compared to the traditional trucking industry, and provides over 95 percent reliability with ease of use, end-to-end consignment visibility, temperature-controlled capabilities and real-time tracking.

IoT-enabled sensors monitored through the company’s centralized control tower provide real-time temperature and consignment tracking. Information alerts and status updates are also sent to customers and DHL SmarTrucking’s operations teams through the customer portal and external and internal mobile applications.

Utilizing an innovative and agile model, drivers are rotated at predetermined stops located across the country, with the original driver returning to the point of origin with another truckload.

“This transportation model not only helps optimize efficiency but also reduces fatigue among drivers who spend less time on the road, enabling them to go home to their families every two to three days,” says Malcolm Monteiro, CEO, DHL eCommerce India. “Additionally, with the demand for temperature controlled transportation in India estimated to grow at 15% per annum from 2016 to 2020[1], DHL SmarTrucking allows our customers in India to scale up and streamline their business operations to meet consumers’ needs.”

With temperature control capabilities that are fully compliant with international standards, solutions such as DHL SmarTrucking and DHL SmarTrucking Coldchain for temperature-controlled products, provide road freight solutions for all sectors, including the automotive, dairy, e-commerce, packaged foods, pharmaceuticals and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) industries.

“DHL SmarTrucking’s emphasis on TechLog will change the game for customers in India,” said Neeraj Bansal, CEO, DHL SmarTrucking. “Leveraging the potential of the infrastructural transformations in India’s logistics ecosystem and our innovations through DHL SmarTrucking, we can help Indian businesses reach customers and markets in a faster and more secure way.”

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 360,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 60 billion euros in 2017.