POSTAL NEWS
No 71 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
PostNL and Sandd to ask Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to approve merger of postal networks. September 5, 2019.
Break of our retreats: FO says STOP! September 5, 2019.
UPS invests in range-extended electric vehicles for UK operations. September 4, 2019.
Australia Post announces 'If It Packs, It Posts' with national flat rate pricing. September 4, 2019.
Posten Norge's revenue in the first half-year was NOK 11 843 million, the same level as the corresponding period in 2018.August 30, 2019.
PostNL and Sandd to ask Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to approve merger of postal networks
September 5, 2019
For an accessible, reliable and affordable postal service across the Netherlands
The Hague, the Netherlands, 5 September 2019 – PostNL and Sandd will ask the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to approve the merger of their postal networks, a next step after its licence application was rejected by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM by its Dutch acronym).
PostNL and Sandd disagree with the analysis and argumentation of the ACM decision. Developments in recent years, including the strong decline of postal volumes and lower results, as confirmed by the information provided by PostNL and Sandd, speak for themselves.
The continuing decline of mail volumes makes it very hard for postal operators to sustain their profitability. Consolidation is essential if the country’s postal services are to be kept reliable, accessible and affordable, across both urban and rural areas, safeguarding a sustainable postal service for all, including the elderly and socially vulnerable groups.
Combining the volumes of the two networks will generate economies of scale, a vital factor to ensure continuity. Consolidation will also facilitate a responsible social response to the consequences of the ongoing decline in the postal market.
PostNL and Sandd will now apply for approval under Article 47 of Dutch competition law, which mandates the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to apply a different framework, and allow for a wider range of considerations to be taken into account based on public interest, including employment, continuity and affordability of the universal postal service.
Source : https://www.postnl.nl/en/about-postnl/press-news/press-releases/2019
Break of our retreats: FO says STOP!
September 5, 2019
For more than a year, the government has opened a consultation on the pension reform wanted by the President of the Republic.
FO has decided to suspend its participation in these consultations requesting a clarification of the government project. For FO, this reform this reform is a new challenge, the most serious so far, of all of our pension system and its regimes.
FO claims the improvement of pensions and is for the maintenance of existing regimes, guaranteeing intergenerational solidarity.
FO opposes the extension of the duration of activity, source of casualization of job seekers, but also future retirees.
Source: http://www.focom-laposte.fr/
UPS invests in range-extended electric vehicles for UK operations
September 4, 2019
UPS has introduced a new line of range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) to its fleets serving Birmingham and Southampton, UK, to overcome the range limitations of pure electric vehicles within the logistics industry.
The new REEVs operate using groundbreaking hybrid electric vehicle technology, which increases route range while maintaining the cargo capacity of traditional diesel vehicles of the same weight class.
“This is a big breakthrough for our continued use of electric vehicles in the UK – and for the communities we serve,” says Luke Wake, director of automotive engineering and advanced technology, UPS International. “The range jump from 100km to 400km [62 miles to 248 miles] is the result of UPS’s latest collaboration with electric vehicle specialist TEVVA Motors. We can serve our customers with lower emission, alternatively fueled vehicles in places beyond the reach of existing pure electric vehicles at this weight class.
“Since 2009, UPS has invested more than US$1bn in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. But news like this really brings home the evolution of our rolling laboratory – you can now actually see progress like this out on the roads in and out of Birmingham and Southampton.”
The REEVs use geofencing technology to automatically switch to pure electric mode when reaching a predetermined boundary, such as prior to entering an urban environment or clean air zone. This same technology allows the vehicle to switch to the onboard range extender that utilizes a significantly smaller and efficient diesel engine to recharge the battery, such as on the motorway connecting neighboring towns and cities, or to make a journey back to the UPS depot.
The vehicles were developed in conjunction with TEVVA and part-funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Innovate UK. They form part of UPS’s ‘rolling laboratory’ strategy to develop a variety of alternative fuel vehicles, using continuous evaluation and experimentation to ensure that the company reduces its carbon footprint with solutions best suited to each specific environment.
The new vehicles solve a problem faced by many companies operating in cities, including Birmingham and Southampton, where warehouses and depots are often based further from the city center. The current generation of 7.5 metric ton electric delivery vehicles have an average range of 100km (62 miles), which is often not far enough to reach urban drop-off points. Instead, the REEVs can travel an average combined power range of 400km (248 miles), while still ensuring they make zero emissions within the urban areas on their routes.
With a cubic capacity of 23m³ (812ft³), the REEVs also maintain the operational efficiency of high-volume package delivery vehicles. This avoids the need for a greater number of smaller capacity electric vehicles carrying the same number of packages, in turn reducing congestion on the roads.
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news
Australia Post announces 'If It Packs, It Posts' with national flat rate pricing
September 4, 2019
Australia Post has unveiled major enhancements of its parcel products that will deliver big savings for customers in rural and regional Australia.
From 30 September 2019, Australia Post will extend its popular domestic national flat rate parcel products to provide greater value for customers sending domestic parcels up to 5kg via Post Offices, MyPost Business and auspost.com.au.
The new sending solution, called If It Packs, It Posts will offer national flat rate pricing based purely on the parcel’s size instead of a combination of weight and where it is being sent from and to.
Designed to remove complexity and provide certainty of pricing upfront, customers will have two simple national flat rate options to choose from - size or weight.
If a customer’s item fits in any of the new Australia Post If it Packs, It Posts product range of packaging and satchels (small, medium, large or extra large) and weighs up to 5kg, we’ll send it anywhere in Australia at a flat rate based on the size of packaging the customer has chosen.
Customers choosing to use their own packaging can also access flat rates based on four weight tiers up to 5kg (500g, 1kg, 3kg, 5kg).
Nicole Sheffield, Executive General Manager Community & Consumer at Australia Post said these changes reflect what customer have asked for – more simplicity and certainty of price.
“Our national flat rates mean customers sending to or from remote parts of the country are no longer at a disadvantage. The cost of sending something from Broome to Bondi will be the same as sending cross-town,” Nicole said.
“In fact, many of our customers will actually pay less, especially those sending small, heavy items and those sending to or from rural and regional Australia.
“Like stamp prices, which are a flat rate no matter how far a letter travels, these new flat rate parcel prices mean we are being fairer to more Australians and allows Australia Post to continue to invest in our network, our Post Offices and our Post Office Licensee partners.”
Australia Post will also introduce carbon neutral delivery for all parcel products sent through the Post Office and MyPost Business channels by purchasing Australian Carbon Credit Units.
Source : https://newsroom.auspost.com.au/article
Posten Norge's revenue in the first half-year was NOK 11 843 million, the same level as the corresponding period in 2018.
August 30, 2019
Adjusted operating profit in the first half-year amounted to NOK 239 million, representing an increase of NOK 80 million on the previous year.
Organic growth was positive at 2.4 per cent.
Operating profit was negatively impacted by a provision of NOK 473 million for the necessary restructuring of the postal operations.
"The rate of digitalisation is increasing, and Posten Norge is continuing to adapt to a declining mail market and new customer needs. The Group has sound underlying operations and positive profit growth in the logistics segment, but the bottom line is impacted by large provisions for restructuring due to falling mail volumes," says CEO Tone Wille in Posten Norge.
Posten Norway is preparing for large-scale restructuring when mail delivery will be reduced to every other day from 1 July 2020, in line with the amendments to the Postal Act passed by the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) in June.
Logistics segment
Adjusted operating profit for the Logistics segment was NOK 109 million in the first half of 2019, an improvement of NOK 151 million compared with the same period last year. Revenue in the first half-year increased by NOK 466 million to NOK 8 828 million. Organic growth was 6.0 per cent. Several improvement measures are being implemented in this segment of the business, resulting in a positive effect.
"We are investing extensively in expanding capacity and increasing production and network efficiency. In Norway, we are establishing a joint network for mail, parcels and freight. The new terminal in Stavanger was opened in June. In Sweden,
Bring is expanding the parcel network, while Bring in Denmark is increasing capacity with new terminals," says Wille.
E-commerce volume increased by 17 per cent over the past 12 months.
Mail segment
Adjusted operating profit for the Mail segment was NOK 237 million in the first half-year, a reduction of NOK 74 million compared with the first half of 2018. Revenue was reduced by NOK 458 million due to a fall in volumes of addressed mail and the sale of Bring Citymail Sweden on 1 March 2018. Addressed letter mail volumes fell by 12 per cent in the first half of 2019 and 13.3 per cent over the past 12 months.
"In the next few years, Posten Norge will shape the delivery network of the future with a combination of industrial production and individualised delivery with new services such as In-home delivery – with digital door lock. We are certain that our trusted employees can safely deliver parcels inside the door – even when the recipient is not home," says Wille.
In the first half-year, 91.5 per cent of addressed mail was delivered within two days. This was well above the licence requirement of 85 per cent.
HSE
Sickness absence for the Group in the second quarter of 2019 was 5.5 per cent, a reduction of 0.1 percentage points compared with the second quarter of 2018. Sickness absence for the past 12 months was 6.0 per cent, the same level as a year ago.
The Group's focus on systematic HSE activities has produced positive results. Injury and sickness absence levels have both decreased significantly in recent years.
Key figures Q2 2019 (Q2 2018 in brackets)
Operating revenues (MNOK) 5 931 (5 975)
Adjusted operating profit (MNOK) 132 (214)
Operating profit/loss (EBIT) MNOK -239 (233)
Key figures first half of 2019 (first half of 2018 in brackets)
Operating revenues (MNOK) 11 843 (11 844)
Adjusted operating profit (MNOK) 239 (159)
Equity ratio ).7 (38.1)
Return on invested capital (ROIC) %6.5 (8.6)
Return on equity (after tax) % -3.9 (5.6)
Source: https://www.posteurop.org
POSTAL NEWS
No 72 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
APWU: Opening Day of Interest Arbitration!
September 5, 2019.
Amazon India to weed out single-use plastic packaging by June 2020. September 4, 2019.
PUDOs and lockers – the new power in the Polish last mile. September 3, 2019.
DPD’S 50 million euro parcel hub in Hamm to begin processing next week. August 30, 2019.
Milestone on the way to the "green zero": 10,000 climate-protecting StreetScooters are now in service. August 30, 2019.
APWU: Opening Day of Interest Arbitration!
September 5, 2019
On Wednesday, September 4, the APWU began presenting its case for a strong contract in the opening day of Interest Arbitration hearings in Washington, D.C. The hearing was the first of many in the process that will determine the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the APWU and the USPS.
After introductions by Arbitrator Goldberg – the Arbitration Panel’s neutral arbitrator – and APWU Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman, the hearing began with the Postal Service’s opening statement, delivered by USPS attorney Kevin B. Rachel. The APWU’s opening statement, delivered by APWU general counsel Mindy Holmes, followed. Both attorneys outlined the cases and the general proposals from both parties.
APWU proposals include:
An on-average 3 percent annual wage increase,
Increasing USPS contribution to health care insurance,
Retain COLAs,
Restore top steps lost in 2010,
Elimination of postmasters doing bargaining unit work in level 18 offices,
Guaranteed hours and advanced scheduling for PTFs,
Reduction of PSE percentages and creation of more career jobs.
Following management’s rebuttals and a break in proceedings, APWU President Mark Dimondstein made his presentation as a witness. In his statement, President Dimondstein discussed how postal workers are passionate about their mission to provide a vital service to the general public as outlined in the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act: ‘To provide postal services to bind the Nation together,’ to ‘provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas,’ and to ‘render postal services to all communities.’
In order to properly fulfill this mission, President Dimondstein said, APWU members need good-paying jobs and working conditions.
These include:
An end to the unfair and divisive three-tier structure that pays workers significantly different amounts for performing the same work.
Further reductions in the non-career workforce and an increase in the career workforce where workers make decent, family-sustaining wages and receive a solid set of benefits.
A relief of the ever-growing problem of hostile working environments and a management structure that refuses to hold management accountable.
“The key to the past and the future success of the Postal Service is the hard work and dedication of hundreds of thousands of postal workers,” President Dimondstein concluded. “From those who sell postage and accept packages; to those who sort medicines, letters, and on-line orders; to those who transport the mail and repair the vehicles; to those who maintain the equipment and facilities; to those who deliver the mail.”
In addition to APWU officers and experts, rank and file members from the crafts will appear as witnesses in further hearings. These witnesses will continue to make the APWU’s case that working conditions and salary must be improved in order to continue serving the essential mission of the Postal Service.
The next interest arbitration hearings are scheduled for September 24-26, 2019 and throughout October (will post more information as it becomes available).
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
Amazon India to weed out single-use plastic packaging by June 2020
September 4, 2019
Amazon.com Inc’s (AMZN.O) India unit said on Wednesday it would replace all single use plastic in its packaging by June 2020 with paper cushions, the latest major company to join the country’s fight against environmental pollution.
Amazon’s move comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming ban on plastic bags, cups and straws.
The environment friendly packaging material will be entirely recyclable, Amazon, which has often been criticized for using too much plastic and thermocol to wrap its billions of packages of shipments, said on Wednesday.
Last week, rival Flipkart said it has cut down on single-use plastic use by 25% and plans to move entirely to recycled plastic consumption in its own supply chain by March 2021.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-india-plastic
PUDOs and lockers – the new power in the Polish last mile
September 3, 2019
The Polish e-commerce market is booming. Read how out-of-home delivery is crucial to its success. Analysis from Marek Różycki and Prof. Arkadiusz Kawa (Last Mile Experts).
The Polish CEP market is one of the most dynamic in Europe, fueled largely by e-commerce growth and good domestic demand. Last year, it grew by some 13-15% and this trend is expected to continue, despite an anticipated economic slowdown. E-commerce can expect a further boost when the domestic e-commerce giant, Allegro, is joined by Amazon, which is expected to enter the market by the end of 2020.
Historically, Polish carriers have offered good ‘door-to-door’ (DTD) service and have focused efforts on improving this via interactive delivery management and other associated tools. But now, with issues of capacity and customers demanding more choice and better returns services, there is a need for alternative out-of-home (OOH) options.
This view is confirmed by Rafał Brzoska, founder and CEO of the Integer Group, which produces and sells InPost parcel lockers: “The Polish logistics market is on the verge of a revolution that will shake it, and it will happen faster than we think. Amazon’s entry to Poland is inevitable. As the market leader, we are not only undaunted by its appearance, but we are waiting for it, because it will render Polish e-commerce more dynamic.
“The consequence of the lack of available labor and an increase in fixed costs will be the shrinking significance of DTD courier services, which will become more expensive and transform into a premium service. Instead, the share of OOH deliveries, i.e. the PUDO and the InPost parcel lockers, will grow.
Today, up to 52% of online shoppers use our parcel lockers. In the coming years, this proportion will change in favor of OOH as more and more sellers, like Allegro, offer free deliveries, while preferring OOH deliveries.”
To date, InPost has been the ‘king of out-of-home’ with its early entry into the postal market – which required several thousand PUDOs – and then its virtually single-handed development of the APM (locker) market. While one could argue that InPost has needlessly lost much of its advantage in PUDOs – this seems to have become an ‘unwanted child’ after the company capitulated in its battle with Poczta Polska (Polish Post) for the letter market – it now has close to 5,000 APMs in Poland, which distances it by far from even the largest competitors (Poczta Polska and Denmark’s SwipBox).
According to Prof. Arkadiusz Kawa, director at Łukasiewicz Research Network – The Institute of Logistics and Warehousing and Last Mile Experts (LME) PRO Partner, “Things are really happening in out-of-home delivery in Poland. PUDOs are available at scale and now more and more operators are looking at APMs.”
But is InPost’s position unassailable? How many networks can profitably exist in this market? Who will be the challenger? Let’s answer these questions, in turn.
Is InPost’s position unassailable?
Of course, InPost is strong, but as it operates a closed network by virtue of its competition with other carriers in last-mile to-door delivery, it is unable to use other carriers’ volumes to support even faster growth. Having said that, InPost’s growth is tremendous with just the e-commerce (mainly Allegro) business it has today. A new, open network could, however, harness carrier and other e-commerce volumes to allow for growth and to challenge InPost, especially if this network harnesses the power of PUDOs to support its locker business. It’s not just SwipBox that’s looking to install APMs in Poland. Several local consolidators have been investigating options for enhancing their network capability with lockers.
Brzoska remains confident, noting, “We are calmly observing announcements of competitors declaring the construction of a network of devices similar to our parcel lockers. I think that they will soon find out that it is not enough to erect the machines themselves. As important as they are, they form only the final link of a complex logistics chain. This unique experience is the result of many years of research and work, which is appreciated by our partners. I think that in the coming weeks we will be able to provide information that will come as a big surprise for the industry.”
How many OOH networks can profitably exist in Poland?
This is, of course, the million-dollar question. Our feeling at LME is that there is room for one, possibly two further networks. Once these achieve scale and proximity, it will be very hard for anyone to compete, unless some disruptive technology comes to play. (We actually have some ideas here, but they will be a subject of a future piece we will write.)
Who will be the challenger?
The obvious challenger, today, is the SwipBox/Poczta Polska tandem, which has signed an agreement to put lockers in or next to Biedronka stores, Poland’s leading retailer with some 3,000 stores nationwide. If they are smart, they will seek to offer an open network, available to all players. But we also see a very dangerous ‘stealth competitor’ on the horizon in the shape of Amazon. If our information is correct, and the e-commerce behemoth comes in before the end of next year, things will really hot up down by the Vistula river. Of course, Amazon will create another closed network, available only for its own and Fulfilled by Amazon parcels, so the issue here will be more a question of how much e-commerce volume it is able to take from the market, and in turn from InPost, or whether InPost will be able to offer its network to Amazon on terms that the giant, not known for compromises, will accept.
Justyna Siwek, spokesperson for Poczta Polska, is clear about its focus on OOH: “Poczta Polska is a leader in terms of access points, with over 11,600 in place. We are continually seeking to innovate and have recently started building a locker network, which will have 200 APMs by the end of October. Customers appreciate proximity and flexible access times, which has led to our out-of-home parcel volumes growing by some 100% in the first half of this year.”
Michał Czechowski, managing director of Swipbox Polska, Poczta Polska’s partner, adds, “In Poland, over 50% of deliveries are carried out in the traditional ‘home delivery’ model, generating challenges for the entire e-commerce sector. It’s the main reason for alternative solutions such as parcel lockers and manned PUDOs’ increasing popularity. They respond to current trends and consumers’ expectations.
Located close to places of residence or work, customers use them primarily because of the convenience of such solutions and the time-saving factor, crucial especially in large cities.”
Whatever happens next, Poland is set to become a major OOH battleground. While we feel that the APM-powered fortress InPost has been building is strong enough to compete with a new open network, the key to any final outcome will be ‘all about Amazon’. If the giant decides to go head to head with Allegro, InPost’s most important client, things can change dramatically – and fast. Whatever happens next, things will be exciting in Poland over the next few years!
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/analysis
DPD’S 50 million euro parcel hub in Hamm to begin processing next week
August 30, 2019
This week DPD celebrated the completion of its largest parcel sorting centre in Germany located in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia.
From 7 September around 80,000 parcels per day will be handled on an area of 122,000 square metres
This volume will be gradually increased to 200,000 parcels. Initially, more than 350 workers will be employed in Hamm, rising to over 800 when the final expansion is completed.
Speaking on the occasion of the opening, DPD CEO Boris Winkelmann stated: “We’re very proud of our new parcel sorting centre in Hamm, which is an important building block in the management of our future volume growth. For our Germany-wide network the facility sets new standards in terms of performance and flexibility. In addition, our new depot is also characterised by highly sustainable construction and technological features”.
Karl-Uwe Bütof, Director of the “Innovation and Markets” section of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy commented: “E-commerce is booming. In North Rhine-Westphalia, too, people are increasingly shopping on the Internet. And this requires the appropriate infrastructure…It is therefore encouraging not only that we are in a position to offer large logistics areas, but also that companies like DPD are investing in our federal state and thus strengthening our status as a business and logistics location.”
Thomas Hunsteger-Petermann, Mayor of the city of Hamm, adds: “I am pleased that we have been able to persuade a major company with international operations to locate in Hamm. As a city this will enable us to expand our economic proifle and at the same time create new jobs. At the end of the day local people will also benefit from this development.”
The superlative facility was completed after a construction period of just under one and a half years. LIST Bau, DPD’s long-standing partner, was responsible for the construction work. Buildings with a total area of 17,300 square metres were erected on the 122,000 square metre site. The new parcel sorting centre in Hamm will replace the previous regional parcel depot in Unna-Königsborn. In view of DPD’s strong growth rates the capacities there were no longer anywhere near sufficient. However, DPD is not completely withdrawing from Unna: the trans-regional distribution centre in the Unna industrial park will remain. From 7 September 2019 the Hamm location will not only serve shippers and consignees in the region, but will also be an important DPD trans-regional hub.
The core of the new depot is a high-performance sorting installation. In its final stage it will be able to process up to 30,000 parcels per hour fully automatically. Even during the start-up phase as many as 17,500 parcels per hour can be sorted. The sorting installation was supplied by BUDDE Fördertechnik, a long-standing partner to DPD. The conveyor system, which was installed in just 10 months, has a total length of more than 7.5 kilometres. DPD attaches great importance to low-consumption and low-noise motors and drives.
There is also a clear focus on energy efficiency in other areas of the facility. Lighting energy, for example, is reduced to a minimum by installing strip lighting and LED technology. Heating is provided by a gas heat pump in conjunction with an innovative Zortström storage system for optimum, sustainable and economical heating and cooling of buildings. DPD’s environmental and energy management system is certified in accordance with DIN 14001 and DIN 50001, and DPD Germany has also committed itself to transporting all parcels in completely carbon-neutral shipping.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/114315/news
Milestone on the way to the "green zero": 10,000 climate-protecting StreetScooters are now in service
August 30, 2019
Andreas Pinkwart, the Economics Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, presented the 10,000th StreetScooter.
Andreas Pinkwart, the Economics Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, presented the 10,000th StreetScooter that will be used in DHL's parcel-delivery operations at an event in Cologne today. With 10,000 electric vehicles made by the Deutsche Post subsidiary StreetScooter that have covered more than 100 million kilometers since their introduction, the Group is facilitating climate friendly, low-noise mail and parcel delivery in Germany and is saving approximately 36,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. The emission-free e-fleet is complemented by 12,000 e-bikes and e-trikes. Deutsche Post DHL Group has also installed about 13,500 charging stations at its depots and delivery bases. By comparison: Germany currently has merely 20,650 public and semi-public charging points across the country, according to the Bundesverbandes der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (BDEW - the German association of energy and water industries). As a result, Deutsche Post is the largest private operator of a charging network in the country.
Andreas Pinkwart, the Minister of Economics, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said: "The StreetScooter is a unique success story for electro-mobility in North Rhine-Westphalia. The e-vehicle 'made in NRW' has found a home in the marketplace and is the result of a close working relationship between entrepreneurial researchers and an major innovative company that is determined to make its logistics operations more climate friendly. This example impressively demonstrates the deep level of entrepreneurial creativity found in the state."
Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, stressed one other point: "Deutsche Post DHL Group is the clear market leader in green logistics with its 10,000 electric vehicles, its 12,000 e-bikes and e-trikes and its 13,500 charging stations. Our strong commitment to e-mobility shows that environmental protection is hardly a passing fancy or a way to score public relations points at our company. We take this issue very seriously. You simply have to look at our ambitious goal to achieve zero emissions by 2050 to see just how serious we are about it.
The 10,000th StreetScooter is an important milestone on the way to the 'green zero' and shows one thing: Deutsche Post DHL Group is taking forceful action and is fueling transport change in Germany."
North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany, also has the most electric vehicles of Deutsche Post: 1,750 StreetScooters. The state is followed by Bavaria (approximately 1,400) as well as Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony (both approximately 1,200). The electric transporters are charged overnight at one of approximately 13,500 charging stations that StreetScooter GmbH has installed at the depots and delivery bases that Deutsche Post DHL Group operates across Germany. Since several StreetScooters have to be charged simultaneously overnight at many depots, StreetScooter has developed an intelligent, IT-managed charging management system that optimally uses the available power in the grid. StreetScooter also offers its entire range of expertise regarding charging infrastructure to third-party customers. The service is completely designed with the customer's needs in mind, from the wall-box that is used to charge individual vehicles to comprehensive fleet solutions.
"The StreetScooters also enable us to create more occupational health and safety among our employees," Tobias Meyer said. "The vehicle has a number of features that promote the acceptance of the vehicle by colleagues, including a design that enables employees to more easily climb into and out of the truck during the many delivery stops it makes and the high loading sill that helps protect employees' backs. This is an obvious benefit of our decision to incorporate delivery employees into the design process."
The e-mobility offensive is part of the company's GoGreen environmental protection program. As part of this program, Deutsche Post DHL Group plans to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050. One of the four sub-goals set by this program is to improve the quality of life of local residents by 2025 by offering clean transport solutions. As part of this effort, the Group plans to transfer up to 70% of its own collections and deliveries to clean solutions like bicycles or electric vehicles.
Source : https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2019
No 71 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
PostNL and Sandd to ask Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to approve merger of postal networks. September 5, 2019.
Break of our retreats: FO says STOP! September 5, 2019.
UPS invests in range-extended electric vehicles for UK operations. September 4, 2019.
Australia Post announces 'If It Packs, It Posts' with national flat rate pricing. September 4, 2019.
Posten Norge's revenue in the first half-year was NOK 11 843 million, the same level as the corresponding period in 2018.August 30, 2019.
PostNL and Sandd to ask Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to approve merger of postal networks
September 5, 2019
For an accessible, reliable and affordable postal service across the Netherlands
The Hague, the Netherlands, 5 September 2019 – PostNL and Sandd will ask the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to approve the merger of their postal networks, a next step after its licence application was rejected by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM by its Dutch acronym).
PostNL and Sandd disagree with the analysis and argumentation of the ACM decision. Developments in recent years, including the strong decline of postal volumes and lower results, as confirmed by the information provided by PostNL and Sandd, speak for themselves.
The continuing decline of mail volumes makes it very hard for postal operators to sustain their profitability. Consolidation is essential if the country’s postal services are to be kept reliable, accessible and affordable, across both urban and rural areas, safeguarding a sustainable postal service for all, including the elderly and socially vulnerable groups.
Combining the volumes of the two networks will generate economies of scale, a vital factor to ensure continuity. Consolidation will also facilitate a responsible social response to the consequences of the ongoing decline in the postal market.
PostNL and Sandd will now apply for approval under Article 47 of Dutch competition law, which mandates the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to apply a different framework, and allow for a wider range of considerations to be taken into account based on public interest, including employment, continuity and affordability of the universal postal service.
Source : https://www.postnl.nl/en/about-postnl/press-news/press-releases/2019
Break of our retreats: FO says STOP!
September 5, 2019
For more than a year, the government has opened a consultation on the pension reform wanted by the President of the Republic.
FO has decided to suspend its participation in these consultations requesting a clarification of the government project. For FO, this reform this reform is a new challenge, the most serious so far, of all of our pension system and its regimes.
FO claims the improvement of pensions and is for the maintenance of existing regimes, guaranteeing intergenerational solidarity.
FO opposes the extension of the duration of activity, source of casualization of job seekers, but also future retirees.
Source: http://www.focom-laposte.fr/
UPS invests in range-extended electric vehicles for UK operations
September 4, 2019
UPS has introduced a new line of range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) to its fleets serving Birmingham and Southampton, UK, to overcome the range limitations of pure electric vehicles within the logistics industry.
The new REEVs operate using groundbreaking hybrid electric vehicle technology, which increases route range while maintaining the cargo capacity of traditional diesel vehicles of the same weight class.
“This is a big breakthrough for our continued use of electric vehicles in the UK – and for the communities we serve,” says Luke Wake, director of automotive engineering and advanced technology, UPS International. “The range jump from 100km to 400km [62 miles to 248 miles] is the result of UPS’s latest collaboration with electric vehicle specialist TEVVA Motors. We can serve our customers with lower emission, alternatively fueled vehicles in places beyond the reach of existing pure electric vehicles at this weight class.
“Since 2009, UPS has invested more than US$1bn in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. But news like this really brings home the evolution of our rolling laboratory – you can now actually see progress like this out on the roads in and out of Birmingham and Southampton.”
The REEVs use geofencing technology to automatically switch to pure electric mode when reaching a predetermined boundary, such as prior to entering an urban environment or clean air zone. This same technology allows the vehicle to switch to the onboard range extender that utilizes a significantly smaller and efficient diesel engine to recharge the battery, such as on the motorway connecting neighboring towns and cities, or to make a journey back to the UPS depot.
The vehicles were developed in conjunction with TEVVA and part-funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Innovate UK. They form part of UPS’s ‘rolling laboratory’ strategy to develop a variety of alternative fuel vehicles, using continuous evaluation and experimentation to ensure that the company reduces its carbon footprint with solutions best suited to each specific environment.
The new vehicles solve a problem faced by many companies operating in cities, including Birmingham and Southampton, where warehouses and depots are often based further from the city center. The current generation of 7.5 metric ton electric delivery vehicles have an average range of 100km (62 miles), which is often not far enough to reach urban drop-off points. Instead, the REEVs can travel an average combined power range of 400km (248 miles), while still ensuring they make zero emissions within the urban areas on their routes.
With a cubic capacity of 23m³ (812ft³), the REEVs also maintain the operational efficiency of high-volume package delivery vehicles. This avoids the need for a greater number of smaller capacity electric vehicles carrying the same number of packages, in turn reducing congestion on the roads.
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news
Australia Post announces 'If It Packs, It Posts' with national flat rate pricing
September 4, 2019
Australia Post has unveiled major enhancements of its parcel products that will deliver big savings for customers in rural and regional Australia.
From 30 September 2019, Australia Post will extend its popular domestic national flat rate parcel products to provide greater value for customers sending domestic parcels up to 5kg via Post Offices, MyPost Business and auspost.com.au.
The new sending solution, called If It Packs, It Posts will offer national flat rate pricing based purely on the parcel’s size instead of a combination of weight and where it is being sent from and to.
Designed to remove complexity and provide certainty of pricing upfront, customers will have two simple national flat rate options to choose from - size or weight.
If a customer’s item fits in any of the new Australia Post If it Packs, It Posts product range of packaging and satchels (small, medium, large or extra large) and weighs up to 5kg, we’ll send it anywhere in Australia at a flat rate based on the size of packaging the customer has chosen.
Customers choosing to use their own packaging can also access flat rates based on four weight tiers up to 5kg (500g, 1kg, 3kg, 5kg).
Nicole Sheffield, Executive General Manager Community & Consumer at Australia Post said these changes reflect what customer have asked for – more simplicity and certainty of price.
“Our national flat rates mean customers sending to or from remote parts of the country are no longer at a disadvantage. The cost of sending something from Broome to Bondi will be the same as sending cross-town,” Nicole said.
“In fact, many of our customers will actually pay less, especially those sending small, heavy items and those sending to or from rural and regional Australia.
“Like stamp prices, which are a flat rate no matter how far a letter travels, these new flat rate parcel prices mean we are being fairer to more Australians and allows Australia Post to continue to invest in our network, our Post Offices and our Post Office Licensee partners.”
Australia Post will also introduce carbon neutral delivery for all parcel products sent through the Post Office and MyPost Business channels by purchasing Australian Carbon Credit Units.
Source : https://newsroom.auspost.com.au/article
Posten Norge's revenue in the first half-year was NOK 11 843 million, the same level as the corresponding period in 2018.
August 30, 2019
Adjusted operating profit in the first half-year amounted to NOK 239 million, representing an increase of NOK 80 million on the previous year.
Organic growth was positive at 2.4 per cent.
Operating profit was negatively impacted by a provision of NOK 473 million for the necessary restructuring of the postal operations.
"The rate of digitalisation is increasing, and Posten Norge is continuing to adapt to a declining mail market and new customer needs. The Group has sound underlying operations and positive profit growth in the logistics segment, but the bottom line is impacted by large provisions for restructuring due to falling mail volumes," says CEO Tone Wille in Posten Norge.
Posten Norway is preparing for large-scale restructuring when mail delivery will be reduced to every other day from 1 July 2020, in line with the amendments to the Postal Act passed by the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) in June.
Logistics segment
Adjusted operating profit for the Logistics segment was NOK 109 million in the first half of 2019, an improvement of NOK 151 million compared with the same period last year. Revenue in the first half-year increased by NOK 466 million to NOK 8 828 million. Organic growth was 6.0 per cent. Several improvement measures are being implemented in this segment of the business, resulting in a positive effect.
"We are investing extensively in expanding capacity and increasing production and network efficiency. In Norway, we are establishing a joint network for mail, parcels and freight. The new terminal in Stavanger was opened in June. In Sweden,
Bring is expanding the parcel network, while Bring in Denmark is increasing capacity with new terminals," says Wille.
E-commerce volume increased by 17 per cent over the past 12 months.
Mail segment
Adjusted operating profit for the Mail segment was NOK 237 million in the first half-year, a reduction of NOK 74 million compared with the first half of 2018. Revenue was reduced by NOK 458 million due to a fall in volumes of addressed mail and the sale of Bring Citymail Sweden on 1 March 2018. Addressed letter mail volumes fell by 12 per cent in the first half of 2019 and 13.3 per cent over the past 12 months.
"In the next few years, Posten Norge will shape the delivery network of the future with a combination of industrial production and individualised delivery with new services such as In-home delivery – with digital door lock. We are certain that our trusted employees can safely deliver parcels inside the door – even when the recipient is not home," says Wille.
In the first half-year, 91.5 per cent of addressed mail was delivered within two days. This was well above the licence requirement of 85 per cent.
HSE
Sickness absence for the Group in the second quarter of 2019 was 5.5 per cent, a reduction of 0.1 percentage points compared with the second quarter of 2018. Sickness absence for the past 12 months was 6.0 per cent, the same level as a year ago.
The Group's focus on systematic HSE activities has produced positive results. Injury and sickness absence levels have both decreased significantly in recent years.
Key figures Q2 2019 (Q2 2018 in brackets)
Operating revenues (MNOK) 5 931 (5 975)
Adjusted operating profit (MNOK) 132 (214)
Operating profit/loss (EBIT) MNOK -239 (233)
Key figures first half of 2019 (first half of 2018 in brackets)
Operating revenues (MNOK) 11 843 (11 844)
Adjusted operating profit (MNOK) 239 (159)
Equity ratio ).7 (38.1)
Return on invested capital (ROIC) %6.5 (8.6)
Return on equity (after tax) % -3.9 (5.6)
Source: https://www.posteurop.org
POSTAL NEWS
No 72 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
APWU: Opening Day of Interest Arbitration!
September 5, 2019.
Amazon India to weed out single-use plastic packaging by June 2020. September 4, 2019.
PUDOs and lockers – the new power in the Polish last mile. September 3, 2019.
DPD’S 50 million euro parcel hub in Hamm to begin processing next week. August 30, 2019.
Milestone on the way to the "green zero": 10,000 climate-protecting StreetScooters are now in service. August 30, 2019.
APWU: Opening Day of Interest Arbitration!
September 5, 2019
On Wednesday, September 4, the APWU began presenting its case for a strong contract in the opening day of Interest Arbitration hearings in Washington, D.C. The hearing was the first of many in the process that will determine the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the APWU and the USPS.
After introductions by Arbitrator Goldberg – the Arbitration Panel’s neutral arbitrator – and APWU Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman, the hearing began with the Postal Service’s opening statement, delivered by USPS attorney Kevin B. Rachel. The APWU’s opening statement, delivered by APWU general counsel Mindy Holmes, followed. Both attorneys outlined the cases and the general proposals from both parties.
APWU proposals include:
An on-average 3 percent annual wage increase,
Increasing USPS contribution to health care insurance,
Retain COLAs,
Restore top steps lost in 2010,
Elimination of postmasters doing bargaining unit work in level 18 offices,
Guaranteed hours and advanced scheduling for PTFs,
Reduction of PSE percentages and creation of more career jobs.
Following management’s rebuttals and a break in proceedings, APWU President Mark Dimondstein made his presentation as a witness. In his statement, President Dimondstein discussed how postal workers are passionate about their mission to provide a vital service to the general public as outlined in the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act: ‘To provide postal services to bind the Nation together,’ to ‘provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas,’ and to ‘render postal services to all communities.’
In order to properly fulfill this mission, President Dimondstein said, APWU members need good-paying jobs and working conditions.
These include:
An end to the unfair and divisive three-tier structure that pays workers significantly different amounts for performing the same work.
Further reductions in the non-career workforce and an increase in the career workforce where workers make decent, family-sustaining wages and receive a solid set of benefits.
A relief of the ever-growing problem of hostile working environments and a management structure that refuses to hold management accountable.
“The key to the past and the future success of the Postal Service is the hard work and dedication of hundreds of thousands of postal workers,” President Dimondstein concluded. “From those who sell postage and accept packages; to those who sort medicines, letters, and on-line orders; to those who transport the mail and repair the vehicles; to those who maintain the equipment and facilities; to those who deliver the mail.”
In addition to APWU officers and experts, rank and file members from the crafts will appear as witnesses in further hearings. These witnesses will continue to make the APWU’s case that working conditions and salary must be improved in order to continue serving the essential mission of the Postal Service.
The next interest arbitration hearings are scheduled for September 24-26, 2019 and throughout October (will post more information as it becomes available).
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
Amazon India to weed out single-use plastic packaging by June 2020
September 4, 2019
Amazon.com Inc’s (AMZN.O) India unit said on Wednesday it would replace all single use plastic in its packaging by June 2020 with paper cushions, the latest major company to join the country’s fight against environmental pollution.
Amazon’s move comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming ban on plastic bags, cups and straws.
The environment friendly packaging material will be entirely recyclable, Amazon, which has often been criticized for using too much plastic and thermocol to wrap its billions of packages of shipments, said on Wednesday.
Last week, rival Flipkart said it has cut down on single-use plastic use by 25% and plans to move entirely to recycled plastic consumption in its own supply chain by March 2021.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-india-plastic
PUDOs and lockers – the new power in the Polish last mile
September 3, 2019
The Polish e-commerce market is booming. Read how out-of-home delivery is crucial to its success. Analysis from Marek Różycki and Prof. Arkadiusz Kawa (Last Mile Experts).
The Polish CEP market is one of the most dynamic in Europe, fueled largely by e-commerce growth and good domestic demand. Last year, it grew by some 13-15% and this trend is expected to continue, despite an anticipated economic slowdown. E-commerce can expect a further boost when the domestic e-commerce giant, Allegro, is joined by Amazon, which is expected to enter the market by the end of 2020.
Historically, Polish carriers have offered good ‘door-to-door’ (DTD) service and have focused efforts on improving this via interactive delivery management and other associated tools. But now, with issues of capacity and customers demanding more choice and better returns services, there is a need for alternative out-of-home (OOH) options.
This view is confirmed by Rafał Brzoska, founder and CEO of the Integer Group, which produces and sells InPost parcel lockers: “The Polish logistics market is on the verge of a revolution that will shake it, and it will happen faster than we think. Amazon’s entry to Poland is inevitable. As the market leader, we are not only undaunted by its appearance, but we are waiting for it, because it will render Polish e-commerce more dynamic.
“The consequence of the lack of available labor and an increase in fixed costs will be the shrinking significance of DTD courier services, which will become more expensive and transform into a premium service. Instead, the share of OOH deliveries, i.e. the PUDO and the InPost parcel lockers, will grow.
Today, up to 52% of online shoppers use our parcel lockers. In the coming years, this proportion will change in favor of OOH as more and more sellers, like Allegro, offer free deliveries, while preferring OOH deliveries.”
To date, InPost has been the ‘king of out-of-home’ with its early entry into the postal market – which required several thousand PUDOs – and then its virtually single-handed development of the APM (locker) market. While one could argue that InPost has needlessly lost much of its advantage in PUDOs – this seems to have become an ‘unwanted child’ after the company capitulated in its battle with Poczta Polska (Polish Post) for the letter market – it now has close to 5,000 APMs in Poland, which distances it by far from even the largest competitors (Poczta Polska and Denmark’s SwipBox).
According to Prof. Arkadiusz Kawa, director at Łukasiewicz Research Network – The Institute of Logistics and Warehousing and Last Mile Experts (LME) PRO Partner, “Things are really happening in out-of-home delivery in Poland. PUDOs are available at scale and now more and more operators are looking at APMs.”
But is InPost’s position unassailable? How many networks can profitably exist in this market? Who will be the challenger? Let’s answer these questions, in turn.
Is InPost’s position unassailable?
Of course, InPost is strong, but as it operates a closed network by virtue of its competition with other carriers in last-mile to-door delivery, it is unable to use other carriers’ volumes to support even faster growth. Having said that, InPost’s growth is tremendous with just the e-commerce (mainly Allegro) business it has today. A new, open network could, however, harness carrier and other e-commerce volumes to allow for growth and to challenge InPost, especially if this network harnesses the power of PUDOs to support its locker business. It’s not just SwipBox that’s looking to install APMs in Poland. Several local consolidators have been investigating options for enhancing their network capability with lockers.
Brzoska remains confident, noting, “We are calmly observing announcements of competitors declaring the construction of a network of devices similar to our parcel lockers. I think that they will soon find out that it is not enough to erect the machines themselves. As important as they are, they form only the final link of a complex logistics chain. This unique experience is the result of many years of research and work, which is appreciated by our partners. I think that in the coming weeks we will be able to provide information that will come as a big surprise for the industry.”
How many OOH networks can profitably exist in Poland?
This is, of course, the million-dollar question. Our feeling at LME is that there is room for one, possibly two further networks. Once these achieve scale and proximity, it will be very hard for anyone to compete, unless some disruptive technology comes to play. (We actually have some ideas here, but they will be a subject of a future piece we will write.)
Who will be the challenger?
The obvious challenger, today, is the SwipBox/Poczta Polska tandem, which has signed an agreement to put lockers in or next to Biedronka stores, Poland’s leading retailer with some 3,000 stores nationwide. If they are smart, they will seek to offer an open network, available to all players. But we also see a very dangerous ‘stealth competitor’ on the horizon in the shape of Amazon. If our information is correct, and the e-commerce behemoth comes in before the end of next year, things will really hot up down by the Vistula river. Of course, Amazon will create another closed network, available only for its own and Fulfilled by Amazon parcels, so the issue here will be more a question of how much e-commerce volume it is able to take from the market, and in turn from InPost, or whether InPost will be able to offer its network to Amazon on terms that the giant, not known for compromises, will accept.
Justyna Siwek, spokesperson for Poczta Polska, is clear about its focus on OOH: “Poczta Polska is a leader in terms of access points, with over 11,600 in place. We are continually seeking to innovate and have recently started building a locker network, which will have 200 APMs by the end of October. Customers appreciate proximity and flexible access times, which has led to our out-of-home parcel volumes growing by some 100% in the first half of this year.”
Michał Czechowski, managing director of Swipbox Polska, Poczta Polska’s partner, adds, “In Poland, over 50% of deliveries are carried out in the traditional ‘home delivery’ model, generating challenges for the entire e-commerce sector. It’s the main reason for alternative solutions such as parcel lockers and manned PUDOs’ increasing popularity. They respond to current trends and consumers’ expectations.
Located close to places of residence or work, customers use them primarily because of the convenience of such solutions and the time-saving factor, crucial especially in large cities.”
Whatever happens next, Poland is set to become a major OOH battleground. While we feel that the APM-powered fortress InPost has been building is strong enough to compete with a new open network, the key to any final outcome will be ‘all about Amazon’. If the giant decides to go head to head with Allegro, InPost’s most important client, things can change dramatically – and fast. Whatever happens next, things will be exciting in Poland over the next few years!
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/analysis
DPD’S 50 million euro parcel hub in Hamm to begin processing next week
August 30, 2019
This week DPD celebrated the completion of its largest parcel sorting centre in Germany located in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia.
From 7 September around 80,000 parcels per day will be handled on an area of 122,000 square metres
This volume will be gradually increased to 200,000 parcels. Initially, more than 350 workers will be employed in Hamm, rising to over 800 when the final expansion is completed.
Speaking on the occasion of the opening, DPD CEO Boris Winkelmann stated: “We’re very proud of our new parcel sorting centre in Hamm, which is an important building block in the management of our future volume growth. For our Germany-wide network the facility sets new standards in terms of performance and flexibility. In addition, our new depot is also characterised by highly sustainable construction and technological features”.
Karl-Uwe Bütof, Director of the “Innovation and Markets” section of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy commented: “E-commerce is booming. In North Rhine-Westphalia, too, people are increasingly shopping on the Internet. And this requires the appropriate infrastructure…It is therefore encouraging not only that we are in a position to offer large logistics areas, but also that companies like DPD are investing in our federal state and thus strengthening our status as a business and logistics location.”
Thomas Hunsteger-Petermann, Mayor of the city of Hamm, adds: “I am pleased that we have been able to persuade a major company with international operations to locate in Hamm. As a city this will enable us to expand our economic proifle and at the same time create new jobs. At the end of the day local people will also benefit from this development.”
The superlative facility was completed after a construction period of just under one and a half years. LIST Bau, DPD’s long-standing partner, was responsible for the construction work. Buildings with a total area of 17,300 square metres were erected on the 122,000 square metre site. The new parcel sorting centre in Hamm will replace the previous regional parcel depot in Unna-Königsborn. In view of DPD’s strong growth rates the capacities there were no longer anywhere near sufficient. However, DPD is not completely withdrawing from Unna: the trans-regional distribution centre in the Unna industrial park will remain. From 7 September 2019 the Hamm location will not only serve shippers and consignees in the region, but will also be an important DPD trans-regional hub.
The core of the new depot is a high-performance sorting installation. In its final stage it will be able to process up to 30,000 parcels per hour fully automatically. Even during the start-up phase as many as 17,500 parcels per hour can be sorted. The sorting installation was supplied by BUDDE Fördertechnik, a long-standing partner to DPD. The conveyor system, which was installed in just 10 months, has a total length of more than 7.5 kilometres. DPD attaches great importance to low-consumption and low-noise motors and drives.
There is also a clear focus on energy efficiency in other areas of the facility. Lighting energy, for example, is reduced to a minimum by installing strip lighting and LED technology. Heating is provided by a gas heat pump in conjunction with an innovative Zortström storage system for optimum, sustainable and economical heating and cooling of buildings. DPD’s environmental and energy management system is certified in accordance with DIN 14001 and DIN 50001, and DPD Germany has also committed itself to transporting all parcels in completely carbon-neutral shipping.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/114315/news
Milestone on the way to the "green zero": 10,000 climate-protecting StreetScooters are now in service
August 30, 2019
Andreas Pinkwart, the Economics Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, presented the 10,000th StreetScooter.
Andreas Pinkwart, the Economics Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, presented the 10,000th StreetScooter that will be used in DHL's parcel-delivery operations at an event in Cologne today. With 10,000 electric vehicles made by the Deutsche Post subsidiary StreetScooter that have covered more than 100 million kilometers since their introduction, the Group is facilitating climate friendly, low-noise mail and parcel delivery in Germany and is saving approximately 36,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. The emission-free e-fleet is complemented by 12,000 e-bikes and e-trikes. Deutsche Post DHL Group has also installed about 13,500 charging stations at its depots and delivery bases. By comparison: Germany currently has merely 20,650 public and semi-public charging points across the country, according to the Bundesverbandes der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (BDEW - the German association of energy and water industries). As a result, Deutsche Post is the largest private operator of a charging network in the country.
Andreas Pinkwart, the Minister of Economics, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said: "The StreetScooter is a unique success story for electro-mobility in North Rhine-Westphalia. The e-vehicle 'made in NRW' has found a home in the marketplace and is the result of a close working relationship between entrepreneurial researchers and an major innovative company that is determined to make its logistics operations more climate friendly. This example impressively demonstrates the deep level of entrepreneurial creativity found in the state."
Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, stressed one other point: "Deutsche Post DHL Group is the clear market leader in green logistics with its 10,000 electric vehicles, its 12,000 e-bikes and e-trikes and its 13,500 charging stations. Our strong commitment to e-mobility shows that environmental protection is hardly a passing fancy or a way to score public relations points at our company. We take this issue very seriously. You simply have to look at our ambitious goal to achieve zero emissions by 2050 to see just how serious we are about it.
The 10,000th StreetScooter is an important milestone on the way to the 'green zero' and shows one thing: Deutsche Post DHL Group is taking forceful action and is fueling transport change in Germany."
North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany, also has the most electric vehicles of Deutsche Post: 1,750 StreetScooters. The state is followed by Bavaria (approximately 1,400) as well as Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony (both approximately 1,200). The electric transporters are charged overnight at one of approximately 13,500 charging stations that StreetScooter GmbH has installed at the depots and delivery bases that Deutsche Post DHL Group operates across Germany. Since several StreetScooters have to be charged simultaneously overnight at many depots, StreetScooter has developed an intelligent, IT-managed charging management system that optimally uses the available power in the grid. StreetScooter also offers its entire range of expertise regarding charging infrastructure to third-party customers. The service is completely designed with the customer's needs in mind, from the wall-box that is used to charge individual vehicles to comprehensive fleet solutions.
"The StreetScooters also enable us to create more occupational health and safety among our employees," Tobias Meyer said. "The vehicle has a number of features that promote the acceptance of the vehicle by colleagues, including a design that enables employees to more easily climb into and out of the truck during the many delivery stops it makes and the high loading sill that helps protect employees' backs. This is an obvious benefit of our decision to incorporate delivery employees into the design process."
The e-mobility offensive is part of the company's GoGreen environmental protection program. As part of this program, Deutsche Post DHL Group plans to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050. One of the four sub-goals set by this program is to improve the quality of life of local residents by 2025 by offering clean transport solutions. As part of this effort, the Group plans to transfer up to 70% of its own collections and deliveries to clean solutions like bicycles or electric vehicles.
Source : https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2019