IN THE NEWS
ROAD FREIGHT
New European skilled driver mobility project tackles chronic shortages
Europe is facing a severe shortage of bus, coach and truck drivers that is projected to, at the very least, double in the coming years without significant action. Both sectors have an ageing driver population. Less than 3% of bus and coach drivers are below 25 years old, while more than 40% are over 55 years old. Similarly, less than 5% of truck drivers are below 25 and a third are over 55.
Recognising the gravity of the shortage, IRU members called on governments to focus on tailored immigration policies through the “Driver Shortage Also Needs Legal Immigration” resolution adopted last year. Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/new-european-skilled-driver-mobility-project-tackles-chronic-shortages
Hauliers pile on the pressure for 44-tonne haulage across Europe
European regulators are seeking to force through an increase in tonnage limits for cross-border road freight. Responding to the Council of European Foreign Ministers’ failure to reach an agreement on a requested 44-tonne limit, the European Commission announced it would be reviewing the Weights and Dimensions directive (WDD) of its Greening Freight package of measures to make freight transport more efficient and more sustainable. Read more here: Hauliers pile on the pressure for 44-tonne haulage across Europe – The Loadstar
Three key trends defining European road freight rates: Q2 to Q4 2024
Both road freight spot and contract rates fell in Q1 2024. Three key trends shaping European road freight rates now are flat demand, the impact of CO₂ tolls and rising costs. Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/three-key-trends-defining-european-road-freight-rates-q2-q4-2024
SEA FREIGHT
More ships and more containers needed for ‘feverish’ box shipping sector
Supply in container shipping has become “febrile and extreme”, according to analysts at Transport Intelligence (Ti), as the sector lurches between a surge in the requirement for capacity and a large increase in the supply of new vessels. Stanley Smulders, director of marketing and commercial for ocean carrier ONE, told The Loadstar on the sidelines of the Multimodal Exhibition in Birmingham that the Red Sea crisis had upset the balance of supply and demand in ocean shipping. Read more here: More ships and more containers needed for ‘feverish’ box shipping sector – The Loadstar
Panama Canal increases draft and daily transits
The Panama Canal has announced that it will increase the number of daily transits from 32 to 33, starting 11 July. This number will further rise to 34 as of 22 July in response to the current and projected water levels of Gatun Lake over the coming weeks and the onset of the rainy season in the Panama Canal Watershed.
With these gradual increases, by 22 July the Canal will have added two transits to the current schedule: one for the panamax locks (bringing daily transits to 25), and one for the neopanamax locks (raising daily transits to 9). Additionally, an increase in draft from 45 to 46 feet was announced, effective from 15 June. Read more here: https://container-news.com/panama-canal-increases-draft-and-daily-transits/
Containership Dali underway three months after Baltimore allision
After a slight delay over the weekend, the containership Dali, which became infamous for her allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, got underway on Monday morning bound for Norfolk, Virginia. It is a carefully choreographed exercise as the vessel remains heavily damaged, including without anchors, debris and containers still aboard. Read more here: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/video-containership-dali-underway-three-months-after-baltimore-allision
RAIL FREIGHT
Rail freight services at Felixstowe back to half-strength after derailment
The UK port of Felixstowe’s rail throughput is back to 50% of normal after a train derailment, but delays in container movements could last until beginning of July. Felixstowe confirmed that a freight train operated by GB Railfreight derailed on the Trimley branch line, partially blocking intermodal services. The port, GBRf and Network Rail said they were working to return services “to normal as soon as possible”.
According to The Loadstar, rail throughput at the UK’s busiest box port is approximately 50% of pre-derailment levels. On Friday, 21 June, this sat at 40%, the port informing customers it had handled 959 containers on rail across 24 hours. Read more here: https://theloadstar.com/rail-freight-services-at-felixstowe-back-to-half-strength-after-derailment/
German network overhaul at full steam
Amidst a wave of railway infrastructure renovations expected to occur in Germany in the coming weeks and months, more information surfaces regarding the closure and substitution of routes. As the German Federal Government underlined during a parliamentary discussion, the Hamburg-Berlin route is set to experience a nine-month closure in two sections between August 2025 and April 2026. At the same time, other crucial corridors are already bracing for closures, which will begin in a matter of days. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/specials/2024/06/18/german-network-overhaul-at-full-steam-here-are-the-latest-updates/
FEATURES
Guest blog this month by Julian Worth on rail freight
Explore how Britain’s rail freight has shifted from coal to cola in a captivating piece by Julian Worth, Chair of the Rail Freight Forum at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, for Kukla News. Consumer goods dominate the rails, reducing road traffic and carbon footprints. Discover how significant brands are pioneering this rail renewal and the UK’s promising future of rail freight logistics. Dive into the full story here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/guest-blog-by-julian-worth-on-rail-freight
Insights from Multimodal NEC Birmingham 2024 with KBL Managing Director Steve Wood
Our Managing Director, Steve Wood, recently attended the Multimodal Exhibition and Conference 2024 at the NEC Birmingham. This event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with familiar and new contacts from the transport sector. The atmosphere was buzzing, underlining the importance of face-to-face interactions in our industry. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/insights-from-multimodal-nec-birmingham-2024-with-kbl-managing-director-steve-wood
Stay informed with us!
Our communication with you is essential to us. Check Kukla’s website for situational logistics updates, strikes, issues and regulations. The page link remains the same throughout the year. We welcome your feedback and are always happy to hear from you. Check our page dedicated to 2024 updates here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/information-update-2024
Stay up-to-date with our LIVE Sailing Schedule website page
The Sailing Schedule is updated weekly or as needed, so please bookmark it and refer to it when you need the information. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/sailing-schedule
