The way forward for land transport

TEXT Claudia Saltuari

Digitalization, sustainability and e-commerce – just three areas where the economy is in flux, forcing the transport industry to adapt in real time.

Automatic freight measurement with Cargometer

For some time now, Gebrüder Weiss has been implementing an intelligent technology that makes freight dimensioning even more efficient. The Cargometer, as it is known, can calculate the weight and size of a forklift’s cargo as it passes loading gates – without the help of staff and without it having to stop. The secret lies in the space-saving hardware that is attached to all the loading gates at transhipment terminals. This accurately measures the size of a load using 3D cameras, with special sensors triggering up to 30 photos a second of the forklift. This automated measuring system offers numerous benefits, including speeding up handling, calculating the billing price, and making sure that trucks are full to capacity. The Gebrüder Weiss locations in Vienna, Prague and Nuremberg already have the system installed at their logistics facilities. Other sites are due to follow suit.

Bosch Secure Truck Parking

It’s the bane of long-distance drivers. When the day’s work is done, the ordeal of finding a parking spot in overcrowded truck stops begins. The Bosch Secure Truck Parking service comes to the rescue. The Europe-wide online booking platform displays available parking spots in real time, whether they be at truck stops or on company premises. Drivers and dispatchers can reserve and rent spots using the app or online portal. And drivers can bid farewell to hours of scouring for spaces. An additional perk: the parking areas are secured and the gate only opens after a camera has checked the vehicle’s license plate. Since 2016 Gebrüder Weiss has been an official partner in this program, which was launched by the technology company Robert Bosch GmbH. The Vienna and Wels locations were the first to provide areas for the service on company premises. In July 2019 the Nuremberg site followed suit.

Alternative drive technologies: fueled by natural gas, electricity and hydrogen

Since summer 2019 the Gebrüder Weiss site in Memmingen has been using a gas-powered swap body truck for its local services. A tractor-trailer using the same fuel has also been operating in the Vienna area. And a third natural gas-driven truck is running routes for the consumer goods company Henkel. On a 1,700-kilometer round trip between its works in Vienna and Kruševac (Serbia), the hydrogen truck generates approximately 20 percent less CO2 than a euro-6 diesel truck. Since September 2018, Gebrüder Weiss has further been testing a fully electric truck, also in the Greater Vienna area. The primary aim here is to support the electrification of the urban distribution sector, where low minimal emissions and noise pollution are crucial. Since October Gebrüder Weiss Switzerland has been testing a hydrogen truck as part of its regular operations in Aargau and on the Altenrhein-Basel route.

Turning assistance systems

Blind spots are a constant hazard faced by professional drivers. Every time they make a turn, they risk failing to spot cyclists or pedestrians in their mirrors. Alongside attempts to raise awareness of this risk, engineers are also trying to find a practical solution. Turning assistance systems draw drivers’ attention to any moving objects alongside their trucks and emit visual and acoustic warning signals whenever a collision might occur. Gebrüder Weiss too is championing this high-tech aid. New vehicles are all being equipped with assistance systems, while older vehicles are being progressively retrofitted.

Real-time delivery information: ETA

Today’s customers are demanding increasing reliability and transparency from logistics services. Most of them attach particular importance to obtaining information on their shipment’s status, to where a consignment is currently located and when it will be arriving. Notifying customers of a delivery’s estimated time of arrival has long been a popular feature of traditional parcel services. However, in regular forwarding operations it has yet to become standard, although that is now chang-

ing at Gebrüder Weiss. In future, real-time delivery data will not only be accessible internally; It will also be made available to customers using a variety of channels and tools. However, in regular forwarding operations it has yet to become standard, although that is now changing at Gebrüder Weiss. On the new myGW portal, customers can access real-time data on their shipments – anytime and from anywhere.

Claudia Saltuari studied German and History. For the past ten years she has held the position of Project Manager Communications at Gebrüder Weiss.

Draußen ist das neue Drinnen. Balkone und Terrassen werden mit größter Sorgfalt möbliert, Outdoor-Läden schießen wie die Pilze aus dem Boden, und die Außenbereiche von Cafés und Restaurants sind selbst im nordeuropäischen Winter gut besucht. Und das nicht erst, seitdem Aerosole in diesem Jahr in Verruf geraten sind. Das echte Leben spielt sich draußen ab.

Outside is the new inside.

Balconies and terraces are being furnished with consummate care, shops selling outdoor equipment sprouting everywhere, and the tables outside cafés and restaurants are even wellfilled in northern Europe during winter – and not only since aerosols fell into disrepute this year. Much of our lives has relocated into the open air.