DHL Global Forwarding begins new truck-air service for Asia-Europe trade

DHL Global Forwarding has launched a new truck-air service for the Asia-Europe trade that it hopes will strike an optimal balance between cost and speed and act as an alternative to airfreight. Under the new model, goods are collected inland in China and transported by truck to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. There, shipments are loaded onto aircraft bound for Istanbul. From Turkey, cargo can continue to other European destinations by road, sea, or air, depending on customer requirements. The service is designed for high-volume and bulky shipments, DHL said. Customers who have utilised the service over the past two months reported savings reaching six-figure sums on some shipments, though DHL noted that cost reductions varied. Transit times from China to Turkey are estimated at nine to 11 days, compared with four to seven days via traditional airfreight. DHL said the service responds to rising demand for flexible and reliable logistics amid evolving global trade dynamics, as per a report.