Source: https://www.nt.nl/brandstories/2024/01/18/een-slimme-vervoerder-kiest-multimodaal-vanaf-moerdijk/

Author: Combined Cargo Terminals

'A smart carrier chooses multimodal from Moerdijk'

CCT's terminal functions as a trimodal turntable. Photo: CCT Moerdijk

Luc Smits founded CCT 20 years ago and strongly believes in the function of a multimodal hub. 'Some parties still often opt for road transport from Rotterdam because they think it is cheap and flexible. Especially now that road transport prices have fallen sharply again due to low market demand, but a smart carrier chooses multimodal. They have the full container delivered to Moerdijk instead of Rotterdam. Then you need fewer drivers to transport the same number of containers. This is a smarter choice, especially in view of the increasing driver shortage. 60% of the containers between Rotterdam and Moerdijk still travel by truck on the highway. The entire Moerdijk Bridge is being destroyed by that freight traffic.'

Users of the CCT terminal often book their containers with the major shipping companies - such as Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM - as far as Moerdijk, says Peter van Veelen. He is general manager and has been working at the terminal for 19 years, the last 10 years of which as Smits' right-hand man.

'Our barge services are very reliable and sail daily on behalf of the major shipping companies between the Maasvlakte and our terminal. Booking as far away as Moerdijk even saves several tens of euros because the empty container does not have to be returned empty to the Maasvlakte, but remains behind in Moerdijk. This also saves costs for demurrage and detention. If you have to go to a warehouse in West Brabant, this will save you a lot of kilometers and you will prevent a driver from getting stuck in traffic jams around Rotterdam. And now there are also surcharges that the deep-sea terminals on the Maasvlakte charge truckers during the day. Especially with the future kilometer tax for trucks in mind, it is wise to prepare for a multimodal mode of transport now. And it is faster for a West Brabant DC to call for a container from here than having to drive all the way to the Maasvlakte first.'

West Brabant Corridor

Smits is especially proud of the enormous efficiency gains that have been made in the West Brabant Corridor. 'That is a collaboration between us and the terminals in Oosterhout and Tilburg. This has resulted in enormous reliability of our inland shipping services. We bundle cargo so that we always have sufficient containers for the Maasvlakte and therefore also have guaranteed quay capacity at the deep-sea terminals. Moreover, we can skip more load per call. Instead of three half-full ships in a row, we now sail with one or two full ships. Another advantage of multimodal transport is that we like to enter into long-term partnerships with guaranteed capacity; so a very reliable product.'

Van Veelen: 'We like to think along with you about logistics solutions. Moerdijk is not just an inland port. We have very good connections with both Rotterdam and Antwerp and direct services via shortsea to Spain, Portugal, Casablanca, Norway, Ireland, you name it. Or by train to Poland or Italy. And we have plenty of depot options.'

CCT now does 600,000 moves per year. This will increase significantly in the coming years because sustainability will play an increasingly important role for shippers and logistics service providers, Smits expects. 'We can still double on our own grounds. We may have to invest in other cranes, but we don't need any extra land.'

A2B-online has been sailing from Moerdijk with great success for about 10 years and has now grown into the largest shortsea shipping company to the UK. A new connection has recently been added to the connections from Moerdijk, namely Tailwind, Lidl's shipping company.

Logistics Park Moerdijk

'It is not without reason that Lidl is going to build a new DC here at Logistiek Park Moerdijk for European distribution. The containers come directly here by seagoing vessel and you then immediately have very good multimodal hinterland connections to the rest of Europe. We expect quite a bit of extra cargo from 2025 due to the commissioning of Logistics Park Moerdijk.'

Among the 140 employees in total, the new generation is now also making its mark on the operations at CCT, for example when it comes to automation. Business Development Manager Tim Visser: 'We always look at what data is needed to optimize. When a customer enters the correct data, a container is immediately automatically planned. We take this into account when determining the location at the terminal. Not all cargo is urgent. So if a customer indicates in advance when he needs a container, the system will think about the best planning and placement. A container that is called first goes to the front of the stack.'

The younger generation looks closely at all processes, agrees Tim Smits, son of the founder and also working at CCT. 'We always wonder: 'Is this the most convenient way?' If we can do better, we will. For example, nowadays less than 1% of all container numbers are entered manually because we have created EDI links with customers. We have also created an app that allows a truck driver to immediately see that his container can be picked up. Then he can take immediate action before departure - for example if a document is missing - and he does not have to wait here at the terminal.'

A DC can often have hundreds of suppliers, each with their own method of transport. Luc Smits: 'We are increasingly successful in reaching them and telling our story why sustainable multimodal solutions are really better for them and for society as a whole.'