UIRR press release - Coronavirus: Combined Transport is prepared 24/02/20

In view of the COVID-19 infections reported over the weekend from Northern Italy¹ – mainly the regions of Lombardy and Veneto – and the resulting swift actions announced by Italian authorities², the European Combined Transport sector and its representatives in Italy in particular would like to assure the logistics sector and their customers that we maintain our operations and keep transshipment terminals open. All necessary preventive measures have been taken.

Unaccompanied Combined Transport, where the cargo travels without a driver riding along the entire journey of each truckload, is ideal to facilitate longer distance cargo flows throughout Europe in a time when the usual logistics-chains and the continued supply of consumers have come under threat of disruption.

The movement of intermodal loading units and the loading and unloading activities at terminals generally involves local staff, who do not need to travel over long distances. Actors producing CT-chains are well prepared, they have offered the necessary precautionary guidance and protective measures to staff and business partners to ensure smooth operations.

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¹ https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

² http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/amministrazione-trasparente/provvedimenti/dettaglio/-/asset_publisher/default/content/decreto-legislativo-del-23-febbraio-2020-misure-urgenti-in-materia-di-contenimento-e-gestione-dell-emergenza-epidemiologica-da-covid-19

”The European CT actors have taken the necessary precautionary measures to continue supporting the economy through maintaining their high level service to continue the operation of logistics chains and supply to consumers in view of COVID-19 infection.” - stated UIRR President Ralf-Charley Schultze.