Rhenus Group sets a new milestone in European road freight transport with the launch of Groupage Network 2.0, a system designed to revolutionise European groupage shipments. 62 years after we began offering consolidated transport services, in 2024 we are redefining the standards of this logistics model with a load-sharing transport solution that shortens delivery times to promote connectivity across the continent.
"We leverage the infrastructure and transport network of each of our national subsidiaries to build a single Europe-wide chain, which gives us a unique opportunity to maximise the efficiency of groupage shipments," says Andreu Gutiérrez, Country Sales Director Road for Rhenus Logistics in Spain. In his opinion, "the sum of synergies provided by the group's size on the continent becomes a competitive advantage for our customers in terms of capacity, time and reliability".
In this article, we discuss the main advantages, features and opportunities that define the Groupage Network 2.0 service.
10 key questions about Groupage Network 2.0
1. What is Groupage Network 2.0?
It is Rhenus' innovative response to the need for a more efficient and agile groupage transport model in Europe, launched in January 2024. It offers daily pick-ups, deliveries and departures from all regions of the continent to all destinations, transforming the way companies can move their goods internationally.
2. How does it improve transit times?
The network significantly reduces delivery times across Europe, with transit times of less than 96 hours for almost 90% of all shipments within the Rhenus European groupage freight network. In the case of Spain, the connection to other European countries, such as Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands or Poland, the time savings range from 37% to 53%.
3. What innovations does Rhenus incorporate into this service?
The network synchronises 14 national gateways and a central European hub located in Germany. This extensive structure allows optimisation of routes for a more competitive groupage of shipments and a more coordinated service, with a complete coverage of the continent that is not limited to the most industrialised regions, as is usual in traditional groupage services.
4. What is the extension of Groupage Network 2.0?
We benefit from one of the largest transport networks in Europe, with a structure of more than 150 sites of our own. This dimension of strategically located facilities allows us to consolidate more quickly a greater volume of goods that share destination to any market on the continent, with the guarantee that the goods always remain in the custody of Rhenus, in the group's own facilities.
5. What advantages does this network offer shippers?
Groupage Network 2.0 combines the economic benefits of groupage transport with shorter delivery times, more reliable transit times and improved transparency throughout the logistics process. In addition, the daily frequency of traffic allows shippers maximum flexibility, as they are no longer dependent on specific departure days and have the confidence that the flow of traffic is continuous.
6. What types of companies is it aimed at?
It is a service that adapts to the needs of a multitude of industries and business profiles, to companies that require more regularity or a constant flow for the export and import of their products and to others with sporadic traffic to Europe. The aim is to provide them with a standard solution for cross-border traffic that facilitates access to new markets on the continent more easily and quickly. An added advantage for companies is that customs services are provided under one roof, which means greater agility for shipments with clearance.
7. Is it possible to trace goods?
The network implements advanced tools such as Track & Trace, allowing customers to track their shipments in detail, thus increasing security and transparency throughout their supply chain. Access to this information, which can be updated at any time, allows companies to adapt their processes to the real situation of the goods.
8. How does this network impact on transport sustainability?
The availability of this huge capacity of freight volumes translates into an optimisation of routes and reduction of transit times. This also means a more environmentally sustainable logistics operation, in line with the Rhenus Group's global strategy to reduce its overall carbon footprint.
9. What kind of cargo can be transported with Groupage Network 2.0?
The network is designed to handle a wide variety of loads of all types of products, adapting to the logistical needs of small and large companies, regardless of their shipping volumes, from small parcels to heavy boxes and pallets.
10. What processes have been followed to develop and test the service?
Rhenus has worked for two years on this project and has carried out exhaustive pilot tests, evaluating and adjusting the new routes to guarantee correct implementation from January 2024 and maximum compliance with the new delivery times.