trailer world issue Three 2009

Rubrik where they then drive onto the ferry under their own steam, before being loaded on trucks for on-going transport within the UK. Last year, 27% of the cars leaving the factory were sent by rail, with a relatively small share by ship and therefore around 70% by truck. Antoine Redier is convinced that „trucks are simply unbeatable and indispensable in terms of flexibility“. For example, a truck can do a round trip through Europe to avoid any empty runs. „To start with, it brings new cars from the Slovakian factory in Tranava to Bremerhaven. It then loads up with VW cars in Emden which it brings to the Paris region, where it changes load again with more cars, this time produced by PSA in Aulnay near Paris and des- tined for Northern Italy. Finally, it brings the delivery vans made in Northern Italy to a distribution centre in Central Europe, where it can then take on another load of new PSA cars made in Slovakia, thus completing the full circle.“ There are many such round trips between the production facto- ries and the various distribution centres spread right across Europe. Citroen and Peugeot cars are made primarily in the large factories at Aulnay-sous-Bois and Poissy near Paris, in Sochaux in Eastern France and in Rennes in Brittany. These are joined by Hordain Sevelnord in Northern France, a joint enterprise with Fiat, where mini- and delivery vans are made. The key factories ab- road are Tranava in Slovakia, Kolin in the Czech Republic and Vigo in Spain. „Vigo is a port which gives us the opportunity of bringing finished cars by Ro-Ro ship to Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, Zeebrügge, the United Kingdom or Bremerhaven“. As Bremerhaven is used as out- as they drive off the ferry, depending on the time of year. Which means the drivers need to concentrate fully on what they‘re doing until they get to the huge testing facility in Lappland. It‘s certainly not lonely up there. During the cold months of the year, drivers are almost certain to meet lots of colleagues on arrival. Between November and March, up to 15 Cartrans trucks will be on the road to and from Arvidsjaur at the same time. Not only closed trailers are used for the journeys: the company‘s cus- tomer base also includes brake and tyre manufacturers, whose test vehicles do not necessarily have to be transported hidden from view, as the effect of new brake discs, air-conditioning sys- tems and winter tyres can also be tested on “normal” cars. Gefco also serves other manufacturers to an increasing extent. The special transporters have scarcely any room to open the doors. Photos:Gefco,Walter,Stürtz,Klingsieck Antoine Redier, Director of Car Transportation at Gefco »No transport solution is like the next.« Branch 18 Issue Three 2009

trailer world issue Three 2009

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