GIRTEKA LOGISTICS: Logistics Advantages of the Smolensk Region Are Clear
One of the leading transport companies in Europe, represented by Sergey Katok, CEO of Optitrans LLC (a part of GIRTEKA LOGISTICS), has given comments on its cooperation with the Administration of the Smolensk Region.
– Please tell us a few words about GIRTEKA LOGISTICS
– GIRTEKA LOGISTICS is a modern transport and logistics company which serves customers all over Europe, Scandinavia and CIS countries. It was founded in 1996. Now more than 6,700 Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and DAF trucks and 7,000 Schmitz and Krone trailers deliver over 460,000 full truck loads per annum; the total headcount of GIRTEKA LOGISTICS exceeds 15,500 employees. The revenue amounts to 764 mln. euros.
– What innovations does your company apply?
– In 2018 the company has implemented Transics (FMS) system aimed to optimize its activities. The trucks are equipped with on-board computers using innovative software – all the relevant data are exchanged between the drivers, managers, planning engineers and customers in real time. This system has an integrated mobile application for smartphones, which further enhances driver efficiency with out-of-cabin information support.
– What strategy for further development does a branch of GIRTEKA LOGISTICS follow within the Smolensk Region?
– The transport fleet of the Smolensk logistics centre by GIRTEKA LOGISTICS includes 1,264 Volvo trucks (70% of which are made up with refrigerators), complying with Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission standards. All the trucks are not more than 2 years of operation, as we replace them every two years. There is also a modern training centre located onsite, which is a place for training the drivers to supply cargo to Russia and Europe; a 24-hour cafe, a bed-and-breakfast, showers, a self-service terminal, an aid post, an official Renault and Volvo dealership centre, which provides services for one-stop maintenance and repair of vehicles of any complexity. The adjacent area has a guarded parking lot designed for trucks, trailers, and passenger cars.
– What is streamline for your cooperation with the local authorities?
– The Smolensk Region has a huge potential for developing logistics and productions therein. The region has a cross-border location, in close proximity to the major European markets, and near the key markets of Russia. At the moment the company is considering the possibility of building a transportation hub at the М1 federal highway, which will have an onsite repair facility, i.e. a technical servicing centre. Our meetings with the representatives of the Regional Administration Office show interest of the local authorities in the project.