Geodis transitions PPE shipments from air to rail

France-based forwarder Geodis is turning from air to rail to balance delivery times and costs for a contract from the German government to transport 50 million disposable gloves from Chengdu to Nuremberg. While the first of six shipments of personal protective equipment (PPE) was shipped by air, subsequent shipments rely wholly on rail transportation, indicative of a decreased urgency for the supplies and a drive to reduce costs. The first air shipment , containing 2.5 million disposable gloves, was sent May 19 from Chengdu ( CTU ) to Frankfurt ( FRA ). The remaining shipments are being transported via rail from Chengdu to Nuremberg, and departed May 21 and 28 , and June 4. Two additional rail shipments are planned for June 18 and 25, with the final shipment slated to arriv e July 11. The cargo contains 50,000 boxes of disposable medical gloves weighing 275 tonnes , and originated at the Sichuan Medicines & Health Products Corp. facility in Shendong. Moving cargo via railway is a growing alternative for transporting goods between Asia and Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic as it is cheaper and causes less carbon emissions than air and faster than ocean transport. According to Geodis, t he shipments are monitored with G eo tag , a five-sensor tracking device monitoring the cargo’s location, stops , changes in temperature or humidity, and any shocks the goods may experience. Geotags are an additional service offered per customer request and make it possible for the company’s groups in both China and Europe to monitor the shipment’s location and other data as it travels. Geodis has already helped transport PPE for the French government via charter flights. There has been an international shortage of medical equipment since March as the COVID-19 pandemic grew, especially medical masks and rubber gloves. Geodi s is partnering with international law firm Berg & Moll for th e multimodal transport as it specializes in projects for China’s Belt and Road I nitiative , created by Chinese President Xi Jinping . The initiative seeks to connect trade routes from China to South Asia, Africa and Europe via rail, sea and air .

Geodis transitions PPE shipments from air to rail

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