The concept of Trade Lane Management (TLM) first appeared at AsstrA in 2015. Three years later, it has been put into practice in all the corporate group’s global locations.

AsstrA Operational Department Executives explain TLM, the advantages it provides for AsstrA clients, and how it optimizes business processes:

“A Trade Lane (TL) consists of all the possible ways that goods may be transported from a given country to another one. A Trade Lane Manager takes a holistic approach to organizing and optimizing transport capabilities between these two countries. At the beginning of 2019, AsstrA customers received services within more than 1,250 trade lanes.

For a new or existing client, TLM guarantees an intelligent, thoughtful, and holistic approach to the organization of the logistics chain. As a result, deliveries are faster and human, transport and logistics resources are optimized. That’s what every business owner wants,” says Natalia Shemyakina, Road Transport Operational Department Deputy Director for the CIS, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe.

“TL Managers must have considerable experience and an excellent knowledge of how logistics work in their specific Trade Lane. They have a good relations with transport partners and a good understanding of current conditions. With experienced TL experts, it is possible to calculate current rates, provide the best transportation opportunities at any time of the year, and offer a range of alternative delivery options to corporate clients.

“Imagine that TLM is like Formula 1 racing. The client’s product is a race car, and the AsstrA team is an experienced pit crew who have studied the track, considered all its features, and do everything possible to help win the race,” adds Vitaly Eremenko, Deputy Director of Operations and Road Transport Operations for Western Europe.

“One contact” in AsstrA for all products along a TL is a clear advantage for corporate clients. Instead of sending multiple quote requests to different companies or even different departments within one company, clients can submit one quote request to AsstrA. The client will then receive a customized delivery proposal that offers a choice of all possible delivery mode options on the chosen trade lane: sea, rail, road, transshipment, or combined transportation.

Feedback on the company's customer service as TLM has been rolled out over the past three years has been very positive. Thanks to the integrated personal service of TL experts, AsstrA customers have streamlined their supply chains and transport flows, executed ambitious plans, conquered new markets, and optimized costs and resources. Such client successes are the best arguments for the further development of TLM at AsstrA,” concludes AsstrA Director of Operations Management Denis Gural.