In 2018, the AsstrA Automotive Logistics Division executed more than 1,600 shipments of cars and agricultural machinery as well as tires and other automotive spare parts.
During the year, the corporate group transported more than 162,000 tons of cargo for the automotive industry. The most popular type of cargo was tires, with 36% of the total. Spare parts followed with 26% and 14%, respectively.
The most popular transport mode for this segment was road shipping, which accounted for 82% of all orders. Sea, rail, and air followed with 15.6%, 1.4% and 1% of orders, respectively.
AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG provides comprehensive international transportation services supporting the automotive industry on more than 1,200 routes. The most popular automotive transportation routes were between Belgium and Russia, Russia and Italy, and Romania and Poland, with 35%, 18%, and 14% of total orders, respectively.
"Freight services for the automotive industry are in great demand. The cargo for this industry is easy to resell on the black market, so shipping it requires maximum security. There is a lot of competition in this segment, so transport companies offer customers a wide range of added-value products and services, including control points and online tracking capabilities from a dedicated online client environment," says Head of AsstrA Automotive Logistics Nikolai Krokun.
Certain categories of goods like tires require special attention.
"The carriage of tires involves meeting certain conditions, such as ensuring proper semi-trailer cargo space with reinforced sides. Each company has its own rules and regulations concerning how cargo is stabilized and loaded," adds Nikolai.
Among most automotive companies’ key requirements are optimal delivery times, transit time compliance, and proper traffic planning. This is often important so as not to interrupt factory line production.
"The AsstrA team works with manufacturers of vehicle components like airbags. This means that AsstrA customers also have to ship finished products to major automotive companies within a certain time frame. That's why we always ensure customers get just-in-time delivery."