Chemicals logistics - Flexibility, reliability and favourable transport rates - these are among the chemical industry's most important requirements towards transport service providers. TNT Express has developed an economical pan-European solution for a large chemical company that has high volumes of small sample shipments.

Chemicals logistics go beyond the 40-ton road tanker and silo trailers. Even the big players in the industry have tiny shipments for destinations across Europe every day - samples, for instance. These shipments are usually time critical, i.e., they need to reach their destination particularly fast and reliably at a certain time. And because such samples often contain varying types of hazardous goods, the transport service provider needs to be familiar with all the applicable legal regulations and to comply with them.

However, this type of consignment is often too small for the classic chemical logistics specialist, too urgent for the general cargo carrier, and too tricky to handle for the average parcel service. In consequence, many large chemicals producers around the world entrust TNT Express with their shipments. The quality service provider offers a wide and convincing range of services that goes well beyond that of the classic providers. TNT Express is competent when it comes to hazardous goods and offers reliable transport services for many hazardous goods classes at attractive rates - by road or air freight, as required. And in contrast to general cargo carrier, the express service provider does not charge a minimum fee even for very small shipments, and even caters for special needs such as safe and reliable daily services to Europe (including Eastern Europe).

One example of how well the services are received by the market and in the industry: a global leader in the chemicals sector uses TNT Express for the distribution of its sample shipments with destinations in 20 European countries. There are about 150 shipments a day, weighing about 20 kgs each. The customer is one of the big players in the industry, which is why the number of shipments is so high. But the solution developed by TNT already would make economic sense starting at 50 shipments a day to eight different countries.

Flexibility Even by Dealing with Hazardous Goods

10-20% of the total shipment volumes are hazardous goods. The carrier is capable of handling these materials, as the required know-how is readily available and processes are in place across the company. Drivers and staff are specifically trained for handling hazardous materials.

TNT Express makes it possible for companies in the chemicals sector to react flexibly to their European customers' diverse requirements, offering European transport services at competitive rates and with lead times of two to four days. If even faster delivery is required, clients can request their goods to be shipped by air - as a one-off or a standard service, even for some classes of hazardous goods.

In addition to the transportation, the express carrier also offers "all-round services" upon request. Some large chemical companies already use these professional in-house services: TNT Express employees work at the customer site and take on coordination tasks such as attaching analysis certificates and delivery notes, consolidating shipments with several packing units or performing specific customer services such as an advance delivery notification.
For the client, these made-to-measure services are a proven competitive advantage: they lower the shipping costs for low-weight hazardous goods shipments and relieve the customer of many daily issues concerning the coordination of transports and logistics. In a nutshell: TNT Express is a perfect example for the "right-sizing" of low-weight hazardous goods transport services in the chemical industry.