DHL PUTS MORE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS TRUCKS INTO SERVICE

• DHL Supply Chain's fleet of LNG-powered green trucks grows to 21 vehicles
• By switching to LNG, CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions will decrease by 168 tons per year
• Next step in the Go Green program aims for "zero emissions" by 2050

DHL Supply Chain, a leading provider of contract logistics services, expands its fleet by ten additional green trucks after a year. A total of 21 tractors powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) will transport parts for the production of cars from the Czech Republic to Germany. With this step, DHL Supply Chain will reduce CO₂ emissions by 168 tons per year.

“During the year-round operation of LNG trucks, we confirmed the correctness of our decision, and this motivated us to further expand our 'green' fleet,” says Kateřina Rázlová, Country Transport and Automobility Business Unit Director. “The advantage is the possibility of refilling both conventional LNG and LBG (BioLNG). Thanks to the opening of new stations on our routes in Germany, we can use this even more ecological option. When burning LBG, practically no sulfur compounds and only a minimum of nitrogen oxides and solid particles are released into the air.”

Today, 21 LNG trucks from DHL Supply Chain's fleet transport parts for car production from the crossdock in Neprevázka to Glauchau in the Zwickau district, but also to Wolfsburg, Hannover, Heilbronn, Kassel and Neckarsulm. Each of the trucks travels an average of 132,000 kilometers per year. Supplying an extended green fleet with alternative fuel is getting easier. There are already LNG filling stations every ca 200 kilometers in Germany, and stations with LBG have also been newly opened. There are currently four LNG stations available in the Czech Republic - in Louny, Klecany, Mladá Boleslav and Nýřany near Pilsen.

Volvo FH460 TC LNG tractors have reinforced the fleet of DHL Supply Chain. “We decided on this brand and type after testing all available low-deck LNG tractors on the market. When making the selection, we mainly assessed overall emissions savings, economic operation and range for more flexible transport planning. Behind the tractors will be attached Mega Liner semi-trailers from Krone with a three-meter internal height of the cargo space, into which the parts are loaded in unified stacking pallets and optimized packaging. The complete use of the cargo space ensures efficient transportation of automotive parts with the use of fewer trucks. This reduces not only emissions, but also the load on the road infrastructure,” says Ľubomír Sasarák, Country Own Fleet Manager at DHL Supply Chain.

The commissioning of ten new LNG trucks is part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group's Go Green environmental protection program, which is working towards the ambitious goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.