Transport Logistic is an international trade fair dedicated to logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management. From 9-12 May, 2,320 exhibitors from 67 countries presented their concepts and solutions at the exhibition centre in Munich, Germany. The share of international visitors, according to the event organisers, rose to more than 50 per cent – a new milestone achievement.
For Messe München co-CEOs Stefan Rummel and Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer, Transport Logistic illustrated quite clearly that the industry provides great inspiration in these challenging times.
“People want to get things moving, pushing forward, tackling the current issues together,” they said. “What we saw and experienced here in terms of ideas and technologies over the last four days is really unique. To sum it up: nothing happens without logistics.”
Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Dr Volker Wissing, was also impressed at the opening of the event.
“What you see here shows once again that the transport and logistics industry is right up there when it comes to innovations, progress and modern technologies,” he said. “And what becomes especially clear at this trade fair is that climate goals aren’t just nice words, but rather that the industry takes them very seriously. You can see it everywhere you look, at every booth.”
Kuehne + Nagel Managing Director, Tobias Jerschke, agrees with the Minister’s appraisal. “Transport Logistic is still the world’s most important leading trade fair, for us as well of course,” he said. “This year I really liked the way the sustainability topic was a common theme running through the entire trade fair. This is a strong signal for the whole industry and will help us to focus even more precisely on this important issue.”
Andreas Schmid Group CEO, Alessandro Cacciola, said: “Messe München succeeds time and again to perfectly map the latest trends and developments in the industry. This year I perceived sustainability in particular as a strong and positive topic, and Transport Logistic is therefore a place where the future of logistics is being actively co-shaped.”
Krone Managing Director Sales & Marketing, Dr Frank Albers said Transport Logistic acts as a meeting point to interact with industry’s players.
“As an international event the trade fair offers us the opportunity to present our ‘Mission Beyond Zero’ and the accompanying solutions, discuss issues and challenges and also expand our own horizons. This year our eTrailer in particular and the respective service solutions were among our top priority topics. Transport Logistic is one of the most important trade fairs for the industry. We have the chance here as a company to present our product portfolio holistically and to also share our know-how. During the four trade fair days, Transport Logistic maps the entire spectrum of the transport and logistics industry. From road haulage to maritime logistics and air freight through to intralogistics and rail transport. This allows us to enter into dialogue with the experts and decision-makers of the various modes of transport and to discuss the necessary topics, so we can make the entire industry more sustainable.”
Meanwhile, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics CEO, Reiner Heiken, said the event is an excellent platform for networking.
“Over four days we meet customers and partners from all over the world here,” he said. “It is also inspiring for us, time and again, to take part in so many panels and discussions.”
For DP World CCO Logistics Europe, Markus Kanis, having a presence at Transport Logistic is incredibly important.
“It’s a unique opportunity to showcase to our partners, customers, and the industry as a whole the added value we can bring to the table as we establish ourselves as an end-to-end logistics solutions provider, making trade flow across Europe and beyond.”
Sustainable digital solutions for increased transport efficiency: Schmitz Cargobull
Schmitz Cargobull showcased its suite of products and solutions, emphasising sustainable, reliable and safe freight transportation. These enable customers to achieve maximum efficiency and transparency in the supply chain and also connect all relevant parties in the transport process.
“Anyone trying to advance the level of digitalisation in their processes will increase the efficiency of their transport business as well as their profitability,” the OEM said in a statement. “And if they are designing these transport processes to be sustainable, they will also reduce their emissions and environmental footprint.”
At Transport Logistic 2023, Schmitz Cargobull demonstrated how its products and digital services make the daily working routines of dispatchers, fleet managers and drivers easier and how sustainable digital products can be used in practice to generate profits.
The EcoGeneration of semi-trailers flaunt aerodynamic design and have been on the road since 2021. This year, the S.CS EcoVARIOS curtainsider was on show. It features an internal height of 3m and a total height of 4m. It is particularly well-suited to high-volume and automotive transport tasks where three pallet cages have to be transported on top of one another. Both the front and rear sections of the body can be flexibly adjusted, too.
The aerodynamic trailers reduce drag, thus lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions. In practice, users have been reportedly able to achieve savings of way above 5.0 per cent. This concept offers high savings potential, particularly for payload-intensive goods. The lifting function for the rear enables the trailer to be raised easily if the entire cargo area is required. And this is achieved without any significant change in trailer functionalities, transport performance and the usual handling. The effectiveness of the aerodynamic body in providing excellent sustainability through maximum fuel savings does not come at the cost of expensive, easily damaged attachments.
Looking at refrigerated transport, Schmitz Cargobull has the S.KO Cool which comes with security features that comply with TAPA TSR1 standards. The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) is an organisation made up of manufacturers, logistics service providers, freight forwarders and law enforcement authorities that applies proven methods and procedures to improve the security of valuable assets around the world. Its goal is to reduce losses in the supply chain. By complying with TSR1 standards, the Schmitz Cargobull S.KO COOL refrigerated semi-trailer meets TAPA’s highest benchmark.
The OEM also has additional equipment for supporting the safety of vehicles and goods. These include flashing side marking lights (required by law in Germany from 2024), dynamic ramp protection, immobilisers and a pharma utility package as well as CIS Cargobull Interface System and solar panels.
On trend with electrification, the all-electric S.KOe COOL box body semi-trailer is equipped with a fully electric cooling unit with integrated power electronics, a battery system and an axle generator, and thus operates emissions-free. The electrified semi-trailer is also extremely quiet, enabling early-morning and late-evening deliveries in urban areas.
The electrically operated S.CU ep85 cooling unit is designed to cool and heat freight without generating any emissions. It offers a cooling output of up to 15,800 W and a heating output of 10,500 W. Batteries on the landing gear replace the diesel tank and also offer customers the chance to install an extra pallet cage with space for 36 euro pallets. The payload of the fully electric reefer box body with a battery and electric axle is around the same as that of a refrigerated semi-trailer with a diesel unit. The additional weight of the battery in the fully electric refrigerated semi-trailer is almost completely balanced out by the removal of the generator.
The electrified Schmitz Cargobull trailer axle recuperates energy during braking, among other processes, and thus extends the cooling unit’s operating time or reduces the recharging times of the battery via the power grid. This also reduces waiting times at distribution centres. An intelligent battery charging management function ensures that the battery’s charge level remains as high as possible to provide greater reliability when the semi-trailer is stationary, such as in traffic jams.
Thanks to three pre-defined modes (ECO, STANDARD and SAFE), the semi-trailer can be optimised according to the customer’s usage conditions and objectives. ECO mode ensures maximum energy and cost efficiency during refrigerated transport. STANDARD mode delivers cost-efficient protection against cargo spoilage, while SAFE mode provides maximum protection against spoilage. The modes can be selected via the display and keypad on the transport cooling unit or via the TrailerConnect portal and app.
The generator performance of the electrified axle is precisely matched to the requirements of the cooling unit. The system is fully integrated into the Schmitz Cargobull telematics system, enabling the respective system status such as the battery charge level, remaining range and remaining charging time, to be monitored via the telematics portal.
Smart assistance systems for transport safety and efficiency: JOST
The job of a heavy vehicle operator can be challenging however equipment specialist, JOST, has some new tools in its arsenal to make life a little easier. At Transport Logistic, JOST championed the KSS automatic coupling system, the King Pin Finder assistance system, the Drawbar Finder upgrade kit and the weight-optimised DCA Weightmaster Plus axle.
The transport industry is an important pillar of the national and international economy. JOST develops advanced and numerous products to enable the industry to face current challenges such as the driver shortage.
“JOST assistance systems increase the efficiency of a fleet and make the job of truck drivers easier,” said Dietmar Franke, Head of Trailer Germany, Austria, Switzerland at JOST. “Less stress and more safety during the coupling process of the semi-trailer make the job more attractive. The KKS enables automatic operation and monitoring of the entire coupling and uncoupling process by remote control from the driver’s cab. Drawbar Finder and King Pin Finder, which can be integrated directly in the dashboard, are a practical support during coupling and hitching up. We are looking forward to the transport logistic as visitors can experience the solutions for themselves on our stand in the hall and on the outdoor exhibition area.”
The KKS enables drivers to couple and uncouple semi-trailers via remote control without leaving the driver’s cabin, automatically, safely and quickly. The driver is guided through the entire coupling process, with sensor technology providing live information on the KKS remote control throughout every step of the process. For example, the support plate sensor indicates that the trailer plate is touching and the position of the king pin is also monitored by sensors. Climbing out of the cabin to manually open the fifth wheel, cranking down the landing gear and manually connecting the spiral cable, air and brake connections are all a thing of the past for drivers.
JOST presented the King Pin Finder, a camera integrated in the fifth wheel coupling, as a new product at Transport Logistic. The optimal position of the camera allows the coupling process to be precisely monitored and carried out on the dashboard in the driver’s cabin. The JOST King Pin Finder provides a precise view of the king pin and assists with reverse manoeuvring by displaying the live camera image. This enables the driver to find the ideal coupling height and optimally align the tractor.
The ROCKINGER Drawbar Finder can likewise be integrated directly into the dashboard and supports the coupling process via camera. Here, a camera sits in a central and protected position above the towing hitch, functioning as an extra set of eyes and preventing misalignment of the drawbar eye. By providing both horizontal and vertical guidance, it enables precise coupling. The driver no longer needs to get out of the truck to check that the drawbar eye is aligned correctly. The assistance systems provide support through their intuitive handling and help to avoid accidents and damage.
AI-based predictive maintenance and more: BPW
The BPW Group focused its trade fair presentation on efficiency, safety and sustainability with the overarching theme of ‘Solutions for driving value in transport’.
In terms of fleet efficiency, BPW and idem telematics presented details of a new generation of running gear for the first time, which will pave the way to AI-supported predictive maintenance and revolutionise maintenance management by using telematics.
The running gear is the basis for the intelligent trailer of the future, which senses the condition of all relevant running gear components itself, predicts their condition, organises maintenance appointments at the optimal time itself – and reliably orders the right spare parts to the workshop. Such efficient maintenance management is a real benefit for fleet managers, who will have more time for other activities.
On the subject of reducing carbon emissions, BPW unveiled the eTransport – an electrically driven axle that has been specially developed for installation in distribution vehicles in inner-city transport traffic and can be individually adapted to the requirements of any fleet. Even larger vehicle classes over 7.5 tonnes can be equipped with eTransport thanks to the scalable concept.
BPW’s ePower axle generates energy during driving and deceleration via two generators integrated into the axle, which can be used to operate hybrid or fully electric refrigeration units. In this way, the haulier saves up to 4,000 litres of diesel per year and trailer for the operation of the refrigeration unit, depending on the configuration. As an overall system, ePower fits seamlessly into BPW’s axle and running gear architecture, but also into the cooling technologies of the development partner Thermo King. The entire system was developed by both partners as an integrated, modular overall solution.
There was even talk of ongoing innovation with load restraint technologies. Transport damage caused by poorly secured cargo is an everyday occurrence in the transport industry. Over and over again, sliding and tipping lorries cause serious accidents and damage to the load. With the intelligent iGurt load securing system, BPW is tackling one of the main causes: the handy sensor measures the pre-tensioning force during lashing and while driving and displays it on the housing, the driver’s smartphone and, if desired, also in the telematics portal. In this way, correct load securing can be monitored in real time and seamlessly documented; damage caused by excessive tension can also be reliably avoided.
Also, maintenance management is one of the most important and at the same time most demanding tasks of the fleet manager: legal inspection regulations, manufacturers’ maintenance schedules or even status and fault messages of the vehicles themselves must always be kept under control, and maintenance must be skilfully planned and documented. These tasks are now taken over by the intelligent maintenance calendar – which considerably relieves the burden on the fleet manager. But this is just the beginning: in the future, it will no longer be rigid maintenance dates or mileage that decide whether and when vehicle components need to be serviced, but increasingly intelligent sensors and algorithms. Among other things, idem telematics’ cargofleet 3 already records tyre pressure and brake pad wear and triggers warnings if necessary: a first step towards predictive/preventative maintenance. In Munich, the company will also be showing for the first time the AI-based evaluation of braking processes, which plans maintenance in line with demand and thus with optimum economic efficiency.
Another trade fair highlight is order-based route management, which enables transport companies to manage data on a route and order basis and to pass on selected information – such as the calculated arrival time – to end customers in a controlled manner. In this way, vehicle operators can make their transports more efficient and expand their services.
Independence including data sovereignty make idem telematics’ truck telematics a successful product: it is also more versatile and can be customised. Among other things, the range of functions includes the download and archiving of tacho data, the control of driving/resting and working times, an infringement evaluation and naturally the integration of trailer cooling data.
Jens Zeller, idem telematics Managing Director, said: “Artificial intelligence is justifiably the hot topic in the industry. The whole world is currently talking about the possibilities of text and image recognition – yet AI can unleash its full potential in complex, mobile systems such as transport. With cargofleet 3, we have established a recognised industry standard for the transport and logistics sector that creates a stable basis for the use of AI. This is particularly important for transport companies that value investment security. At the same time, idem telematics offers the vehicle and logistics industry and application developers a powerful, system-open platform to successfully establish AI-based solutions in the market.”
BPW has also revealed the next development stage of trailer running gear at Transport Logistic. With its holistic approach to digitalisation, BPW has already fundamentally changed the way trailer running gears are developed, built and maintained. Now the innovation leader is advancing the digital DNA of its running gears to artificial consciousness – the trailer of the future thinks independently and manages itself. BPW revealed the first details of the new generation iC Plus running gear at Transport Logistic.
‘Born digital’ – under this concept, BPW has assigned digital DNA to all of its running gear components, from the axle to the last screw. This DNA accompanies the entire life cycle of the trailer – from design and production to everyday use as well as maintenance and spare parts supply – thus ensuring unrivalled efficiency.
Thore Bakker, General Manager Trailer Solutions and Mobility Services at BPW in Wiehl, said: “The new generation of running gears iC Plus is the starting point for holistic digitalisation and intelligent networking of the entire vehicle life. It enables digital maintenance management as a first step and is developing further into a self-monitoring vehicle that optimally controls its maintenance. In future, on this basis, we also want to ensure that AI-supported analyses of road conditions and load can be used to optimise economy and safety.”
Fast fact
With total exhibition space of 127,000 square metres (2019: 125,000 square metres), the 10 halls and the track system in the outdoor area were completely booked out. Of the 2,320 exhibitors, 1,390 came from abroad — a record share of 60 per cent. The top 10 exhibitor countries after Germany were the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, France, Austria, China, Turkey, Spain, Poland and Great Britain.
Fast fact
DSV placed an order for 500 new Krone trailers at this year’s Transport Logistic event. The fleet has invested in 500 Profi Liners with piggyback equipment. As a thank you, Bernard Krone, Ingo Geerdes of Krone Trailer and Ole Nielsen of Krone ScanBalt Group handed over a XXL Krone model to DSV Director Flemming Steiness and DSV CEO Søren Schmidt.