Japan-based fleet, Kameman Transport, is ramping up its use of trailers across its nationwide network amid labour shortages.
Based in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the company operates throughout Kyushu and across Japan, moving everything from paper and pulp to fresh produce, frozen foods, grain and feed.
Kameman Transport CEO, Yasukata Tomita, said Trex trailers have been central to the company’s strategy, praising the durability of the equipment, spare parts availability and responsive service support.
The fleet maintains its own workshop and relies on Trex’s quick supply of components to minimise downtime.
Kameman’s shift toward trailer-led relay transport began when the company opened a Tokyo office and reassessed driver workloads.
Rather than multi-day return trips between Kyushu and Tokyo, the operator embraced a model where drivers focus solely on driving while loading and unloading are separated via truck–trailer swaps.
The move required negotiations with shippers and ferry operators, especially as transit times extended from three days to four or five on ferry-supported routes.
Kameman offset this by doubling cargo loads without doubling freight charges, gaining support from shippers for non-perishable goods.
As trailer volumes grew, the company added new and second-hand equipment to support increasing demand and overcome early challenges such as return-load shortages.
According to Tomita, the efficiency gains now allow a single driver to complete up to three round trips under the relay system.
To combat labour shortages, Kameman has focused on trailer utilisation rather than longer driver hours, embedding modal shift practices, flexible working hours and driver qualification support. The company has eliminated mandatory morning assemblies, encourages reduced office time and provides financial support for staff to obtain heavy-vehicle and trailer licences.
Tomita said he hopes for continued improvements in Trex’s parts flexibility and is already considering commissioning new-specification trailers as the business continues its expansion of trailer-based logistics across Japan.
Earlier this year Trex unveiled a €32M plant.
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