Volvo and DHL launch autonomous truck trials in the US
Volvo Autonomous Solutions and DHL Supply Chain have initiated autonomous driving trials in the United States. Volvo VNL Autonomous trucks, equipped with the Aurora Driver system, will begin operations with a safety driver onboard to monitor performance. The initial routes covered include Dallas-Houston and Fort Worth-El Paso. “This collaboration accelerates the adoption of autonomous technology, optimising capacity and supply chain efficiency,” stated Sasko Cuklev of Volvo. Jim Monkmeyer from DHL added that autonomy will be pivotal in logistics’ digital transformation, enhancing safety and efficiency.
EIB funds Bilbao port with €80m
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced €80 million in funding for the Bilbao Port Authority. The aim is to support the port’s expansion and electrification, including the development of renewable energy infrastructure. This project, part of the Atlantic Corridor of the TEN-T network, seeks to enhance the port’s capacity and efficiency, reduce maritime transport costs, and support the offshore renewable energy industry. It also aligns with the EIB’s climate strategy, which commits half of its financing to sustainable projects.
Prologis acquires logistics facility in Peschiera Borromeo
Prologis has completed the purchase of the final building in the Industrial Park at Peschiera Borromeo, near Milan, from Sviluppo Immobiliare Corio. Strategically located near the TEEM ring road and Milan Linate Airport, the 20,000-square-metre property is already leased to two logistics operators. This acquisition marks the conclusion of a large-scale project with over 60,000 square metres of covered space. Sandro Innocenti of Prologis described the facility as an ideal investment for e-commerce. Savills Italia acted as the advisor for the transaction.
Patrizia Pepe slashes logistics costs with ShippyPro
The collaboration between Patrizia Pepe and ShippyPro continues to transform the logistics operations of the Florence-based fashion brand. Thanks to ShippyPro's shipping management platform, Patrizia Pepe has cut the cost of integrating new couriers by 80% and halved the time needed to process tracking requests. Since its launch in 2022, the partnership has enabled the brand to optimise both B2B and B2C operations, monitor thousands of shipments, and enhance customer experience in key markets such as France, Germany, and Italy.
TAP Air Cargo and Wiremind Cargo enhance collaboration
Portuguese airline TAP Air Cargo has strengthened its partnership with Wiremind Cargo by integrating the Cargospot management system with Skypallet, a tool designed to optimise cargo capacity. Through an API, shipment data is automatically transferred from Cargospot to Skypallet, simplifying flight planning and reducing processing times from 15–30 minutes to just a few seconds. This integration improves load factors by up to 10%, ensuring efficiency and speed.
Freight volumes down under the Channel
In November 2024, LeShuttle Freight, the rail shuttle service under the Channel, transported 104,436 commercial vehicles, marking a 4% decline compared to the same month in 2023. Year-to-date, over one million heavy goods vehicles have crossed the Channel on its Shuttles.
