No need for packing
Few companies have succeeded to grow like bulk logistics company RL-Trans; for more than 15 years in a row now, the company has increased its turnover by more than fifteen per cent annually. At the turn of the millennium, RL-Trans owned eight trucks, whereas the number today amounts to more than 230 transport units.
What then is the secret behind this remarkable growth?
“We have been fast in adopting new technologies and have never been afraid of making investments. Furthermore, the whole field of business has grown, since an increasing amount of materials are transported as bulk,” explains Andreas Lindedahl, Market Manager and third generation family business owner at RL-Trans.
The reason behind the increase in bulk transports is that it offers a more efficient way of handling goods compared to traditional transport in sacks, which requires a lot of manual loading and unloading. RL-Trans transports materials such as granules, powders and liquid gas directly into the silos at the customers’ factories.
In addition, RL-Trans manages many silos on behalf of its customers. Modern silos contain automation that tells when there is a need to fill the silo, and the order goes directly into RL-Trans’ ordering system, decreasing the need for e-mailing, phone calls and manual work.
“This is a great example of how digitalisation has impacted the transportation business. We have always been forerunners in this field; as early as 1999 we installed our first system that showed the position of the trucks on a digital map,” explains Mathias Lindedahl, IT Manager.
As freight traffic is becoming increasingly international, a growing share of RL-Trans’ turnover and growth comes from international transports. The company is today one of the leading players in its field in Scandinavia, with a strong presence in the Baltics as well. RL-Trans’ aim is to keep exports and imports in balance and to reduce the carbon emissions by optimising logistics.
“This business is like building a giant puzzle. Our 230 units need to be combined and positioned in the best possible way every day.”
