Unique mix of express and scheduled services Spain
Spain is familiar territory for Van Duuren-Interport. ‘To provide our clients with the best possible service we have our own office in Barcelona,’ relates Raymond de Ridder, Manager Operations for this area. It is thus no surprise that there are 75 trucks per week going back and forth between the Netherlands and Spain.
Van Duuren provides two sorts of service to Spain. The express service is in Madrid in 26 hours. ‘In order to get the consignments into Spain in a little more than one full day we work with double drivers, and en route there are drivers ready to take the truck over,’ explains De Ridder. “This means that the vehicle leaves Schiphol at about 7.00 p.m. and arrives in Madrid at between 7.00 and 9.00 p.m. the following day.’ Van Duuren-Interport also sets off every day to Spain with the scheduled LTL service that delivers in Barcelona and Madrid within 48 hours. ‘We also offer guaranteed capacity. We always run this route, even if we only have one pallet for Spain, so to speak. This is unique for groupage. Goods will never be left behind as the result of a lack of space,’ De Ridder states.
Thanks to the takeover of Interport Van Duuren has been able to greatly expand the service. De Ridder: ‘Interport has 27 years’ experience on the Spanish route, and we have been working with some clients for more than 20 years. And because of the strong presence of Interport at the European airports we can for example offer the possibility of transporting air cargo.’
Cultural differences
As a specialist in transport to Spain, this logistics service provider with branches in Vianen and Badhoevedorp knows the importance of taking into account the cultural differences between the Netherlands and Spain. ‘We have found that Spanish customers are really happy that you are personally close by. That is why twelve years ago we opened an office in Barcelona,’ recalls De Ridder. ‘Five members of our staff work there in a communal office building, where some of our clients are also based. It’s not unusual for them to call in to discuss things over a cup of coffee.’
SERVICE TO SPAIN IN FIGURES
SERVICE: Express service and standard scheduled service
TRANSPORT: Groupage, LTL and FTL
DEPARTURES EXPRESS SERVICE: Monday to Thursday inclusive (26 HOURS)
DEPARTURE STANDARD SERVICE: Daily, except Thursday (48 HOURS)