Вантажоперевезення Україна Європа активно розвиваються і стають все більш важливими для бізнесу, оскільки міжнародна торгівля розширюється. Вибір способу транспортування вантажів на європейські напрямки є одним із найголовніших рішень, яке впливає на загальну ефективність доставки і, відповідно, на прибутковість підприємства. Україна, зі своєю вигідною географічною позицією, стала важливим вузлом для перевезень між Східною Європою та ЄС.
The most common modes of transport include road, air and rail. Road transport has a number of features that make it often a better choice than the others. Let's take a closer look at them.
Road transport research: main characteristics
Road transport is one of the most popular forms of transportation. According to IRUAccording to the European Transport Association, more than 70% of all international freight traffic in Europe is carried out by road. This is not only a convenient but also a cost-effective way to deliver goods.
One of the key aspects of road transport is its flexibility. Trucks can reach the most remote locations where other modes of transport are often inefficient. In addition, road transport has several other advantages that make it more desirable than air and rail.
Cost-effectiveness and feasibility
Compared to air transport, road transport is significantly more cost-effective, especially for medium and large volumes of cargo. Rail can be cost-competitive over long distances, but it incurs additional transhipment costs and does not always provide the flexibility required. There are several other significant advantages:
- Door-to-door delivery. This is perhaps the most important advantage. For example, a truck from Europe can pick up a shipment directly from the sender's warehouse and deliver it to the recipient's address anywhere in the EU, eliminating the need for complex and costly transhipment at terminals or stations. This is especially appreciated by small and medium-sized enterprises that do not have their own access roads or are located far from major transport hubs.
- Adaptability to the type of cargo. The fleet includes a wide range of logistics services provided by vehicles specialised for different types of cargo. These include tilt-top trucks, refrigerated trucks, tanks, platforms and low-bed trawls, and container trucks. Thus, any type of cargo can be transported, whether it is food, medicines, bulk and liquid materials.
- The ability to form groupage cargo (LTL). For small consignments of goods, the transport company has the ability to consolidate cargoes from different senders in one vehicle, which significantly reduces the cost of delivery for each customer compared to renting an entire wagon. To better understand the terminology, you can refer to the definitions, for example, on the website Investopedia regarding the term "Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)".
Another cost-saving factor is the use of modern vehicles that consume less fuel and significantly reduce international delivery costs.
Flexibility and availability of routes
Road transport offers a high degree of flexibility. For example, delivery by truck allows goods to be delivered to any destination, even to remote regions where there is no railway or airport infrastructure. Companies can quickly change routes to respond to changes in conditions, such as traffic jams, road conditions or bad weather. This is especially important in today's business environment, where time is money.
Compared to rail transport, which has clear but strict schedules, and aviation, which has complex departure and arrival rules, commercial road transport offers efficient transport solutions.
Less bureaucracy and easier customs clearance
Freight transport between Ukraine and Europe involves crossing the border. Thanks to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, which Ukraine joined in 2007, road transport has a simplified customs control procedure. According to UNECEThe use of TIR cards reduces border crossing times by 30-50% compared to rail. These are the advantages worth highlighting:
- Possibility of electronic registration (for example, through the NCTS system).
- Fewer inspections compared to air cargo.
- No need for storage at terminals.
Customs procedures are an important part of all transport of goods within Europe. Road transport, compared to air transport, is often easier in this respect.
Licensing of road freight transport
Кожен перевізник Україна — ЄС зобов’язаний мати відповідну ліцензію. Однією з переваг вантажоперевезень автотранспортом є більш просте й доступне ліцензування міжнародної діяльності, порівняно з авіаційними та залізничними доставками.
On the Ukrainian side, the transport licence is issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the procedure is clear, relatively quick and does not require significant financial outlays. Since the signing of the transport liberalisation agreement with the EU, many export documents have been cancelled, which has greatly simplified access to the EU market.
Short delivery times
Fast delivery from Ukraine is one of the most important factors for many companies. Road transport can be extremely efficient, in particular due to the fewer stages involved in transport. For logistics centres exporting goods to European markets, faster delivery can be a key advantage in the competition for customers.
Air transport is definitely faster than road transport. However, it should be borne in mind that delivering goods by plane may require additional time for preparation, obtaining all the necessary documents, and even due to changes in flight schedules. As a result, direct road transport may be faster than air transport if you count all the stages.
Rail transport, while it can provide acceptable speeds, is often subject to delays due to schedules, transshipment needs and station stops. Additionally, it should be borne in mind that delivery times may increase in conditions of limited railway infrastructure.
Transport safety
Ukraine-Europe freight transport is associated with risks of damage to goods that may occur during transshipment at railway stations. Many businesses face this problem, so they prefer road transport. the absence of the need for several stages of unloading and loading significantly reduces the likelihood of negative situations.
In addition, trucks are now equipped with modern security systems that significantly increase the level of protection for goods. Cargo tracking systems help prevent theft, and dynamic navigation ensures a safe journey.
In addition, customers are often able to track their shipments in real time thanks to modern GPS technology. This not only improves supply chain transparency, but also allows for a quick response to any potential issues, such as delays along the route.
Thus, logistics from Ukraine to the EU via road transport is a balanced, cost-effective solution that allows you to cooperate with the international market quickly, safely and conveniently and make a profit.
