Dutchman Gerard Mostert leads the transport agency Betrex Espana from Valencia. Although the transporter does not own it's own vehicles, the company has 25 vehicles on the road every day. The focus is on the transport of fruits and vegetables from Spain to North West Europe and back, but the logistic service supplier doesn't avoid transport outside of fruit and vegetables. "In recent years out transport activities have grown steadily. Everyone knows the situation on the transport market, but we're not unsatisfied with the work we have. For instance, we increased the groupage transport from Alicante /Valencia towards Holland and Belgium. There is a need for flexible players who take care of the transport of partial loads and we are happy to play into this."
Although intermodal initiatives are promoted from various corners to transport the Spanish fruit and vegetables by ship or trains, Gerard does not yet see a role in this for his company. "I don't think that trading parties are prepared to wait longer for their products; they have to plan the transport earlier and thereby are more at risk. Exporters can respond angrily if the vehicle isn't at the door by 6.00 or 7.00 am, let alone if they have to wait for the products to arrive over the course of the day. You often hear customers talk about similar transport initiatives before the start of the season, but it never goes further than that. I'm not saying that this development wont continue, but the transport by water can't compete against the speed and flexibility of the road transport."
"There's not even that much difference in price between the transport by road and by boat, although during the peak of the Spanish season the prices can shoot up. You can see that retailers are sensitive to the argument of taking as much transport off the road, to help reduce CO2," says Gerard. "Perhaps we're too small a player to focus on such intermodal transport lines at the moment, but currently I can see more growth in the specialisation of our current activities in the path of Betrex Espana."
For more information:
Betrex Expana S.A.
Carrer Barranc 24b
46711 Guardamar de La Safor
Gandia (Valencia)
Tel: 0034-962878080
Fax: 0034-962878181
[email protected]
www.betrex.es
