The transport and logistics sector has been under pressure in recent years. Rising wage and energy costs, as well as the ongoing lack of drivers, are also having a noticeable impact on fresh produce logistics. However, there is also light at the end of the tunnel for medium-sized logistics companies, believes Max Saara (right), sole owner of Kühltransporte Joachim Jacobs GmbH & Co.KG based in Kaltenkirchen, north of Hamburg, since 2020.
"In 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, we had a very good business year. That then turned around completely the following year. In the past few months, we have fortunately observed a gradual improvement in the situation again, although the Easter business did not quite meet our expectations. In a nutshell, the mood in fresh produce logistics has been on the upswing again since February," summarizes Saara, who as a specialized freight forwarder supports the wholesale markets in Hanover, Hamburg and Bremen, among others.
Max Saara has a total of 32 trucks and 58 employees, including three dispatchers. The vehicles are almost exclusively equipped with Mitsubishi refrigeration systems.
Ubiquitous cost increases
The northern German transport sector is also facing ubiquitous cost increases. "You try to survive as best you can. Nevertheless, exploding labor costs in particular are putting extreme pressure on our business, which is why it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the big players," describes Saara, who also offers a cold storage facility for the temporary storage of fresh and frozen goods. "Our hall houses around 500 m2, 200 m2 of which is deep-freeze space. We now partially cool our freezer room down to -19 degrees instead of -22 degrees, which already makes a significant difference in terms of costs."
Furthermore, they are still struggling with the concise driver shortage. Saara: "We have clearly taken up the cause of employee retention. Not only do we make sure that the overall the driver receives more net from the gross, but we also invest specifically in improving our secondary working conditions, whether it's retirement benefits, supplementary insurance, and payment of overtime, night and holiday bonuses. As a result, we have a good, loyal team, although I could employ one or two more people."
Word of mouth advertising and electric drive
In the fruit and vegetable sector, the traditional company is anchored in regional wholesale, especially in the Hamburg area. Otherwise, the catchment area extends to Schwerin, Flensburg, Hanover and in the direction of the west coast. "We hardly deal with new customer acquisition, because in the fresh produce industry, a lot still runs on word of mouth. Among other things, this means that new customers, such as medium-sized fruit and vegetable companies, are still contacting us."
Instead of diesel, vehicles with electric drives are being used increasingly. As an experienced specialized freight forwarder, however, Saara is critical of these innovations. "Firstly, there is little time for charging in everyday practice. Secondly, in my opinion it makes little sense to use the technology in the truck sector, which is why we continue to rely on diesel and hydrogen. I personally consider the latter to be the technology of the future. It's still only in the pilot phase, but we're already on the right track."
Images: Kühltransporte Joachim Jacobs GmbH & Co.KG
Further information:
Max Saara
Kühltransporte Joachim Jacobs GmbH & Co.KG
Werner-von-Siemens-Straße 23
24568 Kaltenkirchen
Telefon: (04191) 95 74 10
Telefax: (04191) 95 74 12
info@kjj.de
www.kjj.de