Fast news

Archive 2009

TNT Swiss Post pedals down CO2 emissions

25 September 2009 – TNT Swiss Post, a 50-50 joint venture between TNT Express and Swiss Post, has introduced a fleet of electric cargo bikes to pick up and deliver documents and parcels in Geneva. Drivers can easily avoid traffic jams and reach destinations on time. The zero-emission vehicle, which has a capacity of 360 lbs, can travel 30 kilometres on a single charge. TNT Swiss Post also operates ten natural gas-powered cars for its delivery needs.

Peter Bakker receives Clinton Global Citizen Award

24 September 2009 – TNT’s CEO Peter Bakker today received a Clinton Global Citizen Award in New York. The award was created in 2007 to recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership in solving pressing global challenges. “Bakker has proven that it is possible to do well by doing good,” according to former president Bill Clinton. “Thanks to his leadership, TNT has become a model for how the corporate sector can work successfully with civil society to improve lives around the world.” Other recipients this year are Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, chairperson of Save Somali Women and Children, Dr. Rola Dashti, Parliament Member, State of Kuwait, Ruchira Gupta, President of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, and Quincy Jones, for his philanthropy work. US actor Ben Stiller will host the awards ceremony. More information can be found in the complete announcement from the Clinton Global Initiative.

• Video: TNT CEO Peter Bakker at the Clinton award ceremony
• Download photo 1: TNT CEO Peter Bakker at the award ceremony
• Download photo 2: TNT CEO Peter Bakker is presented with the award

TNT Express Russia brings books for blind children

22 September 2009 – A Russian charity fund has partnered with TNT Express to deliver tactile books for blind and visually impaired children at the start of the school year. TNT gratuitously transported the books to primary schools, libraries, and nurseries in over sixteen Russian towns (Pskov, Murmansk, Kaliningrad, etc.). Each year, the Fund “Illustrated books for blind children" produces two sets of books for low-vision youngsters as part of its program “Book as a gift”.

Express baggage service flies high

16 September 2009 – Demand for TNT Express Italy’s baggage service grew by 8.5 per cent in 2008 amid tightening airline baggage rules. More and more hotel chains and air travellers are using a service initially designed for motorcyclists. With its ‘Servizio Bagagli’, TNT Express Italy offers domestic and international door-to-door luggage collection and delivery at a price starting from €26, including all-risk insurance. This makes it interesting for air passengers who wish to avoid extra charges for turning up with an extra bag, or one exceeding the airlines’ weight limits. Depending on the airline, excess baggage can cost as much as €15 a kilo. TNT Express Italy is the only unit within TNT to offer a baggage service.

TNT Post greens its fleet

14 September 2009 – TNT Post is greening its fleet in the Netherlands by purchasing 52 natural gas vehicles. More than half will run on ‘green’ fuel. Green fuel, or biogas, is completely carbon-neutral. It can be derived from organic waste diverted from landfills, water purification systems, vegetable waste and manure. The 52 natural gas delivery vans, Volkswagen Caddys and Fiat Doblos, are a welcome addition to TNT’s global alternative technology fleet, which consists of a number of electric, hybrid and biodiesel trucks and vans.

TNT teams up with Renault on electric vehicles

September 2009 – TNT and Renault are teaming up to develop electric vehicles for TNT’s post delivery fleet in the Netherlands. The vehicles will be available in 2011. TNT, which already uses 50 electric trucks in 23 major towns in the UK, tests various technologies that can reduce its CO2 emissions, including hybrid and gas-powered vans. Renault plans to introduce a complete range of electric vehicles in 2011.

TNT Post UK celebrates 5th anniversary

3 September 2009 – TNT Post UK celebrates five years of success. Since launching in August 2004, the company has acquired 4,000 customers across the UK through personalised and innovative services, such as the UK’s first carbon neutral mail service. Well-known clients include Barclays, BT, and Centrica. TNT Post UK now handles 2.5 billion items per year compared with 300 million five years ago. It is the second UK postal company with a 14 per cent market share and 800 employees.

TNT Express Russia extends hazardous goods delivery service to the Far East

1 September 2009 – TNT Express Russia now offers hazardous materials transport services to customers in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East. The service is mostly aimed at chemical, oil and gas companies that need to safely ship goods requiring special handling. Examples include oil-based paints, aerosols, fertilizers, chemicals. In addition to timely delivery, TNT Express supplies the necessary packaging and marking of the shipments.

TNT Mercúrio gets triple certification

31 August 2009 – TNT Mercúrio’s six branch offices in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul earned a triple certification for quality management (ISO 9001:2008), environment (ISO 14001:2004), and health and occupational security (OHSAS 18001:2007). ABS Quality Evaluation carried out the audit. TNT Mercúrio plans to have 50 branch offices certified by 2011. “These norms are the base for a responsible management and our contribution for a more sustainable world,” said TNT Express Brazil’s Country General Manager Roberto Rodrigues.

TNT opens new Philippines depot

12 August 2009 – TNT Express today opened an 800sq metre depot in San Fernando, the capital of the Pampanga province, in the northern island of Luzon. The €220,000 facility is part of TNT’s expansion programme in southeast Asia. Located close to the Subic, Clark, Angeles and Bataan economic zones, the depot can handle 400 tons of shipment per day and offers room for further expansion. It will serve the Philippines and reinforce connectivity with the rest of Asia.

TNT partner of the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup

4 August 2009 – TNT Express and TNT Post Italy are providing logistics support to the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup (6-13 September). The tournament, which will gather 48 national homeless football teams, aims to build awareness of the world’s billion homeless and help the players rebuild their lives. A TNT aircraft transported the Cup trophy from Afghanistan, home of the 2008 winning team, to Milan. TNT is offering warehouse space to store food and sporting equipment brought by sponsors. TNT Post will distribute invitations and promotional flyers. The Homeless World Cup supporters include UEFA, UN, Nike, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Eric Cantona, international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand.

TNT Singapore celebrates one year of operation at revamped country depot

29 July 2009 – TNT Singapore has increased its customer base by 14% since the opening of its expanded Singapore Country Depot and Customer Care Centre a year ago. The revamped facilities helped TNT Singapore achieve a 20% increase in the weight of consignments carried for equipment and machinery and healthcare customers. Both centres are part of TNT’s 180,000-square-feet complex in Singapore, which also houses TNT’s largest life sciences express hub worldwide.

TNT builds up capacity in Vietnam

23 July 2009 – TNT Express opened its expanded international and domestic operations centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Located next to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the 3,000-m2 facility will enable TNT to handle more high-tech products, machine parts, and garments. The centre features leading-edge security technology and in-house customs for faster, more secure handling of high-value goods.

TNT expands service to Indonesia

23 July 2009 – TNT Express launched a twice-weekly B737-300 freighter service between Singapore and Balikpapan, in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan. The service is primarily aimed at customers from the mining, oil, and gas industry. A spare part shipment picked up today in Amsterdam can be delivered in Balikpapan in three days. TNT is leasing the 16-ton capacity freighter from Cardig Air.

“The Horse and Olympia”: TNT gallops off to Cologne

July 2009 – Antique vases, the Olympic torch of 1936, the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy and gold medals from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. These are some of the museum items delivered by TNT Express to the German Sports & Olympic Museum on time for the opening of the exhibition “The Horse and Olympia” (Cologne, 11 July - 27 September 2009). The exhibit celebrates the role and beauty of the only animal athletes included in the Olympic Games.

TNT Express Italy takes delivery of new Fiat gas-powered van

16 July 2009 – TNT Express Italy has taken delivery of its first Fiat Ducato 140 Natural Power: a natural gas-powered van, offering good performance, low consumption, and limited carbon emissions (239 g/km). The van runs by default on methane. Petrol supply takes over when the gas runs out. Natural gas engines produce 90% less NOx than their petrol equivalent, and 25% CO2 less. The Natural Power Ducato can thus move in urban areas subject to traffic limitations.

TNT India helps victims of cyclone Aila

7 July 2009 – TNT India is distributing medicine and shelter materials to about 15,000 people displaced by cyclone Aila at three refugee camps near Calcutta. The company has also set up a medical relief camp in Ghospur, a severely hit village, where doctors are treating people with malaria, diarrhoea, and skin infections. The cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal on 25 May.

TNT secures ISO 28000 certification

24 June 2009 - TNT Express has achieved the ISO 28000 security certification for all its operations in the Asia Pacific region. TUV Rheinland conducted the audit. The certification shows how serious TNT is about supply chain security, an essential customer requirement. TNT Express, a validated C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) company globally, had already received TAPA and AEO certifications for several of its units.

TNT Indonesia wins twice at contact centre excellence awards

June 2009 - TNT Indonesia, the local unit of TNT Express, won the Best Contact Centre Operation and Best Agent Outbound awards from the Indonesia Contact Centre Association (ICCA). The awards were handed out in Jakarta on 29 May 2009. This is the first time an express integrator receives these awards. Other participants included banks, insurers, telecommunication operators, and energy companies.

TNT Drive Me Challenge 2009; the race is on

TNT is gearing up for the final of the global 2009 Drive Me Challenge, TNT’s annual eco-friendly and road safety driving contest, at the prestigious testing grounds of MIRA in the UK on 30 September 2009. Italy will kick off the qualification rounds in the first week of July in partnership with Fiat. The final will be a truly international event as drivers from the USA, the UAE, Brazil, China, Malaysia, Italy, Portugal, Poland, UK, Benelux, Mail Netherlands, Mail Parcel services as well as EMN Germany test their skills following national qualifying heats throughout the summer.

“Walk the World” fills the streets

9 June 2009 – Close to 300,000 people marched in 70 countries on June 7 to raise awareness and funds for WFP’s school feeding programmes. This is 50,000 more than in 2008. The leisurely walks drew entire families, clad in white and orange, in places as diverse as Sydney, Cairo, Manila and Nairobi. The biggest single walk was in Tanzania, where Prime Minister Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda led 50,000 participants. “Walk the World” is organised by WFP, TNT, Unilever and DSM.

TNT awarded Express Logistics Provider of the Year in Dubai

June 2009 – TNT Express UAE on 1 June won the “Express Logistics Provider of the Year” award at the third annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards (SCATA) in Dubai. The distinction recognises companies that have “delivered a portfolio of market-leading solutions within the Middle East's express logistics sector over the past twelve months.”

TNT acquires Mikropakket, a Dutch leader in secured delivery

5 June 2009 - TNT Post Parcel Service extends its product range for Dutch business customers looking to ship parcels with high value content in an extra secured way through the acquisition of Mikropakket. Valuable goods such as jewelry and telecoms products are shipped via a highly secured distribution network and offer the customer more certainty and also lower insurance costs thanks to the optimal security system.

TNT participates in Amber Alert to help find missing girl

3 June 2009 - TNT Express last week sent an alert to 700 TNT truck drivers operating in the Benelux to help locate Katja Leendertz, a seven-year old Dutch girl abducted from her school on 27 May. The Dutch police cancelled the alert two days later when the girl’s father declared he had taken her to the US. Amber is a missing-child response system used to inform the public by means of radio and TV spots, email, text messages and electronic highway signs.

TNT Post UK adds third dimension to direct mail with 3-DM

June 2009 - TNT Post UK has introduced a 3D-effect direct mail product that uses a new printing technique. The effect is visible from any angle and gives a realistic impression of floating elements within the card. "Direct mail is an excellent channel for achieving one to one communication with customers and more emotional intensity than any other medium,” said Nick Wells, chief executive of TNT Post UK. “Our 3-DM product was specifically designed to give our customers a unique creativity that catches the eye and gets people talking."

TNT expands Day Definite road delivery service to Hangzhou

June 2009 - TNT-Hoau has expanded its Day Definite road delivery service to the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, thus extending the service’s coverage to 231 depot pairs. The company plans to add new destinations in the coming weeks. Introduced in February 2009, Day Definite is a premium road service designed for the Chinese domestic market. All shipments are bar-coded for real-time online tracking and the trucks are equipped with GPS.

TNT China wins customer service award

5 May 2009 - TNT China International Express has received the “2009 China’s Best Call Center of the Year” award from the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI) and China’s Customer Contact Center Standard committee (CCCS). TNT China runs three regional customer contact centers that employ about 200 people. They provide customer services 24/7. Read also the press release http://www.tnt.com.cn/en/newsroom/pressrelease/2009/20090505.html.

TNT Express opens new hub in Milan

14 May 2009 – TNT has opened its €12 million 40,000m2 “Milano Mega” hub within the Milan Linate Airport. Milano Mega will serve as a consolidation and distribution center for Milan and its hinterland, Como and Varese. It will also link the region, which accounts for 12% of Italian exports, to TNT’s international network. The facility employs 500 operators and can handle 45,000 items a day thanks to state-of-the-art sorting equipment.

Print customer magazines more appreciated than digital ones, says Cendris

7 May 2009 - Print customer magazines score better than digital ones. This is the conclusion of recent research by Cendris, a subsidiary of TNT Post that specialises in data and document management. The research looked at factors such as coverage, number of readers, time spent reading, commitment and preferences. According to the findings, loyalty ezines are cost effective, newsworthy, and interactive. Print magazines, however, create a better connection with customers.

TNT extends Asia Road Network into Cambodia

5 May 2009 – TNT has extended its scheduled Asian road service to Cambodia, adding 1,500km to an existing 6,000km network running from Singapore to China. The new service is initially available in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Customers using TNT’s Asia Road Network (ARN) can save 30% on transport costs compared with airlifting out of Cambodia. The service is three times faster than shipping by sea.

TNT Post operates ‘most sustainable building’ in the Netherlands

April 2009 – TNT Post’s CO2 emission-free depot in Veenendal has topped an index that rates Dutch buildings on their environmental performance. It reached the score of 632 points according to the Greencalc methodology. The highest score so far was 323 points. TNT inaugurated its Veenendal depot in October 2008. Built by the Dutch construction group VolkerWessels, it is the first in a series of ‘green’ buildings planned by TNT as part of its environmental programme Planet Me.

TNT Post to open 150 post offices in Albert Heijn supermarkets

18 March 2009 - TNT Post will open at least 150 post offices in Albert Heijn supermarkets in the coming years as part of a plan to create 750 new postal outlets in the Netherlands. Customers are keen on buying stamps or sending parcels quickly at convenient locations. Albert Heijn’s late opening hours offer additional flexibility.