The Singen-based Transco Group has entered into a cooperation with Webfleet, a provider of truck fleet management solutions. The logistics and freight forwarding company, specializing in European deliveries, aims to switch its entire fleet to digital real-time control. In Webfleet's press release about the project, it says: "The focus is on sustainability, process optimization, and strategic electrification planning."
Transco is headquartered in the southern German city of Singen, on the border with Switzerland, and has been offering logistics and transportation services for more than 50 years. Deliveries are made from seven own German locations and 18 more in Europe, generally to destinations worldwide: by land, sea, and air freight. The company also specializes in the transport of hazardous materials and pharmaceuticals. According to the information provided, 550 transportation units are currently operating in road transport – within a dense network that covers not only major cities but also smaller regions. The focus of the delivery areas is concentrated on some significant Central European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, and France. However, there are also
connections to Spain in Western Europe and to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and other Eastern European regions.
Digitalization and E-Mobility Have the Highest Priority
In the "first rollout" in cooperation with Webfleet, 75 Transco vehicles initially receive Webfleet's telematics solution. Consequently, further units at national and international locations will be equipped with the solutions from the Bridgestone subsidiary. Gerhard Reger, Global Head of Fleet Management at Transco, says:
"We see Webfleet as a partner that supports us in digitizing our fleet management and scaling our electromobility strategy. We already have ten battery-electric semi-trailers."
Parallel to the acquisition of e-trucks, the company's own charging infrastructure will be expanded: "Electromobility is our highest priority". On this path, Webfleet supports the company in the "data-driven, automated, and cross-border" optimization of fleet management, says Reger.
Transco has been advancing the digitization of its goods management for some time now. A modern logistics center, for example, is located in Gottmadingen, southwest of Singen: goods are moved across 55,000 square meters of warehouse space using automated processes, supported by 35 robots.
With Webfleet, the company has sought a partner that was recognized at the beginning of the year for its advanced technology by a US management consultancy.
Pioneers of Fleet Digitalization
Webfleet facilitates management for freight forwarders: the application enables digital fleet management, which includes automated tachograph data reading and legal data archiving. Data-based reports are also provided, which can support operational and strategic decisions. However, further functions are associated with the solution: customers receive precise information based on which they can schedule the charging and route planning of their electrified trucks. Transco collaborates with the South German Webfleet partner Telematik Partner, based near Ravensburg. Wolfgang Schmid, Head of Central Region at Webfleet, says:
"We see ourselves as technology pioneers, and just like Transco as a pioneer for e-transport logistics on the user side. This partnership advances both of us. Together, we are setting the benchmarks of the future and demonstrating how data-driven logistics works in practice. That is a strong signal to the entire industry."
According to the report, with an electrification of around ten percent
of its truck fleet, Transco is considered a "pioneer in the field of alternative drives". At the Singen location, two 300 kW charging stations are used for charging the battery-electric heavy trucks. The sustainable efforts are further supported by an increased solar-powered energy supply. In addition to automated logistics and the AI-supported functions taken over with Webfleet, Transco also relies on state-of-the-art technologies for customs clearance: including through the integration of Traide.ai, an AI-supported application used to manage customs processes. "It accelerates the import and export process and relieves manual labor."
At the turn of the millennium, a Leipzig start-up launched Webfleet, announcing it as the world's first web-based solution for truck fleet management. Nearly twenty years later, the Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone acquired the company, which is considered one of the leading providers of fleet management solutions for road transport in Europe and collaborates, for example, with trailer manufacturer Krone. Since 2021, some functions of the Webfleet software are based on artificial intelligence (AI) and provide fleet managers with information about the vehicle in real-time.
