DHL Supply Chain, the global market leader in contract logistics solutions, announced in September, the deployment of 60 new, purpose-built temperature-controlled trucks to further strengthen its ability to manage healthcare shipments. This coincides with a recruitment drive to hire up to 50 new drivers, as well as an upskilling for existing drivers to enhance their knowledge about safety as well as product handling process.
Saul Resnick, CEO, DHL Supply Chain, Australia and New Zealand said, “The past year has underscored the importance of the Life Sciences and Healthcare industry and highlighted the complexity of pharmaceutical supply chains. Innovative solutions, such as this, are crucial to ensure these supply chains remain resilient and healthcare products are delivered in a compliant, safe and reliable way.”
These vehicles feature an Australian-made dual temperature cab solution with 2 -8°C and 15-25°C temperature ranges, to ensure label claim compliance (delivery as per the temperature instructions on the packaging of the product) as prescribed by the manufacturer. This solution is a first for the Australian market and ensures healthcare manufacturers can stay ahead of evolving compliance regulations.
These vehicles will be progressively deployed from August 2021 through till Q1 2022 in NSW (August 2021), QLD, VIC, (Q4 2021), and SA and WA (Q1 2022), providing state-based solutions for this industry.
“We have seen increased demand for our industry-leading temperature controlled storage solutions, and this investment in our transport network complements the dedicated healthcare distribution centres we recently launched around Australia,” he added.
Feras Karem, CEO at Pharmacy 4 Less said “the importance of maintaining cold chain continuously from manufacturer to the patient is paramount. At Pharmacy 4 Less, we are thrilled to work with DHL on ways we can use the new high technology trucks through the supply chain to keep striving for continuous improvement in what we deliver every day. The dual cab vehicles present an innovative way to address cold chain delivery, and open the door for DHL to work with Pharmacy 4 Less on some exciting future initiatives.” Feras Karem (CEO – Pharmacy 4 Less)
These will also be the first vehicles in the company’s history in Australia to steer away from the customary yellow branding. Validated for Australian conditions, the vehicles are painted with white paint to reflect sunlight, part of a set of specific protocols to ensure compliance whilst dealing with extremities in the Australian climate.
In addition to the new vehicles, DHL will be debuting a new reusable packaging solution that eliminates products’ exposure to the external environment, ensuring that the correct temperature is maintained from vehicle to receiver. The new packaging solution is fully re-usable and keeps products at 2-8 degrees for up to 30 minutes once it has left the active cooling environment of the vehicle. This is in addition to the range of environmentally friendly solutions which the company has rolled out to help meet its target of zero emissions by 2050.
