DHL is adding 30 trucks to its fleet and expanding a driver recruitment programme to boost its peak capacity.
The new vehicles, manufactured by MAN, will support both last and first mile shipments in the DHL Freight division.
All of the trucks are fitted with turning assistants to increase safety and 15 of them have a rooftop solar system developed by DHL-owned TRAILAR, which can save up to 5% of fuel consumption.
The company also said it was expanding a driver recruitment initiative which it had launched in five German branches in November 2018. The rotational system allows workers to take on warehouse responsibilities during quieter periods and work as drivers during peak periods.
DHL said the programme could create up to 500 new jobs across Europe.
Uwe Brinks, CEO of DHL Freight, said: “The demand for overland transport is continuing to rise. At the same time, the road freight industry is facing an increasingly urgent shortage of drivers. We are approaching this issue proactively by implementing a new working model to address drivers’ needs.
“With new recruits and a flexible deployment model, we can ensure that we have the capacity to provide reliable service for our customers year-round. We are very pleased with the response so far and have already welcomed 50 new drivers at participating locations.”
